A sport based on one animal sitting on top of another and trying (usually) to be the first pair to reach a wooden stick is a curiosity in itself. So it's no surprise that horseracing is full of curiosities. The curiosities in this collection have been chosen to arouse interest. They are stories of those curious creatures - people, and of horses. The curiosities are arranged in themes so that the reader can dip in and out, as the mood takes them. The collection should leave them with a benevolent view of an intriguing sport, if they didn't already have one. Owners, jockeys, the horses, racecourses, officials, prizes, trainers and staff, racing journalists, betting, bookmakers, punters, skulduggery - one of Britain's best loved racing journalists David Ashforth has found the stories to capture the readers attention on all these topics and more.

Bind: hardback

Pages: 256

Dimensions: 156 x 234 mm

Publication Date: 08-09-2022

What is an idiom? It's a turn of phrase designed to convey a meaning which is different from the literal meaning of the words. But this is a fun take on the subject. Artist and writer Steve Palin has combined another of his passions: his love of animals, birds and insects - to come up with a delightful book in which he has illustrated and explained his favourite wildlife idioms. Cat among the pigeons, big fish in a small pond, a kangaroo court - these idioms have inspired some of his joyous paintings in this book, each paired with his short explanation of how the term came to be used. Hours of fun guessing what the idiom depicted is, with the answer on the following page!

Bind: hardback

Pages: 144

Dimensions: 143 x 168 mm

Publication Date: 08-09-2022

New Edition. This book will teach you how to identify with confidence the most delicious mushrooms. They are all common species and easy to identify. The method is totally safe. All you do is follow this new, simple approach to positive identification. Then you can enjoy mushrooming without fear.

Bind: hardback

Pages: 128

Dimensions: 189 x 246 mm

Publication Date: 20-10-2006

Learn to bake your own bread with the acclaimed Le Cordon Bleu school. Le Cordon Bleu is the highly renowned, world famous culinary school noted for the quality of its courses, aimed at beginners as well as confirmed or professional cooks. It is the world’s largest hospitality education institution, with over 20 schools on five continents. Its educational focus is on hospitality management, culinary arts, and gastronomy. The teaching teams are composed of specialists, chefs and pastry experts, most of them honoured by national or international prizes. One of its most famous alumnae in the 1940s was Julia Child, as depicted in the film Julie & Julia. There are 80 illustrated recipes, explained step-by-step with 1450 photographs presented in seven chapters with recipes for traditional baguette, sourdough bread, milk rolls, focaccia, ciabatta, pita, challah, croissants, pain au chocolate, Parisian brioche, stollen, panettone, vanilla flan, kouign-amann, galette des rois… and much, much more Discover recipes for traditional, regional breads and breads from around the world, as well as viennoiseries (Danish pastries) and French pastries. Learn how to knead, shape and score breads and achieve baking success thanks to the know-how and advice of the very best bakers.

Bind: hardback

Pages: 304

Dimensions: 200 x 230 mm

Publication Date: 05-09-2022

From sweet to savory, basic breads to fancy pastry, this elegant and thoroughly modern cookbook distills centuries of European tradition and heritage into mouthwatering recipes that home bakers can create in their own kitchens. Just like many pandemic-driven Americans, Europeans are turning on their ovens and rediscovering their roots through baking. This collection of nearly one hundred recipes is presented with elegant yet friendly flair by Laurel Kratochvila, an American-born, boulangerie-trained baker with her own Jewish bakery and bagel shop in Berlin. Each chapter is dedicated to a certain kind of baked product—breads, brioches and enriched doughs, viennoiseries and laminated pastries, tartes and biscuits—and includes foundational recipes and time-honored techniques for dough-shaping, fermentation, seasoning, and fillings. Sprinkled throughout the book are profiles introducing readers to eleven other European bakers who are turning out delicious pastries and breads that reflect the cultural heritage of their home cities of Paris, Warsaw, Copenhagen, Madrid, London, and Lisbon. Recipes such as Baltic rye bread, toasted sesame challah, elderflower maritozzi, honey and fig tropézienne, lamb and fennel sausage rolls, soft pretzels, and spicy ginger caramel shortbreads combine Old World traditions with twenty-first century flavors. Filled with luscious photography, and suitable for bakers at every level of experience, this sophisticated yet accessible guide to home baking is crammed with centuries of European history.

Bind: hardback

Pages: 256

Dimensions: 190 x 260 mm

Publication Date: 06-09-2022

From woods and fields into the kitchen and onto the table. Delicious recipes for cooking game, expertly explained. This is a recipe book for both the aspiring home cook and the hands-on gourmet who is prepared to reframe their view on wild game. The Wild Game Cookbook helps keen cooks rediscover this organic, sustainable and versatile meat. The book features delicious recipes that range from fine dining, to everyday meals, insightful information of handling and preparation and aesthetic photography. Unleash the rich flavors of truly wild game with these recipes, and help save forests at the same time. Tapping into those natural food reserves can help rebalance woodland, where in the absence of predators such as wolves, many populations of deer and boar have soared. Because they eat buds and saplings, this contributes to forest devastation. The inescapable result is that rangers are having to manage the animals. And by far the most tasteful way of solving this problem is by eating it.

Bind: hardback

Pages: 204

Dimensions: 180 x 240 mm

Publication Date: 01-09-2022

Work your way through the skills and techniques required to make high-quality leather belts. Belts are underestimated as simple and easy, but a lot of planning and measuring are required to ensure the production of a good leather belt that fits its owner, serves its purpose, looks good, is durable, and, most importantly, is of high quality. But designing and creating leather belts can also be enjoyable and satisfying for leatherworkers of all levels. Leather expert Nigel Armitage presents a clear and easy-to-follow guide both for makers of belts and those just starting their leatherworking journey. The 12 projects in these pages include a Yeoman's Belt, Ranger Belt, Sam Browne Belt, Bushcraft Belt, and much more. Armitage guides you step by step through the tools and techniques you'll need to create leather belts that will last for generations and be the envy of everyone who sees them.

Bind: paperback

Pages: 160

Dimensions: 216 x 254 mm

Publication Date: 28-09-2022

Attention twenty-first century knitters! Put down your stitch markers, cable needles, and rulers, it’s time to dive into your scrap yarn bag and throw caution to the wind. Europe’s hippest textile genius throws the rulebook out the window with a knitting book like never before. Tired of dowdy knitting patterns? Bored of videos made by traditionalists with no sense of fun? Freaked out by complicated instructions that leave no room for mistakes? Do you want to learn to knit fur? How about some funky patterns for children's clothes that kids will love? Well, Lærke Bagger is here for you. Known for her exuberant use of color and textures, this young textile artist is rapidly gaining a fanatical worldwide following. In this unique guide, she offers advice for knitters of every level, as well as fifteen basic patterns that can be varied infinitely to suit individual skill sets, tastes, and materials. There are illustrated instructions for making socks, scarves and sweaters—but you’ll also find ideas for creating babysuits, scrunchies, T-shirts and even a prom dress. In addition to eschewing perfection, the Lærke Bagger technique involves tying knots instead of sewing the ends of yarn, recycling every inch of wool, and letting mistakes be a part of the design. With names like the Carpe Diem Sweater, the Bad Idea Top and the Easy Peasy Pillow, her knits are easily translated to fit whatever mood you’re in. Along the way, Lærke Bagger dispenses unique pearls of wisdom for living in today’s hectic world.

Bind: hardback

Pages: 272

Publication Date: 15-09-2022

A fun and on-trend guide for crafters of all abilities to learn how to dye and print their own textiles. This book covers the 7 most popular dyeing and printing techniques: sun print, veggie print, shibori, wooden model, cyanotype, string, and flower pounding. It includes clear, step-by-step instructions with coordinating high-quality photography that will appeal to today's modern crafter

Bind: paperback

Pages: 128

Dimensions: 190 x 260 mm

Publication Date: 20-09-2022

Satisfying and simple to make and gift, Zigzag Rope Sewing Projects is a complete craft guide to creating stylish bowls, bags, trivets, baskets, and more by coiling rope and joining it together with a simple zigzag stitch. An easy and fun craft that you can master quickly, this book features 17 projects with clear, step-by-step instructions, coordinating photography, and expert tips throughout that will ensure success and build your rope sewing skills. Also included are introductory overviews on the basics of rope sewing, instructions for more advanced shaping, and plenty of finishing ideas. Endless design ideas and a variety of techniques to try - from painting and fabric wrapping to dying, adding handles and more - will mean you'll fall in love with sewing with rope!

Bind: paperback

Pages: 144

Dimensions: 216 x 279 mm

Publication Date: 13-09-2022