Showing posts with label culinary. Show all posts
Showing posts with label culinary. Show all posts

Friday, December 23, 2011

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

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



Buy NowGet 34% OFF

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

Read More...

Monday, August 22, 2011

One Dish Meals Review

One Dish Meals
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
This beautiful book, filled with more than 150 recipes and 100 color photographs, is not your typical casserole cookbook. It takes one dish meals to a whole new level. The recipes prove that one dish meals aren't only for cold weather. They range from long simmering rich and savory winter-type meals to light fare for hot summer days. They also run the gamut from dishes that take hours to cook to ones that take 15 minutes to prepare on those busy days, though casseroles and baked dishes predominate.
Chapters include soups, stews, braises, pastas and baked dishes, sautes and stir fries and light fare. The recipes are very well-written and easy to follow, often with tips and suggestions. If you want to try something unusual and different, you'll surely find it here. In addition to deliciously updated standards such as Shepherd's Pie, Eggplant Parmesan, and Braised Beef Short Ribs, you'll find recipes for Stir-fried Squid with Basil, and Cockles with Chorizo in a Garlic, Wine and Parsley Sauce, and Saigon Subs - offerings from Brazil, Korea, Japan and the Mediterranean.
The one negative in my opinion is the number of ingredients called for that are unlikely to be available in most areas, some of which will be sending you to a food dictionary, such as galangal (an essential ingredient in its dish), duck confit, farro, Korean glass noodles, or wild lime leaves. In most instances, however, substitutions are offered.
Although it's not a book for beginners, the recipes are laid out in great detail and it's an excellent book.

Click Here to see more reviews about: One Dish Meals

The chefs of The Culinary Institute America have compiled a collection of sumptuous one dish meals showcasing a variety of cooking styles and flavors certain to excite one and all.

Buy NowGet 35% OFF

Click here for more information about One Dish Meals

Read More...

Friday, July 29, 2011

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

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



Buy NowGet 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...

Monday, June 27, 2011

Pace Picante Sauce: 40th Anniversary Recipe Collection; a Treasury of Tex-mex Cooking Review

Pace Picante Sauce: 40th Anniversary Recipe Collection; a Treasury of Tex-mex Cooking
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
My book was destroyed in house fire. This edition does not have the same recipes and illustrations as mine. I did not realize there are different editions of "40th Anniversary" book; wish that info had been available.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Pace Picante Sauce: 40th Anniversary Recipe Collection; a Treasury of Tex-mex Cooking



Buy Now

Click here for more information about Pace Picante Sauce: 40th Anniversary Recipe Collection; a Treasury of Tex-mex Cooking

Read More...

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Gourmet Meals in Minutes Review

Gourmet Meals in Minutes
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
I love cookbooks. I have an extensive collection. I taught myself how to cook using cookbooks so I believe a good cookbook is one that inspires and should be understandable and reasonably easy to use; with that in mind I love this cookbook.
A big reason I love this book is because it does not try to trick you into believing that a great meal will just magically appear in 30 minutes. This book educates you on how to organize your kitchen so you will be able to produce gourmet meals with minimal cooking time. This includes practical suggestions on how to stock your kitchen pantry, refrigerator and freezer. Detailed time-saving techniques on how to prepare herbs, spices and other ingredients ahead of time so that their flavor is preserved and you have minimal prep-time when cooking. There is also advice on equipment and a lot of time is spent on techniques; each individual technique or set of techniques are explained step-by-step and illustrated when necessary.
I find that knowing my skill level helps me to determine if a cookbook is written for me; so far my stages of development have been total disaster, occasional disaster or novice, beginner, experienced beginner, advanced beginner/almost intermediate, and now I consider myself an intermediate cook. I am not a gourmet or professional by any means. I would not recommend this cookbook for a novice or beginner but for an experienced beginner through intermediate cook who wants to expand his or her repertoire and wants suggestions on technique, food preparation and stocking up their kitchen. I imagine this would be too simple for someone who is really advanced. If you fit in the categories I described above then this is a great option.
For the reviewer who described dishes she prepared as bland I have not had that experience. Although I follow the recipes from cookbooks as closely as possible I have found that it is always important to taste a dish when I am cooking and making changes if needed.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Gourmet Meals in Minutes

We live in a hectic world where there isn't a lot of time to spend on meal preparation, but we still want to enjoy the food we eat.Gourmet Meals in Minutes will show you how to create a wide variety of mouth-watering, nutritious meals without spending all day in the kitchen.

Buy NowGet 34% OFF

Click here for more information about Gourmet Meals in Minutes

Read More...