Review: Love is in the Kitchen
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 11 27, 2012
I bought this book because the cover is so beautiful. I use this book because the recipes are elegant, very easy to follow, and in short, scrumptious.The author immediately takes you to a time we all long for in his introduction....the grandmother baking, the smells of coffee brewing, the inviting kitchen. Although nostalgia draws us in, you soon understand this is not a run-of-the-mill cook or baker. He has flair and a love of French cuisine. He knows how to combine delicate flavors, a feat in itself but when he adds in those delicious fall foods we're all familiar with like pumpkins, pomegranates, pecans, maple syrup...oh my! Then add coffee to it! I love this book.I appreciate the fact that before getting to the recipes, the author guides us with Recipe Tips including explanations/tips on brown sugar, cake flour, chia seeds, and different coffees. There is Demerara Sugar which I did not find at my regular grocer but is easily available at Amazon and at Whole Foods.Many of us are experienced cooks but what's not to like about adding more delicious knowledge to our repertoire?  The book includes Temperature conversions for Celsius, Fahrenheit, and Gas as well as Volume conversions. The author is ensuring we meet success with these recipes.My son, who is a baking fiend, started with the Coffee Cake of the Gods. Over the years he has baked hundreds of cakes. He can make a homemade cake with his eyes closed but I noticed he was following the directions carefully. He was enjoying the comments that came with the directions. The cake was perfect. He plans to bake all the others in the book.I concentrated on the coffee recipes like the Pumpkin Spiced Latte, the Caramel & Cinnamon Macchiato, and the Tipsy Monk's Coffee. I'm happy.Yes, the book is perfect for the holidays but in this crazy world, why not make more of our days personal holidays? Treat yourself and your family. Impress your friends. Buy the book and make something delectable.