Eggplant or Sugar

Eggplant: More than 75 Delicious Recipes

Author: Ofir Jovani

Exotic in taste and texture, the succulent eggplant can add intrigue to almost any dish. Unlock the eggplant’s uncanny powers with these 75-plus recipes embracing every facet of the meal—from salad (Eggplant with Silan Sauce) to soup (Eggplant Gazpacho) to main course (Eggplant Bolognaise Lasagna). Amid old favorites such as Stuffed Eggplant and Traditional Greek Moussaka, you’ll find such ingenious concoctions as Eggplant-Stuffed Calamari, Roast Goose Legs in Eggplant with Caramel Sauce—even Balsamic and Ginger Eggplant Jam. There’s an also introductory guide to selecting and preparing these extraordinary fruits (yes, they are fruits!).

Book review: Pasta or Edible Wild Plants of the Prairie

Sugar: Simple Sweets and Decadent Desserts

Author: Anna Olson

On her Food Network show Sugar, pastry chef Anna Olson shows viewers how to create simple, original desserts that they can create at home. Now, Anna's favorite recipes from her show are available in this book! Divided into sections based on key ingredients, such as Fruit, Chocolate, Nuts and Citrus, Anna's recipes progress naturally from one dish to the next. She first includes an easy recipe and then follows it up with a "switch-up" -- a more elaborate recipe to dress it up or transform it into a whole new dessert. For example, Chocolate Orange Pudding turns into Chocolate Orange Cream Pie with the addition of a cookie crust and creamy topping.

Throughout Sugar, Anna provides countless tips such as the best way to unmold a cake and how to prevent nuts from becoming a paste in the food processor. She also explains how following basic rules of baking leads to greater success. Sugar's accessible, creative recipes and helpful hints will assist every home cook to create innovative desserts.