The French Confection

When the hard-up Diamond brothers, Tim and Nick, win a weekend for two in Paris, it looks as if their luck is taking a turn for the better. But looks can be deceptive.

Meet the Diamond Brothers, the world's worst private-detective agency, in this Chandler-esque spoof from the creator of the bestselling Alex Rider series. Life as the younger brother of the world's most defective detective can be tough and these two adventures will test Nick to the full. What connects them? Murder! And if the Diamond Brothers don't play their cards right, they could be next.

The Diamond brothers have won a weekend for two in Paris. However, as soon as they arrive, they are up to their necks in danger. If Nick and Tim aren't careful, their dream holiday could end up being a nightmare from which they will never wake.

Macarons, the stuff of bakers’ candy-coated dreams, have taken the world by storm and are demystified here for the home baker, With dozens of flavor combinations, recipes are structured with three basic shell methods—French, Swiss, and Italian—plus one never-before-seen Easiest French Macaron Method. Pick one that works for you, and go on to create French-inspired pastry magic with nothing more than a mixer, an oven, and a piping bag. Try shells flavored with pistachio, blackberry, coconut, and red velvet, filled with the likes of sesame buttercream, strawberry guava pâte de fruit, crunchy dark chocolate ganache, and lemon curd. Or go savory with shells like saffron, parsley, and ancho chile paired with fillings like hummus, foie gras with black currant, and duck confit with port and fig. The options for customization are endless, and the careful, detailed instruction is like a private baking class in your very own kitchen! All recipes have been tested by students and teachers alike and are guaranteed to bring the flavors of France right to your door.

Tim Diamond is the worst detective in the world—he couldn’t find his nose with both hands and a road map. Luckily, his younger brother, thirteen-yearold Nick, is the real brains behind the operation! It’s Christmastime, and once again, Tim and Nick are flat broke. Luckily for them, a famous Greek pop singer and movie star, Minerva, has been getting death threats—and they’re the detectives hired to solve the mystery. Unfortunately for Nick, Tim’s busy fending off Minerva’s amorous advances, and the international star has made plenty of enemies on her way to the top, all of whom seem to want her dead. Can Nick track down the would-be assassin on his own?

French macarons, with a unique twist of color and shapes! Go beyond circles and basic flavors and give the popular classic a modern and whimsical makeover. Gourmet French Macarons is filled with tried and tested recipes, techniques, styling ideas, templates, and decorating tips. Impress everyone with over 75 flavors and shapes to fit each season, holiday, or life celebration.

Chocolates & Confections, 2e offers a complete and thorough explanation of the ingredients, theories, techniques, and formulas needed to create every kind of chocolate and confection.Ê It is beautifully illustrated with 250 full-color photographs of ingredients, step-by-step techniques, and finished chocolates and confections.Ê From truffles, hard candies, brittles, toffee, caramels, and taffy to butter ganache confections, fondants, fudges, gummies, candied fruit, marshmallows, divinity, nougat, marzipan, gianduja, and rochers, Chocolates & Confections 2e offers the tools and techniques for professional mastery.