I was shocked when I found out that this book contains the same exact recipe I use for my burgers (that I "created" on my own when I was 12!) Well, minus the 2 teaspoons of ketchup, that I don't add. I don't really like the use of ketchup in cooking but I tried it and it was not noticeable at all.. so hey, why not. That says one thing about the book: it's reliable. I bookmarked a few recipes that I can't wait to try. The Mocha Chocolate Chip Cake is one of them. Though their center focus is scones, they sound quite American and heavy to me. I probably wouldn't even attempt them since I already make great scones. ( )

'Alice's Tea Cup: Delectable Recipes for Scones, Cakes, Sandwiches' is just that - two hundred forty pages of recipes from a popular New York tea shop. Recipes run the gaumont from savories such as Mate Carnival Egg Salad to baked items such as Banana Nutella Cake and Berry Bunch Tisane-Infused Scones.

But the primary reason for buying the book is the recipe for scones. And for the unenlightened but soon to be pleased, scones are rich biscuits often containing cream and butter. Authors Haley and Lauren Fox offer a basic scone recipe and several variations. Every good cook needs a good scone recipe. And if you don't have one, this is a good place to start. The scone variations are interesting; my personal favorites are the Black Forest Ham and Cheese Scones and the Walnut Stilton Scones.

Scones are usually simple and quick to make; many of these recipes may be a bit time consuming and are more 'tea party' than family brunch.

The bottom line: An interesting assortment, but glance through this one before you buy and see if these are recipes that you'll really be using.

The publisher provided a copy of this book for review. ( )