Christmas Cookies by Lisa Zwirn: A Book Review

Christmas Cookies: 50 Recipes To Treasure For The Holiday Season
By Lisa Zwirn

William Morrow, Copyright 2008
134 pages, ISBN 9780061376962

Rating: 5/5

I discovered this cookie book two years ago at my local library. After I made one recipe I had to buy the book. Which recipe made the sale? Maple Walnut Cookies with maple icing. They became my surprise cookie hit last season.

The book includes tips and beautiful pictures that make you want to bake. Or at least dream about baking. Lisa also offers recommendations for gifting cookies and hosting a cookie exchange.

I'd love to share a recipe but they are all copyrighted. There's a way, however, I can get around it. One of the recipes is similar to a cookie my Mom made for me growing up in the 1960's. I'm including her recipe and then a summary of the updates to it from Lisa's book.

Russian Tea Cakes (Mom's Recipe from 1960)

Six Ingredients: 1 cup butter, 1/2 cup confectioner's sugar, 1 tsp. vanilla, 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour, 1/4 tsp salt, 3/4 cup chopped walnuts.

Directions: Cream butter and sugar; add vanilla. Work in four sifted with salt. Mix in nuts. Form into one inch balls and bake at 400 degrees for 15 minutes. While hot, roll in confectioner's sugar. Makes 4 dozen.

New update for the same cookie from Christmas Cookies by Lisa Zwirn

The ingredients are the same except 2 tsp. of vanilla extract is recommended (instead of 1 tsp).

Prep is slightly different from my Mom's recipe. Cream butter first then add sugar followed by vanilla and salt. Flour is next (no sifting needed) and finally nuts. Lisa used pecans in place of walnuts but either is fine. She suggests that the nuts be finely chopped.

The dough is formed into a large ball and then refrigerated for 30 minutes before forming into one inch balls. Oven temp reduced to 375 and cooking time to 12 minutes. Use parchment paper on the cookie sheet. Cool cookies for 5 minutes before rolling in sugar (just before serving or storage recoat the cookie with sugar).

What cookies are you making this season?

In addition to the cookies I mentioned here, I'm also baking Lisa's Sugar Cookies and Iced Lemon Rounds (using fresh lemons from my tree). If I have time I'll bake her Cranberry Pistachio Biscotti. I better get back to the kitchen with just a few days left before Christmas.

The Hundred-Foot Journey by Richard Morais: Book Review and Giveaway

The Hundred-Foot Journey
By Richard C. Morais

Simon and Schuster, Copyright 2010
256 pages, ISBN 978-1-43916564-5

Rating: 4/5

Quote from the book: "...my nose poked out as far as possible and searching the air for that aromatic packet of cardamom, fish heads, and palm oil, which, even at that young age, somehow suggested there were unfathomable riches to be discovered and savored..."





The Hundred-Foot Journey is a feast for the senses that will nourish and inspire you to be your best. Rather than gulping the book, I grazed leisurely savoring each tasty morsel.

What's your destiny in life? For Hassan Haji it was always food and cooking. Now a successful French Chef with three Michelin stars to his name, he reflects on his life, family and the important mentors who made a difference.

Author Richard Morais takes us on this culinary life adventure from the streets of Mumbai to the French Alps and eventually Paris. The smells and tastes of Indian and French food drift through each page.

This is a story of dealing with the good and bad in life. It's about family and the unique bond we share. There's also a strong message here about what it takes to be a success. Once you find your passion in life, you must step out of your comfort zone and take a chance at opportunity.

My favorite character is Madame Mallory who at first feels threatened by the talent of young chef Hassan. Her world has been turned upside down when his family opens up an Indian restaurant across the street from hers. The two restaurants are not compatible in the small French town of Lumiere. Eventually she becomes his mentor and invites Hassan to take the 100 foot journey across the street to study with her.

If you're passionate about food and cooking, you'll love this story. I also think it's perfect for someone starting out in their career regardless of occupation. Even the older crowd (me included) can benefit from this reminder to encourage someone young on his or her journey.

Thanks to Simon and Schuster, I have two copies of 

The Hundred-Foot Journey to give away. 

You must reside in the USA since the books are sent by the publisher.

How to Enter: Leave a comment on this post with your email address. For a second entry, share this contest on the social network of your choice and leave another comment that you have done so.

Deadline: July 27. Winners will be selected by a random number generator.

My thanks to Rose Marie Morse at InkWell Management for the Advanced Reader's Copy and the opportunity to participate in the author's blog tour.

For author information visit Richard Morais' website.

Book Review: Tea and Sympathy: The Life of an English Teashop in New York

There's a lot of Britain wrapped up in this tiny New York teashop. It's the tea version of Cheers. Longtime waitress Anita Naughton captures the atmosphere, including behind-the-scenes escapades, in her book Tea and Sympathy: The Life of an English Teashop in New York.

The only thing missing is the aroma of fresh scones baking in the oven. Not to worry. With over 60 recipes included (with notations) by owner Nicola Perry, you can be cooking up all your favorite Brit dishes in no time.

Written with wit and humor that inspires laughter and touching moments, I immediately felt part of the Tea and Sympathy (sometimes dysfunctional) family. The book follows its rise from obscurity to fame. This is the place where Brit's and teashop fans gather in NYC (and everyone knows your name).

With only ten tables the room is small, casual and noisy. You never know who might be sitting next to you. Anita recalls one time when a group of Buddhist monks walked in. It turned out to be the Dalai Lama.

When I lived in Pennsylvania I always included Tea and Sympathy on my visits to Manhattan. My former mother-in-law (a Londoner) thought it was the best teashop in the states.

On my last visit two years ago, I had a tea party there with Paperback Swap friends who swap tea with me monthly.

The teashop has rules for all customers to follow (which the book explains). It may seem off-putting to first time guests but stiff upper lip. Owner Nicola Perry says we all need boundaries. Well said.

Rob's Rating: 4/5 with recipes being 5

This year Tea and Sympathy is celebrating it's 20th anniversary. Be sure to visit their website for information on menu, prices, location and more. If you include Tea and Sympathy in your NYC plans, be sure to let me know.

I also have a list of my top 10 things to do in New York City which I wrote for the NYC Reading Challenge. Speaking of which, this book fulfills my reading requirement.

Tea and Sympathy: The Life Of An English Teashop in New York by Anita Naughton, with an introduction and recipes by Nicola Perry. G.P. Putnam's Sons. 2002. ISBN 0399149376.

FTC Advisory: I was promised all the tea in China for a positive review. Joke. I purchased a used copy of this out-of-print book from an Amazon seller.