Two Cook Books to Spice Up the Holiday Season

Amarcord: Marcella Remembers - The Remarkable Life Story of the Woman Who Started Out Teaching Science in a Small Town in Italy, But Ended Up Teaching American How To Cook Italian

Several of the stories in Amarcord: Marcella Rememberswill be familiar to readers of Marcella Hazan's cookbooks. And I do mean readers: in addition to the infallible and often brilliantly simple recipes these books contain, there's splendid prose - a little florid (like most good food writing), a little eccentric (owing, perhaps, to the junction of English and Italian) and witheringly stern. Marcella Hazan quivers with scorn for lazy and philistine cooks.

Part of this asperity can probably be attributed to her husband and "inseparable collaborator," Victor Hazan, whose command of English is far more assured than hers. Victor is a vivid presence in the books. A recipe in "Marcella's Italian Kitchen" for a traditional pasta simply sauced with parmesan and butter becomes "alla moda di Victor" with the addition of a little cream; Marcella notes that at home Victor "allows no one else to prepare this dish." (And if somebody tries?) A Caprese salad (tomatoes, mozzarella, basil, oil) in "Marcella Cucina" becomes "alla moda di Victor" with the use of cherry tomatoes; behind the note that Marcella appends - "In the classic Caprese there is no vinegar, but Victor insists it is a required part of the juices in his version" - you can practically see the traditionalist rolling her eyes.

They plainly adore each other, but reading Amarcord: Marcella Remembersyou may get the sense it hasn't always been easy. Some years ago the Hazans retired from chilly Venice to Florida, and Marcella reports that Victor "says it is the only suggestion he made in our entire married life with which I agreed instantly." She describes the renovation of their handsome Venice apartment as a nightmare, with the two of them differing - "sometimes wrathfully, leaving deep wounds" - about what needed doing. "It always went Victor's way," she adds a little glumly. What can you do, she seems to feel, but bow before a taste so implacable? "Victor is a man," she writes, "who rearranges the furniture of a hotel room where he is going to spend two nights." Read more about Marcella and her cooking here....


Chocolate - A Healthy Passion

The world loves chocolate and chances are, with the majority of the population saying their favorite flavor is chocolate, you do too. This enjoyable book will serve to deepen, not only your love, but also your understanding of chocolate.

Some may think that chocolate is simply a treat, something that satisfies a sweet tooth. After reading this truly pleasurable and educational account by two leading nutritionists, you will agree that chocolate is much more than that. You will discover it encompasses a culture, a cuisine, a treatment, and much more!

The authors begin by revealing how to truly savor chocolate. Even the most avid chocolate lovers will pick up tips on how to intensify the full chocolate flavor and expand their sensual experience.

Next, they illustrate how cultures around the world enjoy chocolate, and how chocolate, more than just a flavor, holds a special place in holidays and celebrations globally. While exploring other cultures, they journey to the rainforest and explore the origins of chocolate. They then trace its history through the centuries, from the Maya and Aztec cultures, where the chocolate phenomenon began. Over the ages, this dark, delectable food has been viewed as a gift from the gods, as valuable as gold, a medical treatment for illness, a social indulgence for just the elite, and finally a treat to be enjoyed by everyone. Read more about chocolate and its use here....