James Beard Award-winning and self-made chef Naomi Pomeroy's debut cookbook, featuring 95 lesson-driven recipes designed to improve the home cook's understanding of professional techniques and flavor combinations in order to produce simple, but showstopping meals.

Combining elements of Julia Child's classical aesthetic and ambition to teach the world how to cook with Naomi Pomeroy's own unique history, style, and verve, this book is an inspiring guide for home cooks who want to up their game in the kitchen. Pomeroy demystifies professional techniques by paring back complex recipes to the building blocks necessary to create them. Her "master lessons" approach will appeal to home cooks of all levels who want to improve their skills. And her nurturing, self-deprecating tone is a welcome change from the ethereal fine-dining tomes that home cooks can't actually cook from or the snapshots of a specific restaurant meant to celebrate the chef's cult of personality. Beginning with sauces, and working from straightforward to more complex recipes, Pomeroy presents a collection of dishes you want to eat every day, including salads, vegetables, fish, pork, meat, and desserts--along with the tools and techniques you need to make each meal shine.

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Y'all know by now that I cannot resist a good cookbook and this one just looked so pretty and full of great information! I'm a pretty good cook, but it's something that I'd love to really improve upon. For example, my knife skills are absolutely atrocious! This book promised to not only have amazing recipes but to also be educational, so I said sure! send it my way!

Let's start with the good...

The pictures look absolutely amazing and I could have spent hours just drooling over them. I also really enjoyed the author's introduction to the book. She seemed like someone I could be friends with and I find that I appreciate that about cookbook authors. Down to earth is important to me. As for the recipes, they all sounded amazing!

The bad -
The author chose to lay her recipes out in paragraph format which can make it more difficult to follow a tricky recipe. Also, this really is a book that you have to cook your way through because those lessons are hidden within the recipes. For me, it would take me months to do this so it's just not realistic.

The summary -
This is a beautiful cookbook and if you have the time to work your way through it -and- you enjoy "fancy foods", you're going to love it. As for me, it's going on my shelf to properly explore once I don't have two teenage boys taking up every bit of my free time.



I received a copy of this book for the purpose of this review. All thoughts, comments, and drool are my own.

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From an award-winning food writer comes this intimate portrait of London--the global epicenter of cuisine--with 100 recipes from the city's best restaurants, dessert boutiques, tea and coffee houses, cocktail lounges, and hole-in-the-wall gems--all lovingly adapted for the home kitchen.

Once known for its watery potatoes, stringy mutton, and grayed vegetables, London is now considered to be the most vibrant city on the global food map. The London Cookbook  reflects the contemporary energy and culinary rebirth of this lively, hip, sophisticated, and very international city. It is a love letter to the city and an insider's guide to its most delicious haunts, as well as a highly curated and tested collection of the city's best recipes. This timeless book explores London's incredibly diverse cuisine through an eclectic mix of dishes, from The Cinnamon Club's Seared Aubergine Steaks with Sesame and Tamarind to the River Cafe's Tagliatelle with Lemon, and from Tramshed's Indian Rock Chicken Curry to Nopi's Sage and Cardamom Gin. Striking the perfect balance between armchair travel and approachable home cooking, The London Cookbook is both a resource and keepsake, a book as much for the well-travelled cook as for the dreaming novice.

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Oh London...one of my favorite cities in the world. I was only there a brief time, but it never got old. The mixture of architecture, the mixture of people, the food...and now this cookbook has come home to me and I love it.

The book is far more lovely than the image above shows. Really, I'm impressed with the binding. It's just lovely. (Sorry, I seem stuck on that word today!) While not every recipe includes a pictures, those that do will have you drooling so be sure to put down some sort of protection for those pages. I do have to warn you though that these aren't recipes that you're going to come home from a long day at work to prepare. These are special occasion recipes or for those days when you just want to experiment with something new. I will assure you though that these are not the bland dishes that the British are "known for". They all look completely scrumptious and yes...lovely.



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The best in wurst from around the world, with enough sausage-themed stories and pictures stuffed between these two covers to turn anyone into a forcemeat aficionado.

Lucky Peach presents a cookbook as a scrapbook, stuffed with curious local specialties, like cevapi, a caseless sausage that’s traveled all the way from the Balkans to underneath the M tracks in Ridgewood, Queens; a look into the great sausage trails of the world, from Bavaria to Texas Hill Country and beyond; and the ins and outs of making your own sausages, including fresh chorizo.

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We all know my weakness for awesome cookbooks and summer is officially here, so I thought a book about sausages would be perfect! Well, I was right and I was wrong. This book, while advertised as a cookbook, isn't a cookbook. In fact, it only has about 40 recipes. The book is far more about the history and types of sausage. Unfortunately, it feels like it's suffering from a bit of an identity crisis.

So, while a disappointment as a full fledged cookbook, this book is still fantastic. Honestly, it's worth it just to read the rants about ketchup and mustard. If you're interested in learning about types of sausage, the geography of sausage, or even read short travelogues done by people traveling for sausage, this full of personality book might be for you. If you're looking for a cookbook, give this one a pass and keep your eyes open for a book stuffed with sausage recipes. Stuffed..get it?



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Rise and dine! If there’s one meal of the day to get passionate about—no matter where you’re from in this great land—it’s breakfast with all the fixings. Featuring down-home diners, iconic establishments, and the newest local hot spots, America’s Best Breakfasts is a celebration of two of this nation’s honored traditions: hitting the open road and enjoying an endless variety of breakfasts. Even without a road trip, you can re-create favorites that will satisfy any time of day:

Shrimp and Grits, Hominy Grill, Charleston
Croque Monsieur Sandwiches, Tartine, San Francisco
Kimchi Pancakes, Sunshine Tavern, Portland
Filipino Steak with Garlic Fried Rice, Uncle Mike’s, Chicago
Cannoli French Toast, Café Lift, Philadelphia
Brioche Cinnamon Buns, Honey Bee, Oxford
Morning Glory Muffins, Panther Coffee, Miami

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Another week, another cookbook! I just know y'all are shocked to the core! Okay, but who doesn't love breakfast? I go through periods when all I want is breakfast three meals a day...eggs, french toast, bagels, cereal...you name it, it's breakfast all the time! So when an entire cookbook about breakfast and the breakfasts done in yummy restaurants came up in my list, how could I possibly have said no?

Let's start with the things that I loved.  The pages were that lovely glossy finish which makes it easy for slightly messy cooks to carefully wipe down without destroying your book. This is almost a must in cookbooks for me so I was thrilled to see it. The photography in this book is absolutely gorgeous and really helps to make this cookbook a gem in the kitchen. I love that the recipes are clearly laid out and for the most part, ingredients are easily attainable. When you have recipes from some higher end restaurants, that can be a problem.

Now..for what I don't like about this book. To be blunt, it skips most of the country. I did a quick count on the map that's at the front of the book and only 20 states are represented, 21 if you count Washington D.C. This disappoints me. I'd have much rather seen something a bit more all encompassing than 8 recipes from the state of Florida. Surely people in Michigan or Arizona or some of the remaining states know how to throw together an awesome breakfast!

All in all, this is a great cookbook, just don't expect it to be a true representation of our culinary country!




I received a copy of this book for the purpose of this review. All thoughts, comments, and opinions are my own and not influenced by my total lack of juice yet this morning. ;)

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A cozy collection of heirloom-quality recipes for pies, cakes, tarts, ice cream, preserves, and other sweet treats that cherishes the fruit of every season.

Celebrate the luscious fruits of every season with this stunning collection of heirloom-quality recipes for pies, cakes, tarts, ice cream, preserves, and other sweet treats. Summer's wild raspberries become Raspberry Pink Peppercorn Sorbet, ruby red rhubarb is roasted to adorn a pavlova, juicy apricots and berries are baked into galettes with saffron sugar, and winter's bright citrus fruits shine in Blood Orange Donuts and Tangerine Cream Pie. Yossy Arefi’s recipes showcase what's fresh and vibrant any time of year by enhancing the enticing sweetness of fruits with bold flavors like rose and orange flower water inspired by her Iranian heritage, bittersweet chocolate and cacao nibs, and whole-grain flours like rye and spelt. Accompanied by gorgeous, evocative photography, Sweeter off the Vine is a must-have for aspiring bakers and home cooks of all abilities.

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Oh cookbooks...one of my greatest weaknesses in life..from the church paper printed ones to the fancy professional, I just love cookbooks. This one isn't any different.

Divided into seasonal sections, the author has filled this book with fruit recipes that go from the most basic to some quite advanced. Since it appears that Spring is finally here and cherries are popping up in stores and at the market, I'm really looking forward to trying out those particular recipes.

So, since we're talking recipes, let's break down the book a bit...The recipes are well written and easy to understand. If you have basic cooking knowledge, you'll be able to follow along easily and should end up with some scrumptious desserts.

The photos are absolutely delicious and call me to go to the market, pick up some goodies and to bury myself in the kitchen for a weekend. Sadly, life keeps getting in the way of me having a baking marathon, but it will happen!

If I had one complaint about this book it's that the pages are plain paper and in no way wipe-able. If you get something on this one...and you will, after all, you are baking...it isn't coming off. I'd suggest you get a sheet of plastic to put down over top so you can see the recipe, but still protect the book.

After that, happy baking and enjoying the fruits of your labor!



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In her inspiring New York Times bestselling memoir, It Was Me All Along, Andie Mitchell chronicled her struggles with obesity, losing weight, and finding balance. Now, in her debut cookbook, she gives readers the dishes that helped her reach her goals and maintain her new size. In 80 recipes, she shows how she eats: mostly healthy meals that are packed with flavor, like Lemon Roasted Chicken with Moroccan Couscous and Butternut Squash Salad with Kale and Pomegranate, and then the “sometimes” foods, the indulgences such as Peanut Butter Mousse Pie with Marshmallow Whipped Cream, because life just needs dessert. With 75 photographs and Andie’s beautiful storytelling, Eating in the Middle is the perfect cookbook for anyone looking to find freedom from cravings while still loving and enjoying every meal to the fullest.

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Okay guys, you cannot imagine my excitement over finding this available for review. If you read my review of Andie's memoir, you'll know that I already think of her as my soulmate in food. Now, I get to see just what she's done in her own kitchen to help with her weight loss journey and I'm super duper excited! I should say that I was because I have already gone through this cookbook, but the reality is that even after going through it, I'm still just as excited.

(Warning...a spoiler for the memoir ahead...skip the next paragraph if this is going to bother you.)

First, let's start at the beginning...she dedicated the book to Daniel. Now, at the end of her memoir, they were no longer together, so you know me..I want to know what happened! Why? Well, you could say that I'm nosey or that seriously, after her memoir, I felt as if she were a dear friend. Either way, I went to her site and discovered that they're engaged! Woohoo!

Yes, I know that none of that has a thing to do with cooking or recipes or cookbooks, but hey, it was exciting to me! To get back to the cookbook though, let me just say that I can easily see this becoming one of my favorites. It's filled with delicious recipes that all appear to be incredibly easy to prepare. As a busy mom/editor/site owner/fill in the blank, I don't always have a ton of time to experiment in the kitchen so this is great for me! Plus, she included two full sections of more decadent recipes that are perfect for that special occasion or to share with others. Did I mention that the photography makes everything look absolutely delicious and that Andie is just as down to earth in this book as she is in her memoir? I can only hope I can do the same with mine!

My recommendation? The pairing of both of Andie's books would make an amazing gift to someone who loves both memoirs and cookbooks. I can't imagine anyone not loving both of them!




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An irresistible cookbook featuring more than 50 family-friendly fried chicken recipes--including classic Southern, globally influenced, and skillet- and deep-fried variations.

     Fried chicken is comfort food at its finest. Served alongside a biscuit, atop waffles, or just on its own, fried chicken is one of the most universally loved foods around. In Fried Chicken, Southern chef Rebecca Lang collects 50 of the most tantalizing, crowd-pleasing variations on the classic. There are perennial favorites like Buttermilk-Soaked, Bacon-Fried Chicken Smothered in Gravy; Tennessee Hot Chicken; kid-friendly Chicken Fingers; and even Gluten-Free Southern Fried Chicken. Also featured are internationally inspired recipes, such as Saigon Street Wings, Chinese Lollipop Wings, Mexican-Lime Fried Chicken Tacos, and Korean Fried Chicken with Gochujang Sauce. All of these recipes are impeccably tested, foolproof, and will have the whole family singing the praises of perfectly fried poultry.

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It's been a while since I've sat down with a cookbook and simply drooled. I did that with this one. How can you not love fried chicken in all of its varieties? I honestly don't know and I'm so glad that Ben requested that I pick this book for review. I loved the opening section with all of its tips, tricks, and information. I appreciated the fact that if a recipe called for a side, the author included that recipe as well. The pictures all looked incredibly delicious and I am looking forward to many delicious fried chicken dinners over the coming years.

Want to add this book to your shelf? I don't blame you! It's full of yummy!


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From the authors of Shake: A New Perspective on Cocktails comes Infuse, a recipe book filled with fresh and flavorful oil, spirit, and water infusions.

Authors Eric Prum and Josh Williams’ passion for infusing oils, spirits and waters began one summer nearly a decade ago when the two first made peach-infused bourbon. They were awestruck. The seemingly simple process of adding fresh, local peaches to a Mason jar of Kentucky Bourbon, and infusing the mixture for a handful of weeks had somehow resulted in something so much greater than the sum of its parts.

In Infuse the authors share not only their favorite infusion recipes, but also how to use them in food and cocktails, like a spicy chili oil added to a grilled pizza bianca or a hot toddy spiked with the peach bourbon that started it all years ago. With more than 50 recipes for infusing oils, spirits and waters, Infuse provides instructions, quick tips and plenty of inspiration for how you can make delicious infusions part of your everyday.

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Any excuse to play in the kitchen and in my garden is a good excuse to read a book in my world. Okay, a book is a good excuse to read a book in my world, but a book that adds in those other components? Priceless.  Honest to goodness, this is a book that just encourages me to get in there and play which is something that I don't do near enough. I spend far too much time "cooking" and not enough time just letting my creative side flow. I just need to get myself some mason jars and a few of those fantastic taps that they're producing now!

Honestly... if you like yummy infusions, a bit of fun, and kitchen experiments, you're going to want to add this book to your shelf!



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Welcome to Big Gay Ice Cream’s debut cookbook, a yearbook of ice cream accomplishments—all the recipes you need to create delicious frozen treats

• New to making ice cream at home? Never fear—freshman year starts off simple with store-bought toppings and shopping lists for the home ice cream parlor.
• Sophomore year kicks it up a notch with tasty sauces and crunchy toppings.
• Junior year puts your new skills to work with shakes, floats, and sundaes inspired by some of Big Gay Ice Cream’s top-selling treats, including, of course, the Salty Pimp.
• In Senior year, get serious with outrageously delicious sorbets and ice cream recipes.

Along the way, you can enjoy Bryan and Doug’s stranger-than-fiction stories, cheeky humor, vibrant photography and illustrations, and plenty of culinary and celebrity cameos (including an introduction by Headmaster Anthony Bourdain)

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I think I found the most enjoyable cookbook read that I've ever had. Big Gay Ice Cream is full of great stories and even better recipes. Honestly, I can't wait to get home from Phoenix so that the boys and I can start experimenting with some seriously delicious summer treats. After all, who doesn't like ice cream? Okay, I suppose some people don't, but they certainly don't live in my household! I love that this book takes you step by step, yearbook style through all the different components that go into making delicious treats. Seriously, every time I walk by this book, I find myself picking it up and reading more of it and perhaps trying not to drool as well. If you're an ice cream lover or just a lover of super fun books, I hope this one makes it to your shelf.



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A collection of more than 120 recipes formulated to optimize brain health, boost memory, improve mood, sharpen the central nervous system, and more.

     Between digital overload, sleep deprivation, and the stress of modern life, most people's brains are constantly in flight-or-fight mode, with levels of cortisol and other hormones and neurotransmitters out of whack. Brain conditions ranging from childhood ADHD and adult depression to memory impairment are on the rise, and medications for brain conditions, if available, do only a mediocre job while generating a host of debilitating side effects. Fortunately, Rebecca Katz has harnessed the latest research on brain functioning to identify how the foods we consume can improve the brain's ability to control cognition, emotion, and physical function--all of which dictate memory, mood, and motion. These 120 recipes translate the very best of this science into the kitchen, incorporating nutrient-dense foods that best promote brain health and development from childhood through the golden years.

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Cookbooks...one of my few major weaknesses... This popped up on my screen and I couldn't hit yes fast enough. As someone who desperately needs to focus more on her health, not just body but also mind, I thought this was the perfect opportunity for me to pick up a tool that could help in that. Now, I have to say that nutrition science seems to be changing nearly every day, but the core of what's good and what isn't never changes. Plus, this book opens up with not one, but two chapters talking about the science behind everything. Then, there's a chapter devoted just to taste and flavor. That's right, there are three chapters packed full of information before you even get to the recipes. If I have one complaint, it's that not every recipe has a yummy photo to go with it. However, the photos that are there are stunning and made me want to run to the store more than once. Luckily for my gas tank, the reminder that the store was a good 15 miles away put a stop to me running around the countryside.

If you love a well put together cookbook that is full of recipes that may or may not be good for your brain, but will certainly be good for your body and your tummy, I recommend The Healthy Mind Cookbook.



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Discover a whole new way of learning how to bake! Embark on a baking adventure with Mimi where she will measure, mix and bake her way to the perfect batch of chocolate chip cookies! This fun storybook cookbook enables adults and children alike to not only learn the fundamentals of baking, but to have fun at the same time. If Mimi can do it, so can you!        

Buy on

Amazon | B&N | Book-A-Million | Mascot Books

    Mimi's Adventures in Baking has received the Mom's Choice Award in the Picture Book category! MomsChoiceAwards.com        

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Alyssa Gangeri is a Pastry Chef in New York City. She’s loved baking even from a young age. After graduating from The Culinary Institute of America she traveled north and south working for companies such as The Ritz Carlton to gain knowledge and experience of the ever-growing hospitality industry. She has also competed on The Food Network’s Sweet Genius. She developed Mimi’s Adventures in Baking as a new way of learning for the younger generation of bakers. Her love for baking shines through in this storybook cookbook. In her eyes baking should be a fun experience adults and children can share together. What better way to do that then with an interactive story that makes learning your way around the kitchen exciting and easy! When she is not making specialty cakes and pastries for her business AllyCakesNYC, you can find her in Central Park with her lively Jack Russell Terrier, Rudy and the love of her life, Jonathan.

Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Literary Addicts | Goodreads | Website | Ally Cakes

 

Reviewed by www.mikishope.com This is a perfect 1st cookbook for children to start learning the art of baking. There is only one recipe but it comes with a storyline. Mimi wants to bake cookies and Grandma is going to teach her the correct way!! What fun--you have to be real careful with the measurements and ingredients and you also have to know when to let a grown up take over! This little book has it all covered. Actually I might even be able to bake cookies after having read this!! This is only one in a series of books with recipes-one to a book that this chef author has written. I suggest you read about the author below-it is intriguing. Then go and pre order this book for your little chef/baker!

Reviewed by Kirstin Pulioff at www.kirstinpulioff.com My Review - 5 Stars Since my daughter wants to be a chef when she grows up, I have read several cooking books and cookbooks with her, but nothing comparable to Mimi's Adventure in Baking Chocolate Cookies. What a fabulous book! Not only does this book describe the technique and recipe for baking cookies, but it also focuses on a story. There are many ways to read this story. You can simple read it as a wonderful book. You can focus on the bright illustrations. The ingredients and steps make for the perfect math focus... and it also reads as an activity book that you can read while you bake. In every way, this book earns my 5 star review... And now, I'm going to bake some cookies.

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Who doesn't love chocolate chip cookies? Seriously, if you don't, well...I'll still love you, but I might look at you weird. This is a great first cookbook for the kiddo in your life who just wants to learn how to make something delicious! With bright illustrations and a wonderful story, this book will capture your child's imagination and with a yummy recipe and measuring, it will please any parent who is looking for a secret educational tool. As for me, my boys may be a bit too old for this, but they're never too old to learn a new recipe or to devour an entire tray of freshly baked cookies!

As a small, fun bonus... here's our favorite Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe!

2 sticks (1 cup) unsalted butter, softened
1 cup light brown sugar
1/3 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon salt
2 cups milk chocolate chips


DIRECTIONS

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Cream together the butter and sugars in a mixing bowl, mixing until pale yellow and light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Mix in the eggs one at a time, and then the vanilla until combined.

Whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a separate mixing bowl. Slowly incorporate the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients. Stir in the chocolate chips. Portion 2 tablespoons of dough for each cookie and roll together to form a ball, spacing the dough balls 2 inches apart on the baking sheet.

Bake until the edges just start to brown, 12 to 14 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool.




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Food Network star and New York Times bestselling author Melissa d'Arabian proves that healthy eating at home is easy, achievable, and affordable.

Everyone wants to feel good about what they are eating, serving guests, and feeding their families, but most of us don't do our weekly shopping at pricey specialty stores-- we do it at the local supermarket and we don't want it to break the bank. In her second book, Melissa demystifies the task of preparing nutritious and delicious food by showing exactly how you can make your grocery store work for you. She offers helpful strategies for shopping, cooking, and entertaining, as well as meal blueprints and nutritional information throughout. This book will make you confident about the food you're buying, preparing, and eating. Delicious recipes like Almond Waffles with Raspberry-Basil Sauce, Kale and White Bean Caesar Salad in a Jar, Slow-Roasted Tomato Spaghettini, Flatiron Steaks with Quick Cauliflower Kimchi, and Flourless Fudgy Dream Cookies have something for every type of eater at every meal of the day. No matter your favorite flavors or dietary needs, cooking on a budget is empowering-- and now you can learn how to make every bite count. If cooking at home is the key to healthy living, Supermarket Healthy is the only tool you'll need.

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Cookbooks....one of my first loves that has stuck with me to this day. I have so many cookbooks that there's a six foot tall bookshelf in my kitchen that's full of them. I can't see to resist them. Now that the boys are getting older and interested in nutrition and let's face it, I just need to focus more on my health, this is one book that I couldn't pass up and I'm so glad that I didn't! Melissa's book is not only full of delicious looking recipes, but it also has tips and tricks and some seriously beautiful food photography that just makes me want to create a meal plan and get myself off to the grocery store! Anything that can help me cook healthier meals on a budget that my teenage boys will eat without asking me, "What the heck are you trying to feed us now?" is a winner in my book!




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"The Dashing Dish"is an inspirational cookbook chock-full of healthy, innovative yet simple recipes, most of which are gluten-free, sugar-free, and abundant in whole grains.

Like many of us, twenty-four-year-old author Katie Farrell has struggled with her weight and healthy eating. As a teen she went through yo-yo dieting and was prone to eating disorders. But through God and a passion for food and cooking, she hit upon the formula that would transform her from unhealthy girl to confident woman.

In warm, accessible language and beautiful photographs, Katie shares100 recipes for clean eating. Every recipe is simple to make and delicious to eat. Katie uses gluten-free oat flour in place of wheat flour, cottage cheese and yogurt in place of fat, and Stevia in place of sugar. Her tips are practical, her tone inspirational. Anyone looking to eat better for the rest of their life will want to own this book."

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Okay, my obsession with cookbooks continues with Dashing Dish which is one dashing book. Yes, I know that was cheesy but I'm one tired mama today. I just spent some time going through this cookbook and I'm still drooling just thinking about all of the amazingly delicious looking recipes in this book.
My loves:

• Pictures - this book is filled with delicious pictures of every recipe. 
• Healthy - Since this is a clean eating cookbook, these are healthier versions of our favorites!
• Layout - Easy to use, easy to read.

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Tyler Florence does updated comfort food like no one else, but comfort food’s never been updated like this. Join him as he perfects, simplifies, and totally re-invents your favorite dishes in surprising, spectacular ways.

Have you ever wondered which cheese, exactly, will make the stretchiest, cheesiest mac and cheese? Or if you can make Hollandaise sauce without fear, a double boiler, or even a whisk? Or if, instead of having to choose between onion rings or French fries, you can make onion rings crusted with French fries? Tyler Florence has. These are the kinds of questions he obsesses over when he thinks about how to make cooking both easier and more exciting.

For years, while shuttling between his restaurants and TV shoots, Tyler's kept a notebook of ideas to push his own recipes out of their comfort zone. Now, for the first time in his career, he’s established a culinary lab where he can dive deep into the hows, whys, and why-nots of his cooking. He brings you Inside the Test Kitchen to see his experiments, the wins and the fails, and of course, the delicious, foolproof, and surprising recipes that come out of it.

Go from tricks to make basics brilliant—like saucing Double-Creamed Spinach with pureed spinach, or using boiling-hot brine to make a Super-Crisp Roast Chicken— to simpler ways to make the classics, like a nearly no-stir Time Saver Risotto and a Three-Minute Hollandaise, to pure reinvention, like Fronion Rings and almost-instant Modern Burger Buns.

Through these 120 recipes, Tyler invites you to question culinary sacred cows, push your skills to the next level, and make food more delicious than they would have thought possible.

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Continuing our "Almost Week of Cookbook Reviews," we have the new Tyler Florence cookbook. Laid out as his personal journal, I loved the look of this cookbook immediately. Inside, you see his own handwriting with jotted notes. On the outside, it includes a great band to keep your book closed or to mark your recipe. The recipes all scream yummy! I will, however, warn you that quite a few seemed a bit advanced for things my children might eat. I do intend on working them up to them though because I can't wait to eat more from this book! If I had one complaint, it's that the pages are standard (though heavy) paper and not glossy so if anything gets on them, they will get stained. There won't be anything preventing absorption. That's one minor complaint though for a cookbook that I'm dying to dive further into.




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The editors of Martha Stewart Living take 30-minute meals and everyday food to the next level with one-pot meals; more than 120 innovative, comfort-food recipes make use of just a pot, a sheet pan, a skillet, a slow cooker, or a pressure cooker for meals that are delicious, satisfying, and quick to clean up, too.

MSLO's latest cookbook features something everyone wants more of: all-in-one meals. Packed with 120 gorgeous images and recipes for one-pot wonders (including their food hack for One-Pan Pasta that went viral over the summer), this cookbook helps you get in and out of the kitchen with only one vessel to clean. From chicken and vegetables that roast on the same sheet pan to skillet lasagna, baked risotto, soups, and down-home casseroles, this is the volume that gives you the biggest flavor payoff with the smallest efforts. Here, too, are a dozen recipes for one-bowl desserts that can be ready when you are.

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Ahh Martha Stewart..the woman who it seems can do it all. When offered this cookbook, I couldn't say no. I knew the recipes would be delicious and heck, I love cookbooks. It was a win-win and it turns out I was right. This is a beautiful cookbook. Each section starts with tips and tricks on how to pick the best pan for than section. Every single recipe has a photo to go with it and while some didn't make me drool, others sure did. I can't wait until the boys are here and we can choose a recipe to try out.



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With beguiling recipes and sumptuous photography, A Kitchen in France transports readers to the French countryside and marks the debut of a captivating new voice in cooking.

When Mimi Thorisson and her family moved from Paris to a small town in out-of-the-way Médoc, she did not quite know what was in store for them. She found wonderful ingredients—from local farmers and the neighboring woods—and, most important, time to cook. Her cookbook chronicles the family’s seasonal meals and life in an old farmhouse, all photographed by her husband, Oddur. Mimi’s convivial recipes—such as Roast Chicken with Herbs and Crème Fraîche, Cèpe and Parsley Tartlets, Winter Vegetable Cocotte, Apple Tart with Orange Flower Water, and Salted Butter Crème Caramel—will bring the warmth of rural France into your home.

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I think this is turning into a week of cookbooks! There's this one today and another one tomorrow. Then, I'm not quite sure..maybe we'll take the holiday off. I know that I can't wait to see my boys' faces when they open the few presents that they're getting this year. Anyway...this post is about a cookbook, so on to the review!

A Kitchen in France could almost be a coffee table book. It's filled with beautiful photos that were taken by the author's husband. The recipes are all straight forward and easy to follow. I was really concerned because I've heard that French cooking can be quite complicated, but I didn't find a single one that I couldn't pull off as a home cook. In a lot of ways, Mimi's storytelling gives you access to a part of life that few of us will ever get to experience. After all, how many of us have 7 children, a whole bunch of terriers and live in France? Not I and I for one, don't really want to. However, reading her stories about their lives made me smile and it encouraged me to find my own passions and to follow them instead of living in any sort of envy for what other people do or have in their lives.



I received a copy of this book for the purpose of this review.  All thoughts, comments, and opinions are my own.

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A comprehensive guide to making pizza, covering nine different regional styles--including standards like Neopolitan, Roman, and Chicago, as well as renowned pizza sub-specialties like St. Louis and Californian--from chef, 11-time world Pizza Champion, and Guinness world record-holding pizza-spinner, Tony Gemignani.
Pizza is one of the world's most well-known and beloved foods, and everyone has their favorite style. In fact, devotion to one particular style is so ubiquitous that most pizza books only cover one or two varieties of pie. But for those who truly love pizza, there's no need to be monogamous. Pizza master Tony Gemignani brings pizza to the people in all its glorious forms, from Chicago deep dish to paper-thin Roman style. "The Pizza Bible" is the world's first guide to making all of the major pizza styles, filling a hole in the market and elevating the craft of making pizza to that of bread or charcuterie.

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Ever since I realized that you could make pizza at home, I've enjoyed experimenting with different styles and ingredients. So, when I saw that this book was available, I jumped at it. After all, this book probably holds the secrets to amazing pizza...The book itself is sturdy and doesn't come with a dust jacket, which I appreciated. In my kitchen, dust jackets end up torn and smudged because my cookbooks sit right on the counter where I'm cooking. The book includes sections on the science of pizza making and the importance of quality ingredients. That's about where the book lost me. There wasn't a single recipe in this book that I could try with the ingredients on hand. In fact, quite a few ingredients would have had to been custom ordered online because they're not ones that the average grocery store even carries. Did I mention that he insists you only cook on pizza stones and not one, but two and use a peel to move the pizzas in and out of the oven? For what it would have cost me to attempt a single recipe, I could have ordered pizza for my family multiple times.

So, here's my recommendation...if you want to become a professional pizza chef or have the time (the dough recipe alone takes three days!) and the money to experiment, absolutely buy this book. You're going to love it.  If you're a busy mom just looking for some new ideas for pizza night, this book isn't for you.



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Chef, restaurateur, and Food Network Iron Chef Geoffrey Zakarian knows that the pantry is the backbone of any kitchen and the place from which every great meal starts.

Forget exotic condiments and specialty foods. With a working base of 50 readily available ingredients, from oats and honey to almonds and canned chickpeas, you will always have the makings of a delicious home-cooked meal. Whether cooking in his world-class restaurants, on Iron Chef, or judging the offerings on Chopped, Geoffrey knows every great meal starts with a trip to the pantry first for inspiration. In The Perfect Pantry, Geoffrey shows you how to use your pantry to jump start any meal. When you bring home your fresh produce and proteins, you’ll have 150 recipes at the ready, and many of these can be made with pantry ingredients alone.

You’ll see a simple can of beans as a Smoky Black Bean Bisque or coconut milk as Spicy Coconut Tempura Shrimp. Standard back-of-the-cupboard fare like almonds become crispy crust on a broiled pork chop; peanut butter lends itself beautifully to a spicy slaw, cider vinegar gives great flavor to a chicken main as well as to donuts, and mustard transforms a pot roast. Throughout, you’ll find quick but ingenious tips for each of the 50 ingredients, like how to use Earl Grey teabags to infuse ice cubes or a syrup for French toast.

The Perfect Pantry makes it so easy for your everyday staples to lead, rather than support, the creation of extraordinary meals. Geoffrey gives you the shopping list you need, as well as the road map for making the most of what you have on hand.

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Whew! What a long book intro, huh? Well, if you read nothing else, I hope that this is the part that you do read. I'm sure it comes as no surprise that I got my fingers on another cookbook to review. I just can't seem to say no to them! I'm an addict..to cookbooks and to certain shows on Food Network. Every time I see one of those chefs, I wonder what they keep in their own kitchens. In this case, Geoffrey Zakarian was happy to show all of us what he feels are the 50 perfect pantry staples. I was thrilled to see that I keep a lot of these in my own kitchen and other than one (anchovies), I completely was on board with not only his choices, but also his recipes. There are some amazingly delicious recipes in this book and not a single one of the ones that I looked at called for some weird ingredient that I have no chance of finding out here in the boonies. It was a delight to see someone of his talents keeping things real for those of us who are not even close to his level of ability.



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If you're into pigs or pork, you'll be into this book. For me, it was a cookbook, so I had to check it out. Y'all know how I am about cookbooks. This one had some really unique recipes, some really interesting looking recipes and some recipes that will go on my try this out list. It was also filled with a lot of really interesting information. My only real complaint? I received an ebook version of this book and it's just not suited for it. It's far too long with too many recipes for that to work, at least for me. It's not the type of thing that you can just skim through on a kindle. It's really far better suited for a print edition, so that would be my recommendation. Skip over the e-version and go right for the book that you can put down on the counter and splatter a bit of bacon grease on as you're making some of these recipes!



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Get the recipes everyone is talking about in the debut cookbook from the wildly popular blog Skinnytaste

Gina Homolka is America’s most trusted home cook when it comes to easy, flavorful recipes that are miraculously low-calorie and made from all-natural, easy-to-find ingredients. Her blog, Skinnytaste is the number one go-to site for slimmed down recipes that you’d swear are anything but. It only takes one look to see why people go crazy for Gina’s food: cheesy, creamy Fettuccini Alfredo with Chicken and Broccoli with only 420 calories per serving, breakfast dishes like Make-Ahead Western Omelet "Muffins" that truly fill you up until lunchtime, and sweets such as Double Chocolate Chip Walnut Cookies that are low in sugar and butter-free but still totally indulgent.

The Skinnytaste Cookbook features 150 amazing recipes: 125 all-new dishes and 25 must-have favorites. As a busy mother of two, Gina started Skinnytaste when she wanted to lose a few pounds herself. She turned to Weight Watchers for help and liked the program but struggled to find enough tempting recipes to help her stay on track. Instead, she started “skinny-fying” her favorite meals so that she could eat happily while losing weight.

With 100 stunning photographs and detailed nutritional information for every recipe, The Skinnytaste Cookbook is an incredible resource of fulfilling, joy-inducing meals that every home cook will love.

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As part of my "Make Me Better" campaign, I'm about to embark on a major weight loss journey. As part of that, I've been looking for cookbooks that make healthier cooking options feel accessible. So, when this book came along, the cover copy sold me. On top of that, there's the cover itself. If the cover of this book alone doesn't draw you in, I don't know what to say. While I've never had grits that I enjoyed, this picture alone makes me willing to try them just one more time. I am thrilled to say that the book lives up to that cover. The photos inside will have you drooling and any cookbook that my fourteen year old going, "Oooh...we should make that one." is a winner in my world. The recipes are easy to follow and I didn't see any ingredients that can't be found at pretty much any local supermarket. I can't wait until we get into the kitchen to try out more yummy recipes!




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