Uncommon Kitchens, A Revolutionary Approach to the Most Popular Room in the House

 

Some people might say that I’m curious, I’m going to call it exactly what it is, nosy. I love looking into other people’s homes to see how they live. A home can tell you so much about a person. In fact, a quick glance can tell me if I want to be friends with that person or not. A neighbor once insisted that I come see her home. Clearly, she was proud of it, so I agreed. She took me from room to room explaining every detail. The problem is, it was like walking into a void. The home had no life. It looked as though no one was living there. There were no books. There were no plants. There was nothing at all unique or specific to that person. Nothing was out of place. The iPad was on a stand on a bedside table. Pictures had been hung in groupings with mathematical precision. Kitchen counters were devoid of any and all kitchen equipment. Frankly, it made me uncomfortable.

On the other hand, family friend Betty, sadly now gone, whom I had known all my life, had an imperfect home. Plants, dog, books that had to be moved off of chairs so that visitors could sit down, craft projects, art supplies, kitchen equipment, souvenirs from her travels, everything in her home gave off such a welcoming vibe. Once I entered, I felt no need to ever leave, unlike the previously described home where all I could think of was bolting for the door.I mention this because Abrams Books recently released a wonderful volume called Uncommon Kitchens, A Revolutionary Approach to the Most Popular Room in the House, that is an absolute delight. I consider my own kitchen to be rather uncommon, what with a giant stained glass window from a local pub perched high above the cabinets, as well as a huge Gothic arch mounted over the pantry door that once hung over my parents’ stone fireplace, so this book really spoke to me.

Edited by Sophie Donelson former editor-in-chief of House Beautiful magazine, with contributions from numerous design experts -- Justine Blakeney, a personal favorite -- among them, this book takes you where you have never been before by way of kitchen makeovers both large and small. It encourages you to work with what you have to update your kitchen even if you have virtually no budget in which to do so. There are ways to make improvements without making big sacrifices. Essentially, it’s less about new appliances and granite countertops than it is about innovation and personality.

Think about it. As we get older, we update our clothes and make up. Sure, some of us may want to shore up parts of us that have seriously headed south, but lacking that, there are ways to make exceptional changes in the most positive of fashions that will add intrigue and attractiveness, while making ourselves feel so much better. That same principle has been applied in this book. Think outside the box. Bring some of your favorite treasures, artwork, and colors into the kitchen. We spend a good bit of our lives in the kitchen. Why shouldn’t it contain the things that we love the most?

At the heart of it, this book is bold! You are going to see things that you like, you are going to see things that you don't like, and you are going to see things that you REALLY like. The great thing about this book is that it is going to make you feel good about your own personal style. Take this book and run with it. Be brave, be bold, but most of all be you. Let your house reflect who you really are. After all, that's what home is.

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 Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Abrams Books as a participant in their Abrams Dinner Party Program for 2022-2023.  

 

Southern Living’s 2022 Annual Recipes, Reviewed

It’s that time of the year again, time for Southern Living’s 2022 Annual Recipes cookbook. This cookbook featuring an entire year of recipes from Southern Living will appear oh so familiar to those of you who have gotten their volumes in the past. It releases on Tuesday, December 6^th!

One thing for sure about this cookbook is that it is filled with loads of mouthwatering recipes that you are going to love. I have yet to have a bad recipe from Southern Living. They may not all appeal to me, but those that do, and those that I’ve tried, have always come out perfectly, looked beautiful, and tasted delicious.

 This year‘s book is, again, filled with new recipes to tempt every pallet. As deputy food editor, Linda Cericola says, “It’s good to be gathering again;” Southern Living has been gathering now for 55 years, hard to believe.

Containing every single recipe that appeared in Southern Living magazine throughout the year of 2022, this book is, conveniently, divided by months, as are all their previous volumes. Personally, I like this kind of division. I think it’s fun to turn to a particular time of the year in order to find a recipe to prepare. Such recipes often rely upon seasonal produce as it becomes available throughout the year, as well as heavier dishes in winter months, and lighter dishes during the warmer months.    There were many things that drew my attention in this book, among them, Broccoli Pesto Pasta, Apple Spice Muffins with Oat Streusel, Deluxe Buttermilk Biscuits with Sage Brown Butter, Oven Baked Omelet with southwestern, French, and Denver variations (I liked the idea of having the possibility of serving an omelet to a crowd), Lemon Barbecue Chicken, as well as the entire dessert section, what can I tell you? I definitely plan to try French Onion Soup Casserole. As a lover of the soup, I am intrigued at the thought of turning that into a casserole. I’ll report. I was amused by the inclusion of a recipe for Shepherd’s Pie that contained beef. A shepherd herds sheep, not cattle; Cottage Pie has beef -- just one of my pet peeves.

  You are undoubtedly going to find a lot more recipes in this book than in most cookbooks because there are pages and pages of recipes containing no pictures. That is both good and bad at the same time. I have become very picky when it comes to cookbooks, and I, personally, want a picture of every recipe that’s included. That’s not the case here. There are loads of pictures, don’t get me wrong, but if you’re expecting every recipe offered to be pictured, you will be disappointed.

Fans of the magazine, of this particular annual issue, of great food, and fine Southern hospitality will really enjoy this book.I recommend it.

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 Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of Southern Living’s 2022 Annual Recipes from Abrams Books as a participant in their Abrams Dinner Party Program for 2022-2023.

Cure, New Orleans Drinks and How to Mix ‘Em, Reviewed

 

I’m planning a Ladies Christmas Luncheon this year and am currently in the process of planning the food so I’ve been going through a lot of recipes. As far as potables, I find that having a house cocktail makes serving drinks so much easier. When men are involved, I tend to set up a makeshift bar on my bamboo bar cart and let them deal with making their own. Ladies, I find, enjoy not having to make that decision, instead being served something tasty and festive.

If you like the idea of having a house or signature cocktail in your home, I can recommend a book that will give you a plethora of ideas. Cure, New Orleans Drinks and How to Mix ‘Em is a recent release from Abrams Books, and it is a beauty! Whether you enjoy a good cocktail or not, let me tell you it is a ton of fun to page through. You know that you’re in for something special when you see the end pages are a map of New Orleans. How handy these would have been during my last visit, but I digress.

In addition to giving you a fascinating history of New Orleans drink culture, it also familiarizes you with a lot of liqueurs with which you are doubtless unfamiliar. I found that information as interesting as the recipes for the cocktails themselves. You will find many familiar cocktails in this book, beautifully photographed, and also many new ones that you will certainly be eager to try. Frankly, this is the best book on cocktails that I have ever seen.

If you’re unfamiliar with the fascinating names that some of the more obscure cocktails tend to have, you will enjoy discovering them here as well as learning their history. Think Berlin in the 70s, Gunshot Fizz, Dark Passenger, Two Way Mirror, you get the idea.

As valuable as are the cocktail recipes, so are the those for syrups used in making the cocktails. The Two Way Mirror cocktail, for example, uses sage syrup. As someone who grows sage every year (this year I potted it up and brought it indoors to see how it would fare the conservatory) I am eager to give this a try. You will also find recipes to make your own black pepper syrup, cinnamon syrup, Orgeat (I have never been able to find that in my area so I’m excited about it), as well as grenadine.

As if all of this isn’t enough, there is also a chapter on Bar Snacks. I will be diving right into this section, I can tell you. The Mussels in Absinthe sound intriguing, as do the Blue Crab Beignets. There’s also a recipe for one of my favorite foods, pimiento cheese, paired with bread and butter pickles and pepper jelly. 

Anyone interested in the drnk culture of New Orleans, in creating fabulous cocktails and bar snacks, or in increasing their knowledge about same should not be without this wonderful new book. It would make a fabulous Christmas present.

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 Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of Cure, New Orleans Drinks and How to Mix ‘Em from Abrams Books as a participant in their Abrams Dinner Party Program for 2022-2023.

 

Christmas with Southern Living 2022, Reviewed

Ask anybody and they will tell you that I refuse to discuss Christmas until November. This business of putting Christmas items on display in August is wrong in so many ways.  That said, I have nothing against planning for Christmas in the month prior to November and, thanks to Southern Living’s new release in their Annual Christmas volume, Christmas with Southern Living 2022, I am doing that very thing.

Southern Living is known for quality, and it shines through in this festive volume. As usual, there are loads of ideas to inspire holiday cooking and decorating. If you’ve seen previous years volumes, then you are pretty much familiar with the format. Basically, that doesn’t change. But, I find there is comfort in familiarity. Southern Living is someone whom I know I can trust. I never hesitate to put my holiday parties in their hands, and my guests have yet to be disappointed. The first of the book is filled with inspiring ideas for holiday decorating. No matter what you celebrate, there are decorating ideas for you; no matter what your style, you will find something of interest here from colonial and early American to modern, outdoor dining, and bohemian. This section also includes tips on how to wrap gifts like a pro.The second half of the book is on dining that, equally, has something for everyone. I love that they included a section on “board dining.” They have gone way beyond simple charcuterie boards to include an Appalachian Breakfast Board, Creole Brunch Board, “Floribbean” Sunset Board, and Delta Dessert Board. All of the recipes to create these beautiful and delicious looking boards are included.If you like to celebrate the holidays with game night, they’ve got you covered. If Christmas dinner or brunch is more your style, they’ve got you covered too, with recipes that are simple, or more complex, depending upon your skill level and amount of time that you are willing to delegate.Now for the recipes. My favorite part of Christmas is the cookies. I don’t bake them, mind you, I leave that for my aunt, but in this book, I have found quite a few recipes to send to her including my very favorite Iced Sugar Cookies, Pecan Cookies, and Peppermint Pinwheels. Honestly, I could swoon…or slip into a sugar coma. A fun chapter in this book is called “Snacktastic.” It features a variety of fun homemade goodies like Rosemary Bacon Nut Mix, Smoked Gouda Shortbread, Zesty Parmesan Popcorn, Crispy Potato Chips with Caviar, and more.

One of my favorite things about this book is the holiday planner at the back. It is extensive, well thought out, and begins with a planning calendar for November. There is a decorating planner, grocery store list, party planners, gift lists, a place for memories, simple things that you can buy at the grocery store to yield beautiful and fragrant holiday decorations, and a space to plan for next year. I am also a fan of the indexes. You would be surprised at the number of new cookbooks that don’t have one, much less two. This book has a general index, and a recipe index. They’ve won me over with this aspect.

  I get this book every year, and I think this one is my favorite. Pick one up for yourself and see if you don’t agree.

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 Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of Southern Living Christmas 2022 from Abrams Books as a participant in their Abrams Dinner Party Program for 2022-2023.

Margarita in Retrograde; Cocktails for Every Sign, Reviewed

 Sometimes it’s not easy to find something new in cookbooks. There are days when I feel as though everything has already been done. That is certainly not the case in this new, cute little volume Margarita in Retrograde; Cocktails for Every Sign by Vanessa Li and Bowen Goh, co-owners of Mood Ring, scheduled for release on April 19th.

While I must admit to reading the occasional horoscope in the newspaper, and I did have my astrological chart plotted when I was in college, it’s not something that I tend to be totally on board with. That said, this book, divided into categories by astrological sign, really had me pegged when it came to cocktails.

The PLUR (an acronym for peace, love, unity, respect), is a measured combination of a cocktail that I have poured for myself, willy-nilly. The wonderful mix of aviation gin and St. Germain elderflower liqueur, and topped with Prosecco, is unexpected, complex, and refreshing, much like this Libra girl herself.

Each astrological sign featured has four signature cocktails suitable for the personality of the individual who possesses that star sign. Names range from the humorous “Butt Massage” (Taurus), to the more apologetic “Sorry I Ghosted You” (Sagittarius), to the innocence of “I Like You a Latte” (Virgo), to the whimsical “Miss Piggy Fan Club”(Gemini). There are also cocktails specific to the period when mercury is in retrograde and Saturn returns. Suggested dates for the various star signs are also included although, truth be told, mine was way off the mark.

The book is clever, and will certainly be a great topic for conversation, but it is useful as well. It provides information on how to set up a homemade bar, what glassware to use, as well as information as to the possible personality types you can expect from various star signs.

While there’s nothing scientific to this at all, it is great fun, and the plethora of recipes is cleverly named, uncommon, and delicious. The authors are co-owners of Brooklyn’s bar, Mood Ring, a bar that is, allegedly “astrologically attuned.”  If you’re familiar with that bar, then this is a must have. If you’re not, I think it would certainly be a worthy addition to your cocktail bar or cookbook library.

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 Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of Margarita in Retrograde from Abrams Books as a member of their Abrams Dinner Party 2021-2022.

 

Shrimp Louie Salad

Jess Damuck is a recipe developer, food stylist, and self-proclaimed salad freak. All of this shines through in her first book, published by Abrams, Salad Freak. Subtitled “recipes to feed a healthy obsession,” she is certainly not wrong. In this book, recipes range from the simple to the complex, and span meals from breakfast to dinner, even a late night snack.

There were quite a few recipes that immediately drew my attention, but I absolutely had to make this one first. This salad is wonderful and refreshing, and perfect for a summer lunch with the ladies, or dinner on the patio.

Shrimp Louie Salad
Edited for clarity

3 lemons
2 bay leaves
1 t. black peppercorns
1 lb. shrimp
2 large eggs

Two heads little gem lettuce*
1 cup cherry tomatoes
1 avocado
2 Persian cucumbers

¼ c. mayonnaise
1 t. tomato paste
1 t. white vinegar
1 t. Tabasco sauce
Kosher salt and freshly by pepper to taste

Fresh dill, for garnish

Prepare an ice bath. Fill a medium pot with water 2 to 3 inches below the rim and add 2 halved lemons, 2 bay leaves, and 1 teaspoon black peppercorns. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a gentle simmer. Add 1 pound of shrimp and cook until bright pink and cooked all the way through – six minutes for fresh, at about nine minutes right from frozen.

Transfer the shrimp to the ice bath and empty out the pot then refill it with fresh water and return to a boil. Add the eggs. Cook for 10 minutes, then transfer to the ice bath.

Separate the leaves of two heads lettuce and tear them into bite-size pieces; wash and spin dry.

Arrange the lettuce on serving plates or a large platter. Cut one cup cherry tomatoes in half. Cluster the tomatoes in one area of each salad plate, and scatter a few about the plate. Cut one avocado in half and remove the pit. Use a spoon to peel off the skin and cut each half into four wedges. Arrange on the plates. Slice two Persian cucumbers on the bias, and cluster in one section of each plate.

Peel the shrimp but leave their tails intact. Arrange the shrimp on the plates. Peel the eggs and cut into quarters. Arrange them on the plates. Pick some small pieces of dill to scatter around the plate, along with plenty of fresh pepper and lots of lemon wedges.

In a small bowl, combine ¼ c. mayonnaise, 1 teaspoon tomato paste, 1 teaspoon white vinegar, and 1 teaspoon Tabasco sauce, and season with salt and pepper. Transfer to a pretty little bowl for serving alongside the salad.

*Little Gem was not available in my area, so I substituted with spring mix. 

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of Salad Freak from Abrams Publishing Company as part of being a member of #AbramsDinnerParty.

 As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

 

Cheese, Sex, Death: A Bible for the Cheese Obsessed, Reviewed

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If you are a cheese lover like I am, and I mean a SERIOUS cheese lover, brace yourself for some exciting news! Abrams Books is about to release the most fabulous, beautiful, informative, clever, unique book about cheese that I have ever seen. Cheese, Sex, Death: A Bible for the Cheese Obsessed by Erika Kubik is a winner from beginning to end. From the beautiful end pages featuring images of stained glass windows each depicting a different cheese, to the clever, biblical design, eye-catching fonts, and informative introduction, this is the only cheese book that you will ever need.

It is divided into two sections: The Old Testament of Cheesus (sic), and the New Testament of Cheesus. In the former you will find The Book of Creation, The Ten Commandments of Cheese, and The Book of Cheese Types. The Book of Creation begins with The Gospel of Cheesus. The latter section contains information on buying, storing, serving, tasting, pairing, plating, and recipes!

Brightly illustrated with a clever stained glass window theme throughout, there are also beautiful, mouthwatering pictures. The text is fascinating. You will learn about the beginning of cheese dating back to 6500 BC. A book on a subject such as cheese may not sound as interesting as it is, but let me tell you, I have been reading this book like a novel.

The Timeline of Cheesus is fascinating. Learning about the entire process of cheesemaking, the stages of ripening, the various colors, textures, milk types, all makes for delicious reading.

The section describing various cheeses including history, correct pronunciation, milk type, intensity, pairings, and more, will teach you everything that you need to know about cheese. Along the way, you will no doubt rethink the way you have both eaten and served cheese in the past, becoming more creative and daring.

The section on plating is both beautiful and inspiring. A wide variety of themes are offered including Whiskey Plate, Spring Cheaster Plate, Munchie Plate, and many more; the Cheesemas Plate is a thing of beauty.

Helpful information on cooking with cheeses including tips and tools precede the recipes, one appearing more delicious than the next. Each one gives you information on how to select the proper cheese, as well as pairings, and variations that you can make.

Honestly, I haven’t been as excited about a book in quite some time. This book is wonderful! If you enjoy cheese, or have a friend who does, this would make an excellent gift. For more information, or to buy a copy, click here.

Disclaimer: I received a complementary copy of this book from Abrams books as a member of their 20 21–22 Abrams dinner party.

Shaved Radish Toasts

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Earlier in the week I reviewed the Southern Living 2021 Christmas book. This recipe is from that book. It is a super simple crostini that is perfect for the holiday season. The creamy cheese is a perfect complement to the crunchy, peppery radish slices. The beauty of this appetizer is that it can be fully prepped ahead of time, assembled just prior to serving, and is the perfect pre-dinner snack because it is both light and satisfying at the same time.

Shaved Radish Toasts

24 (1/2 ” thick) diagonally cut baguette slices
¼ c. unsalted butter, melted

Buttermilk-Herb Cream Cheese (recipe follows)
Thinly sliced radishes*
Sea salt flakes
Black pepper
Freshly chopped chives

Preheat oven to 375° F. Arrange baguette slices in a single layer on a baking sheet. Brush tops with melted butter. Bake until slices are just beginning to brown at the edges, about 12 minutes. Remove from oven, and cool to room temperature.

Spread 1½ t. Buttermilk-Herb Cream Cheese on each crostini.

Top with radishes, sea salt flakes, black pepper, and chopped chives.

*I used a mandoline for this.

Buttermilk-Herb Cream Cheese

8 oz. chive and onion cream cheese, softened
6 T. whole buttermilk
2 t. lemon zest (from one lemon)
½ t. kosher salt
½ t. black pepper

Process cream cheese, buttermilk, lemon zest, salt, and black pepper in a food processor until smooth.

 

Disclaimer: I received a complementary copy of Southern Living 2021 Christmas book from Abrams books as a member of their 20 21–22 Abrams dinner party.