Mom's Best Crowd-Pleasers: 101 No-fuss Recipes for Family Gatherings, Casual Get-togethers & Surprise Company Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Andrea Chesman is the accomplished author of dozens of cookbooks including Mom's Best Desserts and Mom's Best One-Dish Suppers. Now she has created Mom's Best Crowd-Pleasers, a compendium of 101 easy-to-prepare recipes for dishes that are perfect for informal family gatherings, casual get-togethers with friends, and delicious dishes for surprise company occasions. From finger foods and snacks; to salads for buffets, picnics, and potlucks; to main dishes and grillings; to desserts and bake sales; Mom's Best Crowd-Pleasers fully lives up to its title with such "kitchen cook friendly" offerings as Peach-Orange Muffins; Baked Rice Pilaf; Stuffed Pork Tenderloins; Grilled Turkey Burgers; and One-Bowl Chocolate Cupcakes. Also highly recommended for the kitchen cookbook shelf are Andrea Chesman's legendary cookbook titles: The Garden-Fresh Vegetable Cookbook and The Vegetarian Grill.


Click Here to see more reviews about: Mom's Best Crowd-Pleasers: 101 No-fuss Recipes for Family Gatherings, Casual Get-togethers & Surprise Company

Forget the stressful dinner party for twelve. How many home cooks really drag out the china, silver, and linen more than a few times a year these days? Mom’s very best crowd-cuisine is fun, relaxed, and informal. From a hungry group of the kids’ friends looking for afternoon munchies to a potluck office farewell party to a 4th of July barbecue for the neighborhood, today’s typical gatherings are casual occasions to share hearty, homemade food.Mom’s Best Crowd-Pleasers is full of recipes that reflect the way Mom really cooks today, simply tailored to feed eight or more people. Cucumber Sandwiches, Quesadillas, and Sweet and Sour Meatballs are all simple finger foods perfect for after-work get-togethers, book club meetings, and informal baby showers. Muffalettas, All-American Hamburgers, and deep bowls of Summer Fruit Salad and Broccoli-Rice Salad are delicious at backyard cookouts, tailgate parties, and summer pool parties. And Three-Cheese Noodle Bake, Cuban Black Beans, and Baked Barbecued Chicken will attract happy fans whenever the potluck gathering calls for a hearty hot dish.Most recipes are designed to feed eight hungry people, but author (and home cook) Andrea Chesman provides advice throughout on expanding recipes, stretching dishes when the dinner seating unexpectedly grows from eight to eleven people, using clever shortcuts that make cooking for a crowd no more difficult than cooking for four, and generallymaintaining a degree of sanity as more people come flooding through the front door.As always, Chesman’s primary accomplishment is to provide homey, hearty tastes that satisfy modern palates, yet still bear the unmistakable stamp of Mom’s Best.

Get 19% OFF

Click here for more information about Mom's Best Crowd-Pleasers: 101 No-fuss Recipes for Family Gatherings, Casual Get-togethers & Surprise Company

Read More...

Church Potluck Carry-Ins And Casseroles: Homestyle Recipes for Church Suppers, Family Gatherings, And Community Celebrations Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)this book is good. I was disappointed. There are no pictures inside.
I like to see and get an idea of what I am fixing looks like.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Church Potluck Carry-Ins And Casseroles: Homestyle Recipes for Church Suppers, Family Gatherings, And Community Celebrations

If you ever been to a Church Potluck, you know what its like when your favorite cook arrives. You don't always know what they've brought, but you're sure that it will be delicious. With Church Potluck Carry-Ins and Casseroles, you can become that much beloved cook.In the tradition of The Church Potluck Supper Cookbook, here comes another collection of delicious dishes to bring to your next church gathering. Packed with recipes you'll be happy to claim as your own as well as inspirational quotes from the scriptures, Church Potluck Carry-Ins and Casseroles will help keep you in everyone's good graces.

Get 22% OFF

Click here for more information about Church Potluck Carry-Ins And Casseroles: Homestyle Recipes for Church Suppers, Family Gatherings, And Community Celebrations

Read More...

Kraft Kitchens: Dinner On Hand Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This book is loaded with really tasty and easy dinner ideas. Instead of saying exactly what the recipe calls for it gives you ideas of what to combine based on what you have on hand - no fancy ingredients to shop for!!! Also has really easy measuring (ie: a handful of vegies per person). The recipes are really quick to make and are easy enough for kids to help make supper. This book has taken the stress out of that "just home and have to get supper on the table hour!!!!"

Click Here to see more reviews about: Kraft Kitchens: Dinner On Hand

It's 6 o'clock.You look in the refrigerator.You check the pantry.What can you make for dinner?The Kraft Kitchens have the answer with scores of sure-to-please solutions to the everyday dinnertime challenge.DINNER ON HAND shows you how to quickly make great meals your whole family will love, using the ingredients you already have on hand.

Click here for more information about Kraft Kitchens: Dinner On Hand

Read More...

Taste of Home: Freezer Pleasers Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I was looking for some make-ahead meal ideas so I can stock my freezer, but I don't usually have time to do a full-day cooking session like "Once a Month Cooking" calls for. That is why this book appealed to me. I liked the idea of the "Now and Later" section, where you make two batches of something at a time-- one to eat now, and one to freeze for later. I love Taste of Home magazine, and have always been pleased with the TOH cookbooks. I eagerly tore into the package when this one arrived, hoping to start making a list of recipes to try. I was surprised to actually be disappointed with a TOH cookbook. :( Here's my list of gripes:
1. Almost everything is very heavy-- high fat, heavy on the meat (lots of sausage, ground beef, ground pork, etc). I'm not a health-food freak by any means, but I don't cook with heavy cream, half and half, or Velveeta cheese, and I found those ingredients in many of the recipes that caught my attention. I guess fatty foods freeze better. Bummer.
2. Too many very specific pre-packaged convenience foods in the recipes. Besides the aforementioned Velveeta, there were also rather odd-ball ingredients that I don't keep around. Here are a couple of specific items called for in various recipes: 1 package (6.4 oz) lasagna dinner mix (what is that? like Hamburger Helper?? Or is it a frozen thing?); 2 packages (8.8 oz each) ready-to-serve long grain and wild rice (I've never seen this-- is it in the frozen food section? Or is it like those tuna pouches in the regular isle?); 2 packages (7.2 oz each) rice pilaf (is this a mix? is it seasoned? not seasoned? is it dry? is it already cooked?); and then every condensed soup known to man. Condensed tomato bisque, beef consomme, cream of chicken, cream of mushroom, cheddar cheese, cream of onion, and cream of potato, to name a few. I have NOTHING against cream-of-whatever soup. I actually cook with it semi-regularly, but I was hoping for more pantry staples instead of prepackaged stuff in everything.
3. Many of the desserts are ice cream, which makes sense for a freezer cookbook, but some of us don't own an ice cream maker, so it's kind of a bummer when you're excited to make a recipe, only to find out you can't because you don't have an ice cream maker.
4. Many of the "sweets" that aren't ice cream were jams, spreads, and butters, which really aren't anything I can't get off of the box when I buy the pectin that is called for in the recipes.
Those are the gripes. On the positive side, it was inspiring to look through and think "Hey, if that works in the freezer, then my recipe that's almost like it will probably work too!". So pretty much what I ended up with was a list of my own recipes that I already have that I'm going to try freezing and see how it goes. And yes, I did find a handful in the book that don't require funky ingredients and look good that I'll probably try out. The Breakfast Burritos sound interesting. I've tried freezing those before with poor results, but their instructions were different and I'm looking forward to trying this one. Also a muffin mix that you store in the freezer and pull out as needed for quick muffins, and a couple of cookie doughs that you can freeze in rolls, Pillsbury style. And the Creative Leftovers section has some good ideas for preparing one mix of ingredients and using it for various things. I'll try some of those.
Anyway, it's inspiring, and has some good ideas, but not anything too exciting. I was hoping I could recommend this to my busy working mom friends, but I'll keep looking for a better one.


Click Here to see more reviews about: Taste of Home: Freezer Pleasers

The 325 dishes in Freezer Pleasers help today's family cooks spend less time in the kitchen, save money, and still serve homemade foods. From entrees and sides to snacks and desserts, you'll learn how to stock up the freezer so that something delicious is always on hand. This handy cookbook is divided into four easy sections: *"Now-and-Later" recipes explain how to make a double batch. Serve a casserole tonight and freeze one for later. *"Made-for-Later" dishes are those that come together easily and can be stored in the freezer for future needs. What a great way to take advantage of sales at the grocery store! *"Single Servings" are dinners and treats that are stored in single-serving portions. They're perfect for after-school snacking, late-night meals, and more. *"Creative Leftovers" help cut back on grocery bills. Store last night's extra food in the freezer, and then turn it into a fantastic new dish with the addition of a few kitchen staples. In addition, it provides: *Dozens of tips to help readers freeze foods and understand safe freezer storage practices. *Hundreds of full-color photos. *Great recipes, nearly all of which are submitted by home cooks. *The guarantee that every recipe was tested in the kitchens ofTaste of Home, the world's #1 cooking magazine REVIEW

Get 35% OFF

Click here for more information about Taste of Home: Freezer Pleasers

Read More...

Taste of Home: Busy Family Cookbook: 370 Recipes for Weeknight Dinners Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I purchased this cookbook a month ago and have tried several different recipes. So far my family has loved every single one of them, and there are a lot more that I can't wait to try. This cookbook is designed for busy families (in case the title didn't tip you off); if you have the time, energy, and desire to cook exotic and extravagant meals, this is not the cookbook for you. But if you're like most families I know, and so busy that you have the pizza place's number memorized, then you should definitely give this book a chance. Regarding an earlier review, I agree that this is a good cookbook for a new cook, but I would also recommend it to any busy family, even if the cook has some experience. It's easy to get stuck in a "dinner rut" when you're constantly needing fast & easy meals; this cookbook is the cure. I'd also recommend it for families with picky eaters, as the recipes can satisfy the adults' desire for something different without being so exotic that the kids won't eat it. I've looked at other cookbooks and haven't found any that had such a large number of recipes that I wanted to try. The recipes are all quick and easy, and they don't require obscure ingredients. I love that most of the recipes include a photograph and a brief comment. I used to agonize over what I'd fix for dinner on weeknights; now I'm excited, thinking "which recipe should I try next?" This cookbook is well worth the money--5 stars.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Taste of Home: Busy Family Cookbook: 370 Recipes for Weeknight Dinners

Save time, and your sanity, with the 370 recipes that feature simple prep techniques, and easy cooking methods—some take as little as 10 minutes to make—from the experts at Taste of Home, the #1 cooking magazine in the world. Tired of coming home to calls of "What's for dinner?" from your family. This collection of 370 family-pleasing recipes will help you get a delicious dinner on the table—fast—every night of the week. Each chapter is arranged by speed, with the quickest recipes first. So, if you have only a few minutes, make one of the 10-minute entrees. If you have a little more time, choose a 20- minute recipe. There are also 30- and 60-minute choices. Each recipe features a short ingredient list, simple prep techniques and easy cooking methods. The best part is these time-saving recipes are packed with flavor and variety—from beef, poultry and pork to seafood, meatless, sides and desserts. Plus, there are 226 full-color tempting, mouthing-watering photos! And it's all from the editors of Taste of Home, America's #1 cooking magazine! Taste of Home The Busy Family Cookbook is just the kitchen helper you need for fast and flavorful meals!

Get 39% OFF

Click here for more information about Taste of Home: Busy Family Cookbook: 370 Recipes for Weeknight Dinners

Read More...

Taste of Home: Dinner on a Dime: 403 Budget-Friendly Family Recipes Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I own many cookbooks from Vegetarian Cooking for Everyone to Joy of Cooking: 75th Anniversary Edition - 2006. While these are still my favorite cookbooks, most nights you just don't have unlimited money and several hours to make dinner. I bought Dinner on a Dime for quick, cheap, but still homemade meals for those rush nights as a better alternative to fast food.
Look & Feel:
This book has a glossy cover and pages with at least one picture on each page. It is 255 pages long. Probably the thing I dislike about it most is the binding; it is difficult to get this book to sit open. But, for the price of the book the bright pictures and nice pages makes you feel that you have gotten your money's worth.
Index:
This book has two indexes. The first is an Alphabetical Index, the one you expect in a cookbook. The second, which is an interesting concept, is a General Index which "lists every recipe by food category, major ingredient and/or cooking method" (251).
Introduction:
This book has several "introduction pages" starting with Dinner on a Dime.
Dinner on a Dime: This two page layout gives you "thrifty grocery shopping tips" (4). Some are obvious such as "buy generic" (5) and "use coupons" (5), but others are very thoughtful including "when a sale is not a sale" (4). These two pages include a total of 21 tips to saving money while grocery shopping.
The next intro page is Grocery Shopping Guidelines--Aisle by Aisle. It splits the store up into 6 categories, produce, meats & seafood, canned goods, frozen foods, breads cereals & pasta, and dairy, with tips on how to save money in each section. Most of these tips will be familiar to those who try to shop on a budget regularly such as "buy generic brands and stock up when on sale" (6).
The third intro page is Cost Effective Pantry. This is actually a very useful 8-step guide to cleaning out, organizing, and understanding what is already stocked in your pantry. They make the point that if you don't already know what is in your pantry you may buy duplicates or allow things to go bad.
The last introduction page (and the most useful, in my opinion) is the Stocking Up and Storage Guidelines. On these three pages they give general information about pantry, refrigerator, and frozen foods storage. Along with this they also include a 2 1/2 page chart with regularly-used food items and how long they will last in the pantry, in the fridge, and in the freezer.
Organization:
I really like the organization of this book. It is not filed into your typical organization ... The categories are: Breakfast & Brunch, Beef, Pork, Poultry, Fish & Meatless, Planned Overs, Freezer Pleasers, Side Dishes, Soups & Salads, Breads, Desserts.
Breakfast & Brunch: This section was surprising in a "Dinner Cookbook" but then again Breakfast for Dinner can be fun. It includes 20 recipes such as Vegetable Ham Quiche, Sausage Pancakes, French Toast Fingers, and Old-Fashioned Doughnuts.
Beef: This section includes 45 recipes such as Roast Beef & Gravy, Country-Fried Steak, Slow Cooker Beef Au Jus, Chili Spaghetti, Vegetable Beef Stew, Swiss Pot Roast, Traditional Meat Loaf, and Cajun Style Pot Roast.
Pork: This section includes 28 recipes such as Pork Potpie, Oktoberfest Roast Pork, Pork Chop Potato Dinner, Sausage Macaroni Bake, Pizza from Scratch, Barbecued Ham 'n' Peaches, Spaghetti Squash Supper, Mexican Pork Roast, and Sausage Scalloped Potatoes.
Poultry: This section includes 29 recipes such as Country Roasted Chicken, Oregano-Lemon Chicken, Breaded Chicken with Orange Sauce, Chicken Veggie Casserole, Creamed Chicken Over Beans, Tex-Mex Turkey Casserole, Oven Fried Chicken, Cranberry Turkey Loaf, Ranch Turkey Pasta Dinner, and Honey Barbecued Chicken.
Fish & Meatless: This section (which leans heavily towards fish rather than meatless, vegetarians should look elsewhere) has 19 recipes such as Lentil Tacos, Cajun-Style Catfish, Easy Fish Fillets, Garlic Salmon Linguine, Soft Fish Tacos, Tuna Mushroom Casserole, Crispy Catfish, and Linguine in Clam Sauce.
Planned Overs: This is a particularly interesting section that includes various recipes that all use similar ingredients so you can make one meal Monday night and another (entirely different tasting meal, but with very similar ingredients) Tuesday or Wednesday night. This section includes 63 recipes (of which 3 are gingerbread dessert recipes) such as Fried Fish Nuggets, Meatball Lasagna, Quick Calzones, Corn Bread Chicken Bake, Taco Pizza Squares, Pork Chop Potato Casserole, Meat Loaf Shepherd's Pie, Parmesan Chicken, Gingerbread Cake, and Spicy Pork Sandwiches.
Freezer Pleasers: This section is another useful and rare section (compared with other cookbooks) with recipes for dishes you can make ahead and freeze so when you want dinner you just pull it out of the freezer and heat it up. This sections has 32 recipes such as Spaghetti Casserole, Sweet Barbecued Pork Chops, Three Cheese Kielbasa Bake, Pizza Meat Loaf Cups, Meat Sauce for Pasta, Cheddar Turkey Casserole, Taco-Filled Pasta Shells, Make-Ahead Sloppy Joes, and Pizza Pasta Casserole.
Side Dishes: This section has 65 recipes such as Curried Butternut Squash Kabobs, Stewed Tomatoes with Dumplings, Roasted Parmesan Potato Wedges, Whipped Carrots with Cranberries, Crispy Potato Cubes, Bacon Bean Stalks, Home-Style Scalloped Potatoes, Bacon Cheese Fries, Baked Onion Rings, and Apricot Rice Stuffing.
Soups & Salads: This section has 39 recipes such as Chicken Noodle Soup, Classic Macaroni Salad, Creamy Tomato Soup, Five-Can Chili, Supreme Spaghetti Salad, Chunky Potato Soup, Corny Coleslaw, and Italian Vegetable Soup.
Breads: This section includes everything from muffins to dinner rolls, includes 13 recipes such as Simple White Bread, Whole Wheat Rolls, Jumbo Banana-Carrot Muffins, Buttermilk Rolls, Soft Onion Breadsticks, and Honey Glazed Drop Biscuits.
Desserts: This section includes 50 recipes such as Boston Cream Angel Cake, Chocolate Mint Parfaits, Sweet Potato Custard Pie, Cran-Apple Cobbler, Butterscotch Fudge Bars, Delicate Chocolate Cake, Hoosier Cream Pie, Spiced Cocoa Cupcakes, Chewy Peanut Butter Bars, Chocolate Cream Dessert, Stovetop Rice Pudding, Creamy Strawberry Pie, Frosty Peach Pie Supreme, Pear Gingerbread Cake, Honey Lemon Cookies, Peanut Butter Brownie Cups, Banana Custard Pudding, and Strawberry Graham Dessert.
I have only tried a few recipes so far, but they have all been good and up to taste of home's quality. One personal touch I liked about the book was before each recipe was a little 1-2 sentence blip from the recipe's maker about why this recipe is special or enjoyable for them. Such as: "Since my husband likes spicy foods, I frequently sprinkle chopped Jalapeno peppers over half of this casserole just for him" (192) and "After trying this soup in a restaurant, I went home and made it myself. Now I can have it whenever I want" (199).
Pros:
*Tasty Recipes
*Most meals can be made for $8-$12 for 4-6 servings
*Beautiful, glossy pages with many pictures
*Simple Ingredients
*Clear Instructions
*Foods kids and adults will both actually eat
*Does a good job of including familiar favorites with some new dishes; well balanced
Cons:
*This book talks about healthy eating a lot in the introduction, but just a glance over the food list and you will easily see that there are scarcely any "healthy" recipes (I believe in portion size and moderation, but for some people this may be a concern)
*The books binding makes it difficult to sit open
*There is no estimated cooking/preparation time in the recipes
Overall I strongly recommend this book. I feel that the "Pros" strongly overcome the minor "Cons" and will continue to pull this book regularly from its shelf.


Click Here to see more reviews about: Taste of Home: Dinner on a Dime: 403 Budget-Friendly Family Recipes

Wondering how to put satisfying meals on the table while staying on a sensible budget? Now it's easier than ever to serve mouthwatering meals without breaking the bank. The ultimate source for comfort foods, Dinner on a Dime is the secret behind every thrifty cook's success. Featuring 403 delicious, easy-to-assemble dishes that turn economical ingredients into mouth-watering sensations that are sure to please everyone. From hearty entrees: Sausage Macaroni Bake, Slow-Cooked Ribs, or Country Roasted Chicken to savory side dishes: Broccoli Au Gratin, Noodles Florentine, or Home-Styled Scalloped Potatoes, and from tempting desserts: Rich Cheesecake Bars, Creamy Strawberry Pie, or Chocolate Chip Cake to breads, soups, salads, snacks, and more. Filled with ideas for turning leftovers into sensational second-day dishes plus freezer pleasers that will have delicious, home- cooked meals waiting for you to heat and eat. This book also offers money-saving advice that makes the most of your grocery budget, dozens of useful cooking tips, and the guarantee that every recipe was tested in the kitchens of Taste of Home, the world's #1 cooking magazine-this is the ideal cookbook for everyone from starving students to large families. Cutting the grocery bill has never been easier...or tastier!

Get 32% OFF

Click here for more information about Taste of Home: Dinner on a Dime: 403 Budget-Friendly Family Recipes

Read More...

Taste of Home: Best Church Suppers: Over 500 Potluck Favorites Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I borrowed this cookbook from my public library. My daughter and I tried several recipes just for our family. All the recipes we tried were wonderful! I bought several cookbooks, and may end up getting more. We kept one for ourselves, but we bought the others to give as bridal shower gifts. We give a crockpot and the cookbook. This is good home cooking with easy-to-find ingredients.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Taste of Home: Best Church Suppers: Over 500 Potluck Favorites

Fun, fellowship, and great food-these are the ingredients that make for a successful social gathering when supplied by people like you and the Taste of Home Test-Kitchen experts. Packed with 506 delicious, home-style recipes for bite-sized snacks, refreshing beverages, tasty appetizers, spectacular side dishes, hearty entrees, and delightful desserts-each recipe serving eight or more. You are sure to find a dish to suit any occasion-church breakfasts and suppers, potlucks, reunions, family gatherings, or any other event that draws a hungry crowd. Each recipe uses everyday ingredients and is designed to travel well. Special features include: *506 Crowd-Pleasing Delights-Everything from sensational party starters to comforting cassoroles to breakfast and brunch tidbits *Potluck Pointers -Hints and tips such as preventing a slow cooker from tipping over or using rubber bands to keep the lids on your casseroles dishes. And don't forget your extension cords and serving utensils. *Serve a Crowd-A special chapter has recipes that serve 20, 30, even 100 people! *No-Fuss Favorites-Quick-and-easy dishes you can throw together when you're pressed for time. *Seasonal Specialties-Great year-round and holiday specialities with a no- fuss approach and execution that can be used for classroom treats, bake sales, and themed events. With Best Church Supper Recipes, you'll never wonder what to take to a potluck again.

Get 40% OFF

Click here for more information about Taste of Home: Best Church Suppers: Over 500 Potluck Favorites

Read More...