How sweet it is....

OK, all Martha Stewart wannabees, these are for you! The first book, food, gift, love : more than 100 recipes to make, wrap, & share  by Maggie Battista is so timely for the season. There are many gifts in here, fresh gifts, pantry gifts, candied gifts and baked gifts. There is everything from the usual ( pesto, cookies, truffles) and the unusual. (extracts, infused oils, candied blood orange rinds) There are suggestion for collections of gifts, and tips for wrapping. ML

Also a delicious book is maple:100 sweet and savory recipes featuring pure maple syrup by Katie Webster. The book opens with a short history of maple sugaring, a DIY guide, and why choose maple? Did you know that because maple syrup is a by-product of a wild plant, it is more ecological than say, sugar? The recipes include breakfast but there are also savory choices, like mustard maple vinaigrette, turkey burgers with maple pickled onions, and Asian pork cabbage cups. Sounds good!  ML

Sweet Treats

Looking for something special for Valentine’s Day? Check out Sweet Things: chocolates, candies, caramels & marshmallows-to make & give by Annie Rigg.  She is a freelance food stylist who lives in London, creates her own recipes and writes for various food magazines. This colorful book has recipes for wonderful treats for every sweet tooth. If you’ve never tried your hand at candy making, these mouthwatering goodies might be just the encouragement you need. DB