A sweeping and magisterial four-hundred-year history of both the city and the people who gave birth to the Renaissance. Between the birth of Dante in 1265 and the death of Galileo in 1642, something happened that transformed the entire culture of western civilization. Painting, sculpture, and architecture would all visibly change in such a striking fashion that there could be no going back on what had taken place. Likewise, the thought and self-conception of humanity would take on a completely new aspect. Sciences would be born—or emerge in an entirely new guise. The ideas that broke this mold began, and continued to flourish, in the city of Florence in northern central Italy. These ideas, which placed an increasing emphasis on the development of our common humanity—rather than other-worldly spirituality—coalesced in what came to be known as humanism. This philosophy and its new ideas would eventually spread across Italy, yet wherever they took hold they would retain an element essential to their origin. And as they spread further across Europe, this element would remain. Transformations of human culture throughout western history have remained indelibly stamped by their origins. The Reformation would always retain something of central and northern Germany. The Industrial Revolution soon outgrew its British origins, yet also retained something of its original template. Closer to the present, the IT revolution that began in Silicon Valley remains indelibly colored by its Californian origins. Paul Strathern shows how Florence, and the Florentines themselves, played a similarly unique and transformative role in the Renaissance.

Sweeten Any Occasion with Bold, Unforgettable Desserts From Brown Butter Ghee Shortbread Cookies to Pomegranate Curd Brownies, these decadently spiced, versatile recipes are a joy to make and share. Drawing inspiration from her Indian-American upbringing and experience on MasterChef, Hetal Vasavada infuses every creation with the flavors of her heritage. The results are remarkable treats like Mango Lassi French Macarons and Ginger–Chai Chocolate Pot de Crème. Whip up a batch of small sweets (mithai) like Sesame Seed Brittle and Bourbon Biscuits, or impress guests with a fantastic breakfast like Banana Custard Brioche Donuts. The Gulab Jamun Cake, inspired by the quintessential Indian dough-balls soaked in spiced syrup, is the perfect showstopper for any gathering. Simple techniques and smart shortcuts make it easy to create familiar flavors or experiment with new ones. With delectable ingredients like ginger, cardamom, saffron, fennel and rose, every bite is worth celebrating.

Who says baking has to be hard work? In No-Bake Baking, Sharon Hearne-Smith shows how to create over 100 impressive sweet treats with absolutely no need for conventional baking. These easy recipes can be magicked up in your fridge, freezer, microwave or blender - or even your slow cooker, bread machine or sandwich toaster! Sharon cleverly transforms simple ingredients like rice krispies, pancakes, cookie crumbs, popcorn and marshmallows into stunning cakes, biscuits and desserts, saving you hours in the kitchen and guaranteeing gorgeous results every time. You'll find an array of jaw-dropping temptations, from iced lemon meringue cake, striped blueberry cheesecake and deep-pan double-chocolate mousse pie, to traybakes with a twist, such as rocky road white knuckle ride, trillionaire's toffee tiffin and orange & hazelnut 'brownie' bars. Enjoy sweet mouthfuls like mini pecan pies with pretzel bases, chocolate peanut butter cups, and super-cute doughnut pops, plus inventive layered refrigerator cakes, frozen bombes, a back-to-front trifle cake and much, much more. Wave goodbye to burnt edges and soggy bottoms: these ingenious recipes are fast, fuss-free and every bit as rewarding as anything from the oven.

When it comes to traditional comfort food, most of the key ingredients are off-limits to health-conscious vegans. But giving up shepherd's pie, eggplant parm, and cheesy rice casserole was not an option for Julie Hasson, who took on the challenge to recreate flavors she loved, but without the cheese, eggs, butter, and cholesterol. The results are a mix of retro flavors, such as Nacho Cheesy Sauce and a lighter Cream of Mushroom Soup, and fresh, veggie-forward dishes like Mediterranean Stuffed Cabbage Rolls and Summer Corn Custard. The recipes come together quickly, focus on healthier substitutions without the tans-fats, and are endorsed by some of the toughest critics, Julie's college-aged children and their visiting friends! With recipes like Zucchini Basil Lasagna and Tamale Pie, you’re guaranteed to find a casserole you’ll love. You can even make your own casserole creations by pairing any of the super-simple sauces with your favorite veggies and rice or pasta. Of course, desserts are an important cap to any casserole-based meal: satisfy your sweet tooth with dishes like Rustic Bread Pudding. Now: dig in and feel good about it!

"An Edible Mosaic nudges the basic cook into the world of Middle Eastern cooking with simple, approachable recipes that jump off the page and into your kitchen. Faith turns creative combinations of real food and spices into beautiful dishes packed with flavor and nutrition. --Kath Younger, KatEats.com blog"

Florentines is an anthology inspired by the rediscovery of Giovanna Garzoni, a miniaturist painter at the court of the Medici in the 17th century. Traditional Tuscan recipes and contemporary extracts describing the region and its luscious produce are illustrated with her watercolours of pumpkins, hams, branches, pans, pots, fish, vegetables and fruit.

Raven and her sister, Cara, are at the mercy of a small detachment of Florentine vampyres, who are delivering them as a peace offering to the feared Curia in Rome. Though she’s unsure William survived the coup that toppled his principality, Raven is determined to protect her sister at all costs, even if it means challenging Borek, the commander of the detachment. In an effort to keep Raven from falling into the hands of his enemies, William puts himself at the mercy of the Roman, the dangerous and mysterious vampyre king of Italy. But the Roman is not what he expects ... Alliances and enmities will shift and merge as William struggles to save the woman he loves and his principality, without plunging the vampyre population into a world war. This stunning conclusion to the Florentine series will take readers across Italy and beyond as the lovers fight to remain together. Forever.