My ebook: The Puerto Rican Christmas Table

I'm so thrilled to share my brand new (and very first!) eCookbook with you. It's called The Puerto Rican Christmas Table, and it features 40+ classic Puerto Rican holiday recipes, restyled for modern kitchens all in a beautiful, full-color digital format perfect for your laptop, iPad, tablet, or mobile phone! 

You can click here to purchase and download the book (only $7.99!), or scroll down to read a bit more about how it came to be!

I have a tendency to do things on a whim.

It’s how I started Always Order Dessert nearly 7 years ago. It’s how I subsequently quit my job and turned that blog into a career.

And, it is how this book came to be.

The eCookbook

A couple months ago, I thought it might be a nice idea to pull together a few of my favorite Puerto Rican Christmas recipes to share in a small free PDF. I was thinking maybe 3 of the ones already on my blog with 1 or 2 new ones, all repackaged as a cute little document to go along with my holiday cards.

I started thinking about what could go in it, and that's when the trouble started...

The wheels in my head started turning (as they tend to do), and those 5 recipes grew to 10, then 20, then 30, and on and on. Within about 24 hours that "cute little PDF" turned into a full on 100-page digital cookbook!

And so, the marathon began. About 5 weeks, many (so many!) late nights, hours of research and testing, daily grocery store trips, 1 broken camera, an actual trip to Puerto Rico, and I can’t even tell you how many dirty dishes later, and I’m proud to finally share this eCookbook with you!

The recipes in this book are mostly ones that I grew up with. Classic side dishes like arroz con gandules and mofongo; desserts like tembleque (jiggly coconut pudding) and budin de pan (caramelized bread pudding); and classic entrees like pernil (roast pork) and pavochón (Puerto Rican style roast turkey).

There are also some new and totally not traditional twists, like my Pigeon Pea Hummus.


All New Recipes

Sample pages from the eCookbook

Slightly more than 80% of the recipes in the book are totally brand new and not found on this blog.

The ones that are also on the blog have all actually been retested, tweaked, and updated based on years of comments from you fine readers.

For example, my popular from-scratch rum cake recipe, which on the blog calls for you to create a separate homemade pudding mix, has been rewritten so that you only need one simple recipe--no extra steps!


Fresh Ingredients & Simple Techniques

Puerto Rican Pernil, from The Puerto Rican Christmas Table eCookbook

What do I mean by "restyled"?

It means that I took classic, well-loved recipes, and shook them up a bit. With very few exceptions, I replaced processed ingredients with fresh ones (for example--canned milk is replaced with fresh milk or cream), and eliminated unnecessary steps.

I also introduced the use of modern appliances like blenders and food processors to make somethings super quick and simple!

I'm so happy with the way this book turned out, and I hope that you will enjoy it. Whether you grew up eating Puerto Rican food, have enjoyed it on vacation, or are completely new to the cuisine, I think you will find plenty of recipes and ideas to stir up your imagination.

Click below to purchase and download now!

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Giveaway: Win a Copy of The Newlywed Cookbook from BHLDN

I've partnered with BHLDN for today's giveaway--a copy of The Newlywed Cookbook by Sarah Copeland.

This gorgeous cookbook was written for new couples eager to get into the kitchen together. From date-night staples like grilled lamb chops to decadent desserts (chocolate pudding, anyone?) The Newlywed Cookbook has really lovely mix of essential recipes for new couples, which makes it a wonderful Christmas or bridal shower gift.

Don't these pancakes look incredible?

Do you guys already know about BHLDN?

It's a wedding and special occasion retailer that sells attire, accessories, and décor. It's actually the sister store to Anthropologie (hence the awesomeness!), and they offer up a gorgeous array of dresses for any type of bride, from bohemian to classic to quirky.

Even better? They also have gorgeous dresses for wedding guests, too! (Very helpful as I'm at the period in my life where there is a wedding to attend every 5 minutes.)

If you're an obsessive party planner like I am, you should totally check out their beautiful vintage-inspired décor options--it's meant for weddings, but honestly, some of the wedding table decor on their site would be amazing even if you're not getting married!

I've already pinned a bunch of things that I'd love to use at one of my next parties.

To enter the book giveaway, leave a comment telling me the best OR worst thing you ever ate at a wedding. Funny stories welcome.

You can get extra entries by doing any of the following and leaving a separate comment for each one you did. If you don't leave a separate comment, it's just going to count as one entry so LEAVE A SEPARATE COMMENT. You can leave up to 5 comments (entries) total.

1. Like" Always Order Dessert on Facebook. Already a fan? Leave a comment on the page to say hello, then comment here to say you did. 

2. Post about this giveaway on your own personal or fan page Facebook wall, tagging my FB page, then comment here to say you did. 

3. Post the following message or a similar one in your own words on Twitter: Giveaway! Comment to win The Newlywed Cookbook from @nandita & @BHLDN: http://bit.ly/Xn4WuL

(then comment here to say you did)

4. "Pin" an Always Order Dessert recipe or DIY post of your choice on Pinterest and then comment here to say you did.

The winner will be selected via Random Number Generator. Your entry must be in by 5PM EST on Tuesday, December 18, 2012. US residents only, please.

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Giveaway: Win a Tate's Holiday Cookie & Bar Tower!

Earlier this Fall, I was invited to a private cooking class taught by Kathleen King, the baker behind the amazing Southampton-based Tate's Bake Shop--and those amazing super thin and crispy chocolate chip cookies.

Those cookies are kind of legendary among folks here in New York City. Back when I worked at Hearst, there was always something of a (stiletto-clad) stampede whenever someone brought a bag of those cookies into the office. Upon meeting Kathleen King--the creator of THOSE cookies--, I told her that a private baking class with her was like my version of a private concert with the Rolling Stones.

She quite liked that.

The class was a kind of book party celebrating the release of King's third cookbook, "Baking for Friends," and I was super excited to have been sent home from the event with my very own copy. It features recipes for all sorts of baked goods, along with beautiful photos, and plenty of baking tips.

It's a gorgeous book, and one that I definitely recommend if you have friends who love to bake. You can get an autographed copy for just $19.95 on the Tate's website. (You should probably include a bag or two of her famous cookies for them to snack on while deciding what recipe to make first.)

As a little holiday treat, the folks at Tate's are providing an incredible Holiday tower of cookies and bars for one of my readers. This is a $50 value, filled with an assortment of Tate's most popular cookies and bars.

To win, all you have to do is leave a comment below telling me your favorite holiday cookie--to make, eat, or buy!

You can get extra entries by doing any of the following and leaving a separate comment for each one you did. If you don't leave a separate comment, it's just going to count as one entry so LEAVE A SEPARATE COMMENT. You can leave up to 5 comments (entries) total.

1. Like" Always Order Dessert on Facebook. Already a fan? Leave a comment on the page to say hello, then comment here to say you did. 

2. Post about this giveaway on your own personal or fan page Facebook wall, tagging my FB page, then comment here to say you did. 

3. Post the following message or a similar one in your own words on Twitter: Giveaway! Comment to win a tower of Tate's cookies from @nandita: http://bit.ly/T5HGBx

(then comment here to say you did)

4. "Pin" an Always Order Dessert recipe or DIY post of your choice on Pinterest and then comment here to say you did.

The winner will be selected via Random Number Generator. Your entry must be in by 5PM EST on Thursday, December 14, 2012. US residents only, please.

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Serve Yourself by Joe Yonan

UPDATE: This giveaway is now closed. Congratulations to Diana who was the randomly selected winner. Thank you all for entering! Stay tuned for future giveaways. 

One of the coolest speakers I had the opportunity to hear at Eat Write Retreat, the food blogger conference I attended a couple weeks ago, was Joe Yonan, the food editor of the Washington Post. He was smart, affable, laid-back, and gave great advice in his talk and one-on-one conversations. I was charmed, as were most of the other bloggers in the audience.

A few days after the trip, I opened my laptop to find an email from his book publicist, offering me the opportunity to review and giveaway a copy of his new cookbook, Serve Yourself: Nightly Adventures in Cooking for One. Having heard him mention a few of the recipes in it during the conference, I jumped on the opportunity.

The book kind of languished on my coffee table for a few days until I finally picked it up. I have to admit that I was surprised. This isn't your usual "cooking for one" type book; the majority of which, I admit, I usually find kind of depressing. This book was packed with seriously cool recipes--mini meatloaf, individual portions of mac n' cheese, homemade pizza, a whole section on tacos (complete with great instructions on how to make homemade corn tortillas). It even opens up with a selection of recipes near and dear to my heart--homemade condiments. Yes, please!

I'm not single anymore, but I was for a long time and I am acutely aware of what it's like to live alone. And even now that I'm married, my days are mostly spent alone working from home so I could definitely see myself putting together a few of these recipes for lunch or even dinner on nights when Eugene has a work event. As one who loves to entertain, I could also see multiplying some of these recipes to serve as individual portions for guests--how cute, for example, would mini meatloaves be at a dinner party?

Just like in person, Joe comes across as a really cool guy in his writing. Each chapter begins and ends with brief stories; I loved the one about how his mom sent him grocery shopping at a young age because after his parents divorced he was the only one who still had access to the heavily discounted grocery store on base. And I'm sure many of us could relate to the ups and downs of cooking for dates, which he relates with quite a bit of humor and honesty.

Though geared towards the single cook, I think there will be a little bit for everyone in here.

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Giveaway: In the Small Kitchen

UPDATE: This contest is now closed. Congratulations to Melanie Cherea who won the random drawing. Stay tuned for other upcoming giveaways!

I've got a fun giveaway for you today!

In the Small Kitchen is a brand new cookbook by Cara Eisenpress and Phoebe Lapine, the fabulous blogger girls behind the blog Big Girls, Small Kitchen.

The book features a variety of delicious, straightforward recipes geared towards beginning cooks. Everything from simple lunch dishes to fancier recipes for holidays and parties. It features a few cocktails and lots of tips and tricks for new cooks.

Oh, and the foreword is written by none other than the fabulous Ina Garten (!!!) who is a long-time family friend of Phoebe's and who served as their mentor. (Again, !!!)

The book is lovely, and  would make a great gift for a new grad heading out on his or her own, or really just about anyone who is just starting out.

I have one copy of the book to give to you. To win it, all you have to do is leave a comment below telling me what was the first dish you remember making.  US residents only, please. All entries must be in by this Friday, 5PM EST.

I will select one winner using random number generator. Good luck!!

xo

Alejandra



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New to Always Order Dessert? Consider subscribing to my RSS feed, follow me on Twitter, become a fan on Facebook, or sign up to receive my once-a-week e-mail updates by filling in your address in the box on the right. I also offer custom menu planning services and offer a variety of culinary workshops in the NYC area. Click here to find out more!

And if you ever need any entertaining or cooking advice, please don't hesitate to e-mail me.
Thanks for reading!

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Giveaway: The Sweet Life in Paris

Today I have a special giveaway for you!

I've been given the opportunity to give away three paperback copies of David Lebovitz's book The Sweet Life in Paris, which is a delicious food memoir about David's experiences as an American living and cooking (and eating!) in Paris.

Those of you who read David's food blog will be familiar with his clever prose and seriously (seriously!) awesome recipes. His book brings these together, making it the kind of book you can curl up with, but which will also make you want to get in the kitchen (or at least the nearest French restaurant!).

To win, all you have to do is leave a comment telling me what YOUR idea of living "the sweet life" would be. All entries must be in by 11:59 PM EST, Sunday, March 20th. (That's this Sunday) One entry per person.

On Monday I'll use random.org to pick three winners. Please be sure to use an email address when you comment so that I can easily contact you. The winners' info will then be sent to Broadway Publishers (who are sponsoring the giveaway) and you will receive your copy of the book directly from them. Your email and contact info won't be used for anything else except contacting you if you win.

OK, then...good luck!


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New to Always Order Dessert? Consider subscribing to my RSS feed, follow me on Twitter, become a fan on Facebook, or sign up to receive my once-a-week e-mail updates by filling in your address in the box on the right. And if you ever need any entertaining or cooking advice, please don't hesitate to e-mail me. Thanks for reading!

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On My Cookbook Shelf

Today I want to share a handful (really more of a stack) of cookbooks that I’ve been loving over the past few months. Some are old and some are new, but they’re the ones that I’ve been referring to (or simply reading for enjoyment) the most lately.

Miss Dahl’s Voluptuous Delights
Girly pink and filled with lush food photos and a seasonal narrative about Sophie Dahl’s rise as a curvy model (and consequent battle with food and diet), this book became an instant favorite. The recipes are healthy without hitting you over the head about it, which is always a relief as I don’t ever like being told what to do (especially not by former models). Instead, they are just so good that you can’t help but run out to the market to fill your grocery basket with vegetables and nubby whole grains. The book is divided into seasons, with dishes that perfectly match the days and weather—exactly my kind of eating.

A Year in My Kitchen
I got back from my honeymoon to find a review copy of this book sitting on my desk. I’m so glad the publicist decided to send it to me as it’s definitely not one I would have thought to pick up on my own, but which I certainly would now that I know about it. Reminiscent of Nigel Slater’s The Kitchen Diaries, but a bit cleverer and practical, A Year in My Kitchen is a toolbox of dreamy simple recipes, techniques, and flavorings that the author combines over and over again in a multitude of unexpected ways. It’s reflective of the way we really cook—with a handful of flavors and tricks that never fail, but which can become something surprising when combined in a new way.

Good to the Grain
After seeing this book written just about everywhere for months, I finally went out (Borders 40% off coupon in hand) and got myself a copy. This book is a treasure-trove for those of you looking to incorporate more whole grains into your diet—or simply curious about how to use some of the more unusual flours available out there. (Amaranth? Teff? Spelt?) I’ve been guilty of causing a traffic jam in the baking aisle at Whole Foods on many occasions—I stand there mesmerized by the flours, restraining myself from buying them all. (I also often fantasized about one day being gifted a dozen “flours” like in the movie Stranger than Fiction—Eugene, take note!). And don’t worry; it’s not JUST weird flours—there are plenty of recipes for whole wheat, rye, and corn.

The Comfort of Apples
A cookbook filled solely with apple recipes seems like it would grow old quickly, but this one is a keeper! Filled with sweet and savory ideas for all parts of the meal (garnishes, sauces, and drinks included!), I found myself excited to pick up a huge batch at the farmer’s market and get to work. One of my favorites in the book is the apple tzatziki—an idea so clever it literally made me angry that I hadn’t thought of it first.

How to Repair Food 
This cleverly written little volume lives up to its name. No matter what ill befalls your recipe, this book will help you fix it (and better yet—prevent it next time). More than just a reference manual, it’s written in an amusing and colloquial tone that will make you want to sit and just read the whole thing right through. Smaller than a drugstore paperback, it’s the perfect size to tuck on the counter right next to the salt and pepper. Keep it close at hand and never worry about ruining a recipe ever again.

The Farmer’s Wife Slow Cooker Cookbook
I pulled this from the $2 bargain bin at a discount store a few months ago and am so glad I did (even though Eugene totally gave me one of those “Really, Alejandra?” kind of looks when I hopped out of the checkout line to grab it). It’s seriously the coolest concept—vintage recipes from the old Farmer’s Wife magazine (dating back to the late 19th and early 20th century) revamped to be made in a modern-day electric slow cooker. Awesome, right? The book is laced with little stories and clips from the vintage magazines, and each of the recipes is attributed to the farm wife who submitted it oh-so-long ago. I own several slow cooker cookbooks, but this is seriously the only one that gets me excited to pull out that dusty old thing.


Your turn! Any lovely cookbooks been gracing your kitchen lately?

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New to Always Order Dessert? Consider subscribing to my RSS feed, follow me on Twitter, become a fan on Facebook, or sign up to receive my once-a-week e-mail updates by filling in your address in the box on the right. And if you ever need any entertaining or cooking advice, please don't hesitate to e-mail me. Thanks for reading! 

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Above All, Have a Good Time

Hello, dear readers! I'm back, and I've missed you (and this blog) so much.

Our wedding was everything I wanted it to be,  the honeymoon an absolute dream, and I can't wait to tell you all about it. I'll have plenty of pictures (yes, that's one of them above!), recaps, some fun DIY tutorials, and of course, delicious new recipes coming up in the coming weeks, but for now, I thought I'd share with you the passage that I chose for the back of our wedding programs.

When picking the readings for our ceremony, I knew I wanted to include something food-related somewhere in the mix. I spent a while going through cookbooks and memoirs looking for just the right thing. I'd thought at first that MFK Fisher would end up providing me with the perfect words, but ultimately my choice came from the lady herself, Julia Child.

I came across the following passage, taken from the introduction to Mastering the Art of French Cooking, and fell instantly in love. It wasn't quite right for the readings, but I decided to put it on the back of the wedding programs for people to read while waiting for things to get started.

It's not a traditional wedding reading; it's not really supposed to be about marriage at all, but I think you'll understand why I thought it was perfect.

Enjoy, and I'll be back very soon with lots and lots more!

xoxo

Alejandra

from Mastering the Art of French Cooking by Julia Child

Pay close attention to what you are doing while you work, for precision in small details can make the difference between passable cooking and fine food. If a recipe says, "cover casserole and regulate heat so liquid simmers very slowly," "heat the butter until its foam begins to subside," or "beat the hot sauce into the egg yolks by driblets," follow it. You may be slow and clumsy at first, but with practice you will pick up speed and style.

Allow yourself plenty of time. Most dishes can be assembled, or started, or partially cooked in advance. If you are not an old campaigner, do not plan more than one long or complicated recipe for a meal or you will wear yourself out and derive no pleasure from your efforts.

If food is to be baked or broiled, be sure your oven is hot before the dish goes in. Otherwise soufflés will not rise, pie crusts will collapse, and gratinéed dishes will overcook before they brown.

A pot saver is a self-hampering cook. Use all the pans, bowls, and equipment you need, but soak them in water as soon as you are through with them. Clean up after yourself frequently to avoid confusion.

Train yourself to use your hands and fingers; they are wonderful instruments. Train yourself to handle hot foods; this will save time. Keep your knives sharp.

Above all, have a good time.

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New to Always Order Dessert? Consider subscribing to my RSS feed, follow me on Twitter, become a fan on Facebook, or sign up to receive my once-a-week e-mail updates by filling in your address in the box on the right. And if you ever need any entertaining or cooking advice, please don't hesitate to e-mail me. Thanks for reading!

Photo by Samantha Nichols and Adam Ciccarino, CMOStr photography.

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Inspired Living: 5 Fun Ways to Spice Up Your Cooking Life

As much as I love to cook, there are some weeks when even I find myself stuck in the middle of a total kitchen rut, with energy for little more than rifling through the take-out menu drawer. Inspired by the many "spice things up in the bedroom" articles that cross my desk as part of my (not-at-all-food-related) day job, I decided to create a similar list of quirky tips to help put the fun back in the other oh-so-important room in your house:

1. Make a Culinary Wish (list)
Sit down one day and write down anything (and everything!) that you've ever wanted to try making. Think dishes from restaurants you'd love to recreate at home, or something you love, but which has always seemed too daunting to try. (My own list includes things like "learn to bake fluffy and buttery homemade croissants" and "buy a real truffle and shave over scrambled eggs.") Don't edit yourself when making the list by worrying about cost or skill; just add every crazy and delicious thing you can think of--the details will work themselves out later. When you've got it all down, post the list somewhere conspicuous like the fridge or a pantry door where you're sure to spot it regularly. Whenever you start to feel a little bored or uninspired with cooking, take a peek at the list and pick one wild thing that really excites you...then give it a try!

2. Schedule a Play Date
Set aside one weekend a month where the cooking is just for fun...and just for you! If you have a family, arrange with your husband (or wife) so that they take care of food for themselves and the kids, or keep a back-up plan in place (read: phone number to the local pizza parlor)...then just play! Make whatever you want--an elaborate cake, homemade bread, a vegetarian meatloaf, liver pate...the sky is the limit! Don't worry about having to feed anyone or perfecting anything; just enjoy the time cooking. It it comes out fabulously, you can celebrate! If not, throw it in the trash and grab a slice of pizza with the kids. You just might surprise yourself!

3. Become a "Cheftestant"
Make your own "Top Chef" style challenges. On the popular cooking shows, the chef contestants are always being challenged to make delicious dishes with quirky obstacles. This could be a tight budget, having to buy all the ingredients in a 99 cent store, using only food of a certain color, or inspired by a particular film. Take a tip from those shows and create similar challenges for yourself. If you have friends or relatives who also love to cook, invite them to join in on the fun by setting a challenge for everyone to follow on the same weekend or even just within the same month. Then get creative and see what you come up with. You can host a potluck to share all the crazy dishes, or just share your pictures and results via a blog or e-mail chain. When you realize how much you can do when you let your creativity take over, you might find yourself a little more inspired on the other days of the week.

4. Talk to Strangers
In the market the other day, a woman asked me if I knew how to cook with a vegetable she had just noticed. She had no idea that I'm a food blogger and writer, but she saw me looking at them too so she gave it a shot. I gave her a couple ideas on how to prep the vegetable (sunchokes, in this case) and gave her my favorite recipe for a sunchoke soup. It might seem random, but why not follow that lady's lead and ask your butcher or another shopper at the store who is buying the same thing you're buying how they usually prepare it? If you go to a farmer's market, the farmers will usually be happy to talk to you about ways to use their produce. Or if you're in a small cafe or restaurant that you frequent, ask the owner or chef if he's willing to share the recipe for that dish you always order. You never know what you might find out!

5. Go Back in Time
Try to remember the first dish you successfully ever made by yourself. That could be a batch of back-of-the-box sugar cookies made with your mom looking over your shoulder when you were a little girl, or some simply sauteed chicken cutlets your second semester of college. Mine was a light and airy microwaved lemon pudding cake that I found in one of my mom's 80s "Microwave Cookery" books when I was about 10 and just starting to get curious about the kitchen. Whatever you early dish was, think back to the way it felt to make it, and (this part is key) make it again! Try and track down the original recipe (I spent a while hunting in my parent's house to find the exact sticky microwave book), or come up with the best approximation that you can. The mere act of thinking about that dish--and making and tasting it again--could be just enough to waken the excitement that the kitchen once held.

Your Turn: What tricks or ideas do you have for getting out of a kitchen rut?


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New to Always Order Dessert? Consider subscribing to my RSS feed, follow me on Twitter, become a fan on Facebook, or sign up to receive my once-a-week e-mail updates by filling in your address in the box on the right. And if you ever need any entertaining or cooking advice, please don't hesitate to e-mail me.
 
Thanks for reading!

(photo credit in this post only: iStockphoto.com)

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Kitchen Tip: Substituting Ingredients

Without fail, the most popular question I get from my readers (that’s you!), is "What can I substitute for x in this recipe?" Whether out of necessity (you *thought* you had three eggs left in the carton but really just have one), dietary reasons, or simply a taste preference (sigh...cilantro haters), we all find ourselves in situations when we have to replace one ingredient for another.

As much as I love hearing from you and answering your questions, I thought you might like to know about this little book that I've recently found quite useful in my own kitchen.

Called Substituting Ingredients, this handy little pocket-sized paperback by Becky Sue Epstein is a great reference book to keep in your kitchen, whether your developing recipes for your blog or just cooking for the family. Organized in alphabetical order, it contains suggestions and recommendations for just about any ingredient your recipe may call for (and even a few your recipes probably never will...did you know that shark is a good substitute for scallops? Me neither!).


Available on Amazon and wherever books are sold:
Substituting Ingredients: The A to Z Kitchen Reference
By Becky Sue Epstein

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We have a winner!!

Thanks to everyone who entered the cookbook giveaway sponsored by groovy product recommendation site Snubbr.com!

The contest closed on midnight Friday night (or Saturday morning??), and I used that oh-so-handy Random Number Generator to select the winner from all the entries.

Huge congratulations to Marthe from the food blog Culinary Delights. She won her choice of a cookbook. Marthe, please send along your cookbook choice and mailing address as soon as you get a chance!

To the rest of you, thanks so much for the fab book recommendations. I have a list a mile long that I now need to check out. (I think that Miss Dahl's Voluptuous Delights is first on my list!). And don't worry if you didn't win this time, because I have lots more giveaways coming up in the coming months.

Thanks again to Snubbr for providing such an awesome giveaway and prize. Be sure to check out their website!

Back soon with another delicious recipe...

xoxo

Alejandra

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Giveaway: Win a Cookbook of Your Choice!

It’s Friday! How about a fun little giveaway to celebrate the weekend?

The nice folks at Snubbr, a website that provides all kinds of product recommendations from experts, have offered to provide one of my readers with a cookbook of his or her choice. If you win, you’ll be able to select a book from one of the baking cookbooks recommended on this Snubbr page, or pick any cookbook of your choice from Amazon (just has to be $30 or less).

Cool deal, right?

You have until Midnight EST, June 11th to enter. I’ll then use Random Number Generator to select a winner.

To enter, just answer ONE of these questions in the Comments below this post:

What is your current favorite cookbook? OR What cookbook would you pick if you win?

Extra Entries: If you’d like to increase your chances of winning, please leave a separate comment for each of the following extra entry options:

• Become a fan of Always Order Dessert on Facebook, and leave a comment on my Facebook wall. If you’re already a fan, just leave a comment on the wall.

• Post this contest on YOUR Facebook wall with a link to this post, and leave a comment here letting me know you did.
  

• Tweet the giveaway with a link to this post (please include your Twitter username in the comment).

• Follow me @nandita on Twitter and leave a comment here saying that you did.

• Subscribe to my weekly newsletter and leave a comment saying you subscribed.

So there you go! Up to SIX chances to win a free cookbook.

Good luck!!

Xoxo

Alejandra

P.S. Please note that the prize can be shipped within the continental US only, although if you live elsewhere and have a friend or family member in the 48 contiguous states who would be willing to accept the prize on your behalf, that works too!

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Sticky Books: Michelle Norris of Brown Eyed Baker

Michelle Norris is the blogger and baker behind Brown Eyed Baker, a "sweet, savory, sinful" blog that features recipes and posts about breads, desserts, and other tempting baked goods (with an occasional savory dish thrown in). She also writes "how to" articles, such as the recent four-part series on how to build and stock a baking pantry, which are an incredible resource for novice and seasoned cooks alike.

Michelle is a marketing analyst by day, and has recently started her own baking business selling cakes, cupcakes, and cookies to a clientele of local Pittsburgh-area customers. Readers of her blog who live too far away may also soon be able to taste these goodies for themselves; she's currently working on making a selection of her cookies available for online purchase and shipping.

Those stains on well-used cookbooks are often a badge of honor for passionate cooks and Michelle is no different. "I get such a sense of pride when I go to leaf through a cookbook and the pages stick together," she says. "It makes me feel accomplished in the kitchen."



Michelle's Top Three Sticky Books

1. Baking: From My Home to Yours by Dorie Greenspan.
I received this book for Christmas 2007 from my sister. I had heard a few other bloggers singing its praises and was so excited to finally have it in my kitchen. The minute I opened it and started reading the forward, I was in awe of Dorie. She is a home baker, like so many of us, and just wants to share her love of baking with others. I have made dozens of recipes from this book, but my top 3 are probably Hidden Berry and Cream Cheese Torte, French Chocolate Brownies, and the Perfect Party Cake.

2. The Bread Baker’s Apprentice by Peter Reinhart
I purchased this book with a Barnes & Noble gift card I got for my birthday a couple of years ago, but it was some time before I finally cracked it open. Once I did, I found that I couldn’t put it down. The entire first part of the book is written almost as a textbook, with a large amount of information about the science behind bread baking. This serves not only as a great introduction for a beginner bread baker, but also as a fabulous resource for even the seasoned veterans. Of all the baked goods I have ever made, the one that my boyfriend requests more than anything else is Cinnamon Raisin Bagels from this book. He likes them toasted with butter, while I prefer cream cheese or peanut butter. Any way you top them, you can’t go wrong!

3. The Perfect Scoop by David Lebovitz
This may be a biased selection since I've just spent the entire summer churning ice cream, but this book IS sticky! Since I was new to homemade ice cream, I wanted a book that could serve not only as a source for great recipes, but also as a resource I could use as I delved into the world of homemade ice cream. This book delivered in every way I had hoped. The book has an entire section devoted to equipment and techniques, and dozens of incredibly delicious recipes. I could have eaten the Tin Roof Ice Cream all by myself (and just about did!). The Chocolate Ice Cream is the richest, most intense chocolate ice cream I have ever eaten. On top of these great recipes, I was able to use the methods and techniques to create my own recipes for things like Pistachio Ice Cream.

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Sticky Books: Lori Lange of Recipe Girl

I'm not sure if you noticed, but things have been a little quiet around here this week. I didn't mean for it to be that way, but sometime late Sunday night I got knocked right off my feet by a nasty cold that left me sleepy and whiny and incapable of consuming anything but plain whole wheat noodles with butter, rum raisin cookies, and mugs of steaming TheraFlu. The latter, by the way, is delicious. It's like a hot cup of Minute Maid soda fountain lemonade. Someone on Twitter pointed out that in "real life," TheraFlu is actually not delicious, and that the fact that I think so is a clear indication that I'm still ill. I guess I'll have to wait a few more days before I can confirm that theory, but for now...Om Nom Nom!! Pass me the TheraFlu, please!

Next week I'll be back to my regular posting schedule, with a few posts about the food and hi-jinx and more food that Eugene and I got into on our little getaway this past weekend. Until then, I'm excited to share with you the second installment of the Friday Sticky Books column here on Always Order Dessert. This week, we're featuring Lori Lange of the incredible recipe and entertaining website, RecipeGirl.com.

Note: If you're just learning about the Sticky Books feature, click here to read more about the project.


About Lori
A former elementary school teacher from San Diego, California, Lori Lange left the classroom in 2005 to start RecipeGirl.com. Lori now spends her (incredibly enviable) days cooking, baking, and photographing food for her website which houses a collection of more than 2,500 original and adapted recipes. The site also features a food blog and a searchable database of entertainment menus for all occasions. When I sent her the interview, Lori hinted that she's also got a brand new food blog in the works, so be sure to keep checking her site for more details!

Lori confessed that she owns 219 (!!!) cookbooks, but was happy to share her top three stickiest with us:

1. California Sol Food: Casual Cooking from the Junior League of San Diego
This one is near and dear to me since I was involved in the recipe testing and selection for this book. The recipes are divided into 'times of the day' (brunch, happy hour, dinner, etc) and each of them is representative of the fresh, seasonal flavors of Southern California. I've made over half of the recipes in this book, and they've all been fabulous. My favorite is a recipe that came from my family's kitchen: Summer Salad. I've recommended this salad to so many people, and it inevitably becomes their favorite too. I also really love the Margarita Cake.

2. The King Arthur Flour Cookie Companion by King Arthur Flour
I'm addicted to baking, and cookies are my favorite thing to experiment with. There are so many recipes in this cookbook that I don't think I could ever possibly ever get through them all, but I intend to try! For many of the cookie/bar/snack recipes, there are multiple variations listed. My all-time favorite recipe from this book is the Cinnamon Bun Cookies. Magic in the Middles are a must for Chocolate-Peanut Butter fans.

3. The Food You Crave: Luscious Recipes for a Healthy Life by Ellie Krieger
I picked up this cookbook on a whim, and I can't believe how much I use it. This is the cookbook I turn to most for quick and healthy meals. I've never watched Ellie Krieger on Food Network, but her recipes are reliable and delicious. They're easy enough for a novice cook, and gourmet enough for an experienced foodie. My favorites: Chickpea and Spinach Salad with Cumin Dressing and Fish Tacos with Chipotle Cream.

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Awesome, right? I can already tell this Sticky Books thing is going to be dangerous. (Although possibly very profitable for Amazon). Have you guys tried any recipes from these books? I haven't yet, but those fish tacos are calling my name...

Remember to check back every Friday for more Sticky Books from your favorite bloggers, and in the meantime, I'd love to hear about your favorite cookbooks below!

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Sticky Books: An Introduction & Selections by Marc Matsumoto of No Recipes

I recently woke up thinking about a recipe I used to make when I first started to experiment in the kitchen. It came from a cookbook that my mother had gotten sometime in the early 80s from Cooking Light magazine. Along with the usual "light" recipes, the book had an entire chapter on microwave cookery. Though I was still too young to mess around with the stove, my mom let me go to town with the microwave (once I understood that metal things were off limits, that is).

There was an easy lemon pudding cake that quickly became my favorite. It was a kind of souffle that relied on stiff egg whites for height and just the teensiest bit of flour. I made the pudding cakes all the time that year until I was able to graduate to box mixes and the oven. I don't think I thought about those little lemon cakes again until the other day when they reappeared for no reason at all. I called my mom and she promised to look for the book. We stopped by the house for dinner a couple weeks ago, and found the book sitting on the kitchen shelf. I excitedly flipped through the pages right to the recipe for lemon pudding cakes. There was the picture I'd remembered, and the page...well it was filthy! Crusts of long ago flour and sugar and a rip where the paper had glued itself together. It was the only page in the book that looked like that; the surest evidence of a favorite recipe.

We all have books like this, sticky and splattered with frosting from that cake we made grandpa on his 75th birthday or the splatter of cranberry sauce from the first time mom let you help with Thanksgiving. Seeing that messy and beloved page made me wonder about the stories in other people's cookbook pages, and so Sticky Books, a new weekly interview column here on Always Order Dessert, was born.

Each Friday, a different food blogger or will share his or her top three favorite cookbooks with my readers. Sticky books are a badge of honor for the home cook, sometimes even more memorable than the album full of snapshots, and so I'm excited that so many incredible bloggers have been willing to share them with us. If you have experiences with the books that these bloggers mention, I invite you to leave them in the comments, and please don't hesitate to tell us about your own sticky books.

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Sticky Books: Marc Matsumoto of No Recipes


Marc Matsumoto started his food blog No Recipes nearly two years ago. Based on the philosophy that cooking is 50% technique, 40% inspiration, and 10% ingredients, he strongly believes that armed with a handful of basic techniques and a little inspiration, anyone can make a tasty meal from even the most derelict pantry.

When I sent Marc the questions for this feature, he told me about a new event that he just launched on his blog called Blog Away Hunger, which is meant to raise money for the World Food Program. The WFP gets food aid to the people that need it most, and with one in seven people on Earth suffering from chronic hunger, they need all the support they can get. He's inviting everybody to participate in this event by simply creating a meal that costs less than what you'd normally spend, post about it on your own blog or website, and then donate the money you saved to the WFP. You can check out Marc's blog for more details.

And now, in Marc's words, his top three Sticky Books:

Marc: Since I don't cook with recipes, my most used cookbooks tend to be reference books where I can quickly look up information on ingredients and basic techniques.

1. On Food and Cooking by Harold McGee
This is my "stickiest" cookbook. It doesn't contain any recipes, but it holds within its blessed binding, answers to nearly any food related question you may have. Like "How is soy sauce made?" or "What do cell walls have to do with the mealiness or meltingness of fruit?". This is the Webster's of the culinary world.

2. The Best Recipe by the editors of Cooks Illustrated
What I love about the folks at Cooks Illustrated is that they take scientific rigor and apply it to food. Through a documented process and iterative testing, they figure out the best way to do something. As with anything that comes out of a lab, their recipes tend to lack soul, but what it lacks in character is more than compensated for with rock solid techniques and play-by-play details.

3. Japanese Cooking: A Simple Art by Shizuo Tsuji
You won't find any drool-worthy photos or nostalgic stories here, but if you want a reference book on Japanese ingredients and cooking, this is the only English language book that will meet your needs. Like Julia Child, with her tome: Mastering the Art of French Cooking, Tsuji opens the door into the mystical world of Japanese food with her book.


Have you cooked with any of Marc's favorite cookbooks? Tell us about them in the comments! And remember to check back next Friday for the next edition of Sticky Books.

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