I have to admit something. I went through a Martha Stewart phase. Yeah, I know she's a bit crazy, a bit criminal, and a bit corny (just stop it with the "it's a good thing" please), but I still had to respect her. However, no matter how harmless my idolization seemed my role model wreaked havoc on my friendships once a month with the arrival of the latest Martha Stewart Living magazine. Take, for instance, my "Martha Stewart night" - which ended in one roommate wearing down mittens and trying to solidify homemade pumpkin ice cream in several ziplock bags while the other roommate was combing town for pre-made pumpkin ice cream to avert what looked like inevitable disaster. Meanwhile, I'd been in the kitchen buried in dirtied pots and pans trying to salt and pepper chicken drumsticks that when tossed in oil want to kill you ... So I gave up Martha.
Soon after I lost Martha I found one of my true loves. Meet Nigella Lawson, or as I like to call her ... "Nig" (it's a soft g). I was introduced to her through a Guiness Chocolate Cake, which led me to buy her cookbook Feast
. She's no Martha. In fact, her television show is called "Nigella Bites". But she's refreshing, witty, and her British way of telling you to get on with the frosting just makes cooking more fun. Here's a full list of Nigella's works.
Or visit her at http://www.nigella.com/
I finally got the chance to visit one of my best friends in Portland, Oregon last spring. We hadn't seen each other in at least six months and since then we'd both completed another revolution around the sun. Upon my arrival we made a deal to eat healthy for the weekend, and then we proceeded to exchange our belated birthday gifts. I gave her "500 Cakes"
and she gifted me the Hummingbird Bakery Cookbook
. Well, there goes the healthy weekend.
We started by making the Hummingbird Keylime Pie (yes, I realize this is the unhealthiest dessert in the world). I've made over a dozen recipes from the collection since and haven't been disappointed yet. In fact, when you set out to make cupcakes and end up making four different kinds you know you've found a good cookbook.
and she gifted me the Hummingbird Bakery Cookbook. Well, there goes the healthy weekend. We started by making the Hummingbird Keylime Pie (yes, I realize this is the unhealthiest dessert in the world). I've made over a dozen recipes from the collection since and haven't been disappointed yet. In fact, when you set out to make cupcakes and end up making four different kinds you know you've found a good cookbook.
http://hummingbirdbakery.com/
Ok, I know I said I gave up Martha. But it was a dirty breakup and I still go back to her every now and then. Here's a cookbook I've enjoyed that won't have you dedicating an entire day to Martha: Martha Stewart's Cookies
.
Anyone who has a "Cookie of the Day" website deserves a little lovin', right?
http://www.marthastewart.com/cookie-of-the-day
Ok, I know I said I gave up Martha. But it was a dirty breakup and I still go back to her every now and then. Here's a cookbook I've enjoyed that won't have you dedicating an entire day to Martha: Martha Stewart's Cookies.Anyone who has a "Cookie of the Day" website deserves a little lovin', right?
http://www.marthastewart.com/cookie-of-the-day
