Book Review: The Violet Bakery Cookbook by Claire Ptak

Here is the description of the book on Netgalley.com ---

A design-forward cookbook for sweet and savory baked goods from London's popular Violet Bakery that focuses on quality ingredients, seasonality, and taste (as opposed to science) as the keys to creating satisfying, delightful homemade pastries, tarts, sweets, and more. 

Violet is a jewel box of a cake shop and café in Hackney, east London. The baking is done with simple ingredients including whole grain flours, less refined sugars, and the natural sweetness and nuanced hues of seasonal fruits. Everything is made in an open kitchen for people to see. Famed for its exquisite baked goods, Violet has become a destination.

Owner Claire Ptak uses her Californian sensibility to create recipes that are both nourishing and indulgent. With a careful eye to taste and using the purest ingredients, she has created the most flavorful iterations of classic cakes, as well as new treats for modern palates. Over 100 recipes include nourishing breakfasts, midday snacks, desserts to share, fruit preserves, and stylish celebration cakes.

This book is about making baking worth it: simple to cook and satisfying to eat.

My review--  WOW, all I can say is every one of these recipes sound soo delicious!!!  I want to make every single one!!  But my real dream would go to the Violet Bakery and experience the delicious food first hand.  This cookbook would make a great addition to any ones kitchen.

Thank you to Netgalley for allowing me to read and review this book for my honest opinion.
N.

Book Review: Maggie's Turn by Donna Lynn Sletten

Here is the description of the book Netgalley has posted: 

 Maggie has always put her family’s needs in front of her own, until one day—without forethought—she drives away, leaving behind her indifferent husband and two sulking teenagers.

As she begins a quest of self-exploration, she meets new people, enjoys new adventures, and rediscovers long-neglected passions. For the first time in years, Maggie contemplates what she wants from life and soon realizes that her deteriorating marriage can no longer continue as it is. Can she and Andrew repair their broken relationship, or is their marriage over?

Left to his own devices, Andrew is forced to take over the household responsibilities and bridge the growing divide between himself and his children. Slowly, he begins to understand what drove Maggie away—and how he can’t bear to live without her. But is it too late? Will Andrew lose Maggie forever?

Here  is my review: 

 I really enjoyed reading this book.  I found myself cheering for Maggie and hoping that she and her husband would get a second chance. This book was very easy to read and I didn't want to put it down.

Thank you to Netgalley for allowing me to read this book for my honest review.

N.

Book Review: The World on a Plate by Mina Holland

This is so much more than a cookbook!  As it says on the first page, it contains 40 Cuisines, 100 recipes, and the stories behind them.  This is a book that will tell you some information about the country that the recipe comes from then offers a few recipes from that region.
  This is a book you will want to hang on to and get lost in reading.