2/24/12

friday links PLUS giveaway!


Let's just dive right in shall we?

I just love when I get emails from PR companies or publishers that want to share the launch or re-launch of a FABULOUS baking book. This one Baking Basics and Beyond by Pat Sinclair is a keeper. Very helpful little baking book. It has kicked up recipes inside. Like savory blue cheesecake, banana bars with brown sugar frosting... Luckily they were nice enough to give away 2 books!
This is the new edition of Baking Basics and Beyond by Pat Sinclair. It's a down-to-earth, reader-friendly baking guide is updated with beautiful full color photos throughout. According to Pat Sinclair, "If a little kneading is good, is a lot of kneading better? Not for biscuits, as I learned the first time I made them. I discovered that biscuits are tender and flaky only if I follow two key baking techniques--cutting in shortening and gentle kneading. I've learned many more secrets like these over decades of baking professionally for companies such as Pillsbury and Land O'Lakes." Included are many traditional and old-fashioned American favorites such as Buttery Crescent Dinner Rolls, Dark Chocolate Cake with Praline Filling and Cranberry Nut Tartlets. Most of the recipes are easy and recognizable, if not extremely familiar. Some of the recipes, such as Turtle Cheesecake Pie, are variations of classics but with a little twist that makes them unique.
Baking Basics and Beyond differs from other books on baking because it concentrates on basic techniques and simple directions. No prior experience is necessary.
Although Sinclair has a master's degree in Foods, much of her baking experience came at home. She began baking in elementary school by learning how to bake from her mother, especially how to make a pie crust.

IMG_7063
IMG_7061
IMG_7062
Reprinted with permission from Baking Basics and Beyond, by Pat Sinclair, Agate Surrey, December 2011.

All you have to do to enter is leave ONE comment telling me what your favorite baking-guided cookbook is/was.
I'll do the drawing Friday March 2, 2012 and announce the TWO winners.

FROM AROUND THE WEB:

Did you know you can turn your ice dispenser into a candy dispenser? Can you imagine?

4pints
Did you hear? Ben & Jerry's is coming out with Greek Style Frozen yogurt! And it's NOT boring--it has stuff in it--lots of stuff! Goodbye boring ass strawberry and vanilla frozen yogurt!

6a00e5521f4a688834016761e1e3f8970b-800wi
I saw this on Pinterest and it had no link. Would love to know where to buy this. Anyone know? Cute right? Found it. Thank you reader for sending me the link. Apparently she isn't taking orders anymore?

tumblr_ly69fgx4vR1qzwmsso1_1280
My latest obsession is this site called freecabinporn.com. It's NOT what you think. It's all about absolutely gorgeous and breathtaking photos of various cozy cabins from around the world.

Are you getting enough magnesium? I wasn't, but am now. It's a powerhouse mineral.

Are you an avid knitter or crotcher? However you spell the latter. If you are, you need to check out this group called raverly.com. It's like a candy store for knitters, complete with patterns, tips, boards, photos, links, etc... It's like the modern take on knitting.

Tell me this is not a joke. . An app that let's you walk and type, AND let's you see in front you while walking? Was this developed because of all those people who texted while walking and fell into a sewer or pool? The Type & Walk App. For realz peeps.

Prevention magazine says you can shrink a
size in 14 days. Hmmm. What do you think?

Have you ever made your own almond flour/meal? I've wanted to for a while, to make a good batch of classic macarons. It's also a staple for those gluten free kitchens. Here's a fabulous tutorial to make your own almond meal at home.

Can I be totally honest? I've never ever thought to make baked potatoes in a crock pot. I just learned about this from this blog. I feel like an idiot -- why didn't I think of this years ago?. Excellent tip and time saver!

021312-baseboardscropped
Anyone tried using a dryer sheet for collecting dust on the floors or baseboards? This article says it works. I'm tempted to try it. Have you?

il_570xN.171691526
I must have this coat and this dog. How did the photographer keep a straight face and not giggle the whole time? You can actually buy this on Etsy.

All this hype these days about clean eating for whole body detox; so many theories on it, so many ways to detox each promising to be the right one. NPR recent article about clean eating detox stated one particular VALID point: "The body is constantly filtering the toxins in alcohol, food and medicines, not storing them," Boston dietitian Maria Adams tells The Salt. "So they're not going to build up. I think the reason people feel better on a cleanse is probably just they're losing weight and are less bloated."
Interesting article, and scary the amount money of that crazy GOOP detox program costs: over $400!

minicheeseburgers_wolfgangpuck
Let's go from detox to mini burgers! Since Oscar night is right around the corner, Wolfgang Puck has a lot of his recipes appearing on the web. And here is one of them using Wagyu beef and a perfect remoulade sauce.

James Beard 2012 Awards Semi finalists. Here here! Glad to see Joanne Chang is on there (from flour bakery in boston).

Real Caveman Diet--there was fruit! If you read this article, you'll see there was real proof the cavemen (and women) ate fruit. Recently they found pieces of dates on a 40,000-year-old Neanderthal. Very interesting read.

240
Photographer Rachel Hulin captures AMAZING photos of her baby in mid flight in various ways. It's just amazing. How did she do that?

il_570xN.308715501
News Boy cap for cats! I need this in my life.......right?

Want a quick and easy Banh Mi meatball rice bowl? All the flavors of bahn mi in a meatball in a rice bowl. FABULOUS.


My neighbors have some of the most gorgeous and friendly chickens I've ever seen. They don't come out much due to coyotes in our area, but when they do I make sure to hang with them for a bit. Here is a video I shot of my favorite rooster kicking it. He loves the camera (no, this was not edited, just perfect timing).

Flickr has a great set of "dogs underwater" photos.

Did you see the concept of this blog? Wild.

That's it. Have a fabulous weekend kids! Don't forget to enter the cookbook giveaway (above).

79 comments:

  1. Right now the book I go to time and again is the Original Barefoot Contessa . There is a totally decadent brownie recipe in there.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I used to use this green cook book that my mom got as a wedding gift (40 years ago! Go mom and dad!)The cover is almost worn off, and we had just always called it "the green book". No fail recipes!

    ReplyDelete
  3. i like cooks the new best recipes. Tells you what are the best techniques. i use dryer sheets Allllll the time to pick up dust. it is great!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Barefoot Contessa-Parties! Many baking recipes in there that never fail.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I totally saw those greek frozen yogurts. I want to try it wicked bad! And the dryer sheet idea is PERFECTTTTT. Totally trying it :) My go to book? Giada's every day italian. Love the simple recipes. Or my old Better Homes and Gardens cookbook

    ReplyDelete
  6. The Good Housekeeping Illustrated Cookbook 1985 edition.

    Great detail, it's my mothers cookbook I copy recipes down from and tweak to my liking. It's showing its use now some of the pages are starting to fall out. Hope to pass on it on in the family.

    ReplyDelete
  7. I still go to The Joy of Cooking for all the basics.

    ReplyDelete
  8. For sure my Betty Crocker Cookbook my mother gave me when I got married. A late 60s version. It's the same book she always used. I also found one at a used book sale in mint condition to give to my daughter when she moves out. :) -a

    ReplyDelete
  9. I honestly don't have a favorite cookbook. I pretty much get all my recipes from the web.
    I love your links this week. That cat in the newsboy cap just kills me.
    By the way, I have tried baked potatoes in the crockpot and they turned out brown in the middle, which freaked me out (maybe I did it wrong)?

    ReplyDelete
  10. I actually like to use old family recipes and the internet for basic baking recipes. One of my most recent favorite baking cookbook however is Mrs. Fields!

    ReplyDelete
  11. i LooOoOove the Williams sonoma kids cookbooks, especially the baking ones! the recipes are to-die-for and so easy since they're for kids! :) this cookbook looks fantastic!!! (vr5v@virginia.edu)

    ReplyDelete
  12. My go to cookbooks are the ones by Cooks Illustrated. Perfect recipes every time.

    ReplyDelete
  13. My favorite cookbook is this old Farm Women's cookbook my grandmother gave me.

    ReplyDelete
  14. I love all the Moosewood cookbooks, but the Moosewood Restaurant Book of Desserts has so many delicious recipes and rich combinations - there's something for every occasion.

    ReplyDelete
  15. I choose Betty Crocker for all my basic needs, otherwise I look at blogs and youtube videos!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Great giveaway! Haven't tried the Bounce trick but sounds interesting...will have to give it a shot! My fav baking-related cookbook is Dorie's Baking from My Home to Yours

    ReplyDelete
  17. Fun post! Did a couple pins from it. And oh that cabin site.
    Happy weekend! :)

    ReplyDelete
  18. My favorite is Cook's Illustrated! Foolproof

    ReplyDelete
  19. Five Roses has nice recipes that my family enjoys.

    ReplyDelete
  20. I just received the America's Test Kitchen Healthy recipe cookbook for Christmas, and I love it!

    ReplyDelete
  21. I really love the Magnolia Bakery cookbook. It's my go to for when I want something delicious and homey. Nothing too complicated or using crazy ingredients - just a book full of butter, sugar, chocolate, and flour :-)

    ReplyDelete
  22. My all time favorite is How to be a domestic Goddess by Nigella, I love that book!

    ReplyDelete
  23. I love Peter Reinhart's break baker's apprentice cookbook!

    bourbonandbananas@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  24. I love anything that Cook's Illustrated puts out. They do a ton of research and I always feel like they get the job done right.

    ReplyDelete
  25. My favorite cookbook is The Pioneer Woman's (Ree Drummond)! Love her and I am so excited for the second one that is currently in the works!

    ReplyDelete
  26. Thanks for the link love! I think I'm in love with the dog and the coat. Adorable!

    My go to cookbook would have to be The Joy of Cooking, and anything by Nigella. Especially Feast. I'm in love with that book.

    ReplyDelete
  27. Good Housekeeping Illustrated Cookbook, and Betty Crocker's cookbook (my mother's..i'm not sure of the exact name of it)...both are what I used growing up when I was learning to cook.

    ReplyDelete
  28. I love Rose's Heavenly Cakes!

    ReplyDelete
  29. I got to hand it to the Barefoot Contessa. I use her recipes as jumping off points as I put my own spin on what she has to offer.

    ReplyDelete
  30. I love the Taste of Home cookbooks.....but I get tons of recipes & ideas from blogs & the internet, which I think is just one huge, fun cookbook in itself! :-)

    ReplyDelete
  31. I tend to use either recipes passed down from my family and friends or cooking blogs or sites that I love. I have to have that Lionel Richie teapot- I bet I could make it.

    ReplyDelete
  32. I think so far my favorite is "Baked Explorations" by Lewis and Poliafito - I've never made anything out of there that I haven't loved.

    ReplyDelete
  33. The tea set was from Etsy. This is what I found, http://www.etsy.com/listing/81628051/hello-lionel-richie-ritchie-teapot-tea

    ReplyDelete
  34. I don't have very many cook books w/ baking recipes, but my mom did give me The Great Big Cookie Book by Hilaire Walden a while back and I've tried a few of the recipes - all good! :)

    ReplyDelete
  35. I love the classic Betty Crocker cook book.

    ReplyDelete
  36. Barefoot Contessa. I love her!!

    ReplyDelete
  37. At the moment, I'm really enjoying 'Cupcakes from the Primrose Bakery' ---great recipes, techniques, and ideas! As for all time favorites, though, I have to give it to 'The Complete Magnolia Bakery Cookbook.' Perfect cupcakes and much more!

    ReplyDelete
  38. The chocolate cake with praline filling sounds perfect. Dorie Greenspan's Baking From My Home to Yours is an excellent book. Surely a few others have flipped through the pages.

    ReplyDelete
  39. I love The Bread Baker's Apprentice by Peter Reinhart. It's my bread-baking bible!

    ReplyDelete
  40. I am completely overwhelmed by this blog post! I can't decide what I like better, cabin porn or the flying baby! My fav baking cookbook is The Pie and Pastry Bible...changed my life.

    ReplyDelete
  41. the king arthur flour whole grain cookbook.

    jacquieastemborski AT comcast DOT net

    ReplyDelete
  42. the cookie book I got from the Corning ware outlet a long long time ago. I don't even know who wrote/compiled it, the pages are falling out!

    ReplyDelete
  43. My favorite is the King Arthur Flour Baking Book.

    ReplyDelete
  44. baked potatoes in a crock pot...I saw that on Pinterest about a month ago and pinned it so I could remember to try it out myself!

    Baking guided book...well Joy of Cooking is always a good one, and if you want to be guided in a foodgeek-ish way which I love, Alton Brown is a great guy for explaining WHY you do something. Cooks Illustrated, too. I could go on and on and on...

    ReplyDelete
  45. My favourite baking "book" is one my Mom made for all the women in our family about five years ago. The font is terrible and there aren't any pictures, but it's a collection of my Grandma's and Mom's best recipes. I could curl up for a year in that book.

    ReplyDelete
  46. Lately I've been loving Baked Explorations!

    ReplyDelete
  47. My favorite book is the All-American Cookie Book by Nancy Baggett

    ReplyDelete
  48. I'm another fan of Dorie Greenspan's Baking book (the one she did with Julia Child isn't bad, either!).

    ReplyDelete
  49. The Joy of Cooking Christmas Cookies. Not only for the holidays, this is my go to cookie book. Every cookie in that book is complete perfection. It has all the classics as well as some interesting ones from around the world.

    ReplyDelete
  50. I have all the baking cookbooks like bakerella, Georgetown, ey there cupcake. But my old time favorite is my mom's recipes

    ReplyDelete
  51. I am currently loving Tate's Bakeshop cookbook. Some fantastic recipes in there. For techniques Cooks Illustrated.

    ReplyDelete
  52. my favorite baking cookbook (besides my grandmother's stacks of handwritten recipes) is definitely "the book of great desserts" by maida heatter. she's a genius!

    ReplyDelete
  53. My mom's Betty Crocker Cookbook....it is worn out with splotches all over it but it is awesome!

    ReplyDelete
  54. Has to be Dorie Greenspan's Baking.

    ReplyDelete
  55. The Cooks Illustrated Baking is awesome

    ReplyDelete
  56. I haven't found THE baking book yet. I have a Martha Stewart one where I've made a few duds. I've had the same problem with Dorie Greenspan as well. Honestly, Betty Crocker has been doing it for me.

    ReplyDelete
  57. I am a terrible baker and do not have a great guide book, perhaps this might be it :)

    ReplyDelete
  58. One of my favorite baking books is Baking from my Home to Yours by Dorie Greenspan! This book looks wonderful!

    ReplyDelete
  59. The only baking book I use a lot is actually Martha Stewart's cupcake cookbook. I also use the recipes to make cakes and I love the frosting recipes.

    And, how ingenious on the baked potatoes!

    ReplyDelete
  60. I have this book 'Death by Chocolate' it has a whole array of chocolate flavored pastries.The best chocolate chip recipe ever.

    k_rampersad03 at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  61. i turn to my joy of cooking tome more than anything else, but then again, my cookbook collection is severely limited!

    ReplyDelete
  62. my favorite baking book was actually a free download from King Arthur Flour. It was a series on breads and other topics related to baking that really taught me so much. I still refer to it.

    ReplyDelete
  63. Kimberly Marie2/27/12, 8:09 AM

    My go to cookbook for baking (as sad as this is) is the Cake Mix Doctor. Her recipes are so good, and sometimes I need something that's quick, easy, and convenient.

    ReplyDelete
  64. I love cookbooks, but lately I have just been stock piling every food magazine I can get my hands on. I love the recipes, plus they have awesome cooking tips!

    ReplyDelete
  65. Martha Stewart's "Cookies" and "cupcakes" and "pies" books! Full of pictures :)

    ReplyDelete
  66. I love the Tartine Bread book. And anything by Nancy Silverton.

    ReplyDelete
  67. My favourite baking-guided cookbook is the Better Homes & Gardens Cookbook. My grandmother and mom have been using it for years, and it introduced me to a lot of standard baking/dessert recipes. :)

    ReplyDelete
  68. I have a Good Housekeeping cookbook from 1963 . It was my mom's and my husband & I use it all the time. We love it!

    ReplyDelete
  69. I love all the Barefoot Contessas -so simple and such yummy desserts!

    ReplyDelete
  70. I live by the trader joes cookbook... Broke college student, woohoo!

    ReplyDelete
  71. The old church cookbooks from when I grew up, plus one from the Nebraska Czechs!

    ReplyDelete
  72. I have an old Betty Crocker cookbook that I pull out for basic baking recipes.

    ReplyDelete
  73. my go-to baking cookbook is an old betty crocker cookbook of my mom's. tons of classic recipes. new stuff is fun too, but time-tested cakes and cookies are my fave. :)

    ReplyDelete
  74. Barefoot Contessa At Home is one of my favorite cookbooks with delicious desserts. I can always find a great baking recipe in any of her books.

    ReplyDelete
  75. Love the Lionel Teaset!
    Wanted to let you know that we're giving away a Fermenting Crock, since you liked the Kraut cupcakes.

    ReplyDelete
  76. trader joes! I'm a poor poor college student, ha

    ReplyDelete

I love your comments!

Share

Get This