Nonfiction Book Reviews
Page Two of TwoThe Buttercup Bake Shop Cookbook by Jennifer Appel
Simon and Schuster, October, 2001Hardcover, 125 pages
ISBN: 0743205790
Ordering information:
Amazon.com
The subtitle for this cookbook is "More Than 80 Recipes for Irresistible, Old-Fashioned Treats." Irresistible is somewhat of an an understatement. Jennifer Appel is the owner of The Buttercup Bake Shop in Manhattan, where happy customers partake of delicious, homemade desserts. There is nary a non-fat item in this book of old-fashioned yummies, so those looking for something lo-cal should look elsewhere. But if you're looking for luscious crowd-pleasers such as Old-Fashioned Buttermilk Pie, Gingerbread, Pumpkin Pie, Red Velvet Cake, The Greatest Brownies Ever, Over the Top Chocolate Layer Cake or Apple Pecan Cake, this is a must-buy.
The recipes are simple and easy to follow, with side comments by the author. As the holidays approach, why not let Jennifer Appel teach you a few new (and old) tricks for that holiday baking? We certainly have, with wonderful results.
How to Taste: A Guide to Enjoying Wine by Jancis Robinson
Simon and Schuster, October, 2001Hardcover, 208 pages
ISBN: 0743216776
Ordering information:
Amazon.com
Learning to taste and appreciate a good wine is not as difficult a skill as one might believe. So states renowned wine expert and taster Jancis Robinson, the author of The Oxford Companion to Wine, certified Master of Wine and star of the PBS series Jancis Robinson's Wine Course. How to Taste is a workbook and guidebook in one. Robinson demystifies the basics of wine: the different grapes, the regions, the types of wines, vintage, value and pricing are all covered here in easy to understand terms. But what makes the book so special is the virtual tasting course, which any reader can follow. The practice exercises (which can be done alone or with a group of friends) build from the simple comparison of two simple wines, to the more difficult skills of blind tasting events. If you follow her instructions and faithfully do the exercises she suggests, you should be able to amaze your friends and confound your enemies with your newly-acquired wine savoir faire.
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