Review: Daisy Cakes Bakes

Title: Daisy Cakes Bakes

Author: Kim Nelson

Date of Publication: February 27th, 2018

Goodreads Summary:

A beautiful baking cookbook of 100 recipes for the delicious cakes that made Daisy Cakes a huge success story of ABC’s Shark Tank, plus cookies, pies, cobblers, and more–with 60 photographs evoking a sense of nostalgia for making your own family recipes.

The scent of cake baking in the oven, the pretty sheen of frosting being whipped up nice and light, or the glorious mess of measuring and mixing ingredients for cookie dough are memories cherished by many a home baker. Kim Nelson grew up learning to make family recipes alongside her mother, grandmothers, and great aunt. This pastime blossomed into Kim’s beloved company, Daisy Cakes, which ships delicious Southern layer cakes in keepsake tins all across the US. Daisy Cakes Bakes shares those family cake recipes, as well as recipes for cookies, bars, confections, pies, ice creams, and more. The flavors are rich but never cloying, the recipes are crowd-pleasing and simple to make, and Kim’s engaging stories will inspire everyone to start their own baking traditions.

My Review:

I first saw Daisy Cakes on Shark Tank and instantly wanted to eat them all. Then I remember I looked up the cost online and was like, never mind!

Now, though, I can make my own! The pictures inside were utterly delectable with easy to follow instructions. And the red velvet cake!!!!!!!!!!!

Photo Credit

Anyway, I would need to actually make one to see how it would turn out to properly rate this book. But either way, it’s fun to look at!

I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review.

What’s your favorite kind of cake?

Review: QUESO!: Regional Recipes for the World’s Favorite Chile-Cheese Dip

Title: Queso!: Regional Recipes for the World’s Favorite Chile-Cheese Dip

Author: Lisa Fain

Date of Publication: September 26th, 2017

Goodreads Summary:

A fun, full-color look at everyone’s favorite cheese dip, with history, tips, facts, and 50 recipes from beloved food blogger Lisa Fain, “the Homesick Texan.” 

Queso (aka chile con queso) is a spicy, cheesy, comforting cult favorite that has long been a delicious addition to any party, barbecue, or family gathering. This appealing and accessible book features a mix of down-home standards and contemporary updates, from historical, regional, and Mexican quesos to vegan and dessert quesos, including Chile Verde Con Queso, Squash Blossom Queso Fundido, Fajita Queso, Cactus and Corn Queso Poblano, Frito Salad with Queso Dressing, Pulled Pork Queso Blanco, and Sausage Queso Biscuits. Whether you’re relaxing with friends, having a few people over to watch the football game, or entertaining a hungry crowd, queso is the perfect party food for good times.

My Review:

This book has answered my prayers! Freaking cheese! I love cheese dip! Queso!!! There are so many different queso dips that I had no idea existed, and I want to drink every single one of them!

Photo Credit

The spinach queso blanco looked the best, and there are some avocados thrown in! If you want me to love you, all you have to do is hand me some queso and an avocado, so I just may marry this dip!

Before I get any more ridiculous, there were plenty of easy to follow dips that would be great for parties or just any normal day. I think I also need the queso burger! This has to be my favorite food book so far!

I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review.

Are you a cheese fan?

Review: Sweet Potatoes: Roasted, Loaded, Fried, and Made Into Pie

Title: Sweet Potatoes: Roasted, Loaded, Fried and Made Into Pie

Author: Mary-Frances Heck

Date of Publication: September 5th, 2017

Summary:

60 next-level sweet potato recipes that call on new techniques and bold flavors–like chilies, coconut milk, and chocolate–for flavorful takes on this delicious superfood.

My Review:

Let me just say… I had no idea sweet potatoes could be made into so many things. I have literally had a sweet potato casserole (which is gross) and sweet potato fries (which are good).

Photo Credit

I actually like how diverse a sweet potato is, which I just found out from this book! Do you want a stew? Let me give you some sweet potatoes. You want a casserole? Let me give you some sweet potatoes. You want a soup? Let me give you some sweet potatoes! You want ice cream? Let me give you some sweet potatoes! You want enchiladas? Let me give you some freaking sweet potatoes! Anyway, you get the idea.

The author put this book together extremely well with beautiful pictures that makes me want to try every single one of these recipes—more on the curious factor of wondering what all these different sweet potato things taste like! Overall, I found this interesting and a learning tool on something I had no idea about!!!

I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review.

Do you like Sweet Potatoes?

Review: Holiday Cookies: Showstopping Recipes to Sweeten the Season

Title: Holiday Cookies: Showstopping Recipes to Sweeten the Season

Author: Elisabet der Nederlanden

Date of Publication: September 5th, 2017

Summary:

From Icebox Pinwheel Cookies to Red-and-White Meringue Kisses to Apple Cider Caramels, find new inspiration for the best of seasonal baking with Holiday Cookies.

This instant holiday classic is packed with 50 recipes, each gorgeously photographed and meticulously tested, along with dozens of decorating and packaging ideas. Filled with reimagined favorites like Giant Molasses Spice Cookies and Hazelnut Sandwich Cookies; confections like Peppermint Bark, Smoked Almond and Cacao Nib Brittle, and Dark Chocolate-Hazelnut Fudge; and detailed instructions for gorgeous gingerbread houses, cookie place cards, and edible ornaments, this is a cookie book like no other. Because the recipes are easy to scale up or down, Holiday Cookies is perfect for cookie exchanges, gift-giving, and just enjoying throughout the season. From a veteran baker and recipe developer, each cookie in this collection is guaranteed to be a stand-out, and destined to become your new Christmas classic.

My Review:

This book was amazing! Maybe because I am all about the freaking cookies! It also discusses packaging and storing, so if I make all these bad boys, I will need to know how to store them!

Photo Credit

The Bejeweled Chocolate Cookies looked a-a-mazing! It was also pretty diverse in some of the cookies! There were Italian, Mexican, Dutch, Hungarian as well. I may be biased with this one because the pictures just made it all look so delectable! I would definitely recommend this book if you want to try out baking some cookies!

I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review.

Do you like baking?

Review: Eat Beautiful

ABOUT EAT BEAUTIFUL

Care for your body from the inside out with this cookbook that highlights ingredients and recipes designed to make your skin glow.

After more than 20 years of experience as a makeup artist and beauty consultant, Wendy Rowe’s approach is uncomplicated and holistic. In Eat Beautiful, she details how specific ingredients feed your skin, offering breakdowns of the vitamins and nutrients they provide. They include:
· Pomegranate: The Elixir of Youth packed with Vitamin C, which stimulates collagen production to keep skin looking taut, young, and radiant.
· Spinach: The Free-Radical Fighter whose iron moves your blood, helping to repair your skin cells.
· Chili Peppers: The Circulation Booster famous for its capsaicin, which reduces blood pressure and improves circulation by encouraging blood vessels to relax and dilate, therefore acting as an anti-inflammatory.
· Natural Red Wine: The Youth Potion featuring a powerful anti-ageing antioxidant that slows the grown of acne-causing bacteria and fights disease-causing free radicals.
Rowe’s recipes showcase these essential foods to help target specific skin problems and alleviate common complaints. She even provides specific advice for what to incorporate or avoid depending on skin type.

Here, too, are suggestions on how to pamper yourself with recipes for homemade masks, scrubs, mists, cleansers, and toners, as well as an informative section for troubleshooting those confidence-sapping skin problems. Organized into the four seasons, you can dip in and out of this stunning cookbook, or follow it as a plan. Either way, it ensures beautiful, radiant skin all year round.

My review:

Photo Credit

I am not really sure what is going on with this book. I know it has recipes to help your skin look good, but why are all the pictures of models? There is the standard pictures of food that looks classy, but then all the pictures are of women are with weird poses that look like they came straight from the runway. Also, why are there no guys? I am sure some guys want healthy looking skin too!

I did like the recipes throughout the book, and I will try making a lot of them because just looking at them had me hungry. There is a lot of info going on about what certain ingredients can do, and I did find it helpful, but I also feel like I could just look all that information up online.

Overall, I would not have bought this book myself, but if you like food and already look like a model, you might want to pick this book up.

I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review.

Do you like recipe books?