When I was fifteen I got my first mobile phone. Not your standard smart phone with fancy apps, a camera or even a colour screen; just a pink-cased Nokia brick which I used as a sort of portable telephone box to call my parents. Friends were contacted using our good old-fashioned landline and the internet (including the joy of MSN Messenger) accessed by via our clunky home PC. I didn’t spend much time online and any baking we did was inspired by my Mum’s extensive collection of recipe books, magazine cuttings and a little bit of imagination.
That same year, the Blogger platform was introduced and David Lebovitz launched his website. Julie Powell’s Julie & Julia project, the Smitten Kitchen blog and 101 Cookbooks were several years away and foodie favourites Tastespotting and Food52 wouldn’t arrive online for 8 and 10 years respectively. A lot of good things were yet to come.
When Izy Hossack was fifteen, she started her own food blog, Top With Cinnamon. Three years later and only just the right side of her A-levels, she’s published her debut cookbook of the same name. A lot has been made of Izy’s age in the publicity surrounding the launch – which I suppose I’m only compounding with the introduction to this post – and it’s impossible to ignore. But at the same time I think she deserves credit beyond that – this book is not just impressive for an eighteen year old. It’s knock-your-socks-off impressive in its own right. Full stop.
As I’m coming to the end of this process myself, I appreciate all the hard work that goes into writing a cookbook. I wrote and tested mine with a full-time job; Izy did hers while doing her A-levels, but what’s even more amazing is that she took all the photographs herself. Her unique sense of style and lighting shines through on every page and her book is beautiful enough to compete with the best. Hats off to you Ms. Hossack, you’ve done an awesome job.
As you’d expect from Izy’s blog, there’s a lot of baking in the book. Plenty of classics, some reinvented using wholegrain flours, coconut oil and other good-for-you ingredients that we’re all beginning to incorporate more into our everyday lives. There are also a couple of lovely savoury chapters and I’ve already promised Luke (Carnivorous Husband) that her shredded beef chilli and chicken tacos with peach BBQ sauce will make an appearance on the menu soon.
When picking a recipe for this post, I had to go with pancakes. They’re not something I make that often and seem to sum up the essence of Izy’s recipes– simple, stylish, slightly American and incredibly more-ish. I added a little thyme to the batter and topped them with thick Greek yoghurt, honey and walnuts as a nod to the lovely Greek holiday we’ve just returned from, but you could just as easily serve them with smoked salmon or a soft, savoury cheese.
- For the pancakes
- 100g (about 1) grated courgette
- 55g rolled oats
- 65g cornmeal/polenta
- 30g ground almonds
- 1 tsp baking powder
- ¼ tsp bicarbonate of soda
- 1 sprig thyme, leaves picked
- 1 large egg
- 190ml milk (almond or soy milk will also work here)
- sunflower oil, for frying
- To serve
- Greek yoghurt
- Handful walnuts, toasted
- Runny honey
- Thyme leaves
- Squeeze the grated courgette in your hands to wring out as much water as possible.
- Place the oats, cornmeal, almonds, baking powder and bicarbonate of soda in a blender and blitz until the oats are fine. Add the thyme leaves, two thirds of the grated courgette, the egg and milk then blitz again until well combined. Stir in the remaining grated courgette.
- Heat 2 tsp oil in a large non-stick frying pan over a medium heat, swirling until the pan is evenly coated. Spoon in 2 tablespoons of batter per pancake - I cooked three pancakes at a time.
- Once bubbles begin to form and burst on the surface of each pancake, flip and continue to cook until golden on the other side. Repeat with the remaining batter, adding more oil as necessary.
- Serve the pancakes topped with a dollop of Greek yoghurt, a handful of walnuts, a drizzle of honey and a few picked thyme leaves.
I am so glad you emphasised how amazing Izy’s book is ‘full stop’. While I agree that putting someone’s achievement into context, for example in terms of their age, is one way of emphasising that achievement, I think it can also serve to undermine it. And, from what I have seen of Izy’s book (I have yet to order a copy), Izy’s book is truly amazing in its own right. The recipes are original and delicious-sounding and the photos are beyond stunning. The fact she is only 18 makes that achievement even more incredible. Once I can find more space on my bookshelf, I think Izy’s book will be one of the first to add to my collection!
What a juicy set of ingredients, no doubt those lightly and sunny looking pancakes will be very luscious and moist x
i really enjoy reading izy’s blog. her visuals are so beautiful and her recipes interesting! i could not agree with you more but a book is to be judged by its content and the work gone into it rather than by the age of the writer. talent is not dependent on the latter. it is really dedication to a craft. these pancakes look delicious! x
I can’t wait to get my hands on this cookbook it looks absolutely beautiful as do your photos here.
I really appreciate your review — I often find myself caught up in thinking, “wow, she’s eighteen,” what was I doing when I was her age? — but I also agree with everyone else in the comments that talent is talent, regardless of age.
These pancakes are pure deliciousness. Izy never disappoints!
I LOVE this post!!! YES, we are so on the same page! (I love your “Nokia brick” — oh those were the days.) I am mesmerized by these fluffy pancakes, too. You’ve made them look so dreamy with the plume of yogurt on top, and they look just like my favorite consistency — fat, fluffy and droopily soft <3 I can't wait to try these next. Thank you for sharing such lovely words, I couldn't agree with them more!
They’re such a good texture – highly recommend making them next from Izy’s book 🙂 x