Cooking Know-How: Be a Better Cook with Hundreds of Easy Techniques, Step-by-Step Photos, and Ideas for Over 500 Great Meals Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This comprehensive cooking tome focuses on techniques and then builds on the techniques with ideas for hundreds of meals. The authors take you step-by-step through 65 master recipes with 325 instructional photos.
For some, the step-by-step instructions might be too long--perhaps a bit too precise and a little overwhelming. But others may view this extensive offering as a means to answer all the questions one might ask a cooking teacher as they walk you through a recipe and technique. Call-out boxes give general information relating to the recipe. For example, in the "Filet Mignon and Other Red-Meat Medallions with a Pan Sauce" section, call-out boxes explain the three main temperature points for beef and other red meats; what a filet mignon is (even how to pronounce it); and the definitions of blue, rare, medium-rare, medium, medium-well, and well done.
There is one factor that makes //Cooking Know-How// stand head and shoulders above the crowded cookbook shelf: Following each recipe or technique is a chart with eight additional recipes for similar items. For instance, in the case of the Filet Mignon recipe, it is followed by eight different filet mignon and other red-meat medallion and sauce combinations. Variety is the spice of life, and in the charts one finds variations on the master recipe. Not only will you learn how to make enchiladas, but you will also learn recipes for eight different kinds of enchiladas. For anyone who loves to cook with variety, this is cooking heaven!
//Cooking Know-How// sets a new standard for cookbook organization, presentation, and depth of knowledge. What some skilled cooks may view this as too much information, the novice will appreciate the educational value of the thorough particulars. The charts which follow each master recipe are worth the weight of the book, and definitely worth the cost.
Reviewed by
Jamie Engle

Click Here to see more reviews about: Cooking Know-How: Be a Better Cook with Hundreds of Easy Techniques, Step-by-Step Photos, and Ideas for Over 500 Great Meals

Get 34% OFF

Click here for more information about Cooking Know-How: Be a Better Cook with Hundreds of Easy Techniques, Step-by-Step Photos, and Ideas for Over 500 Great Meals

Read More...

Martha Stewart's Cooking School: Lessons and Recipes for the Home Cook Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Martha Stewart's Cooking School: Lessons and Recipes for the Home Cook is an indispensable cooking guide for beginners through mid-level cooks. By mid-level, I am referring to anyone who cooks but is not adept at the various cooking techniques or one with a firm understanding of how and what tools to use in the kitchen.
As a former caterer and chef, I see that many people lack basic cooking skills. This book does a fantastic job of teaching the skill--Stewart provides clear instructions and the accompanying photographs makes the job of learning how to cook seem simple. (And cooking is fairly simple...you just need to practice--and get good guidance!)
The book is stunning in its layout and with impeccable photography throughout. The photographs alone would entice even the most reluctant beginner to jump in and learn to cook!
Cooking School begins with the basics--what cooking supplies to stock in your kitchen. Stewart believes in keeping things simple and she lists the basic equipment to do the job. Also included are knife sharpening tips and much more. Here again, the photos assist in the show and tell method of this book.
The remainder of the book is divided as follows:
* Stocks and dips
* Eggs
* Meat, fish and poultry
* Vegetables
* Pasta
* Dried beans and grains
* Desserts
Each section provides cooking techniques and recipes, many of which are classics.
This is a wonderful book to buy yourself or anyone who wants to learn to cook--or to cook better. I bought a copy for my niece as a housewarming present!
By the author of the award winning book, HARMONIOUS ENVIRONMENT: BEAUTIFY, DETOXIFY & ENERGIZE YOUR LIFE, YOUR HOME & YOUR PLANET.


Click Here to see more reviews about: Martha Stewart's Cooking School: Lessons and Recipes for the Home Cook

Get 34% OFF

Click here for more information about Martha Stewart's Cooking School: Lessons and Recipes for the Home Cook

Read More...

Martha Stewart's Dinner at Home: 52 Quick Meals to Cook for Family and Friends Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)The first Martha Stewart cookbook that I purchased was her "The Martha Stewart Cookbook." Awfully good, but not for the everyday cook in his/her kitchen. The second of her cookbooks that I acquired, "Martha Stewart's Cooking School," was more accessible (at least to me). I have enjoyed a number of recipes from this book. My third acquisition, "Martha Stewart's Dinner at Home," has an interesting twist--(Page 9): "Arranged seasonally to take advantage of what's in the market, these meals are accessible, but they also satisfy our desire for an even broader range of foodstuffs."
For each season, there is a set of meals (52 in all, one for each week).
Spring: Here is an example (and one that I aim to try out in the near future--except for the rhubarb!). Baby lamb chops with lemon strips; asparagus with aioli; Quinoa, pea, and mint salad; vanilla-poached rhubarb. The lamb chops are very simply made. The asparagus dish is also quite doable. I have never used quinoa before, but have seen a number of recipes that use it, so this dish intrigues me (again, looks pretty straightforward to make). The rhubarb? I'll let that go, since I'm not a fan!
Summer: "The markets are overflowing with local fruits and vegetables at their peak, yet the long, sunny days cut short any thoughts of spending hours in the kitchen (Page 73)." One example. Avocado and lemon on toasted rustic bread; Seared tuna in tomato-basil sauce; green beans with lemon butter; Peaches in honey syrup. The tuna dish uses readily available ingredients, so would be pretty easy to make for the home cook.
Fall: As Stewart puts it, a season with plentiful produce lending itself to heartier preparations. The example? Pork chops with sautéed apples and onion (I have made a similar dish, but this recipe promises to be more delicious still); Shaved fennel-celery salad; mustard mashed potatoes; maple custards.
Winter: Here is the example that I especially like. Roast chicken breasts in creamy tarragon sauce (I haven't used tarragon as much as I should have over time, given that it adds an interesting taste to dishes); warm lentils with spinach; caramelized endive; poached pears with chocolate sauce.
All in all, a fun, accessible set of recipes. I look at this as a fine addition to my kitchen library.


Click Here to see more reviews about: Martha Stewart's Dinner at Home: 52 Quick Meals to Cook for Family and Friends

Get 34% OFF

Click here for more information about Martha Stewart's Dinner at Home: 52 Quick Meals to Cook for Family and Friends

Read More...