New to the catalogue

The Great British Bake Off has been a huge hit in the UK with record numbers of viewers tuning into this year’s series. The show features twelve home-bakers who take part in a baking competition which tests the full range of their skills. Unlike other competitive programmes on television, the show has been praised for its genuine warmth, supportive contestants, encouraging judges and, of course, the beautiful results!

The Great British Bake Off : How to Turn Everyday Bakes into Show-Stoppers has been published to accompany the series and is inspired by the challenges set by judges, Mary Berry and Paul Hollywood. As the book explains, you don’t have to a professional baker to create show-stopping bakes.

The recipes included in this book range from basic everyday bakes to those for special occasions. Easy-to-follow recipes for cakes, biscuits, pies, breads and desserts for all levels of abilities feature. You can be pretty sure that there will be no ‘soggy bottoms’ if these recipes are followed!

If you wish to recreate Paul’s Jam Doughnuts, Mary’s Queen of Puddings or just pick up some ingenious cake decorating tips, look no further than this book. It will hopefully keep you going until the next series arrives on our screens!

For further details of The Great British Bake off : How to Turn Everyday Bakes into Show-Stoppers please see our catalogue.

Welcome to the “Village of Longevity”. This is the sign that greets visitors to Campodimele, where the average life expectancy of villagers is 95. Situated in between Rome and Naples, the village has only a few hundred residents but has come to the attention of doctors around the world.

The strong social ties, rural life-style and a genetic predisposition to longevity are all believed to be factors in the unusually long lives of the people. Lawson’s key focus, however, is the seasonal produce that forms the diet of the residents of Campodimele.

We are given a real insight into the simple, naturally grown food from the small holdings of the villagers. The villagers either eat food as soon as possible after harvesting or preserve it naturally.

Lawson was fortunate enough to be invited to dine with the local people who welcomed her enthusiasm for their cooking. She shares with us over 100 mouth watering recipes such as Zucchina Flower Soup and Ricotta and Cinnamon Tart.

Spending over three years living in Campodimele, Tracy Lawson paints a picture of a unique village, happy to share with the world its secrets to a long life.

You can find further details of A year in the village of eternity on our catalogue.

The National Library of Scotland has just received a new and exciting cookbook in its collection. Viva la revolución incorporates amazing recipes from all over Mexico. Fiona Dunlap explores the cooking techniques that are creating a new fusion cuisine in Mexico. She also explores the tastes and traditions of old Mexican cooking.

This book is full of colourful and enticing photographs of Dunlap’s travels. She interviews twelve chefs and discovers the true spirit of Mexican cooking. The recipes range from the filled pueblan rolls ‘cemitas poblanas’ popular in Pueblan markets to the more advanced fusion food of the most exciting new restaurants in Mexico City and beyond.

Further details of Viva la revolución can be found on our catalogue.