southerncooker's Reviews
Cookbook Reviews
117 books reviewed. Showing 51 to 100Sort by: Rating | Title 
Make a Joyful Table
By JoAnna M. Lund
Putnam Adult - 1999
If you want a
Healthy Cookbook with recipes special enough to serve
company, or to just treat your family to some
delicious healthy cooking, then you need to add this
one to your collection. Some of the great recipes I've
tried from this book are Seafood Macaroni Bake , Oriental Chicken
Noodle Soup, The Best Turkey Chowder, Chicken Cordon
Bleu Casserole, Creamed Chicken over Muffins, Chicken
Pot Pie Sauce with Noodles, Corned Beef Toasties, and Italian Asparagus Tomato
Stir Fry.
This is a great book to pull out when you have company
coming or any time you want something healthy, quick
and tastes like you spent all day in the kitchen, when
in fact you only spent a few minutes for a delicious
meal.
Madhur Jaffrey's World Vegetarian: More Than 650 Meatless Recipes from Around the World
By Madhur Jaffrey
Clarkson Potter - 2002
If you enjoy eating vegetarian meals, either all the time or occasionally, like we do, then this is a wonderful book.
It is a thick book with 758 pages and over 650 recipes.If you want to learn to cook Indian then Madhur Jaffrey's books are a great place to turn. In this book she shows her talents in other cuisines as well. We've made several recipes from this book and enjoyed them all.
There is a glossary of ingredients and techniques included that is very helpful. Also included are several color photos. Each section begins with a detailed introduction in which she describes methods for preparation and storing as well as different cooking techniques and their cultural origins.
Macaroni & Cheese: 52 Recipes from Simple to Sublime
By Joan Schwartz
Villard - 2001
We all love mac and cheese here but especially my daughter, Sarita, who's been
experimenting with different recipes since she first started cooking. She
even had one of her macaroni and cheese recipes published in the cookbook
Hungry for Home, Stories from food across the Carolinas.
It was hard to choose which recipe to pick to try first, but we finally decided on Baked Four Cheese Pasta. It was fantastic.
The only color photo in this one is the great looking bowl of mac and cheese
on the front cover. There are cute nostalgic looking black and white drawings
through out the book. In addition to the recipes from the author there are
recipes from many well-known chefs, including Bobby Flay, Rocco Despirito,
Rick Bayless and many more. Also in the back, included are the chefs'
Biographies.
There are recipe that are truly simple, using only a few ingredients and one
or two well known cheeses and also those more spectacular, which use things
like lobster, truffles or truffle oils, wild mushrooms and exotic cheeses. I
can't wait to try more recipes from this book and I'm sure I'll use this book
many times. If you love mac and cheese too then this would be a great addition
to your cookbook collection.
Lee Bailey's Tomatoes
By Lee Bailey
Clarkson Potter - 1992
This is a small cookbook filled with great tomato recipes. There is 35 recipes included, everything from savory to sweet. Recipes for both ripe and green tomatoes and even a tomato sandwich. I grew up on tomato biscuits and tomato sandwiches in the summer. Still love them. If you need ideas to use up some garden tomatoes, then this is the book for you.
Last Dinner On the Titanic: Menus and Recipes from the Great Liner
By Rick Archbold, Dana McCauley, Walter Lord
Hyperion - 1997
This was a very interesting read with some photos of recovered items from the
actual Titanic as well as photos, paintings and drawings of some of the
famous passengers from the ship. There is a picture of the actual menu from
the first classs dining saloon and according to the book it would have
probably included eleven courses. Included in this were things like Oysters a
la Russe, Cream of Barley Soup, Poached Salmon with Mousseline Sauce, Filets
Mignons Lili, Lamb with Mint Sauce, Poasted Squab on wilted cress, many
veggies, Waldorf Pudding, Chocolate Painted Eclairs, and of course wine or
spirits with every course.
A third class meal included vegetable soup, Roasted Pork with Sage and Pearl
Onions, Green peas, Boiled Potatoes, Plum Pudding wiht Sweet Sauce, Cabin
Biscuits and oranges.
Included in the book is information on how to host your own recreation of the
Last dinner on the Titanic and how to brief your guests to portray different
people who were onboard.
There are 50 recipes included in this book which are said to be researched and
carefully tested for modern kitchens.
Joy the Baker Cookbook: 100 Simple and Comforting Recipes
By Joy Wilson
Hyperion - 2012
I recently won this from The Inspired Dish Blog. Cathy who runs the blog had Joy send the book to me and Joy graciously autographed it to me personally. I only knew a little about Joy and her blog before winning the book so I did some investigating and found she has lots of great recipes and interesting writing on her blog, Joy the Baker.
Her book is just as wonderful as her blog. I love that the book has a photo for every recipe. I have so many recipes marked to try and have already gave a few a go and loved them. I have made Chocolate and Goat Cheese Black Pepper Truffles, Whole Wheat and Honey Drop Biscuits, and Carrot Cake Pancakes and they were all hits at my house. Before the book arrived I had the pleasure of testing a couple of the recipes for the LC website, Chili Cheese Fries and Mommom’s Chocolate Bourbon-Spiked Banana Bread, both of which were delicious.
I also like the little story she includes with each recipe. Joy connects memories to food and shares those memories with her readers.
Jan Karon's Mitford Cookbook and Kitchen Reader: Recipes from Mitford Cooks, Favorite Tales from Mitford Books
By Jan Karon
Viking Adult - 2004
If you've read any of the Mitford books by Jan Karon you'll know that food often plays an important part in the characters lives. Some fans actually wrote Ms. Karon and told her that her books made them hungry. This book is great for reading as well as to cook from.
I really enjoy the Mitford books and can relate to them. They are set in North Carolina. This book has lots of southern recipes since Mitford is a fictional town patterned after Blowing Rock, NC, where Karon lived for awhile. Karon was born in Wilson, NC.
Liver mush, Baloney, Dukes Mayonnaise, White Lily Flour -- some of the very familiar items I've grown up with and are explained and included in this book for those who may not be familiar with them.
Although this book is mainly targeted to Mitford fans, if you enjoy southern cooking or want to find out a little about the books in the series, I think you'll also enjoy this book. Jan Karon's books tend to pull you in and make you feel a part of the Mitford family and I think this is also true of the Mitford cookbook. Jan even shares some of her real family photos with us in this book. Good reading, good food, and you feel like a part of the family.
This book is divided into chapters which are the titles of Mitford books, with the last chapter being of Karon's Mama's recipes. Included in the chapters are excerpts from that book, favorite recipes of the characters, and also helpful hints.
You'll read Jan's thoughts on aprons, what several people told her they'd want for their last meal, and you can learn how to season a black iron skillet, among other things. You'll be treated to recipes for 150 dishes that will please almost anyone. Good down home cooking.
Included is one of Ms Karon's most requested recipes -- Esther's Orange Marmalade Cake. She kept telling people it was a fictional cake but they kept requesting the recipe. In 1997 Victoria Magazine invited her to be their writer-in residence. During the year she was there she wrote a Mitford story that was printed in the magazine and in that story she also mentioned the now legendary cake. That story is also reprinted in the Mitford cookbook. And editor at the magazine there said there should be a recipe for that cake. The recipe was created by Scott Peacock, famous chef and often linked to Ms. Edna Lewis, a wonderful southern cookbook author. They co-authored the book The Gift of Southern Cooking.
Jack Daniel's The Spirit of Tennesssee Cookbook
By Lynn Tolley and Pat Mitchamore
- 1988
This book has some great information about Jack Daniels and the Lynchburg area of Tennessee. It also contains some good sounding recipes often using Jack Daniels. A fun read and a fun one to cook from.
Jack Daniel's Old Time Barbecue Cookbook
By Vince Staten
The Sulgrave Press - 2001
Lots of good information about barbecuing in this one. Many of the recipes do use Jack Fun book to read as well as cook from.
Jack Daniel's Hometown Celebration Cookbook, Volume II
By Pat Mitchamore
Rutledge Hill Press - 1990
This is the seconed book by Pat Mitchamore and Lynne Tolley. It has some interesting information as well as some good sounding recipes, many using, of course, Jack Daniels.
Jack Daniel's Spirit of Tennessee Cookbook
By Lynne Tolley, Pat Mitchamore
Nelsonword Publishing Group - 2009
Lynn Tolley is the great-grandneice of Jack Daniels and is the proprietress of Miss Mary Bobo's Boarding House Restaurant in Lynchburg TN.
Not all recipes in the book use Jack Daniels but many do. There are lots of great information and photos included among the recipes. Included in the information is How Jack Daniel's is made; About Barrels and Barrel houses; Hog Killing time in Tennessee; Tennessee Walking Horses; Southern Food Something Special; The art of Tall Tales and The Lynchburg Hardware and General Store, to name a few.
If you enjoy cooking with spirits or a bit of history with your recipes, then this would be a good book for your collection.
Intimate Gatherings: Great Food for Good Friends
By Ellen Rose, Jessica Strand, Maura McEvoy
Chronicle Books - 1998
This is a menu book seperated into the seasons with beautiful color photos. This
book is very special to me as I got it at the Cook's Library and Ellen signed it
to me.
It is divided into
Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter. In each season there are recipes for
gatherings for Dinner for Two, Dinner for Four, and Dinner for Six. At the
begining of each menu there is included a very helpful Menu Manager, with tips
to do 1 day before dinner, day of diner, about 1 hour before serving, 10 minutes
before serving, and just before serving. In some cases there are things to do
from 1 month to 4 days before the dinner.
This book would make a great addition to anyone's collection but especially if
you enjoy entertaining or just love to cook.
Heart of the Artichoke and Other Kitchen Journeys
By David Tanis
Artisan - 2010
I'm loving this book already. It's divided into seasons and also contains a chapter of some of the author's favorite meals for when eating alone or only cooking for two, and one for what he calls simple meals for a long table, for when you feed a crowd. The author believes in eating what's in season. I like being able to search for meals using whats fresh and in season. The only thing I don't like about this book is the author doesn't always tell how many people a recipe serves.
Healthy Exchanges Sensational Smoothies
By JoAnna M. Lund, Barbara Alpert
Perigee Trade - 2004
I got this one from paper back swap back a couple summers ago and I LOVE IT! After the book arrived Sarita and I have been enjoyed a different smoothie almost every day and so far they've all been fantastic. What a great way to get fruit and sometimes calcium in our diets. A bonus is they're actually healthy.
All the recipes are easy to make and call for just a few ingredients. Place
them in the blender and in seconds you have a delicious, nutritious, frothy
drink that sometimes has to be eaten with a spoon.
Some of the ones we've tried so far are Frosted Strawberry Smoothie,
Strawberry Colada Smoothie, Strawberry Romanoff Smoothie, Fuzzy Navel
Smoothie and Tri-Fruit Smoothie. I made so many this summer, too many to mention them all and I have so many more marked to try.
There is even a chapter called Blender Bonuses, with recipes for other things
you can make in the blender. Sarita made the Pimiento Cheddar Cheese Dip and
it was good but a bit more mayonnaise than we like. If we make it again we'll
just use less mayo.
Some of the smoothies we've made call for Diet Mt. Dew and since neither of us
care for Mt Dew we subbed diet 7 up instead and they were delicious. Some of
the smoothies call for yogurt, some skim or soy milk and some fat free ice
cream in addition to either fresh or frozen fruit.
If you like smoothies don't miss this book. I know this is one that won't
spend much time on the shelf here.
Hala Food Fun and Laughter
By Linda D. Delgado
- 2005
Even though the target audience for this book is Muslim cooks, I think
cookbook collectors who are interested in or curious about other
cultures or religions would find this book to be a great addition to their
collections. If you like trying new recipes from around the world then
this is a great little book.
Gritslickers: Southern Home Cooking for Today's Cooks
By Lisa Lofton Shively
Lisa Shively Cookbooks - 2005
I got this one at the Southern Women's Show and had it autographed by Lisa. I love the name of this one and Lisa includes the story of how this one was named in the book. Think cityslickers only southern.
I love to cook and enjoy tackling a more complicated and complex recipe when I have the time. On a work night it's usually a different story. I'm exhausted most days when I get home from work at 5 PM, or sometimes even later. On those nights I want nothing more than to get in and out of the kitchen in as little time as possible and with little effort and clean up. It's also a definite plus if the meal is economical. You'll find this type of recipes in Gritslickers.
LIsa says she's often called thrifty, sometimes even as an insult, but she always considers it a compliment. She rarely spends more than $5 on meat for a meal for her family of four. Her recipes more often than not call for a short list of ingredients, which are always found at your local supermarket and quiet often already in your pantry or fridge.
There is a short note included after every recipe. Type is easy to read and black. The book lays flat on your counter. There is up to three recipes per page. Included is a page of tips and a few pages of stories at the beginning of the book. Chapters include: Appetizers & Beverages; Soups & Salads; Vegetables & Side Dishes; Main Dishes; Bread & Rolls; Desserts; Cookies & Candy; This & That.
If you enjoy southern recipes, notes and stories with your food, economical and easy recipes, I think you'll enjoy this one.
I've made several of the recipes already with great results and little effort.
The Greenmarket Cookbook : Recipes, Tips, and Lore from the World Famous Urban Farmers' Market
By Joel Patraker, Joan Schwartz
Viking Adult - 2000
This book is divided into seasons.
There are great photographs through out this book, of scenes from the farmers
market. There is also a list of farmers markets across the US in the back of
the book. Included are great stories from the farmers, shoppers, chefs, and
celebrities who make Union Square Market a wonderful success. There is lots of
information on the different varieties of produce and fruits available at the
farmers market.
The Good Housekeeping Step-by-Step Cookbook: More Than 1,000 Recipes * 1,800 Photographs
By Susan Westmoreland, David Murray, Jules Selmes
Hearst - 1997
This book is filled with wonderful color photos, both of the food and of step preparations. The nutritional information is included for all recipes. They are often several recipes per page. With more than 1,000 recipes and 1,800 photographs this is a great book for both the beginning cook and those more accomplished.
The Gift of Southern Cooking: Recipes and Revelations from Two Great American Cooks
By Edna Lewis, Scott Peacock
Knopf - 2003
I immediately read it from cover to cover when I got this one. This is one that was so interesting to me it was hard to put down. It's almost as if you can hear Miss Lewis and Scott Peacock talking to each other and you, while sharing their love of cooking and eating southern food. Many of the recipes combine the best from each of the authors recipes to make an even better one. They also share parts of their lives and families with you through recipes and wonderful photos. If you enjoy southern cooking then I think you'd enjoy having this book in your collection.
I love the way each recipe has some background information included with it. These are the places where you feel that you're being let in on the authors secrets of great southern cooking. This book isn't meant for those on a diet though since they often use butter and lard.
Gale Gand's Short and Sweet: Quick Desserts with Eight Ingredients or Less
By Gale Gand, Julia Moskin
Clarkson Potter - 2004
This book actually belongs to my daughter, Sarita. I rarely pay full price for a cookbook and most of mine were previously owned. This one is one of the few exceptions. It is one of the books I purchased at the Cooks Library before going to the LA Times book festival in 2004. Since Sarita couldn't go with me and she loves cookbooks as much as I do and is also a better baker than I, I had Gail sign this one for her. She wrote " To Sarita - I hear you're the family Baker! Love & Dishes Gale Gand 4-25-04" I had a wonderful time at the festival and also a nice chat with Gale while she was signing the book.
Sarita has made a few things from this one and I always turn here when I want to make lemon curd. Sarita made the fruit pot stickers which are delicious. She's made them several times since using different fruits.
My great niece Tesia made the peanut butter worms. Since we needed somewhere to put our worms on we also made the Velvety Cocoa Cake from the 30 minute recipe section. We turned them into cupcakes and sprinkled the optional confectioners sugar over before placing the worms on top.
Not only is this a great book to cook from it brings back wonderful memories of the festival I got to attend.
From Our Home to Yours
By Lisa Lofton Shively
Lisa Shively Cookbooks - 2007
This is one of the books I got at the Southern Women's Show in Charlotte, NC last September. Lisa autographed it for me while I was there. This is her first cookbook.
It's filled with down home, southern, country cooking. Lisa was born in Georgia but moved to NC where she grew up. She has also lived in Florida, Washington, DC and all over NC. She now lives in Eden, NC close to where she grew up.
She does use some convince products in some of her recipes. She includes recipes for main dishes, desserts, salads, appetizers, breads and soups. Lisa also shares some of her tips at the beginning of the book. This is a revised edition and she includes notes and sometimes stories along with the recipes. She said she learned that people who enjoy her cookbooks also enjoy the stories she sometimes included ,so she does that more often with her newer cookbooks.
Fresh from the Hearth: 100 Healthy, Heartwarming Recipes for Quick Breads, Muffins, and Coffee Cakes
By JoAnna M. Lund
A Perigee Book - 1999
I love this book. It's filled with quick breads, muffins and coffee cakes. The best part is that they're actually healthy. Nutritional information is included for all the recipes. I enjoy reading the little blurbs that JoAnna writes before each recipe. It feels like she's talking to you while you cook.
Forever Summer (Style Network's)
By Nigella Lawson
Hyperion - 2003
I love Nigella's book and her shows. I enjoyed watching the series by the same name so when I found the book while in CA I knew I had to have it. Hubby bought it for our anniversary and it was autographed. Her books are great to cook from as well as read.
The Food You Crave: Luscious Recipes for a Healthy Life
By Ellie Krieger
Taunton - 2008
I fell in love with this book the moment I laid eyes on it. It has beautiful color photos throughout. Not only does it include nutritional information, it also tells you what nutrients the recipe is an excellent source of and a good source of. In the beginning she shows the essential nutrients for good health and their daily values and functions.
Ellie shares tips for a healthier way to eat and cook, and also shares her New Way Pantry to help get you started on the right track. There are boxes with tips throughout the book. Each recipe begins with an interesting brief note from Ellie.
As soon as I got home with this one I read it from cover to cover and was eager to begin cooking from it. I made a list of over 50 recipes I want to try.
I like Ellie's philosophy that recipes and foods fall into three categories, Usually, Sometimes, and Rarely and there is no Never. She says no ingredients are off limits, some just need to be saved for special occasions or the rare craving.
Flour: Spectacular Recipes from Boston's Flour Bakery + Cafe
By Joanne Chang, Christie Matheson
Chronicle Books - 2010
I won this one from Make Ahead Meals for Busy Moms. The book is autographed by the author, she wrote: "Make life sweeter... eat dessert First! Joanne Chang"
I only have one complaint about this book the print is a little small in the ingredients listing. It's also a bit light there and in the directions. The information included with each recipe is in much bigger and darker print. The instructions are bigger type but still a bit light and hard on older eyes.
The book begins with a few in depth informational chapters to help your baking projects turn out their best. Chapters there include: an Introduction, Techniques, Equipment, Ingredients, and Joanne's Top 12 Baking Tips. The next chapters get to the goodies: Breakfast Treats, Cookies, Cakes, Pies + Tarts, Other Sweets, and Bread. At the end of the book you get Acknowledgments, the Index, and Table of Equivalents.
There is some interesting reading before each recipe about how it came to be on the menu, where she came up with the idea or some memory from the author. She gives both weights and measures for many of the ingredients. She also includes tips with some of the recipes she calls Baker's Bites. With some of the recipes at the end she gives you an option to change the recipe a bit and calls this Same recipe, different flavors.
Feast: Food to Celebrate Life
By Nigella Lawson
Hyperion - 2004
This is a huge book, 462 pages not including the index and
with over 300 recipes for all kinds of celebrations and any time you want to get
together with friends and family and celebrate with good food.
I love the way she writes something to go along with each recipe. The photos
are great too.
If you've ever watched one of her shows you can tell Nigella loves to cook and
she loves to eat. She has a wonderful sense of humor and it often comes through
as she talks about her recipes. She includes a few meatless feasts in this book
but makes it plainly clear she is in no way a vegetarian, although she loves
vegetables
Fast Food Fix: 75+ Amazing Recipe Makeovers of Your Fast Food Restaurant Favorites
By Devin Alexander
Rodale Books - 2006
Devin Alexander has a show on Discovery Health called Healthy Decadence She is also the author of The Biggest Loser Cookbook.
With this book you can have your fast food and still loose or maintain weight. Nutritional information is included for all recipes. In the first chapter she tells you how she choose the recipes for the book and how she came up with the healthier versions. I enjoyed reading this section as well as what she wrote about each recipe.
She includes Drive thru tips which are time savers, and Even Better tips which save more calories and use even less fat. Most recipes make only one serving but are easy to double or triple or what ever to make as many as you need for your family. She also uses a clock symbol to denote which recipes can be made in 30 minutes or less and there are 58 of those. There is also a Stop sign to indicate things you need to know before you start a recipe.
Farmhouse Cookbook
By Susan Herrmann Loomis
Workman Publishing Company - 1991
This is an excellent book to read as well as cook from. I read this one from cover to cover when I first added it to my collection. My book now has many recipes marked to try.
Family and Friends Cookbook: From Casserole Comforts to Champagne Wishes, 50 Menus, Meal Plans and 200
By JoAnna M. Lund, Barbara Alpert
Perigee Trade - 2005
As always with JoAnna's books, this one starts with a poem by her Mother, Anges Carrington McAndrews. This book is divided into menus. Those menus are Meatless and Fish; Poultry; Beef; Pork Plus; and Entertaining: Sunday Dinners and Celebrations Meals. The final chapter is on making Healthy Exchanges work for you.
All recipes include nutritional information, as well as Diabetic Exchanges, and Healthy Exchanges. this book is perfect for diabetics, weight watchers, and calorie watchers, in addition to those using the Healthy Exchange program.
Features I like about this book:
The spiral bound lay flat binding
Tips for Cooking for a Crowd
Complete Nutritional Information for each recipe
This is one of the few JoAnna books I didn't have, so I was delighted when I was able to pick this one up from paperbackswap.com
Everyday Pasta
By Giada De Laurentiis
Clarkson Potter - 2007
I love watching Giada's Everyday Italian and now her new show, Giada At Home. I have tried some of her recipes from the shows and enjoyed them very much.
The book starts off with an introduction that includes -- The Origins of Pasta, Giada's top 10 Pasta cooking tips, and info on matching pasta shapes to sauces. It is divided into three sections -- Pasta Go-Withs, which has two chapters: Antipasti & Appetizers and Something on the Side. The second section - Pasta for all Seasons contains 5 chapters -- Soups & Pasta Salads; Hearty Pastas; On the Lighter Side; Quick & Easy Working Night Pastas; Pasta for Special Occasions. The final section Pasta Basics -- includes Basic Recipes; Menus; Credits; and the Index.
This is a beautiful book with very colorful borders and chapter beginnings, as well as lots of beautiful mouth watering color photos of the dishes. This book reminds me of The Barefoot Contessa's cookbooks and is published by the same publisher, Clarkson Potter.
If you enjoy pasta I think you'll like this book. I love the fact it has a lighter side chapter as well as a Quick and Easy weeknight one. Sometimes I find in Italian books and even in some of Giada's previous
books, recipes include ingredients that are hard to find. I don't find that to be true in this book. There are a few types of pasta that might be hard for some of us to find, but in that case she gives a recommendation for an alternate pasta.
Everyday Food: Great Food Fast
By Martha Stewart Living Magazine
Clarkson Potter - 2007
This one contains recipes from Martha Stewart's Everyday Food Magazine. These recipes are great for weeknight meals.
Emeril's Potluck: Comfort Food with a Kicked-Up Attitude
By Emeril Lagasse
William Morrow Cookbooks - 2004
I enjoy Emeril's cooking style
especially if he doesn't use overly expensive or hard to find ingredients. Some
of his books do have recipes with the hard to find ingredients but this one does
not. A few of the recipes do call for some of his spices like his essence but
you can make your own and the recipe can be easily found on the internet or in
some of his previous books.
There is an orange border up each side and across the top of the name of each recipe
and also a row of orange dots across the top and bottom of each list of
ingredients. There are also orange blocks with white writ ting in them with
hints and tips or bits of information scattered through out the book. There are
interesting little blurbs about each dish right after the title of the recipe.
Since this is a pot luck cookbook all recipes serve 8-10 people but it says to
not assume you're making too much since everyone will want seconds and maybe
even thirds.
Mom gave Dexter some Key Limes she got at a flea/farmers market so we decided
to make Mr. Lou's Key Lime Pie. It was a simple pie to make and quiet good. I did cheat and buy a premade Graham Cracker crust.
Down Home with the Neelys: A Southern Family Cookbook
By Patrick Neely, Gina Neely, Paula Disbrowe
Knopf - 2009
This book is more than just a cookbook. Also included is the story of how Pat and Gina met, married, and came to be on the food network. Before each recipe is a note from Pat or Gina and sometimes both of them about where the recipe came from, what one of them might do different, and sometimes hits or tips to help you successfully make the recipe yourself. It's a fun book to read as well as cook from.
If you love southern cooking then you'll enjoy this one. The recipes are tried and true family recipes from Pat, Gina, and their families. Some recipes are ones that have been in their families for generations. There are also some recipes from their restauants and a few you might have seen on their Food Network Show. They share their Barbecue seasoning and sauce recipes too. There is even a section from Pat's brother and restaurant partner, Tony giving you tips on grilling at home.
If you like photos in your cookbooks there are plenty of those here. Many family photos as well as mouth watering food photos. You shouldn't have any problem at all finding the ingredients called for in this book. The type is black ink with the ingriedents list and name of the recipe in brown. Most recipes are on one page with a few taking up two pages that you can easily read on facing pages with the book open.
I have wanted to try their siginature BBQ Spaghetti ever since I saw it on the Road Food show when the Deen brothers went to their restaurant. The recipe is in this book. The only problem for me is you have to make the seasoning recipe, sauce recipe, smoked BBQ and then the spaghetti. That wouldn't be a problem but both Dexter and Harold say they wouldn't even try it. That leaves me and if Sarita were here her, but I don't think Andrew would eat it either and this makes quiet a bit. I'd love to go to one of their restaurants and try it there. I do have the recipe though if I ever want to tackle it.
dori sanders country cooking
By Dori Sanders
Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill - 1995
I read this one from cover to cover in no time. It's one of those kinds of books
you can't put down until you've finished the last page. Then when you get to the
last page you don't want it to end. So many of these recipe are like ones I grew
up on.... good old fashioned, down home, country, Southern cooking, with a few
surprises thrown in for good measure. So many of the chapters and stories
brought back pleasant childhood memories for me. Like Dori, I always enjoyed
hog-killing time with my family -- Mom, Dad, grands, aunts, uncles, siblings and
cousins.. I love helping prepare the hams to cure and making liver mush,
sausage, pork skins and rendering the fat for lard.
Making Molasses was also lots of work but fun too. My uncle owned a boiler and
let family and friends use it. Most times it was used on weekends and would
start very early in the morning each day and go till way in the night. We would
roast marshmallows and hot dogs in the fire beneath the boiler and chill drinks
and watermelons in the creek. After the molasses were finished we always had a
cane stick to sop the boiler with.
If you like books with stories among and about the recipes then I know you'll enjoy this one. I have had this book for some time and recently got it autographed by Ms. Sanders at our local library. She is a very gracious southern lady.
Dessert Every Night!
By JoAnna M. Lund
Putnam Adult - 1998
Do you or someone you love feel like it's not a proper meal without a
little something sweet to finish up? Here's a book filled with desserts
that are good and still good for you. With the desserts in this book
you can enjoy a treat every day and still not feel guilty. Imagine having
such treats as Banana Peanut Butter Delights, Old Fashioned Bread
Pudding, Heavenly Layered Lemon Pie, Sour Cream Apple Walnut Pie, Joyful
Almond Cheesecake, Hawaiian Strawberry Paradise Cheesecake, Black Forest
Trifle, Peach Praline Shortcakes, and Lemon Coconut Bars. You can if you
have this book.
The recipes are easy to make with ingredients that are easy to find at
your local market. The end products look and taste like you slaved all
day but they are quiet easy to put together. Need a dessert for a get
together or special dinner guests or to serve someone who has diabetics,
then this is the place to look and no one will know that they are
really made in the healthy way unless you spill the beans. Nutritional
information is included for all recipes.
The Deen Bros. Cookbook
By Jamie Deen, Bobby Deen, Melissa Clark
Wiley - 2007
If you are a fan of the Food Network show Road Tasted that Bobbie and Jamie once hosted (it's now hosted by the Neely's who's BBQ place is in the book), and thought this book contained recipes from the people and places they visited, you'd be wrong. Even though the places and people are featured in the book the recipes are from Jamie and Bobby themselves. They include recipes in each chapter that reminds them of the places they visited.
The book is divided into The South, The West, The Midwest and the East. In each section there is information on and photos of the people and places they visited, the types of food served there, and the recipes, along with more color photos of the finished dishes, the brothers came up with for the book. The foreword for the book is written by proud Mom - Paula Deen.
If you enjoyed the show I think you'll enjoy this book. I got this one recently from paper back swap. I decided to try the boys version of Mac and cheese from the Midwest section. This recipe was inspired by Beechwood Cheese Company, Beechwood, Wisconsin as was, Classic Cheese Fondue and Pecan Crusted Cranberry Cheese Balls. We all loved the mac and cheese here.
Coyote Cafe
By Mark Miller
Ten Speed Press - 2002
This is a wonderful book and I've enjoyed reading it so much. It is
filled with recipes made at The Coyote Cafe in Sante Fe, New Mexico.
Sounds like a wonderful place to eat. Before each recipe is a very
interesting blurb about the recipe from the author which describes the orgin of
the recipe or an anecdote connected with it.
Sprinkled throughout the book are great tips and hints, as well as how
to step by step photos and lots of great Native American art work, as
well as interesting Coyote stories. For instance, stories like "How
Coyote Brought the Chilies" and How the Coyote Got His Cunning". There are
also a few American Indian Poems. The introduction was a delightful
read about how the restaurant came to be and his previous work in other
restraunts including him working with Alice Waters.
Before each chapter is a couple pages of interesting information from
the author, often about his travels and experiences. The Coyote's Bag of
Tricks chapter includes dishes said to make you howl with delight. Some
interesting recipes included in this book are Texas Blue Crab Cakes,
Desert Prickly Pear Sauce, Blue Corn Bread, Cowboy Steak with Red Chile
Onion Rings, Pork Tacos with Wild Mushrooms and Tamarind Chipotle Sauce,
Orange Cumin Bread, and a Grilled Cheese Sandwich with Poblano Chilies.
If you love cooking and eating southwestern cusine or just reading
about it this is a wonderfully interesting book and I highly reccomend it.
Cowgirl Cuisine: Rustic Recipes and Cowgirl Adventures from a Texas Ranch
By Paula Disbrowe
William Morrow Cookbooks - 2007
I belong to a wonderful cookbook collectors group on yahoo called CookbooksEtCetera and I got this one in a state of the art swap from Anne in Texas in that group. It's wonderful read. It has a beautiful story weaved through the book and the author manages to connect the recipes to the chapters in her story of moving from NY to her ranch in TX. She shares the journey of her and her boyfriend, now husband and how city slickers became a cowboy and cowgirl. You get romance, adventure and comedy as well as some delicious recipes when you read this book.
Upon first glance at this book I marked several recipes to try; Greens with Red Chili Sauce, Garlic greens, Smoked Turkey wraps, Scorpion Tails with Sauce, Banana Bread with almonds and orange essence, Shiner Bock Beans with epazote and Chocolate Pecan Squares. I have already made the Garlic Greens (we loved them), Smoked turkey Wraps (amazing) and the choco Pecan Squares.
The only complaint I have about this book is the fact you have to turn the page to see all of some recipes, but the information she included with the recipes make this a minor complaint.
This is a fun read and I'm enjoying cooking from it and look forward to many delicious meals from it.
Cooking Light Annual Recipes 2006
By Editors of Cooking Light Magazine
Oxmoor House - 2005
I got this one from one of my favorite places to add to my collection, paperbackswap.com.
These books hold all the wonderful recipes from the previous years issues of Cooking Light magazines. They also have several color photos of finished dishes.
They are divided into months just like the magazines. I like this since I can go to any of my annuals and choose the month we're in and find some good healthy recipes to prepare during that month. It's also nice to have the recipes in one place instead of having stacks and stacks of magazines laying around.
Another of my favorite things about these books are the nutritional information included with each recipe. This makes it easy for me to figure out weight watcher points. This particular annual says on the cover over 1,000 new recipes. Isn't it wonderful to have that many healthy recipes at your fingertips?
Cooking Light Annual Recipes 2004
April 28th, 2010
They are divided into months just like the magazines. I like this since I can go to any of my annuals and choose the month we're in and find some good healthy recipes to prepare during that month. It's also nice to have the recipes in one place instead of having stacks and stacks of magazines laying around.
Another of my favorite things about these books are the nutritional information included with each recipe. This makes it easy for me to figure out weight watcher points. This particular annual says on the cover over 1,000 new recipes.
Cooking Light Annual Recipes 2003
April 28th, 2010These books hold all the wonderful recipes from the previous years issues of Cooking Light magazines. They also have several color photos of finished dishes.
They are divided into months just like the magazines. I like this since I can go to any of my annuals and choose the month we're in and find some good healthy recipes to prepare during that month. It's also nice to have the recipes in one place instead of having stacks and stacks of magazines laying around.
Cooking Healthy with the Kids in Mind
By JoAnna M. Lund
Booksales - 2002
I think I got this one from Ebay and it's signed by JoAnna. Big Plus for me.
Although this one is for cooking for kids the big kids and I enjoy so many of
the recipes included in this book. As with all of JoAnna's books all nutritional
information is included. The brief notes included with each recipe are an added
bonus.
Some Get Out of Bead Breakfast's we've enjoyed from this book are, Scrambled Egg
Hash, Ham Breakfast Casserole and Pineapple Upside-Down French Toast.
From the Soups section you can't go wrong with Minestrone in Minutes, Chicken
Pot Pie Chowder or Meatball Soup.
Two great sandwiches from that section we enjoy are Tuna Sandwich Melts and
Chicken Fruit Sandwiches.
We've also tried and enjoyed the following from the Main Dish section, Creamy
Tuna- Potato Scallop, Cheesy Chicken Pot Biscuit Cups, Country Chicken and
Biscuits, Deep Dish Turkey Pot Pie, Tom's Easy Cheesy Skillet, Pizza Popover Pie
and Quick Pork Parmigiana.
From Snack Time you can never go wrong with Cinnamon Crisps, Peanut Butter
Cookies or Apple Biscuit Drops.
Finally from the special occasion section Peanut Butter Cup Pie is often
requested by my oldest kid, hubby, Harold.
If you're looking for some kid friendly and kid pleasing recipes this is a great cookbook to add to your collection. I'm sure the kids would enjoy helping you make some of the delicious, healthy dishes in this one.
Cooking Healthy with a Man in Mind
By JoAnna M. Lund
Putnam Adult - 1997
In this 338 page book you get to hear from JoAnna's husband Cliff since
he writes the introduction. The recipes included in this book not only
were approved by Cliff but many were tested by hundreds of visitors at
a taste-testing buffet. She has also included many of her sons
favorites as well.
If you want to cook healthy for the man or men in your life then the
recipes in this book are sure to please. My men are often reluctant to
try recipes if they think I'm trying to feed them healthy but they'll try
a JoAnna recipe anytime. When I first started cooking from her books my
son, Dexter would often say are you sure you can eat this on weight
watchers, it's too good to be good for you. The first time I went out to
Calif to spend some time with hubby, Harold I copied some recipes from
this one to cook for him and he enjoyed them too.
The Blazing Glory Chili was a big hit at our house the first time we
tried it and we've made it many times since. We also enjoyed the Golden
Onion Pie and the Bar-B-Que Beef Strips are to die for. If you or
someone you know enjoys sloppy Joes then you should try Healthy Jo's as they
are very good.
There are many more tasty, man pleasing, healthy recipes included in
this book and all of them are approved by JoAnna's truck driving husband
Cliff. As with her other books nutritional values are included for all
her recipes.
Cooking Healthy Across America
By JoAnna M. Lund, Barbara Alpert
Perigee Trade - 2001
I have many of JoAnna's books and this is one of my favorites. I love having
recipes from across the US remade to be more healthy. I also love reading the
little notes included with each recipe. It feels as if JoAnna is talking to me.
Even though JoAnna is no longer with us she lives on in her recipes. JoAnna passed away after a hard fought battle with breast cancer, May 20, 2006. I had the great pleasure of getting to know JoAnna thru a cookbook collectors group and we shared a couple of private cookbook swaps. She was an amazing lady with a wonderful attitude even while battling cancer.
As is true with all of her books the nutritional values are included which makes
these recipes great for anyone following the weight watchers program.They are also great for diabetics and anyone trying to live a healthier lifestyle.
To give you an idea of the recipes in this book I'm listing our families favorites I've made from the following chapters in Cooking Healthy Across America.
From the New England section I've made Fireside Chicken with Biscuits and Corned
Beef Hash.
From The Eastern Seaboard - Scaled-Down U.S. Senate Bean Soup, Jersey Tomato
Salad, Philly Cheese Steak Sandwiches, Maryland Crab Cakes and Creamy Chicken
Cordon Bleu Skillet.
From The South - Dixie Grits Casserole, Brunswick Stew and Pulled-Pork
Sandwiches.
The Southwest - Come and Get it Chuck Wagon Chili, Green Chili Stew, and Alamo
Fudge.
While writing this review I just realized I've never made a recipe from the West
Section but think that needs to be remedied soon by trying The Golden State
Carrot Cake.
From the Northwest - Willamette Valley Blackberry Cobbler is often requested
when we have fresh blackberries to pick.
Fruit Kolaches is what I've tried from The Heartland and from All-American
Classics - Creamy coleslaw, Mainstay Meatloaf and Chocolate Cake with Chocolate
Frosting.
If you're trying to eat healthier but don't want to give up comfort food then I highly recomend any of JoAnna M. Lund's cookbooks. She even had a few that she wrote before she passed away that came out later.
Cooking From the Hip: Fast, Easy, Phenomenal Meals
By Cat Cora, Ann Krueger Spivack
Houghton Mifflin - 2007
This book is divided into five sections: Fast, Easy, Fun, Phenomenal, and Good
to Know. It also includes resources for hard to find ingredients, which some
people find really helpful. It has beautiful color photos and lots of notes
from Cat throughout the book.
Cat Cora is the Food Network's only female Iron Chef and I enjoy watching her
compete on that show.
I made the Two Bean Salad with Hearts of Palm and Blue Cheese and it was
great. It was so pretty layered in my glass pedestal serving bowl. I did have trouble
finding Sherry Vinegar so I used 1/2 red wine vinegar and 1/2 rice wine
vinegar. I also used black beans instead of kidney since I forgot to get more
kidney beans and had a couple cans of black beans already in the cabinet.
Dexter likes black beans better anyway. He also wants me to leave out the
chick peas and make this one again.
Cat encourages you to "cook from the hip" (hence the title of the book),
taking these recipes as guide lines. She suggests using what you have on hand
or your family enjoys and making substitutions if desired, which I did. This
is a beautiful, fun book to read, cook from and enjoy.
Cooking for Isaiah: Gluten-Free & Dairy-Free Recipes for Easy Delicious Meals
By Silvana Nardone, Rachael Ray
Readers Digest - 2010
This book is gluten-free and dairy-free and was written because the author's son was diagnosed as both gluten and diary intolerant. The author does give you substitutions if you wish to either cook with gluten or dairy. The book is filled with gorgeous photos of the food and a few of Silvana and her family.
The foreword in this book is written by Rachael Ray. Nardone is the founding editor in chief of Rachael's magazine, Every Day with Rachael Ray. She also is the no recipe zone and sweet spot columnist for the magazine.
Even though no one in my immediate family (my niece is gluten intolerant) suffers from gluten or dairy intolerance I have found so many recipes in this book that I want to try. So far I've made two and were very pleased with them. I made the double corn cornbread since I wanted to try the double-decker toasted cornbread and spicy greens stack. BTW she gives you her recipe for gluten free all-purpose flour as well as her gluten free pancake mix in the book. Even though the cornbread has some sugar in it, which I normally don't prefer in my cornbread, it was still good. I loved the spicy greens stack and can't wait to also try the toasted ham and tomato cornbread sandwiches with jalepeno mayonnaise which is also on this bread.
If someone you love is gluten or dairy intolerant I highly recommend this book. Even if you don't know someone affected by these allergies this is a great book to cook from.
The Comfort Table: Recipes for Everyday Occasions
By Katie Lee
Simon Spotlight Entertainment - 2009
This is a beautiful menu book, filled with lots of color food photos. There are menus for a few holidays and special occasions as well as everyday occasions.
Katie says the most important thing her grandma taught her about being a hostess is that it isn't just about the food -- it's mostly about the way you make people feel in your home. I love what she says about the title of her book, if you put the words "comfort" and "table" together you get comfortable.
There's only one thing I don't like about this book. A few recipes are continued on a page where you have to flip back and forth. Thank goodness it's only a few.
I like that she includes a little story with each recipe. She also includes a few tips throughout the book. Along with the menu at the beginning of each chapter she includes a wine suggestion as well as a play list of music for the event.
My daughter, Sarita chose the Roasted Pumpkin and Pomegranate Salad from the Fall Harvest Dinner Menu, for part of her birthday supper 2009. It was wonderful. My sister, Sarah and son, Dexter who didn't think they'd like it really enjoyed it and my sister had two heaping helpings. We couldn't get my husband, Harold or Sarita's husband, Andrew to try it.
If you enjoy menu cookbooks or need a new book for entertaining ideas I think you'd enjoy this one.
Come Home to Supper: Over 200 Casseroles, Skillets, and Sides (Desserts, Too!) to Feed Your Family with Love
By Christy Jordan
Workman Publishing Company - 2013
I loved Christy's first cookbook and love this one as well. I like that it's so affordable. This is simple southern cooking at it's best. Christy's recipes remind me of the kinds of recipes I grew up on and continue to cook for my family. I love to cook and on the weekends I enjoy more complicated and time consuming recipes and even sometimes tackle a gourmet recipe. During the work week I come home exhausted and just want to prepare a simple but filling recipe and this book gives me lots of those. I like that there are slow cooker options for many recipes included in this book too. There's nothing like coming home to a meal already prepared or mostly prepared and ready to dig into. If you enjoy reading your cookbooks as I do you'll also enjoy the little stories and inspirational messages Christy includes. I've already made the Chinese Chicken Salad (great to take for my lunches at work), Italian Beef Sandwiches (I used the slow cooker version and only had to stir fry my peppers and onions when I got home from work) and beef gravy. I love that she gives you the option and recipes to make some of the things homemade instead of using things like Jared gravy or canned soup. I'm not against using those things to make my life simpler either but often homemade not only tastes better but is healthier and cheaper as well. I also have ingredients for the coming week to make Pizza Rolls, Steak Tips over Rice, and the Simple Fruit Crisp. I have lots more recipes marked and ingredient lists prepared for the coming weeks. Thanks Christy for helping me Come Home to Supper!
Clinton St. Baking Company Cookbook: Breakfast, Brunch & Beyond from New York's Favorite Neighborhood Restaurant
By DeDe Lahman, Neil Kleinberg, Michael Harlan Turkell
Little, Brown and Company - 2010
One of the things I like about this book is that most of the recipes serve 2-4, except of course the muffins and desserts. Even though this is a cookbook of recipes from the restaurant, the authors have scaled down the recipes for home cooks. Clinton St. Baking company is known in NY for it's fabulous breakfasts and brunches. This book contains wonderful recipes as the sub title states for breakfast, brunch and beyond.
I haven't found many really great breakfast books but this one fits that category right up there with Mollie Katzen's Sunlight Cafe. I've tried several of the recipes and look forward to trying more.
Another thing I like about this book is that there is dialog along with every recipe. There is a little writing about the recipe included with every one. If you like some stories, tips or some behind the looks at the how and why's of the recipes, like how they came to be, or why they are included on the menu, then you'll get a bit of interesting reading here. The introduction is also very interesting, it's called Love and Butter and is the story of how the authors met and came to own Clinton St. Baking.
If you want a good breakfast and brunch book then check this one out. I don't think you'll be disappointed.
Chocolate
By Susan Branch
Cedco Pub - 2000
his is a cute little book, 4 1/2 inches wide by 6 1/4 inches tall and 32 pages long. I love Susan Branch's books, filled with her drawings and hand written. It only contains a dozen recipes but what recipes they are.
If you're a Chocolate lover then you'll love this little book. The names of the recipes are written in different colored inks but the recipes themselves are in black. Some people might not like the cursive handwritten recipes and may even find it hard to read, but I think it gives the book a special feel along with Susan's art work and cute little sayings.