• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Lambs Ears and Honey | A Food & Travel Blog
  • Home
  • Recipes
  • About Me
  • Work With Me
  • Cookbooks
  • Cookbook Club
  • Navigation Menu: Social Icons

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • Recipes
  • About Me – Lambs Ears and Honey
  • Work With Me
×
Home » Food » Cookbook Roundup – A Couple of New Cookbooks That I’m Crushing On

Cookbook Roundup – A Couple of New Cookbooks That I’m Crushing On

16/08/2018 by Amanda

Share

Share
Pin

It’s true – I rarely meet a cookbook I don’t like. Here’s a quick look at a couple I’m currently crushing on, but beware – cookbook addiction is contagious!

new cookbook - in the french kitchen with kids

 

It is a simple fact that I cannot pass up a great cookbook. Or even just a good one. And the average ones often have one or two really handy recipes, as well. Okay, I admit it. My name is Amanda and I’m a cookbook addict.

Lately a couple of cookbooks that I’ve really enjoyed have made their way into my kitchen and I wanted to let you know about them.

First up is quite a special cookbook for me.  In the French Kitchen with Kids is written by my friend Mardi Michels, an ex-Adelaide girl who is the author of a food blog called eat. live. travel. write. She’s also a French elementary school teacher in Toronto and, twice a week, wrangles small boys in the school kitchen to teach them French cooking.

cookbook - Cotelettes de Porc aux Pommes (pork chops with apples, or pears in my case) from In the French Kitchen with Kids

Cotelettes de Porc aux Pommes (pork chops with apples, or pears in my case) from In the French Kitchen with Kids

As a mother who, because of fatal (and frankly short-sighted) control issues, totally failed to teach my own children much at all about cooking, the idea of letting a dozen boys loose in the kitchen to construct potentially complicated French classics makes me shudder. But Mardi loves it – and is a raging success at it.

For some years I’ve been following her social media accounts, seeing her students churn out some seriously impressive French food, and now she shares the how-to of her methods with the world. The recipes in her book are traditional classics, presented in a clear and approachable manner, breaking down the dishes into simple steps and pretty much guaranteeing a successful outcome for kids of all ages. This book is perfect for any kid old enough to hold a spoon.

I’d also recommend it for any adults who are keen to approach French cooking, but feel intimidated by it’s lofty reputation. You all know what  lazy cook I am, yet I’ve made several dishes from the book with minimal fuss and absolutely no failures – and, let’s face it, if a bunch of unruly 10 year olds can produce perfectly delicious gougères, créme brûlées and ratataouille, I’m damn sure I can too. 

cookbook, In the French Kitchen with Kids, Madeleines

Perfect Madeleines – a French classic.

 

While much of my own cooking is big on flavour, but low on effort, it’s also pretty preoccupied with baking.

‘Cake’ is one of my favourite words. Ever. 

new cookbook baking for the thermomix

When I discovered Lesley Russell’s Baking for the Thermomix, I knew that this was a cookbook I was really going to get along with. I’ve had my Thermomix, plus the Magimix Cook Expert, for some years. I’m still in love with how much time and effort they both save me and anything that helps me get cake into my face faster gets an automatic spot on my bookshelves. 

Lesley Russell is a devoted pastry cook and baker, with a lifetime’s experience as a professional cook. In ‘Baking for the Thermomix’, she gives traditional bakes like Chelsea Buns, Garibaldi biscuits and a delicious Irish brack the Thermomix treatment, along with large cakes, biscuits, savoury tarts and breads. The recipes range from quite simple, through to the more complex and all appear to have been thoroughly tested – again, I have yet to have anything fail on me (and that’s not something that can always be said of baking books).

Baking for the Thermomix cookbook - lime cake

Sweet, sticky and delicious – Pistachio Lime Syrup Cake from Baking for the Thermomix

The Thermomix and Magimix Cook Expert are very expensive pieces of kitchen kit, so if you’ve spent up big on one, you’re going to want to get your money’s worth out of it. They are both fantastic when it comes to mixing batters and kneading, so are a joy for anyone fond of baking. Obviously this cookbook is written specifically for the Thermomix, but the recipes are readily adaptable for the Magimix CE. I’d highly recommend it for those who see lots of cake in their future (and in their faces).

Lambs’ Ears was sent a free review copy of Mardi Michels ‘In the French Kitchen with Kids’.

[mc4wp_form id="16750"]

Related posts

  • NZ apple imports given the go-ahead NZ apple imports given the go-ahead
  • Cookbook Club News – I Can’t Believe We’re talking About Our June Cookbook! Cookbook Club News – I Can’t Believe We’re talking About Our June Cookbook!
  • Wish You Were Here Postcards – Local Boat Man & His Wife, Hoi An, Vietnam Wish You Were Here Postcards – Local Boat Man & His Wife, Hoi An, Vietnam
  • In My Kitchen – July 2016 In My Kitchen – July 2016
  • Salted Maple and Cinnamon Pecans – My New Post-Gym Snack Salted Maple and Cinnamon Pecans – My New Post-Gym Snack

Share

Share
Pin
« Babi Guling and The Four Seasons Sayan Sokasi Dinner – A Traditional Balinese Ceremonial Food Experience
Cheesefest+FERMENT – Step into Spring with One of Adelaide’s Favourite Food Festivals »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Liz

    August 17, 2018 at 4:49 pm

    My name is Liz and I’m a cookbook addict….

  2. Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella

    August 17, 2018 at 5:02 pm

    I still haven’t succumbed to the Thermomix!

  3. Amanda

    August 17, 2018 at 8:20 pm

    I’m still in love with mine – even more so with books like this!

  4. Amanda

    August 17, 2018 at 8:21 pm

    Welcome to my safe space, Liz!

Primary Sidebar

Don't run the risk of missing a post! Subscribe to Lamb's Ears and Honey

Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription.

Connect with me

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS

Recent Posts

leave single-use plastic behind

Leave Single-Use Plastics Behind – With the Help of the Fleurieu Milk Company

food from Iran to Italy

Food from Iran to Italy in September – And a FREE Gift For All Members in October!

Roasted Chicken Thighs with Lemon, Smoked Paprika & Green Olives - trusted recipes

More Trusted Recipes for August in the Cookbook Club

kitchen economy - July cookbook

Essential Recipes for July in the Cookbook club

COMMENTS, FEEDBACK, QUESTIONS?

I love to hear what you think so please leave a comment or ask me a question!

Search This Website

Archives

Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 Unported License.

Footer

Featured Recipes

Featured Posts

COPYRIGHT © 2023 LAMBS' EARS AND HONEY