This cookbook was reviewed by Linda and Dave of Monkeyshines in the Kitchen.

Growing up in the United States, the Indian food that Linda knew was what mom made with leftover Thanksgiving turkey. It was fast and easy: simply cut up the turkey legs, sauté with onions and raisins and a whole lot of curry powder and call it done. To this day, she still has an enormous aversion to the thought of curry. Even to leftover turkey. And don’t get her started on fruit with meat… Sorry mom. Dave on the other hand grew up in the United Kingdom, where good Indian food is a way of life. Much to his dismay, Linda would flinch every time he mentioned going out for Indian food (although inevitably she’d enjoy her dinner immensely.) Even so, Dave’s Indian home cooking experience was mostly restricted to Beef Curry Casserole, from a cookbook by the venerable British cook Katie Stewart. Although this is a tasty dish (which we still make from time to time), it only conveys a hint of what Indian cuisine has to offer.

We therefore excited about the opportunity to review My Indian Kitchen: Preparing Delicious Indian Meals Without Fear or Fuss by Hari Nayak. We both were intrigued by the concept – could we actually make a decent Indian meal without fear or fuss? Perhaps Linda could overcome her aversion to the thought of curry. And perhaps we could find tasty, authentic Indian dishes to make that don’t require 45 obscure ingredients and 8 hours in the kitchen. It was certainly worth a try! Furthermore, this attractive, large format book is lavishly illustrated with beautiful pictures of both ingredients and finished dishes, inviting us to try out the recipes.

This review was prepared by Ivonne M. of Cream Puffs in Venice.
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I'm sure we all have an "Italy dream". You know the one where we're blissfully driving through the Italian countryside stopping here for a perfect glass of wine and there for the most incredible meal of your life. No cares. No worries. Just lots of fresh, mouth-watering food prepared by soulful Italian women who give you a big hug when it's all said and done, just like grandma used to.

A dream, indeed.

Thankfully, some people are very good at helping others realize their dreams in a way that's most attainable. In this case I speak of Matthew Scialabba and Melissa Pellegrino, authors of The Italian Farmer's Table: Authentic Recipes and Local Lore from Northern Italy.

This review was prepared by Shellyfish of Musings From The Fishbowl.

Have you ever found yourself craving the delightful flavours and spices of your favourite Indian food, only to opt for something else because you lacked the time or perhaps the know-how to recreate an Indian feast at home? Then Modern Spice: Inspired Indian Flavors for the Contemporary Kitchen is for you.

Monica Bhide is a perfect example of the contemporary Indian American cook, mixing up tradition with contemporary flare and panache. The dishes she presents mirror her multi-cultural up-bringing – she was born in New Delhi, raised in the Middle East and now calls United States her home. Gathering from all the culinary traditions she’s known and grown to love, Modern Spice is the marriage of Bhide’s rich culinary experiences, with the savoir faire passed on for generations. Bhide indeed gives credit where credit is due and speaks fondly of her mother, mother-in-law, and her grandmother’s culinary influences on her own cooking.

The book is broken down into 9 sections : 1) The Modern Spice Pantry, 2) Chutneys and Marinades, 3) Modern Drinks, 4) Appetizers, Snacks and Salads, 5) Vegetables, Beans and Lentils ; 6) Poultry, Meat and Eggs, 7) Fish and Shellfish, 8) Rice and Breads and finally 9) Desserts.