foodiewife's Profile

From: Monterey, CA 93940

Joined: September 3rd, 2011

About me: I'm a self-taught home cook & baker and author of the Food Blog "A Feast for the Eyes". I live on the beautiful coastal area of the Monterey Peninsula of California. I'm undecided about which I enjoy the most-- learning food photography or trying out new recipes or techniques. Over the last several years, I've eliminated any processed foods or package mixes. Instead, I try to find ways to cook the way our grandmother's did-- from scratch! We have a small herb garden and grow our own tomatoes. Favorite cookbook authors: Ina Garten, Tyler Florence, Everyday Food and anything by Cook's Illustrated.

Favorite cookbook: Far too many to choose only one!

Favorite recipe: Ina Garten's Baked Scallops Gratin-- garlic!

Website:
www.foodiewife-kitchen.blogspo


Latest review:

January 23rd, 2017

Skillet Pasta Quattro Formaggi from The Complete Cooking For Two Cookbook

Very easy to make, but I'd reduce the water from 4 cups to 3 cups. The sauce turned out a bit watery. I added some cooked shrimp for protein,and next time I'll add some steamed broccoli. What made this... read more >


recipe reviews (99)
book reviews (34)
useful review votes (43)

foodiewife's Reviews


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Cookbook Reviews

Slow Cooker Revolution

By The Editors at America's Test Kitchen, America's Test Kitchen
Boston Common Press - 2011

October 24th, 2011

When I first got this book, I flipped through the pages and I wasn't thrilled. I put it away, and forgot about it for several weeks. Last week, I revisited the book and began to read it. Then, I was hooked. You see, I don't use my slower cooker very often. Most slow cooker cookbooks I've seen use a lot of canned soups and mixes, and I don't. A lot of recipes have directions to through raw meets into the slow cooker and press "go". I don't like that either. I'm big on searing and braising, and so my Dutch Oven gets a lot of mileage for me. Cook's Illustrated's recipes are definitely enticing, in this book. I like the ideas like using a panade, to prevent cooking ground turkey from becoming too dry. Or, the use of soy sauce to add more depth of flavor. I ended up bookmarking a LOT of recipes, and I'm looking forward to preparing the recipe the night before work, then plugging it in the morning and letting things cook low and slow.