Today’s post includes a review of Jamie Schler’s cook book Orange Appeal – Sweet & Savory and features her Navette Cookies. Orange Appeal is a cookbook that is all about sweet and savoury recipes that are centered on the orange. I’ve also got a copy of Jamie’s cookbook to give away, and the publishers will ship it worldwide to the lucky winner.
I’m always happy to see a good cookbook. I love oranges so I was happier still to receive Jamie’s book. This cook is a little extra special for another reason. It also features some gorgeous food photography by Ilva Beretta. Both Jamie and Ilva are fellow food bloggers who I have the pleasure of knowing for about ten years now. Apart from their love of good food, Jamie weaves magic with her words to tell the most compelling stories, while Ilva does her story telling with her gorgeous photography.
Jamie Schler grew up in Florida surrounded by citrus groves so it’s not surprising that her cookbook is all about oranges. Apart from blogging, writing and conducting food writing workshops, she and her husband now own the Hôtel Diderot in Chinon, France.
Ilva Beretta is a Swedish photographer who lives in Tuscany, Italy. She is an award winning photographer who specializes in food and still life photography.
Let me start by telling you something about the cookbook. Jamie starts her book with an introduction about varieties of oranges round the world and different kinds of orange flavourings include some that can be made at home. She also shares essential information about the fruit including tips on how to select, buy, and store the fruit.
Her recipes are divided into Sauces, Dressings, Dips, and Relishes; Soups, Salads, Starters, and Sides; Main Dishes; Breads (Quick and Yeast); Cookies and Treats; Cakes and Desserts. There are quite a few non-vegetarian recipes as expected but I was happy to see many that appealed to me as a vegetarian. Jamie’s recipes all have short stories about them and are the recipes are well written. The ingredients come with cup/ volume and weight measurements as well so that’s quite convenient.
Clockwise, from the top left – Moroccan Marinated Orange Slices in Cinnamon and Orange Blossom Water, Glazed Blood Orange Yogurt Loaf Cake, Rye Spice Cake with Orange Brown Sugar Glaze and Marmalade Whipped Cream & Vanilla Poached Orange Slices with Gingerbread Oat Crumble
THE GIVEAWAY
Before I share a recipe I tried from Jamie’s cookbook, here’s some really good news. The publishers of Jamie’s cookbook, Gibbs Smith have been kind enough to offer a copy of Orange Appeal for the readers of this blog.
How to Enter :
Just leave a comment on this blog post (scroll down to comments section, please) telling me your favorite orange flavoured vegetarian recipe to make. I would really like to know. This blog would also love it and be very much encouraged (and so would I) if you followed me on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and Twitter. It’s not a condition to enter the giveaway though.
Giveaway Details :
It’s open to anyone anywhere in the world and the publishers will ship worldwide.
This giveaway ends at 12.00 midnight (whenever that is in your part of the world)on Sunday, the 25th October, 2017.
The winners will be chosen randomly and notified by email.
———————————————————————————————————————————————-
I have marked a few of Jamie’s recipes to try out and shall share them when I cook them. Today, I share her Navette Cookies which are a specialty from Marseilles. A little different from the usual cookie, these are somewhat dry and crisp cookies that are perfect for dunking. They’re also bursting with the flavor of orange zest and orange blossom water.
To quote Jamie, “…. Navettes are these wonderful cookies from the Mediterranean port city of Marseille are shaped like the little boats they are named after, and are traditionally eaten in Marseilles for the February holiday of Candlemas—le Chandeleur—while the rest of the country celebrates with crêpes. We love these olive oil and orange blossom water pastries all year round.”
Of course, you have to love oranges to like these cookies. You might like them even if you’re not very fond of oranges. My daughter will avoid an orange in any form if she can. She thought they looked interesting and ate the whole cookie, saying, “These are pretty good”. That’s high praise from her.
Please note: All photographs published here from Orange Appeal by Jamie Schler, are by Ilva Beretta, and have been reprinted by permission of Gibbs Smith..
THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED. PLEASE SEE THIS POST FOR THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE WINNER.
Navette Cookies, A Review of Orange Appeal & A Giveaway
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup granulated white sugar 100 g
- 1 large egg
- 1 rounded tsp orange zest
- 3 tsp orange blossom water
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1 3/4 ounces cups plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour 9oz/ 250 g
- milk for brushing the cookies before baking
Instructions
- In a medium mixing bowl, beat the sugar and the egg on medium-high speed until pale, thick, and creamy, about 2 minutes. Beat in the zest, orange blossom water, and oil. Stir the salt into the flour and then beat 2/3 of the flour into the batter in 2 or 3 additions.
- Finish folding the flour in by hand, kneading until all of the flour has been added and a smooth dough has developed. Form the dough into a ball, wrap in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for 1 hour.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (180 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Take the dough out of the refrigerator and slightly flatten the ball into a disc. Cut the dough into 12 even wedges. Roll each wedge into a 3-inch-long (7 cm) oval log and place on the prepared baking sheet.
- Shape the pieces of dough into small “navettes” or little boats by pressing to flatten just a bit, and pinching the 2 ends into rounded points. Make a 2-inch (5 cm) slit down the center of each with a sharp knife, cutting only halfway down into the dough, and carefully push the slit open slightly. Brush each cookie lightly with milk.
- Bake for 20–25 minutes, or until golden; the tips and undersides should be a deeper golden brown. Remove from the oven and allow the cookies to cool on a rack. Store in a covered container.
I'm Aparna and My Diverse Kitchen is my ovo-lacto vegetarian food blog where you'll find recipes, food stories & photography. I've been blogging since 2007 and believe the kitchen, and the dining table (by extension) is really the heart of a home. 
You daughter’s reaction made me smile because my son is the same and I was thrilled every time he actually tasted something I made with oranges and liked it! I love your Navettes – just beautiful! Thank you so much for the perfect review and thank you and Gibbs for the gievaway!!
Hi, thanks for the giveaway. My favourite vegetarian recipe with orange, would be to use orange slices in salad & orange zest in salad dressing. A quick homemade jelly of orange juice is a welcome dessert during anytime of the day.
Thanks once again 🍊
Thank you for your kind words, Aparna! And I have to say that I love your photo of the Navette cookies, it’s wonderful! (And I obviously don’t participate in the giveaway!)
I love a good orange flavored glaze! To me, it just makes any sort of sweet bread way better! This looks like such a beautiful and scrumptious cookbook!
I really like to make a Moroccan style cooked carrot and orange salad!
Oh, I’m longing to get this book – everything I’ve seen so far from the recipes look mouthwatering, of course! This gave me an idea – to make the toasty, crumbly, shortcake dough I make for strawberry shortcake, flavored with orange zest and fresh orange juice, instead of lemon zest.
Orange Avocado salad dressing or
I gonna ry this Navette cookies and adopt it for my tea time bakes’ list.
Merci.
Aparna, my favorite recipe using oranges is the easiest ever: Sharabi Narangi. All you have to do is peel oranges, slice them, sprinkle powdered cinnamon and chill them. Come dessert-time, place a few slices out on each plate, drizzle them with Cointreau (or orange blossom water) and serve them with a scoop of vanilla ice-cream.
My most and all time favorite is bitter orange marmalade. I know it’s not something exclusive, but I really love it. I always have a bottle or two handy…and for the same reason we have planted quite a few varieties of citrus in our farm 😍😍
I hardly cook and am always happy when someone cooks for me.
Being a vegetarian and a teetotaller and a diabetic, just like you, I end up consuming Orange Juice a lot. I like eating the raw orange in winters when it is the season for oranges.
Have you tried the Orange Burfi that you get in Nagpur – I think I quite liked it. There is a fine blend of Sweet and Tangy taste and it probably suits by Desi tastebuds.
It’s so nice to meet you Aparna! I love Jamie, her style, cooking, personality… thus excited you’re sharing her book here. I’m partial to a recipe in it- a blood orange and humus vinaigrette. Although, I’ve been eyeing the Navette cookies as I’ve seen them pop up on sites.
Since I’ve been in a cooking rut of sorts, look forward to trying some of your recipes. The hubby and I thoroughly enjoy spices, herbs and flavors of all kinds so I think I landed somewhere perfect!
Orange is such a versatile ingredient, isn’t it? Those cookies look amazing, and I am really loving the photographs from the book. I am more of an orange eater and a juice drinker, it mostly wouldn’t go past i. But I love a good chocolate orange cake and the Moroccan Orange and Almond cake. I even tried biscottis with it and they were amazing!
Great giveaway 🙂 Love your photography. May I know where you got those pretty white jars??
I love cooking with fruits in general and I have recently started to learn to use orange zest instead of lemon in several recipes and it had turned out great. ( orange zest in lemon tea cake loaf and in my creamy lemon pasta as well). My personal favorite is a South Indian vathakuzhambu my grandmother makes with dried orange peels. It’s basially a flavor party in your mouth.
You have a Lovely blog. This is my go-to blog for my random baking urges.
Hi, Thanks for the giveaway. *i had posted a comment earlier, but somehow it got deleted.*
Hence a new one with some changes. I would love to use orange segments and zest in a salad or a refreshing smoothie. The most unique flavor for orange would be to have orange fruit flavored kulfi encased in the fruit itself. Although my favorite use of orange would be used to use orange marmalade to make some delicious truffles.
Thanks once again.
Hi Aparna, Love the pictures of these Navette cookies. Tempted to try them out soon. And this giveaway is a great gesture. Would love to be a part of it. Narrowing down on a favourite orange recipe doesn’t seem as easy as it sounds 🙂 The more I think about it, I realize how versatile an ingredient the orange is – whether it is the classic Marmalade, or the delicate balance of flavours in Oriental sauces, or the citrusy zing in salads (as a salad ingredient and in subtle dressings), or the comfort in a slice of the Orange Pound Cake, or how it morphs itself equally beautifully in traditional regional Indian cuisine (say Orange-Pip Vathakuzhambu made in Tanjavur Brahmin households or Orange Hereligojju made by Lingayyats around Chikkamagalur or Komolar Kheer by the Assamese). The options seem endless. Definitely not easy to pick a favourite here. Look forward to exchanging ideas and more such recipes. Already an avid follower of your instagram page. Your work is truly wonderful, keep it up!
Best regards
I love to eat oranges a lot……..It was a healthy and easily available fruit in our country. I like Komola Bhog and orange smoothie…..
I love oranges than any other citrus fruits, they burst with color and I just love the sweet and sour notes.. I have used them in salads and dessert souffles but I have been meaning to bake a hearty chocolate orange loaf. I am also eyeing one recipe to make – orange flavored ras malai…
Other than desserts, I use orange juice in rasam which is mainly made with tamarind juice and tomato.
Its a beautiful space Aparna, long time back I saw once you posted about Sanjeev Kapoor acknowledging your recipes. Until you don’t know a person for a while its gets difficult to communicate then it gets shallow. Through your posts I know you well by now in the food circuit.
I have been a big fan of Jamie’s Writing skills and Ilva Beretta photography, it all started with a small critique group and now I am a big fan. Thats why their new book excites me since I have slowly followed their friendship and work. Its so rare to work in tandem. I love all the photographs that you have shared and so are the recipes. I yearn for a simple orange pulp cake which my mum used to make. Very zesty and citrusy flavours she picked up from a magazine then. (Sarita)
Hi, Thanks for the giveaway. *i had posted a comment earlier, but somehow it got deleted.*
Hence a new one with some changes. I would love to use orange segments and zest in a salad or a refreshing smoothie. The most unique flavor for orange would be to have orange fruit flavored kulfi encased in the fruit itself. Although my favorite use of orange would be used to use orange marmalade to make some delicious truffles.
Thanks once again.
Those photographs were taken by Ilva Beretta so not my jars. 🙂
I think you might find them online though.
Hi Aparna- I love your website and enjoy the lovely pictures too.i particularly liked this recipe and will make it soon since I so love oranges. The first thing that comes to mind for me is orange marmalade. What’s not to love about it , enjoy it with a piece of toast and some hot tea! I usually make marmalade just so I can gift it to friends and it makes me feel so happy to see the look of joy when friends receive it.Thanks for a great post!
Beautiful photography by Ilva and definitely an amazing write up by Jamie! It’s like a combination of oranges and chocolate! My two favourite ingredients I love oranges to core and make everything possible to use them in my kitchen!
Wish I could get hold of the book!
Hello!
I have been following your Instagram feed since a while and I love your posts. The pictures and the recipes. I am not a great cook but what I do, I try to do it perfectly.
I love oranges. Anything citrus, for that matter and orange zest finds its way to many of my recipes. I sun dry the peels of all the oranges I devour. It makes an excellent scrub when powdered too.
I just want to say you are doing a great job here. And I shall make an attempt to make these delicious looking cookies asap.
Cheers,
Lakshmi.
Beautiful photography and I obviously already follow the account on Instagram.
Orange is my favorite fruit! Apart from eating a lot of fresh ornages as is, I really enjoy orange-suji halwa made from both zest and juice.
Hi Aparna, the Navette cookies look scrumptious, and the book delicious! Oranges are one the very few fruit that I actually like cooked into dishes, especially ones that use the zest. I have many favorites, but will name two here and have actually even paired the two together: Ragi-millet orange teacake and orange ice-cream. 😃
Thank you Jamie. Your book is a pleasure to go through and bake from. Well, kids can be the worst of critics but honest. 🙂
Love those too. 🙂
I do love your photography Ilva. Have long been a fan.
Thank you too.
That’s a personal favourite.
Orangey strawberry shortcake! What an excellent idea.
Nice.
Drunken oranges? That’s an really good and very easy dessert to make. I’m doing this soon.
I share your love for orange marmalade and think it’s something special Samruddhi.
I’m in the same boat as you and love most things orange. Yes, I have eaten that orange burfi. Have to confess I didn’t like it all that much but it might be because I don’t have a very sweet tooth.
Nice to meet you too Lynn. And thank you.
I like the sound of that vinaigrette too. We don’t get blood oranges here but I’m thinking it would work with regular ones too.
Yes, they are and I’m very partial to them. 🙂
Thank you Nithya.
Dried Orange Peel in Vathalkuzhambu? That’s something new for me. Must check it out.
I understand Janani. When you like something a lot it’s difficult to pick one. You’ve given me a couple of good ideas to try with oranges. Thank you.
I’ve had the Rasmalai and it’s quite good.
Rasam? I have to try that out!
Thank you.
I agree, it’s not easy to get to know people in the virtual world, especially these days.
I do see your photography on IG and know you by them. 🙂
That cake sounds good. You should post it some day.
Thank you Mala.
I love marmalade so I’m very much with you there.
Thank you very much, Lakshmi
Thank you. 🙂
Oh yes, that ice cream is something I really like. 🙂