As befits luscious recipes for chocolate, our most treasured of sweet tastes, The Golden Book of Chocolate is presented in regal fashion. With gold-gilt pages and a gold wrapper that resembles the wrapper on a candy bar, this book is lavish in its offerings both inside and out. This is a hefty collection of recipes - if a large candy bar, this would be a lot of eating; as a cookbook, it is inspiration for wonderful desserts. This is a beautiful book to own, and a very beautiful book to give. If making a present, it is even more lavish when combined with Carla Bardi's recent the golden book of cookies.
The Golden Book of Chocolate offers history, anecdotes and over 300 recipes for using chocolate. The historical aspects are well-researched and written with exuberance, beginning with its Aztec origins, continuing to its appearance in Europe and the subsequent development of a chocolate industry that grew to satisfy our very passion for for the fruits of the cacao plant. They recipes are organized into thirteen categories, exploring every possible chocolate variation- with or without fruit, on its own, mixed with other delicious ingredients, whether white chocolate, milk chocolate or the darkest of chocolates.
Cookies
Bars and Brownies
Muffins and Cupcakes
Pastries
Elegant Desserts
Pies and Tarts
Puddings and Creams
Layer Cakes
Candy
Savory Dishes"
Drinks
Basic Recipes (from frosting to syrup and everything in between to light the imagination)
Each recipe includes a list of ingredients and step-by-step instructions, all written with clarity and an eye to ease of use. The recipes are all accompanied by photographs illustrating plating and decorating, all of which are among the most imaginative ideas for presentation that we've seen, and can be copied or used as a starting point for one's own ideas. The recipes are ranked according to difficulty on level one or level two.
The wide range of recipes encompasses the most homey recipes (who could resist Double Chocolat Chip Cookies as an after-school treat) and the most elegant such as classic Profiteroles or Milk Chocolate and Vanilla Semifreddo, or a Rich Chocolate Ice Cream Cake topped with scoops of ice cream, shortbread with passion fruit drizzle. Not all of these elegant desserts are difficult, but all are beautiful in presentation.
This is a beautiful gift book and a wonderful addition to any library.
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