New Cookbooks

Some of my recent purchases:

Martha Stewart's Cupcakes; 175 Inspired Ideas for Everyone's Favorite Treat

This is a beautiful book. I'm not really a Martha Stewart fan, but after I picked this up and looked at it, I knew I had to have it.

On the "Gotta Make" list

• Tiramisu cupcakes
• Chai tea mini cupcakes
• Blackberry-cornmeal cupcakes
• Snickerdoodle cupckes
• Chocolate Fleur De Sel cupcakes

Beer Can Chicken and 74 Other Offbeat Recipes for the Grill
by Steven Raichlen

This is another beautiful cookbook. His explanations are concise and easy to follow. In addition to the recipes, he gives great grilling tips.

• On the "Gotta Make" list
• Lacquered Saigon Chicken
• Ginger Ale Chicken
• Thai Coconut Chicken
• Kielbasa-Barbecued Cabbage
• Mozzarella S'mores

Make Mine Vodka; 250 Classic Cocktails and Cutting Edge Infusions

by Susan Waggoner and Robert Markel

The Stonewood Restaurant down the street from me has infused vodkas. The make a blueberry martini with their own blueberry infused vodka and it is superb. That is what got me interested in infusions. And when I saw this on the discount table, I had to have it.

On the "Gotta make" list

• Blackberry Buck
• Cherry Bomb
• Devil's Torch (just for the name alone)
• Persephone's Kiss
• Windex (again just for the name alone)
• Limoncello
• Vishnyovka (sour cherry)

Curry Bible; Exotic and Fragrant Curries from Around the World by Mridula Baljekar

Nice heavy hardcover book. The photography is stunning.

On the "Gotta Make" list

• Thai green curry paste
• Mussaman curry paste
• Chicken Biryani
• Lamb Dhansak
• Coconut beef curry

My triumphant return

Alright . . . I guess the title is overkill. I just don't get to use the word triumphant often and it sounded good.

Once again I return from the deep, dark, sucking hole of life to my food blog. I've missed it. With grad school, it is almost next to impossible to have a lot of fun. It's too time consuming. But I only have two classes left so at least the end is in sight.

I'm on a food kick. I've made chicken Marsala and a Parmesan risotto this week. All of my current desires are food related. I want a kitchen torch (I will make creme brulee and s'more cupcakes!!), a good food processor, a rice steamer, and a pastry bag with lots of piping tips. (Now tell me I'm not a food geek.)

I've also been buying cookbooks. And I need to stop. The deal I made with myself was that I could fill the one bookcase with cookbooks. Then I had to stop and at least sell some if I wanted some new books. I'd say I could jam maybe one more in there.

I have already planned some of my upcoming posts. I have 2 restaurant reviews, recent cookbooks purchases, soon to be arriving cookbooks, and a plethora of recipes. Now let us see if I actually do it.

Classic Tiramisu

6 egg yolks
1 1/4 cups sugar
1 1/4 cups mascarpone cheese
1 3/4 cups heavy (or whipping) cream
2 packages (3 ounces each) ladyfingers
1/3 cup coffee liqueur

Combine egg yolks and sugar and whip until thick and lemon colored, about 1 minute. Place in top of double boiler over boiling water. Reduce heat to low and cook 8 to 10 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and cool to room temperature. Add mascarpone cheese, beating well. Whip heavy cream until stiff peaks form. Fold into egg yolk mixture; set aside. Line bottom and side of 3-quart bowl with ladyfinger halves. Brush with coffee liqueur. Spoon half of egg yolk-cream mixture into ladyfinger-lined bowl. Repeat ladyfingers, espresso and cream layers. Cover and refrigerate several hours or overnight. 10 to 12 servings.