Review: The Coincidence of Coconut Cake by Amy E. Reichert

Title: The Coincidence of Coconut Cake
Author: Amy E. Reichert
Genre: Contemporary Romance/Women's Fiction
Publication Date: 21st July 2015
Pages: 318
Book Source: Own purchase

Synopsis: YOU'VE GOT MAIL meets HOW TO EAT A CUPCAKE in this delightful novel about a talented chef and the food critic who brings down her restaurant—whose chance meeting turns into a delectable romance of mistaken identities.

In downtown Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Lou works tirelessly to build her beloved yet struggling French restaurant, Luella’s, into a success. She cheerfully balances her demanding business and even more demanding fiancé…until the morning she discovers him in the buff—with an intern.

Witty yet gruff British transplant Al is keeping himself employed and entertained by writing scathing reviews of local restaurants in the Milwaukee newspaper under a pseudonym. When an anonymous tip sends him to Luella’s, little does he know he’s arrived on the worst day of the chef’s life. The review practically writes itself: underdone fish, scorched sauce, distracted service—he unleashes his worst.

The day that Al’s mean-spirited review of Luella’s runs, the two cross paths in a pub: Lou drowning her sorrows, and Al celebrating his latest publication. As they chat, Al playfully challenges Lou to show him the best of Milwaukee and she’s game—but only if they never discuss work, which Al readily agrees to. As they explore the city’s local delicacies and their mutual attraction, Lou’s restaurant faces closure, while Al’s column gains popularity. It’s only a matter of time before the two fall in love…but when the truth comes out, can Lou overlook the past to chase her future?

My Thoughts: 

This book will make you hungry ... seriously hungry. Just look at that cover. Add Lou, chef and owner of French restaurant Luella's, Al aka A.W. Wodyski an infamous restaurant critic and a gastronomical tour of Milwaukee and you'll be drooling. Take my word for it, if you don't have treats lined up you'll be desperate enough to raid the cupboard for cooking chocolate. 

A scathing review leaves Lou's reputation in tatters and the future of her restaurant in doubt but she makes it her mission to show jaded new friend Al, the best of Milwaukee. And us lucky readers get a front row seat to Lou and Al falling in love over cheese curds and coconut cake.

The Coincidence of Coconut Cake has one of the best casts of secondary characters I've come across in a long time ... Al's odd coworker John, Lou's pastry chef Harley, and regulars at Luella's, Gertrude and Otto *sigh* ... they stole my heart. 

The story may have flaws but I don't much care ... I'm high on the scent of vanilla. This debut is a foodie's dream story; warm, funny, sweet, delicious, sad and I adored every mouth-watering, lip-smacking minute of it. 

It's about love and forgiveness, squeaky cheese curds and second chances, doing what you love and never giving up on your dreams. And foodgasms ... let's not forget the foodgasms. 

I can't wait for Luck, Love & Lemon Pie, coming Summer 2016.

PS If you want the recipe for Grandma Luella's Coconut Cake, the one on the cover, head over to Kimberly at Caffeinated Book Reviewer. Kimberly made the cake and posted photos and it looks positively decadent.

Connect with Amy E. Reichert

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Weekend Cooking is hosted by Beth Fish Reads and open to anyone who has any kind of food-related post to share: Book (novel, nonfiction) reviews, cookbook reviews, movie reviews, recipes, random thoughts, gadgets, quotations, photographs.

Swedish Chocolate Cake (Kladdkaka)

If your favourite chocolate brownie and lava cake had a baby ... this would be it.

I've been making this cake for years, it's a favourite in our house. I think I started with Nigella Lawson's recipe without the alcohol. Izy from Top with Cinnamon has a fab video for making Kladdkaka and her photos are positively drool-worthy.

It's now my go-to cake, most requested birthday cake, cheer-up cake, visitors-coming-and nothing-to-eat cake, feed-the-addiction cake.

This was a few years ago, maybe 2012? 

the whole family love Kladdkaka

It's easy to make, I mean super easy. You can literally whip this up in 5-10 mins and be stuffing your face licking the plate in 25 minutes. You don't even have to wait for the cake to cool, which is dangerous let me tell you. 

As long as you're careful with the cooking time you'll have sticky, gooey, delicious goodness every time. Crunchy outside, oozy inside. It's not failed me yet! 

Serves 8. Or 2 if you don't feel so generous ;)

Swedish Chocolate Cake (Kladdkaka)

Ingredients:
135g butter
1/2 cup (55g) cocoa powder
1 1/2 cup (300g) sugar
2 tsp vanilla extract 
1 cup (125g) plain flour
3 eggs whisked
Icing sugar (powdered sugar) to dust


Method:

Preheat oven to 180°C (160°C fan-forced, 350°F or 320°F fan-forced) 

Grease a 6" to 8" (16-20cm) cake tin really well and flour. 

In a medium saucepan melt butter, remove from heat. Stir in vanilla, cocoa, sugar and flour. Pour in eggs and stir gently until all ingredients combined. 

Pour into greased cake tin and bake 20-35 mins depending on size of cake tin. This is important. Watch from 20 mins. The center should still feel gooey, don't forget it will continue to cook a little in the tin. 

I've been making this for so long and using the same 8" cake tin, so, mine takes 21 mins in fan-forced oven. 

Let cake cool a little in tin, gently run a blunt knife around the inside of the tin to loosen the cake. Turn onto wire rack. Dust liberally with icing sugar. Serve warm with cream or icecream.

Or if you can't wait or don't need it to look pretty eat serve straight from cake tin. 

Don't be impatient like me and gouge the sides out of the cake when you're loosening it with a knife.

You can eat this cold (if there's any left) but I love it just slightly warmed. 10-15 secs per slice in microwave does the trick. I think I should buy a 6" cake tin, wouldn't this look good as a big, chunky oozy cake ... ooh get in my belly :) 

Be off to the kitchen and make Kladdkaka!! 

Weekend Cooking is hosted by Beth Fish Reads and open to anyone who has any kind of food-related post to share: Book (novel, nonfiction) reviews, cookbook reviews, movie reviews, recipes, random thoughts, gadgets, quotations, photographs.

Review: Happy Go Paleo by Irina Macri + Creamy Roasted Fennel & Tomato Soup

Title: Happy Go Paleo: Fun, healthy meals from my 80/20 kitchen
Author: Irena Macri
Genre: Cookbook
Publication Date: 23rd September 2015
Pages: 232
Book Source: Penguin Books Australia

Synopsis: A little paleo goes a long way

'Happy Go Paleo' is exactly what the name suggests: an easy-going, relaxed approach to the paleo diet. I love paleo as a lifestyle, a diet focused on whole foods, a simpler way of living, spending more time outdoors and getting fit through functional movement. I want other people to discover my 80/20 paleo philosophy and how fantastic it can make you feel.' 

In this book, internationally renowned blogger Irena Macri creates complete paleo meals to show how accessible healthy eating can be. Here are over 100 of Irena's best recipes of whole foods, good-quality protein, nuts and seeds. Fun to make, delicious to eat and using everyday ingredients, all recipes are gluten free and refined sugar free to help you craft your own paleo and healthy eating journey!

My Thoughts:

Regulars to my blog will know that this year I've been trialling gluten free/no inflammatory oils/no refined sugar/clean eating in the hope of decreasing inflammation and getting improvement in my nerve-damaged hands. Well, no improvement (worth a try) but I've come across some wonderful cookbooks and delicious recipes that anyone who loves food will enjoy. 

I love Irina Macri's 80/20 take on the paleo lifestyle. Now I still have dairy and I do not and will not EVER eat offal again (I was made to eat lambs fry and steak & kidney as a kid, a traumatising experience I tell you *gag*) and just the thought now makes me dry heave. Mind you I haven't eaten a weetbix since I left home either #40yearsweetbixfree but I digress ... 

I don't need the label but I love the paleo philosophy of whole food, nourishing food and Happy Go Paleo is a more relaxed approach which most people find easier to stick with. Rigidity is misery-making so I particularly like Irina Macri's thinking "that a little paleo goes a long way ..."

Happy Go Paleo is well set out with useful categories, the photography is droolworthy and I love the nutrition notes included for each recipe and the substitution tips. 

Breakfasts & Lunches - yum ... my type of brekky

Nourish in a Hurry - speed & ease recipes. The Creamy Roasted Fennel & Tomato Soup I made came from this category. And Baked Salmon with Homemade Sweet Chilli Sauce will definitely be on the menu at some point.

Cheap Thrills - paleo on a budget

Favourite Feasts - feast and themed meals that require a little more time and effort but don't panic they're not difficult. There's even a Game of Thrones Feast HA

Treats - hmm maybe not treaty enough for me but I'd give the Honey & Coconut Caramel Sauce a go. 

Basics - like bone broth and activating nuts & seeds 

Two-Week Meal Plan 

Might try these Barbecue Grilled Prawns next. Don't they look yum?

photo: Happy Go Paleo

I made Kefir Chicken first because it looked delicious and I've been making my own kefir (probiotic milk) since April. It's chicken marinated in kefir or greek yoghurt and garlic, tumeric, cumin, cinnamon. Sounds good right? Meh ... bland, disappointingly tasteless.  

The next recipe was a winner, I wasn't even sure I liked fennel that much but this was delicious, it even got the tick of approval from the fussy son ;)

Creamy Roasted Fennel & Tomato Soup

Prep time: 10 mins

Cooking time: 35 mins 

2 medium bulbs fennel, thickly sliced

4-5 medium Roma tomatoes each sliced into 6 wedges

1 large brown onion sliced

1/2 long red chilli, deseeded and diced 

1 tsp sea salt

4-5 tblsp melted ghee

2 cloves garlic roughly chopped

3 cups vegetable stock

1 bay leaf

pinch of nutmeg (optional) 

1/4 cup coconut milk, plus extra to serve

Preheat oven to 220°C (conventional)

Place the fennel slices on a large baking tray. Top with tomatoes, onion and chilli, then sprinkle all over with sea salt and drizzle with melted ghee. Roast for 20 minutes, then scatter the garlic over the top and roast for further 10 mins. 

Transfer the roasted vegetables, together with the juices to a large saucepan and add stock, bay leaf and nutmeg. Bring to the boil then reduce the heat to medium and cook for 5 minutes. 

Transfer the soup, in batches if needed, to a blender and process until thick and smooth. Alternatively, use a handheld stick blender and blend in saucepan (that's what I did, easy and less washing up lol) Add coconut milk and stir. Serve with a swirl of extra coconut milk and a few basil leaves. 

Honestly none of the recipes are too complicated. Happy Go Paleo isn't just a lovely cookbook to browse but a very usable one. 

Irina Macri has a fabulous website Eat Drink Paleo with great recipes, articles and gorgeous photography. 

Connect with Irina Macri

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Weekend Cooking is hosted by Beth Fish Reads and open to anyone who has any kind of food-related post to share: Book (novel, nonfiction) reviews, cookbook reviews, movie reviews, recipes, random thoughts, gadgets, quotations, photographs.

Review: On Rue Tatin by Susan Herrmann Loomis

Title: On Rue Tatin - Living and Cooking in a French Town
Author: Susan Herrmann Loomis
Genre: Memoir/Non-fiction
Publication Date: 30th April 2002 (1st published 2001)
Pages: 320
Book Source: own purchase

Synopsis: Susan Loomis arrived in Paris twenty years ago with little more than a student loan and the contents of a suitcase to sustain her. But what began then as an apprenticeship at La Varenne Ecole de Cuisine evolved into a lifelong immersion in French cuisine and culture, culminating in permanent residency in 1994. 

"On Rue Tatin "chronicles her journey to an ancient little street in Louviers, one of Normandy's most picturesque towns. With lyrical prose and wry candor, Loomis recalls the miraculous restoration that she and her husband performed on the dilapidated convent they chose for their new residence. As its ochre and azure floor tiles emerged, challenges outside the dwelling mounted. From squatters to a surly priest next door, along with a close-knit community wary of outsiders, Loomis tackled the social challenges head-on, through persistent dialogue-and baking. 

"On Rue Tatin "includes delicious recipes that evoke the essence of this region, such as Apple and Thyme Tart, Duck Breast with Cider, and Braised Chicken in White Wine and Mustard. Transporting readers to a world where tradition is cherished, "On Rue Tatin "provides a touching glimpse of the camaraderie, exquisite food, and simple pleasures of daily life in a truly glorious corner of Normandy.

My Thoughts:

If you're a regular on my blog you know I'm drawn to anything France & vaguely foodie related. On Rue Tatin may not be for everyone, some may even find the everyday minutia tedious but for someone dreaming of living in France it's a vicariously fascinating read. 

Seriously by the last page I was wondering who I'd have to kill bribe to make my dream a reality ;)

After doing a chef's apprenticeship in France, Susan returns to America but later moves to France with husband and son in tow to live the dream, while writing a book to celebrate French farmhouse cooking. 

Not just food related chatter, recipe testing (yes there are yummy/doable recipes included and I can't wait to try the famous Tarte Tatin) but all the details on their purchase and renovation of a dilapidated old convent in Louviers, Normandy, her son starting school, interactions with neighbours, friends and townsfolk, the cultural differences, surrounding countryside and life in general. 

Susan has written a number of cookbooks and her renovated convent home is also home to a successful cooking school. If I had a spare $3500 I'd do a 5 day class at On Rue Tatin. HA

A journal-style memoir highlighting Loomis' food passion, cooking locally and seasonally.

A book to be enjoyed with crusty bread and soft cheese *nom nom*

I'm also looking forward to reading Susan's new book In A French Kitchen, published May 2015

Connect with Susan Herrmann Loomis

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Linking up with Paulita's Dreaming of France meme over at 

An Accidental Blog

Weekend Cooking is hosted by Beth Fish Reads and open to anyone who has any kind of food-related post to share: Book (novel, nonfiction) reviews, cookbook reviews, movie reviews, recipes, random thoughts, gadgets, quotations, photographs.

Review: Eight Hundred Grapes by Laura Dave

Title: Eight Hundred Grapes
Author: Laura Dave
Genre: Women's Fiction
Publication Date: 2nd June 2015
Pages: 272
Book Source: own purchase  

Synopsis: There are secrets you share, and secrets you hide…

Growing up on her family’s Sonoma vineyard, Georgia Ford learned some important secrets. The secret number of grapes it takes to make a bottle of wine: eight hundred. The secret ingredient in her mother’s lasagna: chocolate. The secret behind ending a fight: hold hands.

But just a week before her wedding, thirty-year-old Georgia discovers her beloved fiancé has been keeping a secret so explosive, it will change their lives forever.

Georgia does what she’s always done: she returns to the family vineyard, expecting the comfort of her long-married parents, and her brothers, and everything familiar. But it turns out her fiancé is not the only one who’s been keeping secrets… 

My Thoughts: 

I'm drawn to stories about family dynamics and secrets and wine and Brandie's glowing review had me pushing this to the top of my reading list. Thanks for giving me a new author to stalk Brandie ;)

A week before her wedding Georgia discovers her fiance Ben has been keeping secrets. She hightails it back to the family vineyard and finds her family unraveling with secrets of their own. 

Set on a Sonoma vineyard, Eight Hundred Grapes has a wonderful sense of place. I loved the details on the wine varieties and the winemaking process especially since Georgia's father is a biodynamic winemaker. 

I liked Georgia but she also frustrated me, her on-again-off-again indecision drove me a little nuts but I guess she just had to get there in her own time. Ben ... hmm I actually thought he was a bit of a dick. It didn't really lessen my enjoyment of the story, probably because there was so much to love. 

Eight Hundred Grapes is about about family, love, forgiveness and finding your place and it left me smiling. 

A gorgeous summery read to enjoy while guzzling savouring a glass of wine.

"You have to grow about eight hundred grapes to get just one bottle of wine. If that isn't an argument to finish the bottle, I don't know what is."  - Anonymous

I'm linking up to weekend cooking because wine totally counts as a food group ... right?

Fox 2000 has optioned the movie rights, this will be wonderful on the big screen.

Connect with Laura Dave

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Weekend Cooking is hosted by Beth Fish Reads and open to anyone who has any kind of food-related post to share: Book (novel, nonfiction) reviews, cookbook reviews, movie reviews, recipes, random thoughts, gadgets, quotations, photographs.

Love Affair with Paris

I've had a love affair going with Paris since I was a teenager, it's up there with Disneyland. Last year I had 3 too-short-days in Paris and I can't wait to return for an extended visit.

This week Tamara @ Thyme for Tea, host of Paris in July challenged us to post something about the character of Paris or France for that matter.   

That's what I can't wait to return for ... having time to explore the less touristy areas and really soak up all that is Paris. Paris is crack for photographers and foodies and that being two of my favourite things, I was in heaven.

*sigh* ... fave. I know it's touristy but seriously, carousel and the Eiffel tower, is there anything more romantic?

Gregory Renard's @ 120 Rue St. Dominique I found after a lot of walking. They have exceptional macarons for 1 euro each ...  nom nom. Now I wasn't a huge macaron fan until I ate macarons in Paris but I can now see the appeal. We also had macarons on our walking tour from the famous Pierre Hermé, very fancy schmancy. I will save macarons for Paris :) 

Mathilde M ... that gorgeous vintage, shabby chic, provincial style

this little garden right across the river from Notre Dame, can't remember the name but it's so pretty and very quiet in comparison to the business of the city. It's also a free wifi zone. 

We did the 3 hour Chocolate and Pastry walking tour through Viator. It was expensive but I'd highly recommend doing one if you're only in Paris for a short time ... you cover a lot of ground. Our tour guide Adeline was very knowledgable and friendly.

Poilâne in Saint Germain has been on my go-to list for a while and it just happened to be on our visit list. The sourdough loaf was yum yum yum and the croissant was pretty good too. Has anyone got a died-and-gone-to-heaven recommendation for bakeries/patisseries in Paris? For next time around ... I like to be prepared lol

I'm off to spend some time in France checking out everyone's posts ... the next best thing to actually being there. 

Paris in July hosted by Tamara @ Thyme for Tea

I'm also linking up with Paulita's Dreaming of France meme over at 

An Accidental Blog

Weekend Cooking is hosted by Beth Fish Reads and open to anyone who has any kind of food-related post to share: Book (novel, nonfiction) reviews, cookbook reviews, movie reviews, recipes, random thoughts, gadgets, quotations, photographs.