Thursday, January 8, 2009

Taming the Truffle or Cooking New American

Taming the Truffle: The History, Lore, and Science of the Ultimate Mushroom

Author: Ian R Hall

Whether the world's best truffles are found in Piedmont or Perigord inspires impassioned debate, but the effects of dwindling supply and insatiable demand for the elusive, ultimate mushroom are unquestionable: prices through the roof, intrigue and deception, and ever more intensive efforts to cultivate.

The secrets of when, how, and where to collect truffles have benn passed from generation to generation since ancient times, but artificial cultivation remains the holy grail. Here in the most comprehensive practical treatment of the gastronomic treasure to date, the art and science of the high-stakes pursuit come together.

Their enthusiasm and expertise leavened with wry humor, the authors explore the newest techniques; they describe the commercial species in detail along with their host plants, natural habitats, cultivation and mintenance, pests and diseases, and harvesting with pigs, dogs, truffle flies, and even the electronic nose.

Pursuit of the fungus that costs more than gold is not for the faint of heart nor for those in a hurry, as under ideal conditions, truffle production in artificial truffieres can begin after three years but results may not be seen until a decade after planting, and maximum yields not for another decade still. So there is time to read and prepare, and no better source than this one.



New interesting textbook: Good Housekeeping Rush Hour Dinners or Bernard Claytons New Complete Book of Breads

Cooking New American: How to Cook the Food You Love to Eat

Author: Fine Cooking

Cooking New American offers today's cooks everything they need to know to cook fresh, contemporary, and great-tasting food for family and friends. With Fine Cooking's most popular recipes by many of America's greatest chefs that include Bruce Aidells, Gale Gand, Caprial Pence, Alice Waters, and Joanne Weir, the book features fresh, delicious ingredients simply prepared, with all the tips and techniques to successfully prepare today's favorite foods. The 200 recipes selected by the editors of Fine Cooking deliver the fresh and bold flavors that have powered the American culinary revolution, yet all the ingredients are readily attainable at the supermarket. The range of recipes is exciting, but every dish is decidedly easy-to-prepare. With almost 400 step-by-step color photographs, an assortment of techniques, ingredients, tips from the pros, essays, preparation and serving tips, optional ingredients, shortcuts, recipe variations, and timesaving tips as well as ideas for cooking ahead and serving suggestions, Cooking New American is a private tutorial in preparing the kind of food that Americans truly love to eat.



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