Gorgeous CakesAnnie Bell has got to be one of the finest food writers around and Chris Alack, one of the best photographers. This was always going to be a winning partnership.Gorgeous Cakes is a stunner. Its large format allows for superb pictures which complement Annie’s lovely recipes. They are clear and easy to 
follow with background information and anecdotes from Annie before each one. The
text is both charming and informative and gives the book an altogether comfy
feel that encourages the reader to make these lovely cakes and share with family
and friends.Annie Bell has managed to introduce some surprises, some new takes on old favourites. Banoffee Cupcakes (Annie has eight delicious examples of cupcakes) sound fabulous and are so easy. These would be great to make with the kids and they could go to town with the decorations. There are so many cakes here that are “child-friendly” that will give youngsters happy memories of learning to cook. Gin and Tonic Minis are girly and decadent. How smart would they be to present when the ladies are over for summer evening cocktails. Chocolate Sensation would be an instant success with a cup of coffee...or even without a cup of coffee, for that matter. The recipes are not just for the girls (although the book is lovely enough to leave open on a frilly dressing table). There are plenty of things that would be appreciated by the most macho of boys. Ginger, Almond and Fig Meringue would tempt a rugby team with its sweetness and gingery bite. Cherry Crumble Cake wouldn’t go amiss with lads of the hollow-legged sort. Gorgeous Cakes also has a number of recipes for people with health issues. There is Fig and Orange Cake with Campari Glaze, that has no fat, Sour Cherry Yogurt Cake with no eggs, and a meringue which is wheat-free. You don’t have to have health problems to enjoy these but it’s good to be able to produce smashing sweet treats for friends and family who have to watch what they eat. I read more recipes than most people would want to shake a stick at, but my favourite, and new to me, is Orange Marzipan Cake. It’s in the Festive Baking chapter and will be the cake of choice for all those who hate the traditional Christmas fruit cake. This is moist and a much lighter alternative to a cake made with just dried fruit. The combination of orange marmalade, marzipan and rum make this a special cake for any time of year. Annie Bell has been a chef and has written several other cookbooks, some of which I will be reviewing over the next weeks. She now writes for The Mail on Sunday’s YOU magazine and contributes to Country Living. So I had expected something special, and I haven’t been disappointed. Gorgeous Cakes Author: Annie Bell Published by: Kyle Cathie Price: £14.99 ISBN 978-1-85626-614-7  Traditional Teatime RecipesThis is a lovely book from Jane Pettigrew and The National Trust. It draws on Jane’s expertise as a tea expert (nice choice of words, huh?) and presents what must be one of the finest collections of traditional recipes for afternoon tea goodies. The British are known to be big tea drinkers but we are in fact only third in the world for tea consumption after Ireland and the Arab States. We have, however, cultivated tea drinking into a cross between the formality of the Japanese Tea Ceremony and the informality of a children’s picnic. There are rules about how to make a “nice cup of tea” and even the use of forks for cake-eating. The fun aspect is that you do get to eat cakes and tarts and biscuits and buns.... Traditional Teatime Recipes is a book full of the most delightful sweet things that we (well, anyone of my age and older) will remember from Sunday teas at auntie’s, tea rooms and smart hotels on rainy afternoons. These are truly the cakes that we ate, and the same cakes that some of us were taught to make in cooking lessons...when there were cooking lessons! What could be nicer than an afternoon at one of the The National Trust’s wonderful properties? These days there are welcoming and comfortable cafés which will be happy to ply you with some teatime favourites. Have a sit down, a cup of tea and a slice or two of, say, Orange Gingerbread or Chocolate Rum Cake, even a couple of Yorkshire Curd Tarts (those are to die for)! Each recipe has a little history, and they tell us that, yes, we have been baking delicious cakes for centuries. The recipes are easy to follow and would hold no terrors for even a novice cook. The ingredients are not expensive or exotic, but you will find the finished articles to be scrumptious and irresistible. It’s good to see that the art of Afternoon Tea is enjoying something of a renaissance. There is a lot of interest in tea generally, now that its health benefits have been publicised. Jane has suggested various types of tea to drink with the cakes. For Petworth Pudding, Jane advises Kenyan or China Yunnan; Fat Rascals, that’s the name of these fruity buns, would be best served with Yorkshire tea. Afternoon tea is a very agreeable way to pass some time. A chance to relax, enjoy a cup of reviving Earl Grey and a munch on a little bit of tradition. There is everything in this book you would need to host an authentic tea party, or why not just put your feet up and pamper yourself! Traditional Teatime Recipes Author: Jane Pettigrew Published by: The National Trust, Anova Books Price: £15.99 ISBN 978-1-905400-52-2 The Connoisseur’s Guide to TeaThis is another in the lovely Connoisseur’s series by Apple Press. The author, Jane Pettigrew, is a celebrated teaprofessional and currently edits the Tea International section of the Tea and Coffee Trade Journal. Jane is also a consultant to the UK Tea Club. This extraordinary woman even manages to find time to write a few food related books such as Traditional Teatime
Recipes, reviewed here a few months ago.The Connoisseur’s Guide to Tea is a colourful volume with charming photographs by Paul Forrester and map illustrations by Richard Chasemore. Those maps help to give the information some geographic context. Tea is an international product which has regional differences, and even subtle characteristics unique to particular plantations. The tea story is an amazing jigsaw of leaf varieties, climate and soil. I wasn’t aware that tea is, in fact, the most popular drink in the world. Most of us in the UK tend to drink black tea and mostly the sort that comes in handy little bags. There is a trend towards green tea as well as flavoured teas although some of these rely on herbs and spices for flavour and contain no tea. It pays to look at the ingredients if you want to take advantage of the reputed health-giving properties of the real thing. The Connoisseur’s Guide to Tea is divided into two parts, the first being The Story of Tea and the second being the Global Tea Directory. Most of us know a bit about the history of our cuppa but it’s a fascinating tale and we should perhaps view with shame our (that is the British) involvement. The British East India Company grew and exported opium to China. They did this despite the fact that the importation of opium was banned by Chinese law in 1727! The Chinese paid for the opium with silver and that same silver was used by the British to pay for tea from China. The Global Tea Directory is comprehensive but much more accessible than many wine tasting guides. It covers all the main tea producing areas. Numerous teas are described, brewing tips are given and even suggestions for when you might best enjoy these teas and whether you should add milk or not... always controversial. The Connoisseur’s Guide to Tea is an information-packed volume that will encourage you to try something a bit different. Dust off the teapot and buy some real tea. You’ll taste the difference. The Connoisseur’s Guide to Tea Author: Jane Pettigrew Price: £12.99 Published by: Apple Press ISBN 978-1-84543-144-0 |
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