I remember a time, or maybe I read it somewhere, when receiving a cookbook as a gift seemed like an insinuation that you couldn’t cook. That is certainly not the case anymore and with so many amazing cookbooks being released, all year round, but especially at Christmas, there is certain to be the perfect selection for all of the food lovers in your life.
We have a selection of Cookbooks to share with you in our gift guide today and they are sure to appeal to a wide range of food lovers.
My personal favourite, and the one that I think will be the biggest hit in my house with my tribe of sweet tooths is Sweet! Celebrations by Elise Strachan.
Strachan has made a name for herself across the globe with her YouTube channel MyCupcakeAddiction and her most viewed video is a tutorial for a Skittles Rainbow Cake with over 27 million views.
Sweet! Celebrations is her long awaited first book and it is so much more than just cupcakes. The book is separated into chapters which will give you a themed party; complete with large themed cake, three small bake options, two no bake options, two drinks and a couple of DIY crafty elements and some styling tips.
The book contains a chapter for every occasion from rustic weddings, Christmas, Spring, Easter, birthday parties and Halloween.
There are some amazing cake options here and an entire chapter dedicated to Christmas. A Christmas tree cake, snow globes, baked ornaments, hot chocolate and egg nog.
The last chapter is filled with Strachan’s basic recipes and tips.
Whether you are planning an extravagant party, a simple afternoon tea or need something for the school bake sale there is something here for everyone and I couldn’t even begin to choose a favourite.
A gorgeous and drool worthy book that is sure to delight the sweet tooths in your life.
Sweet! Celebrations is published by Murdoch books and available now where all good books are sold.
RRP: $39.99
Basics to Brilliance – Donna Hay
Donna Hay is a household name across the country and one of our best known cookbook authors. The new book, Basics to Brilliance, also has a TV series tie in which airs on Foxtel.
Hay believes that, like anything in life, if you want to be good at something you need to master the basics to build confidence and work your way up.
Basics to Brilliance is a book featuring over 200 recipes, once you master the basic recipe you are limited only by your imagination with the variations you can create. The book contains recipes that Hay loves and cooks all the time, after the basic recipe she has included some variations and flavour changes. Sweet and savoury, there is a little bit of everything.
This gorgeous hardcover volume features beautiful photography that is sure to become a feature on every cookbook shelf.
There is a section of sauces and salsas to accompany all sorts of meals. Chicken, pork, duck, fish, beef and lamb you are covered with most of your meats and the dishes look divine.
Smoky pulled pork, a fail safe meringue, sponge cake, fudge cake, biscuits and brownies you are guaranteed to find delectable offerings to tantalise every taste bud.
Basics to Brilliance is published by HarperCollins Australia and is available now where all good books are sold.
RRP: $55
More Please! – Manu Fiedel
Manu Fiedel is well known for his role as one of the co-hosts on Australian cooking show MKR. He has diverse cultural roots and that shows in the food he loves to cook at home.
More Please! is a collection of recipes that are favourites with his family. They are real, flavoursome food, with elements of his flair and flamboyance.
Starters, mains, sides, desserts and a section for basics with pastes and sauces mean there’s something for everyone. The mains are ones they cook and eat regularly with the family but there’s also a section of recipes for entertaining.
As I flicked through this beautifully laid out cookbook with gorgeous photographs I noticed the wide variety of cultural influences and the diverse selection of meats on offer. To go along with the usual beef, pork and chicken is a range of seafood including anchovy, squid, tuna, mussels, prawns and trout.
The desserts are looking delectable with Chocolate Paris-Brest, Banana Fritters and Apple Turnovers among many others.
More Please! is published through Murdoch Books and is available now where all good books are sold.
RRP: $39.99
Will and Steve: Home Cook, Aspiring Chef – Will Stewart and Steve Flood
From one of the MKR hosts to the winners of My Kitchen Rules, Will and Steve.
The beauty of this book, apart from the delectable recipes and divine photography, is the contrast between Will and Steve. I am not really a big TV watcher so I didn’t see their season, or any season, of MKR to watch the way they work together in the kitchen but it does show through in the book. It is especially apparent in the Home Cook, Aspiring Chef chapter where Will and Steve each take the same ingredients and create two completely different dishes. For example there’s Will’s Duck Potpie followed by Steve’s Duck with Pumpkin, Eggplant and Toasted Seeds, Will’s Shepherd Pie followed by Steve’s Lamb Backstrap with Pomme Puree and Burnt Onions.
The book features six chapters:
• Brunch, Soups and Sarnies
• Shared Plates
• Home Cook, Aspiring Chef
• Dinner
• Sides and Salads
• Sweets and Desserts.
Each chapter contains a masterclass with detailed focus on important techniques.
Home Cook, Aspiring Chef offers inspiration in the kitchen for all skill levels and some amazing dishes. Some of my favourites, found in the dessert section of course, are Rhubarb and Custard Popsicles and Lemon Tart with Swiss Meringue.
There are options for every meal, either with the family or entertaining and they are all hearty, wholesome and flavoursome.
The book closes with a section of sauces, stocks and the staples that many of us just pick up off a supermarket shelf but when they are so simple and so much better for you homemade why wouldn’t you learn to do it all yourself.
Will and Steve: Home Cook, Aspiring Chef is published by Harlequin and available now where all good books are sold.
RRP: $39.99
I devour books, vampires and supernatural creatures are my genre of choice but over the past couple of years, I have broadened my horizons considerably. In a nutshell – I love to write! I love interacting with a diverse range of artists to bring you interviews. Perhaps we were perfect before – I LOVE WORDS!