Official “Bewitched” Cookbook  – I’d love this one on so many levels. Was a huge fan of the show as a kid, and it surely taps into the whole early 60s vibe as well. Pre dinner martinis anyone? It also apparently contains the special recipes that saved Darrin’s career, and who knows when those might come in useful!

Zuzu Bailey’s “It’s a Wonderful Life” Cookbook – it’s not Christmas until the angel gets his wings, and maybe they get wings when we cook from this. These are good old-fashioned American recipes inspired by the fictional town of Bedford Falls. I can see myself making Potter Pot Pie and Silver Bells Christmas Cookies and settling down with the family to watch the film.

Pulp Kitchen – Recipes for the Good, Bad and Ugly – this is great for food loving film buff, with recipes inspired by all kinds of films and genres. From The Godfather to Bridget Jones Diary (blue string at the ready), Casino Royale to the Sound of Music, there are all kinds of recipes to add another dimension to your film viewing.

The Star Wars Cookbook: Wookiee Cookies and Other Galactic Recipes – I’m very tempted to buy this for Dr T, and imagine it will be a source of pride to any other Star Wars geeks and fan boys. In fact, it’s almost worth it for the photography alone, but then what other cookbook do you have that has Princess Leia Danish Dos and Mos Eisley Morsels? I would say this was actually aimed at littler cooks, but sure there are some very big kids who would really appreciate this!

Love at First Bite: the Unofficial Twilight Cookbook – I seem to remember that vampires don’t eat proper food, but couldn’t see that there wouldn’t be a cookbook to go with this hugely successful franchise. So there are Bites at Dawn, also known as breakfast, and even Howl at Twilight cocktail recipes. I would say it was again one for a real fan, though probably fan girls in this case!

Like I said, these are all a bit of fun, but sure there will be recipes in here that you’d have great fun making, and it may be a great way to introduce a reluctant cook into the kitchen. Just wiggle your nose and see what happens!

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Many of you will know that in my day job I work for Boots, in something not even related to food (I look after the best interest of two fantastic beauty brands in our shops, this one and this one). But my desk until very recently was next to the Gift Food team. Which meant from about April onwards I’ve been seeing this year’s selection developing, and been getting very excited about some of them.

In fact, I’ve been practically sat on my hands waiting for them to be available so I could write about them, and now a lot of them are! So here’s what I can’t wait for, what’s on my list for various people, myself included:

* I love all the gifts that Joules have done with a food theme, but no surprises for guessing that the Brilliant Baking Hamper is top of my list. Beautiful metal hamper (which I so nearly took home one night when working late, obviously by accident) contains cookie cutters, stencils, cupcake cases, mixing bowl, cake boxes…in fact pretty much everything you’d need for a major baking session except the ingredients. The Joules range sold out really quickly last year, so I wouldn’t hang around on this one. At £8, the egg cup set would make a great stocking filler as well.

* I love measuring cups, but mine are very boring stainless steel ones. I could happily have them replaced by the hand decorated measuring cups from Rosie’s Pantry. Great for vintage lovers but who don’t like stuff that’s chipped or cracked.

* Fairtrade is looking very fair this year, with great tea, coffee or hot chocolate gifts to choose from. Given that they are only £10 each, and the famous Mix and Match three for two will be running, I would say these are worth buying as a great standby gift, as you’re bound to find someone that these will work for. Especially in a last minute panic situation!

And this is just what you can see at the moment, as there is more to come, which I’ll write about when it’s available. Meanwhile, see you in the queue for the Baking Hamper! Because, lets face it, three months today and it’s present opening time!

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Let me just say this first: I love this book! I was sent The Cookiepedia as a review copy, and I love it. I even cope with the fact it doesn’t tell you a helpful conversion for a stick of butter, other than cups or tablespoons, but other than that it’s a delight.

I mean, what’s not to love a book that gives you the space you really need to scribble your own notes in, as you tweak recipes to really suit your own tastes. And then biscuits and cookies of every description, without getting too fancy. In fact, I would say this is perfect for the weekend, if it’s going to be wet and you’re going to be home with kids. I used the brownie recipe from here with MGG, and it was perfect, given that it uses cocoa rather than needing to invoke a bit of double boiler action.

There’s everything from chocolatey ones to fruity ones, and pretty much everything in between. I think it would make a great gift for a keen home baker, if not for a very competent, experienced one. This is not showstopping stuff, just the sort of stuff you would want to eat at home, with a cup of tea.

If you want to go to town with this as a gift, then you could add in a baking sheet, or some fun cookie cutters. I’ve written before about those I’ve been lusting after, but you could definitely follow a theme given the huge variety now available. Of course, all this depends on you being able to give this great book away! Sorry, but it’s a keeper for me!

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Here comes summer!

Surely summer is going to start properly some time soon? Been thinking about ice cream in all its forms, and wondering when it’s really going to be warm enough to want to tuck into some. So maybe whilst it’s not quite warm enough it’s a good time to be making up plenty of batches to be on standby in the freezer. Or at least have a leaf through some inspiring books whilst it’s raining outside!

Here’s five to kick start the iced treats for this summer:

Lola’s Ice Creams and Sundaes: Iced Delights for All Seasons by Morfudd Richards – I’ve never been around to stop the Lola’s On Ice van, but I’d be happy to stop them for Marmalade Ice Cream or Gin and Tonic Sorbet. Definitely a book to get you beyond chocolate and raspberry ripple, this is a very modern approach to iced treats!

Making Artisan Gelato by Torrence Kopfer – definitely moving this on from a kid’s treat, this book has some amazing flavour combinations, such as Chocolate Cinnamon Basil Gelato, Honey and Toasted Sesame Seed Gelato and even a Blue Cheese Granita with Poached Pear. If you fancy turning out something different for dessert, or surprising your guests with a guess what’s in the cornet competition, then this is the book for you.

The Vegan Scoop: Recipes for Dairy-Free Ice Cream – I’m thankful that I don’t have a dairy allergy, but for those that do, or choose not to partake, then this might be the book for them. Particularly as the subtitle continues “that tastes better than the real thing with 1/3 less calories”. Which is one heck of a promise! There are fruity flavours and funky flavours, and I would imagine great source of ideas, particularly if you have kids with a dairy intolerance.

SNOG Healthy Treats Cookbook – Frozen Yoghurt, Gluten-free Bakes, Raw Food Treats, Smoothies & Drinks – quite a title, but a healthy version of iced treats. In case that’s your thing. Or you’d like it to be.

We All Scream: A Brief Look at Ice Cream Around the World by Christopher Wortzenspeigel – more food reading than preparing the freezer to be full of iced treats, but great to learn about what types and flavours of ice cream are top of the charts around the world. Wonder how far the Knickerbocker Glory makes it around the world?

So, lets hope for sunny days and fantastic ice cream eating moments!

Delicious looking knickerbocker glory photo by Eggybird on Flickr.

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What we need is cake! So here’s five to tempt you into cookbook buying and fabulous cake baking!

Cakes by Pam Corbin – the 8th in the series of River Cottage Handbooks, and this is serious, nostalgic cake baking at its best. These may not be the prettiest or fanciest but by heck, I bet they all taste good!

Peyton & Byrne British Baking – this is traditional British baking with a modern twist. I mean, this book includes recipes for Jammy Dodgers and Fig Rolls, which I think would lift anyone’s mood if presented with a plateful!

Cox Cookies & Cakes by Patrick Cox and Eric Lanlard – more kitsch than comfort, this is the book of the shop, which is not exactly a shrinking violet of a store. The book includes such delights as Coca Cola Cupcakes, and ideas for fairly over the top decoration. Probably not ones for tea with grandma, but you never know! Not out till July, but pre-orders open now.

Peggy’s Favourite Cakes & Cookies by Peggy Porschen – from kitsch to incredibly pretty, I love Peggy’s stuff. These are pretty, romantic, frou frou and tasty. Does it get better than that? Out next month.

Pop Bakery: 25 Cakes on Sticks and Other Tempting Delights by Clare O’Connell – I get the impression things on sticks and cake pops are having a moment. These are fun, whimsical, charming, and bound to raise a smile or two. Just before it disappears in two bites!

Go on, cheer up this non long weekend by knocking up some cakes. Consider it practice for the next Bank Holiday weekend!

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There’s bound to be cake baking, not to mention decorating by MGG and her Grandad. So I’m thinking these Union Jack Fairy Cake Cases will do the trick, and be very light to put in the suitcase. Currently £3.05 for 54 cases from Cake, Cookies and Crafts or, if you’re having a really big party, there’s a 4 for 3 offer on as well.

There will be biscuits to decorate too, and thinking of starting with these British Isles cookie cutters from Re-Found Objects. An interesting shape for sure, and decorating could be interesting!

Slightly weird, but we could even eat the happy couple! Edible Royal Wedding cupcake toppers from The Cake Decorating Company, quite possibly a talking point on the day. Perhaps just the red, white and blue sprinkles instead for us!

And there’ll need to be doilies too! These beautiful ones are from Cox & Cox, and almost too pretty to put food on. Will have to be very pretty food to go on these!

I have a beautiful red, white and blue cakestand but I don’t think it’s really designed to go in a suitcase! So I’m going for these flatpack cardboard Union Jack cakestands, which everything else can then be popped onto. Available from Not On the High Street, along with a whole host of other goodies.

I’m putting all cynicism aside and just going to enjoy the day with my family. This is the first Royal wedding that MGG will have experienced, and I am going to make the most of it. Lets face it, doesn’t take much of an excuse for me to get busy on the cake and tea front! Go on, just use it as an excuse for cake!
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It’s that time of year when there’s a whole load of new stuff to look at over at Lakeland. Far too much to choose from, and always a source of unexpected gifts for the food lover, whether they cook themselves or not.

So here’s my first choice, for something a little different for the food lover who’s fond of making the dessert course. This silicone mould will help you turn out fabulous shaped panna cotta or creme caramel, and certainly adds a new dimension to serving them in ramekins.

They go in the freezer, the microwave or the oven so hugely flexible in terms of what you could turn out. A bit fancy and frivolous, but isn’t that half the point of dessert anyway? Go on, knock yourself out, get swirly!

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I tweeted about this the other day, when I was catching up on the Hairy Bikers Mums Know Best. I’ve written about how much I have a soft spot for them before, and watching them bake continues to confirm why. Especially when they teach me new things.

Like the fact that there is a special baking tin for making a Battenburg in. I always thought it was down to precision slicing of cake after the event, but it appears not. You bake four perfect stripes, in a divided tin, and then sandwich together. Just in time for tea.

Headcook have one from Silverwood that looks very durable, that would last you a lifetime of Battenburg baking, and then some. Happy days and teatimes!

Great photo by Henry Cooksey on Flickr.

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Talk about spoiled for choice! In their sale they have  jigsaw pieces, 3D nativity, a selection of snowflakes, the set of cutters you need to make a Christmas tree pile of cookies, giant crowns, giant butterflies and ingenious cookie cutters. Their description, not mine, but probably the right one as they have a little slit so you can place the cookie onto the side of a mug.

And you could always get ahead at a bargain price, as they have a Valentine’s set going cheap as well.

Not On the High Street’s sale also shows some good sale buys, like the Angel Wings cutters which would make any drink look angelic! And again they have a good heart shaped cutter as well, so think ahead to great homemade goodies for Valentine’s Day!

And if you  need a specific type of cutter all year round, then I would try Cakes Cookies & Crafts who have a huge selection. What can be better for great cookie making all year round?

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* The Hairy Bikers’ 12 Days of Christmas: Fabulous Festive Recipes to Feed Your Family and Friends – I’m rather fond of The Hairy Bikers, can watch them for ages, and now they’re tackling Christmas. I think you can guarantee that any Christmas they do is going to involve a really good feed. Nothing fancy but very tasty. I can imagine this becoming a classic reference book for Christmas to come for many years. 

* Christmas on a Budget by Alana O’Claire – I think budget and frugality will be watchwords for this Christmas in many households, but you don’t want to miss out on taste and treats. This book gives you some great ideas covering not just food but gifts and decorations as well. As Tesco say, every little helps!

* Holiday Cupcakes by Annie Rigg – the cupcake juggarnaut rolls on, and I am sure they really lend themselves to Christmas. Lets face it, if you can’t get away with kitsch and sparkle at Christmas when can you? They’d make tasty treats for the festive season, or good gifts to give away.

* Christmas Cooking with Kids by Annie Rigg – got to be one of my favourite times of year for cooking with Mini Gourmet Girl, as it’s all the kinds of treats and things she loves to make. I like this book because it covers everything from party food to edible gifts, so you could find yourself cooking up everything from avocado dips to bagel chips and Lebkuchen. Great entertainment for kids of all ages, with great tasty treats to turn out from the kitchen.

* Merry Kitschmas: The Ultimate Holiday Handbook by Michael D. Conway - okay, I know this one is not new this year, but it probably never got the praise it deserves. I only know about this book from English Mum, and I get the feeling she’d be rescuing it from the house in event of fire. It may not cover all your cooking needs, but would certainly give a refreshing break from the happy Christmas domesticity. After all, you can’t imagine Nigella having a chapter called “Here’s Your Frigging Pudding”. You have been warned!

So something for everyone, and every kind of Christmas.Time to order now to give yourself time to enjoy the planning and preparing!

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