Giveaway! Cake Boss by Buddy Valastro

Earlier this week I reviewed Cake Boss by Buddy Valastro and gave it 5 spoons! (Yes, I really loved the book!) It's a memoir, it's a book with great recipes from Carlo's Bakery, and it is a great read. Here's what Buddy writes on the back of the book...

Giveaway has ended! And the Winner is... Heidi V! Thanks to EVERYONE who entered, tweeted and blogged about the giveaway!

How I Became the Cake Boss

My story isn't my own; no real baker's is. They call me the Cake Boss, but that's just the latest chapter in my own story, which stretches back generations, all the way to my roots in Sicily. In this book, I tell the only-in-America story of my family's rise to success at Carlo's Bake Shop and of the father-son relationship at the heart of my journey. It's a story that combines immigrant struggle, family bonds, love, loss and as many hilarious memories as I could pack between two covers. If you like my show, or just sitting down to a good story (and learning a few secrets of the baking treade along the way), you'll love this book.

Of course, no book could be called Cake Boss without offering up the goods: at the end, you'll find thirty-seven recipes for Carlo's Bake Shop's most popular cookies, pastries, pies, cakes and cupcakes - along with tips and advice for creating these classics in your own home. I poured my heart into this book, and I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it.

.... Buddy Valastro, the Cake Boss

If you live in the US, here's your chance to win a copy! Courtesy of Free Press and Simon & Schuster, I am giving away a copy of Cake Boss ! Here's how to Enter...

To Enter this Giveaway...

* Leave me a comment with your email address! It's that easy!

This giveaway is open to US residents only (No PO boxes). The book will be shipped to the winner directly from the publisher. Contest ends 11:59pm EST on Dec. 19th. I will randomly pick the winner the next day and email them! Good Luck!

Cake Boss by Buddy Valastro... A Review

"I Remember all the things that bought my family and me to this moment."

Have you watched Cake Boss on TV?! It is the reality show starring Buddy Valastro, owner and master baker of Carlo's Bake Shop in Hoboken, New Jersey. This reality show, though, takes place right in the bakery, which is filled with his mother, four sisters, brother-in-laws, and all the other people who help create amazing over the top cakes, and it's simply a great show. But what Buddy's book, Cake Boss, does is show us what really makes his family tick, because not only is Cake Boss a more intimate look at the family you know from the show, it is a memoir of Buddy's family coming to America and eventually opening up Carlo's Bakery. (And if you thought things got fiery on the show, there's plenty of fire in the family history too!)

From the book jacket... In Cake Boss: Stories and Recipes from Mia Famiglia, Buddy reveals how he came to be America's Favorite Baker and the inspirational tale of how his ancestors strove to succeed in America. Distinctively earnest, always honest, Buddy shares this story of perfecting his skills, honing his business instincts, and, ultimately, taking Carlo's to new heights, improving even time-honored recipes while breaking new ground with the astonishing theme cakes for which he is internationally renowned. An inspiring tale of life, love, and loss, Cake Boss is also the story behind the bakery's most sought after pastries, pies cupcakes and cakes. Layered with stories of family, tradition, hard work, and innovation, the book also features thirty-seven never-before-published recipes for Carlo's Bake Shop's most popular treats...

Cake Boss is the story of Buddy Valastro and his family, but it is also the story of immigration and success. It is a story of coming to America for a better life, working hard and succeeding. The family's story begins with Antonio Valastro, at the beginning of WWII, when poverty was widespread in Sicily. Antonio left the family to follow his dreams in America (He eventually brought the family over). Antonio was Buddy's grandfather, and this is the humble beginnings of a family of bakers in America. I almost forgot that I was reading about "the Cake Boss", because this family story doesn't need a famous name to be interesting, it's a great story all on its own. The family stories are wonderful, and I loved reading about the family traditions too.

More than anything, I am my father's son, and so I need to begin telling my story by telling his story, and the story of my mother, and of their romance, and of the family bakery they ran together, because it's the world my sisters and I, and our families, continue to inhabit today...

Filled with family photos, family stories, and stories about the bakery,(as well as lots of info about how the show on TLC is put together) this would be a great read without anything else added, BUT then we get a treat at the end of the book! Chapter 10 begins "Recipes from Mia Famiglia: Cookies, Pastries, Pies, Cakes, and Cupcakes! First we get a mini lesson on basic tools, equipement, techniques and advice. And then we get RECIPES! These recipes are well written and easy to understand, they are scaled down for a home kitchen, and they are 1 or 2 pages long (except for the Lobster Tails recipe that only the brave would try!) Some of the highlights to me are the Tiramisu, which has a wonderful full color photo in the beginning of the recipes, Ricotta Pie, Banana Cream Pie, and RED VELVET CAKE! But there are plenty of recipes to satisfy any baker, including Italian Buttercream, Chocolate Mousse, and Chocolate Ganache!

Since I was writing the review during Thanksgiving, I decided to give Buddy's Pumpkin Pie a try. Not really a traditional Italian specialty, Carlo's Bakery always sold Pumpkin Pies at Thanksgiving. Since I never make one before, this would be a true test for a pie everyone is familiar with. Well, in one word, Buddy's Pumpkin Pie was a hit at Thanksgiving! Firm but creamy, with lots of flavor! Easy to put together, and Buddy even allowed me to use an unbaked store bought pie crust, although there is a homemade pie crust recipe in the book. Now, this will be a tradition in our house on Thanksgiving!

If you love to bake, if you love to read, if someone on your Christmas list bakes, this would make a great gift! The writing is as entertaining as Buddy is on his show Cake Boss, but if you've never seen the show you will still enjoy reading the story of this family coming over from Sicily. And if baking is your thing, or if you'd like a few tips and some great Italian bakery recipes, this is a well written, good variety baking book. I make this my pick for a great Christmas gift for the baker on your list. (Or anyone who loves Cake Boss!) * Sound like something you'd like to read? Well, stop back later in the week to enter to win a copy!

Go to Carlo's Bakery to learn more about those great cakes that the Cake Boss makes! BTW, want to make that Pumpkin Pie? You can find the recipe on ReadersDigest.com. And to make reading this book even sweeter, Cake Boss is available for Your Kindle!

I want to thank Free Press and Simon & Schuster for sending along a copy of Cake Boss for review! Loved it!

The Sunday Salon with "Books with Buzz", Upcoming Events and a Man Booker Bargain!

Welcome to The Sunday Salon! This week just flew by me! How about you?! Now it's time to relax, grab a cup of joe and chat about some books! This week I picked up The Distant Hours by Kate Morton, which I was eagerly awaiting the release of & talked about in a Sunday Salon last month. With a crumbling old castle, spinster sisters and the appearance of a mysterious letter 51 years after it was mailed, how could this book be bad?! I can't wait to crack the spine on this one! I'll let you know what I think. (I actually did read a little of it and loved what I read!) This week I saw some other interesting reads that should be added to our TBR pile! First, The Bells is historical fiction, and one of my favorite genres! Think Vienna and Opera and a long kept secret. Second up is Under Fishbone Clouds, a love story with elements of folklore as the story is told through the voice of the Kitchen God who was challenged by the Jade Emperor to unravel the secrets of the human heart, and finally The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey which looks to be a story to tug at our heartstrings with the friendship between a 91 year old man, Ptolemy, and a 17 year-old girl that renews Ptolemy's will to live... Here's how the publishers describe them...

The Bells by Richard Harvell... The celebrated opera singer Lo Svizzero was born in a belfry high in the Swiss Alps where his mother served as the keeper of the loudest and most beautiful bells in the land. Shaped by the bells´ glorious music, as a boy he possessed an extraordinary gift for sound. But when his preternatural hearing was discovered–along with its power to expose the sins of the church–young Moses Froben was cast out of his village with only his ears to guide him in a world fraught with danger. Rescued from certain death by two traveling monks, he finds refuge at the vast and powerful Abbey of St. Gall. There, his ears lead him through the ancient stone hallways and past the monks´ cells into the choir, where he aches to join the singers in their strange and enchanting song. Suddenly Moses knows his true gift, his purpose. Like his mother´s bells, he rings with sound and soon, he becomes the protégé of the Abbey´s brilliant yet repulsive choirmaster, Ulrich. But it is this gift that will cause Moses´ greatest misfortune: determined to preserve his brilliant pupil´s voice, Ulrich has Moses castrated. Now a young man, he will forever sing with the exquisite voice of an angel–a musico–yet castration is an abomination in the Swiss Confederation, and so he must hide his shameful condition from his friends and even from the girl he has come to love...

I resisted this book for a few months before picking it up at my local bookstore. When I did finally open it up and started reading it, I fell in love with Richard Harvells writing. I was immediately swept back in time and loving every moment of it. It was so hard to put this book down, but I'll be starting this right after my reading obligations later this month! *P.S. This Book is Kindle Ready!

Under Fishbone Clouds by Sam Meekings... a universal love story, a family saga, and a journey through Chinese history, myth, and culture. Following a young Chinese couple as their love grows, and is tested, during Mao's Cultural Revolution, this elegant debut novel provides a rare and personal glimpse into the birth modern China. When the Kitchen God is challenged by the Jade Emperor to fathom the workings of the human heart, he chooses to follow the life of Jinyi and his wife Yuying, from their blossoming love until their old age, in hope of finding an answer. The Kitchen God watches as the new government strictures split their family in two, living inside their hearts as they they endure the loss of two children, homesickness, and isolation, all while keeping alive a love that survives famine, forced labor, and even death. Weaving together the story of their life with China’s recent political history, as well as traditional folktales and myths, the Kitchen God illuminates the most impenetrable aspects the human condition.

I just love the idea of the Kitchen God being challenged by the Jade Emperor, and having the love story of this young couple unfold before our eyes. I also love this time period. Under Fishbone Clouds will be released Dec. 7th!

The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey by Walter Mosley... At ninety-one years old, Ptolemy Grey is one of the world’s forgotten: by his family, by his friends, by even himself. Marooned in a cluttered Los Angeles apartment overflowing with mementos from his past, Ptolemy sinks deeper into lonely dementia and into a past that’s best left buried. He’s determined to pass the rest of his days with only his memories for company. Until, at his grandnephew’s funeral, he meets Robyn and experiences a seismic shift, in his head, his heart, and his life. Seventeen

and without a family of her own, Robyn is unlike anyone Ptolemy has ever known. She and Ptolemy form an unexpected bond that reinvigorates his world. Robyn will not tolerate the way he has allowed himself to live, skulking in and out of awareness barely long enough to cash his small pension checks, living in fear of his neighbors and the memories that threaten to swallow him. With Robyn’s help, Ptolemy moves from isolation back into the brightness of friendship and desire. But Robyn’s challenges also push Ptolemy to make a life-changing decision that will affect both of them: to recapture the clarity and vigor of his fading mind and unlock the secrets he has carried for decades.

For all my mystery reading, I have never read Walter Mosley. This definitely isn't one of his mystery books, but the premise of the story drew me in. How the elderly are often times forgotten, and how the friendship of a young girl breathes new life into an old man just grabbed me. Lots of early praise for this book too! I'm looking forward to reading this too! *P.S. This Book is Kindle Ready!

Coming up this week on Chick with Books are two Virtual Book Tours! First, The Book of Eli by Sam Moffie makes a stop monday... Cheating husband meets sudden demise via hex from gypsy hired by wife. Husband makes trip to heaven for redemption. Author Sam Moffie has an ascerbic sense of humor, and it shows in The Book of Eli. Ready for the Holidays?! Well, author Sheila Roberts brings readers a heartwarming story of family, friendships and love in The Snow Globe! The Snow Globe by Sheila Roberts is the second Virtual Book Tour this week, also on monday. I loved this book! It's a perfect little book to escape into during the hectic holidays! My reading group is also going to read it in December and have a live chat with Sheila! I'll let you all know how that goes too!

What have I got my nose into these days? Right now I'm reading Cake Boss by Buddy Valastro! I love watching Cake Boss on the TLC network! If you aren't familiar with the show, it's a cake making reality show at its' best! Buddy Valastro runs the family bake shop, Carlo's Bake Shop, in Hoboken, NJ. with his mother, sisters and brother-in-laws. The show is a blast and the book is too! This book lets us know a little more about Buddy and his family with stories and recipes! And you know I love a good cook book, and the recipe's in this book are dee-lish! I'll be reviewing this book the week of Thanksgiving!

Book Bargain Alert! If you are interested in reading this years Man Booker Prize winner, The Finkler Question by Howard Jacobson, you can pick up the paperback for $5.99 right now at Amazon, and the Kindle Ready version for $5.69! And Nook owners, you too can pick up the NOOKbook for $5.69!

So that's what I've been reading, how 'bout you?! What books have you put on your wishlist? Share what books you've found this week, because I'd love to hear about them!