Three books to ponder:Every cook needs at least one book of dessert recipes that's reliable, and yet exciting enough to justify all that measuring and mixing. UK chef James Martin is the dish of the day on food channels at the moment, and his Desserts (published by Quadrille, £20) collection, accompanying his BBC TV series, will satisfy the sweetest tooth.
All the old favourites such as crumbles, pies, gateaux and meringues are there, but with up-to-date interpretations, such as the croissant bread and butter pudding made with white chocolate and whiskey (pictured). Martin says this has become his "trademark dish" and reveals that it was invented out of necessity when the restaurant run by his then-boss Antony Worrall Thompson ordered 33 dozen croissants instead of three dozen.
There are also recipes for pear and lemon verbena crème brûlée, slow-roasted peaches with orange caramel sauce, raspberry and nougat semifreddo, and truffle torte . . . who could resist?
COOK WITH ANGELA:Angela Hartnett's Cucina (Ebury, £25) is a first book from the woman about whom Gordon Ramsey's staff placed bets on how long she'd last in his kitchen. Twelve years later, she is a linchpin of his organisation and has a Michelin star for her cooking at the Connaught hotel in London. Her new book is a personal memoir, and all the better for it. Her Italian family provides many of the recipes, and there are some from her menu at the Connaught, too.
GET PUBLISHED:Irish amateur cooks will have an opportunity to see one of their recipes in print later this year when SuperValu publishes a charity book of recipes. One recipe will be chosen from those submitted to every SuperValu shop. Each recipe used will earn its creator a €250 shopping voucher, and the author of the best original recipe submitted will win a kitchen make-over to the value of €10,000. Entry forms are available in-store, and the closing date is June 1st. Marie-Claire Digby