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If you’ve every seen the Australian cooking show “My Kitchen Rules”, then you know Manu Feildel. I was excited to get his cookbook and see for myself how good it was.

Start simple. Roasted Tomato, Basil and Gruyere Melt is a great way to begin. Deep yet simple flavors will lift your basic sandwich to new levels!

My teenage daughter made the Pot-Roasted Chicken with Garlic and Rosemary. While it wasn’t amazing, I think there were a couple technical mistakes that kept it from being great. The chicken didn’t get browned enough and the sauce needed to reduce some more.

From crepes to gratins, tarts to sauces, there are great recipes in here for everyone. Try one of Manu’s dishes–I think you’ll enjoy it!

I received a copy of this book from Penguin Random House Australia through IPG for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a fun cookbook! I love the photos celebrating the area, but I will say it would have been nice to have more photos of the actual dishes, but it does give you a great sense of the area.

The Whitefish with Basil Pesto and Arugula Salad it pretty quick and easy to make with great flavors. Fresh Pasta Bolognese is delightful, but it would be nice if they added the recipe for the fresh pasta.

This is a great book for people who live in the area or want to bring back memories. It’s a all around good general cookbook.

I received a copy of this book from Storey Publishing for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I am a certified cheeseaholic and have taught my kids well, so this book was PERFECT for our family!! My 9-year-old was so excited to make cheese with Momma! We started nice and easy with Queso Blanco and it was smooth sailing. She loved being involved in all of the steps to making the cheese and it came together nicely. We then made the Fried Queso Blanco which I loved. She wasn’t thrilled with it, but then she doesn’t take to new flavors quickly. The flavor isn’t like her “normal” cheeses, so we moved on.

Up next was Feta. Said 9-year-old will be 10-years-old next month, so we are going to make homemade, make your own pizzas for her birthday. I love a oil base (vs. tomato) and multiple cheeses and really like using feta on my pizza, so I wanted to make some feta now so it could cure. This one was more intense in the making, but it once again came together smoothly. Feta is not her thing, so she was less interested in being a part of every step of the process so I did most of this one alone albeit with some help from her. Feta isn’t normally made with cow’s milk, so the flavor isn’t exactly the same, but it’s close enough that I’m very happy with it!

We haven’t made the mozzarella yet as we want it to be closer to her birthday so it’s fairly fresh, but I have made mozzarella before and am confident that this recipe will work wonderfully. There are more cheeses to try–cream cheeses, yogurt and ricotta and I’m sure the recipes on these are great as well. We’ll see as we try them one by one.

This is a great book to get your kids involved in the kitchen! As a home school mom I loved the fact that she was learning the science behind the cheese, math at times (we only used one gallon of milk, so everything had to be halved) and having lots of fun doing it! I strongly recommend this book for parents of cheese lovers out there. Let them have a hand in making their own cheese and then the joy of eating what they made. It’s worth it!!

I received a copy of this book from Storey Publishing for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This is an interesting book. It is more history than cookbook (there are only a few recipes scattered throughout), but it is still a great look at Australian history through its food. It covers from the 1860’s through 2009. National brands, first cookbooks, pricing through history, famous restaurants, food trends and more are covered here.

There are a few recipes scattered throughout from a Butterless and Eggless Fruit Cake from 1944 to Deep Fried Camembert from 1988, they are little windows in time to popular dishes of the era.

If you are looking for an Australian cookbook, this is not it. If you are wanting Australian history through food, you’ll love this book. It is quite interesting!

I received a copy of this book from NewSouth Publishing through IPG for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I have a confession to make. Risotto has always somewhat intimidated me. This exceptional cookbook has removed that intimidation and I can confidently make a delicious risotto now! Every type of rice dish from Italy you can imagine can be found in the pages of this book, down to my favorite Sicilian street food–Arancini!

One of my favorite recipes in this book is No-Stir Stovetop Risotto. My 16 and 18-year-old daughters made this for supper the other night and it turned out wonderfully! Neither had ANY experience making risotto which just shows how incredibly easy this dish is to make! My only caveat on it is that it says 6 servings. Let’s just say they are fairly small servings unless you add a lot of your condementi of choice.

This is far from being just a book on risotto, though. Rice puddings, rice salads, soups, minestrones, frittatas and more fill the pages of this delightful book. If you like rice at all, you will love this book!

I received a copy of this book from Rizzoli International Publications for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Anyone who has read many of my reviews probably knows that I love National Trust cookbooks. They have excellent recipes, well written and easy to follow that give great results time and again. My teenage daughters have cooked out of my National Trust cookbooks many times making things they’ve never made before with great results. This darling cookbook is no different. All the classic tea recipes you’d want in a smaller hardcover book. My only issue with this book is it is missing the beautiful full color photos you find in most of their books.

That being said, I love this book with all of its delightful recipes. Whether you’re doing an official tea, just brewing a cuppa and want a little something along side or you are looking for something delicious to bake, this book has got you covered.

The book is divided into chapters that cover all of your basics:

• Introduction: Taking Tea
• Bread and Butter and… (sandwiches)
• For High Tea
• Large Cakes
• Small Cakes and Biscuits
• Pastries
• Freshly Baked (scones, etc)
• Preserves and Drinks

It’s not just recipes for how to put things together, but also covers making some of those things yourself such as chicken liver and smoked trout pates, potted shrimp and more. Don’t buy English muffins at the store, whip up a batch for yourself! You’ll enjoy them all the more for having made them yourself. The same goes for jams and jellies. There’s an easy Strawberry Jam recipe. Can you imagine slathering butter and homemade strawberry jam on a homemade English muffin? Bliss!!

The upshot of it is–National Trust has knocked it out of the park again. This is a lovely book and I highly recommend it!

I received a copy of this book through IPG for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What a delightful book!! Whether you’re camping, cooking outdoors or even cooking in the comfort of your kitchen there is so much to love about this book! The book itself is well made and the photography is gorgeous! The recipes just seal the deal.

I’m a huge seafood fan, but some of my family are not, so I don’t make it as often as I’d like. As soon as I saw the Foil-Wrapped Fisherman’s Platter, I knew I had to make it. The dish did not disappoint! The cajun seasoning and andouille sausage gave it a nice kick and other than the potatoes (I should have cut them smaller), everything was done perfectly! Those of us who enjoy seafood loved it! I’m going to give my family a little time and then I’m going to try Campfire Paella. It looks amazing!!

Also on my “to cook” list is the Grilled Sausage Coil with Tarragon, Shallots and Garlic Toast. I just have to find a long sausage–not something I’ve run across here in South Dakota yet!

There are so many options, many I’d never thought of such as Spinach Feta Quiche Baked in Portabello Shells. What a great idea!! No worries about trying to clean up a quiche pan outdoors–you just eat it! Scones in a dutch oven, Grilled Cauliflower “Steaks” or even Grilled Watermelon Pizza with Arugula and Feta–someone has been thinking outside the box!

The Camp & Cabin Cookbook is a delightful book that I am thoroughly enjoying and highly recommend it. Whether cooking indoors or out (many recipes give directions for both), I’m sure you’ll find much to love in this lovely cookbook.

I received a copy of this book from Countryman Press for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a fascinating book about an equally fascinating period of history. Filled with interesting facts and tidbits along with an amazing number of recipes, this is sure to inspire you to want to make a Tudor feast!

There is a section of photos in the center of the book of Tudor era drawings, painting, artifacts, etc. The recipes include where they were found and the year. For instance, Coffyn of Grene Apples (Green Apple Pie) appeared in The Proper Newe Booke of Cookrye, c. 1557! The recipes also include historical notes or extra information at the top which just makes the book more interesting.

How about making some Figgy Pudding this Christmas or traditional Cornish Pasties? If you feel really adventurous, you can always try the Boar’s Head!

This is not just a book for cookbook enthusiasts! History buffs, homeschool moms and more will find much to interest them!

I received a copy of this book from Amberly Publishing through IPG for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Mama Mia!! If you like Italian food, you’ll love this book! Filled with stories and anecdotes along with absolutely delightful recipes, it is a feast for mind and body.

I love that this cookbook doesn’t just rely on you buying items like sun-dried tomatoes, giardiniera, pepperoncini and more, but gives you the recipes to make them yourself. Don’t run down to the store to pick up some salami or Soppressate, gather family around and make some yourself!

From fresh made pasta to lovely soups, delightful desserts and more, this book has something for everyone. Zucchini Fritti con Pecorino is beyond amazing. Kids who hate zucchini will love this! Maria’s Pasta di Mandorla (Almond Biscuits) are easy to make and delicious to eat!

Mangia! Mangia! is a lovely book of food and family and I am happy to recommend it. Cook some Italian tonight–your family will thank you!

I received a copy of this book from Penguin Lantern Press through IPG for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book defines the statement, “Don’t judge a book by its cover”. In the days of gorgeous photography, beautiful bindings and so forth, this little book stands out for its content. There are no photos, a simple typeface and no table of contents, but the recipes are perfection. While this is a Jewish cookbook, anyone can enjoy the delightful recipes inside.

The book is broken down into Appetizers & Party Treats; Meat, Poultry & Stuffings; Fish, Eggs & Cheese; Vegetables, Side Dishes, Salads & Dressings; Bread, Rolls & Muffins; Cakes & Icings; Pies & Desserts; Cookies, Squares & Candies; Jewish Festivals; Miscellaneous; One Helping, Please! (Dieting recipes); and Microwave Recipes. While there is no table of contents, there is a good index.

If you’re looking for good recipes for good food, this book has got you covered. No bells and whistles, just great food done right.

I received a copy of this book from Whitecap Books for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.