Florence Review: One Hour Cheese by Claudia Lucero

Having a few cooking reviews that I thought I'd never have... I thought I better make a cooking graphic. Who would have thought? Not me. :D

This is a review from my mom. I keep trying to get her to do one, but to no avail... until now. Got her with a book that she was just too curious to not at least look at. Yea, she cooks and apparently it skips a generation... So, deal was that I would get it if she reviewed it. Here are the results of her labor:

cookbook
250p.
Publisher: Workman Publishing
Available Now
Source: From NetGalley for review

It's a DIY cook's dream come true: It's pizza night, and you've made not only the crust and sauce but the mozzarella, too. Or you're whipping up quesadillas for a snack, using your homemade Triple Pepper Hack. Or the dinner party's in high gear and out comes the cheese plate-and yes, you've made all the cheeses on it. Even better-you made them all earlier that day. In a cookbook whose results seem like magic but whose recipes and instructions are specific, easy-to-follow, and foolproof, Claudia Lucero shows step by step-with every step photographed-exactly how to make sixteen fresh cheeses at home, using easily available ingredients and tools, in an hour or less. The approach is basic and based on thousands of years of cheesemaking wisdom: Heat milk, add coagulant, drain, salt, and press. Simple variations produce delicious results across three categories-Creamy and Spreadable, Firm and Chewy, and Melty and Gooey. And just as delicious, the author shows the best ways to serve them, recipes included: Squeaky "Pasta" Primavera, Mozzarella Kebab Party, and Curry in a Hurry Lettuce Wraps.

Florence's Thoughts:

One Hour Cheese makes you want to jump in and start making cheese. Getting everything you will need to make the cheese may not be so easy or fast, depending where you live. I could not find rennet a needed ingredient locally. The nearest place I could get it was 45 miles away. Even so the recipes are simple and easy to follow. The step by step pictures shows what your cheese should look like during the process. You don't have to second guess if what it should look like and if you are doing it right. The pluses in the book are all the recipes, making crackers from vegetables for your homemade cheese spreads, and making butter and yogurt. If you only make cheese only one time, this book would be worth the money.

Room Recipes: A Creative and Stylish Guide to Interior Design by Tonya Olsen

Home Interior Decoration
272p.
Publisher: Cedar Fort
Available Now
Source: From publisher for review

From exciting entryways to DIY dining rooms, these tried-and-true interior design recipes are the ultimate resource for homeowners looking to spice things up or decorate a space from scratch. With this book, creating a show-stopping master suite or home office is as simple as cooking dinner---just follow the instructions! Turn your house into your dream home one room at a time by incorporating these no-fail recipes for delicious designs.

My thoughts:
 The book was thought up by the author with the idea of doing home design like a recipe. This way of organization is designed to help you plan and create a room that you would enjoy. The examples are from jobs she had in the past and then she breaks down the "recipe". It is set up like this:

• Ingredients: The major elements of the room like a wall treatment, flooring, couch, tables and other items like this.
• Tonya's Take: Which is like her version of the recipe where she makes substitutions and where your own ideas could take off for your own recipe. 
• Garnish: Taking an element and specifically showing you how she did it. For example, how to arrange a wall of artwork/pictures. 

You can find many examples of her work on her website: Room Recipes. She does break it down a bit more in the book.

I give this book 4 stars. Someone who does diy can take some of these ideas and run with them as well as figure out a way to organize their ideas into a cohesive room. It isn't for the complete diy'er, however. It really is a kind of book where you have a budget and create a room with the help of a professional.