This cookbook was reviewed by Ashlae of Ladycakes.

Overall, I found SS&GF, by Amy Green, to be a very well put together cookbook with many simple and healthy recipes. Not to mention, it’s loaded with 180 recipes that you can make in 20 minutes or less. 180 recipes, 20 minutes or less? Now that’s my kind of cookbook.

Being that I’m vegan, I found it very, very difficult to “veganize” some of the recipes. But, much like regular baking, gluten free vegan baking is a science. One that I feared would greatly alter the original recipes if attempted properly.

I made five recipes from the cookbook, three of which I absolutely loved. The other two, well, they were the ones I tried to veganize – so it cannot be held against the author.

This review was prepared by Jennifer of Chocolate Shavings.
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Julia Usher's Cookie Swap: Creative Treats to Share Throughout the Year book is a cookbook full of original cookie ideas to make all year long for different occasions. Her main premise: cookie swaps are not just for Christmas anymore! Cookie swaps are the ideal place to share family baking secrets, discover new ways of making cookies and come home with a box full of different types of cookies lovingly made by your friends and family. The book walks you through all steps to organizing the perfect, delicious cookie swap. From making the best crumbly cookies, to choosing a cookie swap theme and beautifully wrapping, labeling and packaging the cookies, this book has it all!

This review was prepared by Deborah of Taste and Tell.
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The people that know me know that I love cookbooks. If I had unlimited income, I would have a library full of them. But what is better than just another cookbook? A cookbook written by a fellow blogger!

When I was asked to review Anita Chu’s book Field Guide to Cookies: How to Identify and Bake Virtually Every Cookie Imaginable, I was beyond thrilled. I have been reading Anita’s blog – Dessert First – for quite some time now. I’ve always been impressed by her elegant desserts and stunning photography. I eagerly agreed to review the book, as it was one that I was going to add to my collection anyway.

This adorable little book arrived in my lap at the perfect time, just as I was looking for some treats to bake for my friends over the holidays. The ‘field guide’ is divided into chapters which describe drop cookies, bar cookies, molded cookies and rolled cookies. Each cookie has a general description, some history, serving suggestion, recipe, yield and storage. Some of the cookies have suggestions for variations.

At first glance a couple of things were a little bit annoying to me. The pictures were all in the middle of the book, and had no cross reference to the actual recipes, so I had to flip to the index. Also, the book was very small so it was difficult to prop open to follow the recipes. I was disappointed that there was no help with finding recipes for specific dietary requirements, gluten free, vegan, nut allergies etc, although one of the recipes I made could have easily been adapted to be vegan, the greek honey macaroons(honey could be substituted for another syrup).