In my Sweet Kitchen

Reagan Daley's book, In the Sweet Kitchen, is an amazing assortment of information, simple recipes, flavor charts and delicious goodness in one large, hardbacked package. Following the exuberant praise for the book and killer brownie recipe from Rob at Hungry in Hogtown, I knew I had to see what all the hype was about (Rob's blog, co-written with his wife Rachel, is highly entertaining and filled with creative, innovative food science, molecular gastronomy, funny references to classic tunes and hilarious stories, so go check them out!). Futhermore, also following Rob and Rachel's excellent suggestion to test out cookbooks at the library before handing over the big bucks to buy them (except that now I have found more books that I simply must have...which may not be a good thing), I picked it up at the Eugene Public Library, and quickly came to the conclusion that this book was going to have to be added to my collection. Being a scientist, however, comes with a set of rules, aptly called "The Scientific Method," that any conclusion must be based upon. As any scientist knows, there are some basic rules that must be adhered to when using the Scientific Method.

Rule #1: State the Question
Is this a book that MUST to be added to my collection?

Rule #2: Research the topic, investigate what others have learned and gather information through observations. Observation: Rob and Rachel, two trusted culinary geniuses as far as my small world is concerned, go gaga over this book. Furthermore, I have drooled repeatedly over their brownie recipe, and know that Rachel, a brownie queen picky of her brownies (see link above), highly recommends them. Plus, I don't have enough cookbooks compared to all my foodie friends (according to previous research) and it's a big, gorgeous, lovely-looking volume with some amazingly beautiful vanilla beans grouped together on the front. It's also filled with lots of charts and bunches and bunches of simple-looking recipes and helpful, straight-forward information.

Rule #3: State your hypothesis (make a prediction). This should be a simple, testable, 'if...then' statement.
"If I make a recipe from this book that turns out so amazing that I can't imagine not ever making it again, then I will have to purchase the book for myself." Or, alternatively, steal it from the library. Which of course, I cannot do as a good, upstanding citizen, so therefore, it must be purchased with my meager expendable funds.

Rule #4: Test the hypothesis.

Make The Ultimate Chewy and Soft Chocolate Chunk Cookies, from In the Sweet Kitchen

Rule #6: Draw your conclusions and report the results.
This recipe is a definate keeper, thus, since both the brownie recipe and the cookie recipe are keepers, then the book simply must be purchased and added to my collection.

Rule #7: Repeat to see if the conclusions are valid.
No problem here! It's the 'rules,' after all...must go make more cookies...