Cookbook Reviews – from my kitchen to yours

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Hi there,

Today I am starting a new feature for my blog. I’ve named it Cooking Confidential. I hope to make this a monthly feature to share with you information and a recipe from a cookbook that I have recently read. I am starting off with

Viv’s Family Recipes

by V. M. Sang

This is an interesting cookbook. The author writes that the impetus to write this book was inheriting a cookbook from her Grandmother. The cookbook is collaboration of cooks from various backgrounds and life experiences. Some of the recipes come from Ms. Sang’s Grandmother and reflect cooking during times of food shortage due to wars, and other recipes are from her mother, extended family, and friends of the family.

The following was supplied by Viv’s Aunt Millie. Viv’s Aunt Millie also gave Viv a copy of her personal cookbook. This recipe intrigued me because it was a different take on a rice crispy treat.

AUNT MILLIE’S RICE KRISPIE CAKE

Ingredients

  • 125 g butter
  • 125 g carmels
  • 125 gram marshmallows
  • 1 small packet of Rice Krispies (I used about 10 ounces)

Preparation

Put the butter, caramels, and marshmallows into a pan and heat gently until melted.

Add the Rice Krispies and stir well to coat.

Press into a greased Swiss roll tin and put in the fridge to cool.

Slice into bars or squares when set.

These are best kept in the fridge, as they tend to go very soft and break up if they get warm.

This is a comprehensive cookbook filled with many interesting recipes. If you are a lover of food history, it definitely deserves a place on your shelf.

Viv’s Cookbook, Viv’s Family Recipes, can be found on Amazon.

29 responses to “Cookbook Reviews – from my kitchen to yours”

  1. the Painted Apron – Life is all about creativity for me, as long as I'm creating something I am happy! I hope I will inspire your daily life and give you ideas for your own wonderful creations!
    the Painted Apron says:

    What a fun idea, I love to read cookbooks, I look forward to more reviews!
    Jenna

  2. Darlene – British Columbia, Canada – Writer of children's stories, short stories and travel articles. https://twitter.com/#!/supermegawoman http://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=201634059868404&id=631897250&ref=notif&notif_t=like#!/pages/Darlene-Foster-Writer/362236842733
    Darlene says:

    Sounds like a great cookbook. I too enjoy cookbooks that include stories or the history of the recipe.

  3. HI Bernadette, this is a good idea. I never use recipe books but I like to keep interesting recipes I find on-line.

    • V.M.Sang – UK – I was born and educated in the north west of England. I trained as a teacher in Manchester and taught in Salford, Lancashire, Hampshire and Croydon. I write fantasy novels currently. I also make cards, knit, crochet, tat, do cross stitch and paint. I enjoy walking on the Downs, cycling and kayaking. I do not enjoy housework, but like cooking.
      V.M.Sang says:

      What a good idea. I’ve not looked for recipes on Pinterest, but I’ll do so now, I think.

  4. Dorothy's New Vintage Kitchen – I'm a writer, cook, gardener, photographer, poet, quilter, and accomplished daydreamer. I'm also a wife, mother, grandmother, sister. cousin, aunt, and friend, no particular order on any given day. I've been a writer all my life, newspaper reporter and columnist, radio news writer, and magazine contributor, and poet and short-story writer as the spirit moves. Now, I turn my attention to my cookbook, the blog, and a cooking column "Memorable Meals," which runs in our county newspaper. Besides my family, I love dogs, cats, good coffee, chocolate, and my never-dwindling pile of books I intend to read. Our family ran a small Vermont Inn for 18 years, with our focus on local, organic ingredients. I cook from scratch, and try not to use anything that has ingredients I cannot pronounce! After many years of daily serving up local delicacies, cooking classes, and catering, we are now only open for special events, and the odd cooking class. We also host musicians and artists, having helped produce a musical festival and other musical events for nearly 20 years. Many incredible artists have found a place at our table. Wonderful experiences, we will treasure always. My family and friends are my practice subjects. With a family that includes nut, peanut, tree fruit, and vegetable allergies, gluten intolerance, dairy intolerance, vegetarians, vegans, heart conscious, and a couple of picky eaters, there has to be a few quick tricks in the book to keep everyone fed and happy! Personally, I do not eat red meat or most full-fat dairy (usually) for health reasons, making the occasional exception at Thanksgiving and Christmas or our anniversary if the duck is locally raised. I do eat fish and seafood, so I try to come up with alternatives and substitutions when available. I serve local organic eggs and cheeses to my family who can tolerate dairy (My husband recently had a heart attack, and I need to watch my own cholesterol so I am careful, but have been known to let a little piece of really good cheese accidentally fall on my plate!). I believe strongly that eating in a way that is good for our planet is also good for our bodies, and I try to educated myself about our food sources! I cook by the seasons and draw on inspiration from the strong and talented women in my family who came before me, as well as the youth in the family who look at the world with fresh eyes. Food links us all, whether sharing a meal, cooking it together, or writing about it for others to enjoy. I love taking an old recipe and giving it a modern spin, especially if I can make it a littler healthier and use foods that are kinder to the Earth and to our bodies. I believe strongly in sustainable, delicious eating of whole foods, and the wonderful flavors we have at our fingertips! And finally, I love conversing with all the talented cooks and chefs out there who dot the globe! It's a wonderful, world full of culinary pen pals, and I cherish them all! XXXOOO Dorothy
    Dorothy’s New Vintage Kitchen says:

    The book sounds wonderful! I’m with you, I love a cookbook with stories and memories.

  5. V.M.Sang – UK – I was born and educated in the north west of England. I trained as a teacher in Manchester and taught in Salford, Lancashire, Hampshire and Croydon. I write fantasy novels currently. I also make cards, knit, crochet, tat, do cross stitch and paint. I enjoy walking on the Downs, cycling and kayaking. I do not enjoy housework, but like cooking.
    V.M.Sang says:

    Thank you for featuring my recipe book, Bernadette. Your picture of the Rice Krispie cake looks good. it tastes delicious, too. It was a favourite of my children when they were growing up.

  6. I love the idea of a cookbook review! And seriously, if you happen to run out of cookbooks, just come over to my house because I have a ton of them! And of course I have added one to my collection recently, as I purchased the Princess Pamela cookbook you wrote about during Black History Month.
    Caramel Rice Krispie treats is a fun idea, and one I’ve considered as well. I’m happy to know that they are expert-approved! 🥰 That girl knows what’s good.

  7. Love this idea and I can’t wait to see what else you post. As for the recipe, you had me at caramel!

  8. Yum! I haven’t had Rice Kirsipies in a long time, and this recipe really showcases their fun flavor. Nice. Sounds like a great cookbook, too. Thanks!

  9. Retirement Reflections – Vancouver Island, BC – Prior to retirement, I lived and worked in Beijing China for fourteen years (Middle School Principal/Deputy Director at The Western Academy of Beijing). Leaving international life behind, my husband and I retired to Vancouver Island in June 2015. To document both this transition and our new adventures, ‘Retirement Reflections’ was born. I hope that you enjoy reading these reflections, and will be willing to share your own.
    Retirement Reflections says:

    Awesome idea! I look forward to following!

  10. I love your idea of reviewing a cookbook and sharing a recipe. This seems like a classic and it’s good to have the recipe. Who doesn’t love Rice Krispie treats!

  11. Thanks for sharing these cookbooks, Bernadette – always great to see new recipes as my repetoire needs a re-fresh!

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