Culinary Adventures with Camilla

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of author Megan Marlowe and publisher Page Street Publishing. I received a complimentary book for the purpose of review, but all opinions are honest and they are my own. No additional compensation for this post was provided; this page may contain affiliate links. Last week I received an advance copy of a cookbook by a fellow blogger: Megan Marlowe of Strawberry Blondie Kitchen . Her new book is entitled Incredible One-Pot Cooking: Easy Delicious Recipes for Exciting Meals - Without the Mess. * Megan and I have blogged in similar circles for a few years, participating in virtual events for #BrunchWeek, #ChristmasSweetsWeek, and she joined my #FreakyFruitsFriday last October. So when I saw the post that she had published a cookbook and was sending copies out to bloggers for review, I jumped at the chance. I am always eager to bolster fellow food bloggers' books and projects. On the Page Marlowe is a busy mom of two an...

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Tracey Medeiros. I received a complimentary book for the purpose of review, but all opinions are honest and they are my own. No additional compensation for this post was provided; this page may contain affiliate links. When I received an email from Tracey Medeiros, asking if I might be interested in reviewing her cookbook - The Vermont Non-GMO Cookbook: 125 Organic and Farm-to-Fork Recipes from the Green Mountain State* - I agreed immediately. I am always interested in any inspiration for farm-to-fork recipes. And, truth be told, I don't know much about Vermont. So, I was excited to see what sorts of produce would be featured. On the Page image courtesy Tracey Medeiros Medeiros writes in her introduction that the book "takes you on a culinary journey through the tiny villages, quaint towns, and bustling cities of our Green Mountain State to meet the people that have helped make this book a reality. ...[The]...

I love making things that fulfill two project commitments at once. So, I decided to make the chocolate wine tasting cake from Booze Cakes for a cookbook review and for the dessert course for my friend Brian's Game of Thrones-themed birthday luncheon . Here are my Chocolate-Pinot Cupcakes in Marshmallow Fondant AKA Horse Heart Cupcakes... Before I get into the recipes, I have a f unny story. My Precise Kitchen Elf came down when I was making these and this was his response -  "Mom, you know that hearts have three valves, right? Not four valves. Or two. Oh, and they aren't just red and black. They have some blue and purple. Though for small animals, you won't see a lot of blue. What kind of animal heart is that supposed to be?"  Horse .  "Then you definitely need more colors." Please leave the kitchen.    adapted from the Wine Tasting Cakes recipe in  Booze Cakes *  by Krystina Castella and Terry Lee Stone Bef...

I am one of thirteen bloggers who has received copies of the Rinku Bhattacharya's new cookbook  The Bengali Five Spice Chronicle s  from  Hippocrene Books . Over the next few weeks, I'll be cooking from, reviewing, and giving away a copy of the book . Tonight was my first dinner based on Rinku's recipes. The Bengali Five Spice Chronicles is a deceptively small volume, with less than 300 pages; once you crack the cover, however, you find yourself engulfed in fifteen chapters with multiple recipes per page. It was initially daunting, but my trepidation quickly transformed into giddy enthusiasm once I began to explore her recipes. Rinku's prose is vivid and colorful. I could clearly imagine "heralding the morning with the sound of a conch shell blown by the mistress of the house." Wait...I am the mistress of the house and I do have a conch shell. Hmmmm....I'm not sure the boys would appreciate that kind of wake-up call! And her recipes...let me just ...

If you follow my blog at all, you'll know that following a recipe is not my strong suit. Even with my best intentions, I tweak and twist, adapting the ingredients to match my pantry or my mood. And when I do find a recipe that is declared, by the three boys with whom I live, a winner, I still don't make it exactly the same way the next time. Why on earth would I agree to review a cookbook? Well, I think that I am not alone; I am certain that other cooks use cookbooks as inspiration and jumping off points. And to those people, my reviews might be helpful. For fastidious cooks who measure and adhere strictly to listed ingredients, I apologize in advance! *Full Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book  -  Muy Bueno: Three Generations of Authentic Mexican Flavor  -   for the purpose of reviewing it.* Before this year my kitchen was off limits to my boys. I found peace among my pots and pans and liked that estrogen ruled supreme in that tiny...