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| Photo: Chronicle Books. |
By Kathy Casey
Photos by Angie Norwood Browne
Chronicle Books -- 2009
Buy it on Amazon
Kathy Casey isn't a mixologist, she's a "bar chef" -- a trained chef with mad cocktail skills. In "Sips and Apps," she ventures off the well-trod path of standard cocktail guides to explore cocktails with such seductive names as Black Feather and Clear Conscience.
But it's her appetizers that are sure to offer a new trick or two for your next cocktail soiree.
See what we tested and find out whether the book's worth buying after the jump.
Takeaway tips: "Every sip needs a d'lish app!" When throwing a cocktail party, stick to one signature drink (two if you just have to have more than one) and only a few appetizers. Oh, and remember to read through the recipe at least once before starting (we've all been known to mess that one up).
Quality of pictures: Browne transforms the cocktail photos into dreamy pastel-scapes. Appetizer closeups are slightly bolder in color -- and just as mouthwatering.
We tested: Chipotle Deviled Eggs and Cheladas
Both of these recipes were simple and delicious. Pureeing canned chipotle peppers in adobo sauce to create a chili paste gave the eggs a spicy kick. We easily halved the recipe and our trio of testers devoured all 12 deviled eggs in minutes -- we'll definitely be adding this recipe to the permanent rotation. Casey's classic take on the Chelada required a Mexican beer, the juice of one lime and a glass rimmed with kosher salt. Tasty.
Worth the investment: While probably not ideal for the teetotaler set, "Sips & Apps" would make a great hostess gift for those who revel in the "Mad Men" era.
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