I was looking for a seasonal cocktail recipe book, and this was the only one I was able to find. I purchased it after reading several positive reviews. It has a great intro into cocktail making, as well as suggestions for infused liquors. And the recipes are very creative, taking taste and aesthetics to a new level. I will say, however, that I wish there were more standard alcohols that were used in the recipes because frankly, I'm not going to go on a big hunt for pumpkin liquor, and it becomes a bit of a frustration when I try to find a cocktail that needs some obscure, expensive liquor that I'm not even sure that I'll enjoy. If anything, though, this book is helpful in encouraging us to use local and fresh ingredients, even in our cocktails. Most recipes are very easy to make, as long as you have access to the ingredients. Get more detail about Market-Fresh Mixology: Cocktails for Every Season.
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Cheapest Market-Fresh Mixology: Cocktails for Every Season
I was looking for a seasonal cocktail recipe book, and this was the only one I was able to find. I purchased it after reading several positive reviews. It has a great intro into cocktail making, as well as suggestions for infused liquors. And the recipes are very creative, taking taste and aesthetics to a new level. I will say, however, that I wish there were more standard alcohols that were used in the recipes because frankly, I'm not going to go on a big hunt for pumpkin liquor, and it becomes a bit of a frustration when I try to find a cocktail that needs some obscure, expensive liquor that I'm not even sure that I'll enjoy. If anything, though, this book is helpful in encouraging us to use local and fresh ingredients, even in our cocktails. Most recipes are very easy to make, as long as you have access to the ingredients. Get more detail about Market-Fresh Mixology: Cocktails for Every Season.
Monday, June 28, 2010
Cheap Been Doon So Long: A Randall Grahm Vinthology
Like a captivating wine, Been Doon So Long is a book that encourages one to read, reflect, and then read again. And like any great cellar, this is a book that offers a variety of writings from various periods of Grahm's life as a winemaker, enabling the reader to be selective as to what is ultimately consumed. I approached Grahm's book with the initial impulse to consume it cover-to-cover, only to find myself reading and returning to various sections of the book that resonated most with me.
Of particular interest were the pieces organized under the section, "Earnest Speeches and Sober Essays". Here, I discovered insights into the true meaning of terroir; how we Americans suffer from an immature wine culture; the merits of originality and minerality; and most importantly, how wine reaches deep into our states of mind, body, and soul. Grahm's writings, especially the essay, "A Meditation on Terroir: The Return", helped connect the dots for me, providing the context my consciousness needed to better understand and appreciate wine in a more profound and meaningful way.
Besides connecting dots, Grahm's candid reflections on his multi-decade journey crafting and marketing wine helped me better understand the person behind the Bonny Doon labels. Until reading this book, my impression of Grahm was primarily that of an innovative (lest we forget witty) marketer as well as an astute businessman, with the additional thought that he had the wherewithal of making decent wine at scale.
I had no frame of reference on his soul, nor did I understand the transformation that was occurring in Grahm as a winemaker thru the 90's and into the next decade, when he decided to part ways with the larger parts of his business and focus solely on a few select vins de terroir. I found it interesting to read Grahm's narrative of his journey while reflecting on my own experience with wine. In a very compelling way, Been Doon So Long helped me understand what was driving my palate's thirst for vins de terroir.
As a result of reading Been Doon So Long, a door has been opened and a new path discovered that will alter the wines I seek, collect, and open at my table in the months ahead.Get more detail about Been Doon So Long: A Randall Grahm Vinthology.
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Buy Pour Your Heart Into It: How Starbucks Built a Company One Cup at a Time
I read this book first a couple of years ago when I was thinking of setting up a smoothies business. Now I bought it and am really fascinated with it. I think it's a must read book for every entrepreneur. The author covers a lot of interesting topics on management, as well as deep advices on pursuing a dream from it's conception. I seriously suggest this book for everyone willing to start or manage a business from his/her heart.Get more detail about Pour Your Heart Into It: How Starbucks Built a Company One Cup at a Time.
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Purchase The Best 50 Smoothies
I was very disappointed in this book. I had expected much more. There wasn't enough variety or types of smoothie recipes for me, and the ones that were there weren't to my liking. I ended up giving the boook away. Get more detail about The Best 50 Smoothies.
Monday, June 21, 2010
Order The Ultimate Beer Lovers Cookbook: More Than 400 Recipes That All Use Beer
MY Cookbook arrived in perfect condition just a few days after purchase. Wonderful service. Very happy and will definately order other items in the future...Get more detail about The Ultimate Beer Lovers Cookbook: More Than 400 Recipes That All Use Beer.
Saturday, June 19, 2010
Where To Buy Liquid Memory: Why Wine Matters
Jonathan Nossiter was the director of the wine industry documentary Mondovino; a look at the wine industry, "Parker-ization," globalism and the winemakers focusing on terroir wines (those that reflect the local environment the grapes are grown in). In Mondovino, there were heroes and villains, primarily Robert Parker, whose eponymous Wine Guide has helped shift taste and production to larger bodied, more alcoholic wines as winemakers vied to increase their rankings.
In Liquid Memory, Nossiter continues on his quest to find wines and makers that focus on terroir and to call out those he feels are responsible for the industrialization and homogenization of wine production. He also weaves his own life throughout the book, from his earliest memories associated with wine to a meal he had at L'Atelier de Joël Robuchon in Paris. The problem comes that Nossiter spends more time discussing himself or railing against his critics than pressing his case in favor of well-produced, small-batch wines reflecting their regional heritage. His repeated personal attacks do him no favors, nor are the likely interesting to most readers. His repeated name-dropping and non sequitur descriptions of his own favorite wines belie his self-described status as anti-elitist (who else is going to compare wines to classical Chinese poetry but an intellectual?).
Had Nossiter stuck with the original premise of the book "Why Wine Matters" without turning into a vehicle for self-aggrandizement and continuing personal vendettas, Liquid Memory could have been highly readable. Even if he had stuck with his personal thoughts and observations of the wine industry and the philosophy of terroir, it still could have been a good book. But as is, it is simply a poor volume that should have been subtitled "Why Whine Matters."
Reviewed by RossGet more detail about Liquid Memory: Why Wine Matters.
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Shop For The Home Winemaker's Companion: Secrets, Recipes, and Know-How for Making 115 Great-Tasting Wines
I am with the reviewer who feels the recipes are similar with only different base ingredients. It seems the book could have more content. Once you are done with the basic information up front you sort of set the book down and don't pick it up again. Seems a shame that I'm not drawn to read the whole thing.
I do like the book. It is good information for beginners. Just can't give it 4 or 5 stars.Get more detail about The Home Winemaker's Companion: Secrets, Recipes, and Know-How for Making 115 Great-Tasting Wines.
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Vino Italiano: The Regional Wines of Italy
After a brief introduction to the Italian wine industry, the heart of this book steps through the regions of Italy, describing the regions, their grapes, their wine, and their food. There are also appendices covering a glossary of Italian wine terms, brief descriptions of the grapes grown in Italy, a directory of all the official wine zones, brief descriptions of major Italian wine producers, and sources for Italian wine, food, and travel.
The focus is on breadth, not depth. This book would serve well for someone traveling to different regions and wanting to know what wines to look for (although it is much too large to carry around!); it would also be good for someone wanting to explore more obscure Italian wines.
What it gives up is a deeper treatment of the most important wine regions; if you are looking for that, look elsewhere.
Overall, it is well written and enjoyable. If you are a wine lover who wants to know more of the Italy beyond Tuscany and Piedmont, (scusi, Toscana and Piemonte), and maybe just daydream a bit about having the time and money for an extended tour through the Italian countryside, you should enjoy this book.Get more detail about Vino Italiano: The Regional Wines of Italy.
Monday, June 14, 2010
The Wine Snob's Dictionary: An Essential Lexicon of Oenological Knowledge Review
I gave this book as a gift with the Vinturi wine aerator. I looked thru it & if you're new to wine it is helpful if you take the time to read it. Good conversation piece.Get more detail about The Wine Snob's Dictionary: An Essential Lexicon of Oenological Knowledge.
Saturday, June 12, 2010
Cool Waters: 50 Refreshing, Healthy Homemade Thirst-Quenchers Top Quality
This is the only book I've found in this topic thats worth the money. It has very good recipes --especially the healthy one --One thing I really like about the author was that he kept health in mind-- Now in days that deserve 10 stars. Most recipes books are field with low nutritious recipes and this one breaks that. I do think however that he forgot one major recipe that is Horchata which I love and it is very easy to prepare.Get more detail about Cool Waters: 50 Refreshing, Healthy Homemade Thirst-Quenchers.
Thursday, June 10, 2010
The Ultimate Tea Diet: Burn Fat and Lose Pounds Fast and Forever This instant
Green Tea 18 Health Benefits for You!
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By Nadine Taylor, M.S., R.D,
Green Tea has been highly regarded for thousands of years as healing medicinal beverage. And in recent years, scientists have confirmed the validity of its ancient reputation, discovering the green tea can fight disease and even lengthen life by:
1. Preventing normal cells from turning cancerous;
2. Suppressing the formation and growth of tumors;
3. Guarding against free radical damage that can bright about cancer, heart disease, diabetes, radiation damage, and aging;
4. Enhancing immune systems functions;
5. Controlling cholesterol levels;
6. Lowering the risk of stroke by making blood platelets less "sticky";
7. Controlling blood pressure levels;
8. Fighting deadly food-borne bacteria;
9. Promoting "friendly" bacteria in the intestines and encouraging bowel regularity;
10. Fighting viruses, including those that cause herpes simple, polio, and even HIV;
11. Lowering the risk of post-traumatic epileptic seizures in laboratory animals;
12. Assisting in weight loss by blocking the breakdown of starch;
13. Providing a mild stimulating effect without causing sleepless nights or nervousness;
14. Fighting bacteria in the mouth that cause cavities and bad breath;
15. Slowing the aging process;
16. Maintaining the body's fluid balance;
17. Reducing stress;
18. Acting as a safe and effective natural preservative in food and cosmetics.
No other substance on the face of the earth, including the most potent drug, can claim such wide-ranging and powerful health benefits, and all without a single side effect. Yes, Green Tea can truly perform "miracles" for just pennies a cup.
By Nadine Taylor, M.S., R.D, <
Yuexi Cuilan (Yuexi Green Orchid Tea) - Organic Green Tea 10 Tea Bag 30g
Green Tea and Weight Loss - Losing Weight the Natural Way!
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Green tea weight loss has become a hot topic of discussion in the weight loss and medical circles. The documented positive effects of green tea on losing weight has caused more and more people looking to lose weight to seek out this ancient brew.
However does green tea actually help you to lose weight? Is this all simply hype or is there something real and factual to the stories? Well here are some interesting facts about drinking green tea and weight loss.
Advantages of Drinking Green Tea for Weight Loss
Green tea and boosting your metabolism - Recently the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition reported its findings on the effect of drinking green tea and weight loss. Researchers found that green tea extract actually increased the metabolism of green tea drinkers dramatically. So much so that in a 24 hour period the average metabolic rate of the green tea drinkers in the studies increased by over 4%. Green tea possesses extremely high levels of catechin polyphenols. These substances actually aid your body in increasing its ability to oxidize fat and speeds up thermo-genesis which is how quickly your body burns off excess fat and calories. This is a critical factor of drinking green tea and weight loss.
Researchers also found that green tea regulates glucose leevels. Green tea helps to keep your blood levels stable after each meal and prevents spikes in insulin. This means less fat is stored after each meal while drinking green tea. This is directly tied to the active ingredients called catechins found in high levels in green tea.
Green tea also reduces your cravings and appetite - In a recent study it was found that green tea extracts caused rats to lose up to 21 percent of their body weight after a week of being injected with green tea extract. These rats were injected daily with the green tea extract. As a result the rats consumed up to 60 percent less food after a week. It's believed that this is tied directly to green tea's ability to regulate blood sugar levels.
Green Tea and Weight Loss - The Bottom Line
Green tea helps you lose weight by increasing your metabolic rate boosting your body's ability to burn excess calories and stored fat. Green tea also regulates your blood sugar levels and suppresses your appetite. Green tea is also a far superior choice to drinking coffee each day. So overall the stories are indeed true in regards to the power of drinking green tea and weight loss.
Kancura Herb Slimming Tea + Genseng Tea
How to Brew Green Tea ?
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Although it's not hard to do, there are a few things to be considered when brewing green tea
Water quality...
Good quality water is essential for making a good cup of green tea. Make sure you're using good water.
Water temperature...
This is where most mistakes are made. Brew your green tea too hot, and your tea will become bitter. The correct temperature does vary depending on the green tea, but for most it is around 165-170 degrees F (73-76 C.)
Proportion of green tea to water...
Most of our green teas are brewed at 1 heaping teaspoon (5 grams) per 8 ounces of water, but this can vary depending on the tea.
Brew time...
Generally, two minutes is all it takes Any longer, and the taste may becomes too bitter. Also, it's very important to NOT stir, shake, or mix the tea.
Allowing the tea room to expand...
This is rather important. Chinese green tea is compact - it needs room to expand. Tea balls do not work well at all. You'll be much better off using a Japanese teapot that was designed with green tea in mind. It is a one time investment of between $30-$100, and will make your life so much easier.
Take a good look at the inside of this green tea teapot to the left, made in Japan. The infuser screen goes all the way around the inside of the teapot, allowing the tea leaves to expand fully. This is the best kind to use. These teapots are rather small, about the size of a grapefruit, and usually hold 8-13 ounces or so.
Lipton Green Tea - 100% Natural, 2009 New Spring Green Tea, 50 Fresh Tea Bags from China by A2AWorld Green Tea
Get more detail about The Ultimate Tea Diet: Burn Fat and Lose Pounds Fast and Forever.
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
The Homebrewer's Companion Immediately
Good book. But I think it could be more objective. It would save me some time.Get more detail about The Homebrewer's Companion.
Monday, June 7, 2010
And a Bottle of Rum: A History of the New World in Ten Cocktails Best Quality
While somewhat reminiscent of other retellings of history through the story of one commodity (Cod, Salt, The Big Oyster, etc) this book is fairly well written, has enough good anecdotes to keep it interesting, and is informative as well. I originally bought it as a gift for a friend that samples rums like others taste Scotch, but got sucked into it myself and am now trying desperately to finish it before Christmas.Get more detail about And a Bottle of Rum: A History of the New World in Ten Cocktails.
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Exploring Wine: The Culinary Institute of America's Guide to Wines of the World, 2nd Edition Buy Now
Call it a bias opinion but since i was taught this book by the author Mr. Kolpan. This book has done wonders for me. No this book is not for the weak reader it has alot of information and can get a bit wordy but all of it has relevance in its own context. Who ever says this book is not a good resource is disagreeing with UC Davis and The Culinary Institute of America cause both Schools use this text book for there classes. This has kicked started my passion for wine and i absolutely love this book.Get more detail about Exploring Wine: The Culinary Institute of America's Guide to Wines of the World, 2nd Edition.
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