The Messy Baker; Charmian Christie

 The Messy Baker; Charmian Christie

Rodale Books - 2014

The title, The Messy Baker, got my attention especially since I love to bake, but make a huge mess in the process.

Comprised of some 75 recipes, almost every recipe has a beautiful gloss photo to show you what the finished product will look like.  I was surprised by the fact the recipes are not all desserts, as somehow the title and cover lead me to believe, but that's okay, I liked the variety of recipes.  Yes, there are muffins, cookies, tortes, scones, tarts etc, but you'll also find some recipes for things like pizza, waffles, cauliflower, fritters and more.  The recipes contained are not your standard run of the mill recipes that you tend to find again and again, but each recipe seems to be a new twist on a recipe that I wouldn't have thought of in this new way.

I liked that there were a few helpful lists about essential things to stock in your pantry. The author mention talks about how egg size matters (most recipes mean "large" eggs not medium or jumbo), and talks about how important it is not alter recipes when you find you are missing an ingredient (always set out every ingredient you'll need BEFORE you begin baking.)

The chapters have fun titles like: pastry; crumbly; dippable; sloppy; smudgy; gritty and drippy. The book is more about how the final product tastes, and judging with your mouth and not eyes, rather than obsessing about whether your final product is "picture perfect".

I tried and loved the Sea Salt Sticky Buns and, I'm looking forward to trying the Boozy Brown Sugar Whipped Cream to go with our Thanksgiving Pecan and Pumpkin pies.  Great book 

4/5 stars

(eGalley)

The Make - Ahead Cook ~ America's Test Kitchen

The Make-Ahead Cook

Cook's Illustrated - 2014

America's Test Kitchen has long been one of my favorite cookbooks (I own several). The set up of the book itself -- description - detailed about how many people the recipe will serve, safe storing, prep work, cook and serve instructions are all well organized and crystal clear. Most of the recipes do involve some prep time, but the recipes (there are 150) and all are recipes that will appeal to most people -- even choices for vegetarians.

There are tips to cut down on prep time, recommended cooking and storage containers. The sections are divided into -- "8 Smart Strategies" :
1. Prep Ahead
2. Reheat and Eat
3. Bake and Serve
4. From Fridge to Table
5. Shop Smart
6. The Sunday Cook
7. Come Home to Dinner
8. Stock the Freezer

Some of the recipes that I plan to try are: All American Meatloaf (brown sugar glaze), Miso Salmon, Salmon Burgers, One Pan Roast Chicken with Root Veggies, Stuffed Acorn Squash, Chicken Pot Pie with Crumble Topping, Chicken Enchiladas, 24-Hour Chopped Salad, Skillet Pizza with Broccoli an Red Onion, Chicken Pot Pie, Spinach Manicotti and several excellent looking slow cooker recipes as well.

Not all of the recipes in this book are new as I'm pretty sure I've seen a few in other ATK cookbooks, but that didn't bother me a bit. The illustrations that accompany the recipes are great and honestly, each recipe is all encompassing from prep to cooking, to storage and photo all on 2 pages per recipe. I love this book and think it would be especially helpful to anyone with a family to plan and cook for.

5/5 stars
(personal copy)

The Whole Life Nutrition Cookbook: A Complete Nutritional and Cooking Guide for Healthy Living; Tom Malterre and Alissa Segersten

The Whole Life Nutrition Cookbook: A Complete Nutritional and Cooking Guide for Healthy Living; Tom Malterre and Alissa Segersten

Grand Central Life - 2014

I know I should have focused more on healthy eating when I was younger, but it’s really never too later to try and improve oneself. I was anxious to checkout this book as it seemed all-encompassing as far as “whole foods and nutrition” was concerned.

It’s truly a beautiful book.  It’s all about gluten-free and whole foods for living a healthy life. The cookbook offers some 300 recipes with beautiful color photos.  For me, learning what to buy and how to stock my shelves with healthy staples and go-to products was so helpful, and with 450 pages it was actually almost overwhelming (in a good way) at times.

The book is well organized with Part I, (5-chapters) is all about Whole Life Nutrition and health. Part II, (also 5 chapters) is about Eating, Preparing, and Stocking Whole Foods and Part III, is Recipes (300 of them).

 Beautiful color photos – everything a nutrition cook book should be. It’s not just recipes, although the Banana Breakfast Cake and the Vegan Maple Pecan Pie immediately called my name, it’s also a teaching tool on nutrition and healthy eating as well. As recommended, I’ve also finally tossed all my plastic containers and replaced them with small Pyrex bowls and lids that will not be a health risk when heating or exposing them to acid based liquids like lemon, tomato products or vinegars.

Take a look at this one. I think you will be glad you did. 

5/5 stars 

eGalley/NetGalley

The Greek Yogurt Kitchen; Toby Amidor

 

The Greek Yogurt Kitchen: More Than 130 Delicious, Healthy Recipes for Every Meal of the Day

Toby Amidor - Grand Central May 2014

As a huge fan of Greek yogurt, I was anxious to see what this cookbook had to offer in terms of using Greek yogurt as a substitute ingredient in other recipes.  I couldn't have been more pleased as this book give so many more options for yogurt than as a go-to breakfast or snack food.

I loved how the book gave me ideas of how to substitute Greek yogurt for many higher fat items that I often use in recipes such as -- butter, cream cheese, oil and even mayonnaise.  All of the recipes in this books use only whole foods which was a pleasant surprise as well.

There are over 130 recipes, at least 3/4 of them I would not hesitate to try. There was a lot of variety when it came to healthy smoothie recipes, and as for comfort foods, my eyes lit up with a mac and cheese recipe made with Greek yogurt and Panko bread crumbs.  Blueberry/Bran Muffins, Banana/Walnut Muffins and Cobb Salad with a delicious creamy dill dressing were other awesome recipes that I plan to try.

The chapters are well organized: Greek Yogurt Superstar Food; Breakfast; Snacks & Appetizers; Salads, Soups and Sandwiches; Main Dishes; Side Dishes; Desserts. There is also a metric conversion chart that I loved. The only negative for me was the lack of visuals to go along with the recipes:(

4.5/5 stars - NetGalley

Reviews - Stranded; Alex Kava and Moosewood Restaurant Favorites

 
Stranded, is Alex Kava's 11th novel, and while I read the first few novels she wrote years back, for some reason, I stopped.....big mistake, she writes a terrific thriller.  If you are not familiar with this author, her novels feature, Special FBI Agent Maggie O’Dell. She is quite a character. She is cool under pressure in her work life, but not so cool and confident in her personal relationships with men. You can feel her awkwardness as you read or listen to her novels.

In this particular installment, Maggie and her partner Tully, are members of a task force that try to match missing persons with killings that have taken place along interstate highway rest stops. The novel starts off with a hair raising scene when Noah, a Kansas college student, shows up at a rest stop covered in blood -- his friend Ethan's blood and Ethan is missing. He sure looks guilty, but could he possibly be a serial killer?

This particular serial killer is cagey and he seems to know a thing or two about Maggie as well. He appears to find his victims at rest stops and gets a thrill by taunting Maggie, leaving her clues to other killings which have occurred.

Maggie and Tully are trying to find a pattern and are led to an area in rural Iowa that proves to be a likely dumping place for the serial killers victims. 

Great pace, descriptive and gory writing at times, this one held my attention. There were not a lot of names to remember so this one worked well as an audio book and the reader was very good as well. This one is a continuation of Kava's last novel, Fireproof, but even though I hadn't read that one, I was still able to enjoy Stranded.Try it!  

One final thought ....I will never ever use a rest stop at night.

 (electronic review copy provided by Doubleday and NetGalley - audio book from my  my public library)

 

I adore cookbooks and and have also been a longtime Moosewood fan, from it's very beginnings in Ithaca, New York. So naturally I was anxious to take a look at their 40th anniversary book, Moosewood Restaurant Favorites, which was released last month. WOW!

There are a great assortment of recipes (250) including some of the original recipes from 40 years ago that have been modified a bit. The recipes just seem so healthy, and although I am not a vegetarian, I don't eat much meat either, so I was especially impressed with some fish, soups (Hungarian Mushroom soup, corn chowder and butternut squash soup for starters), salad (Thai noodle salad) and side dishes (vegan cornbread, broccoli with walnuts) and even some desserts: Savannah banana and different varieties of Baklava, which I am anxious to try.

The layout is great and the recipes seem easy to follow. I liked that there were a good amount of Mexican and Spanish dishes to try as well as some Indian cuisine.

Moosewood fans, or individuals just looking for something a bit healthier in a cookbook, should take a peek at this one. I loved it.

(Electronic review copy provided by St. Martin's Press and NetGalley)

Apple Pie Cake Recipe

   Apple season means experimenting with new recipes and this, Apple Pie Cake recipe was a hit at our house last weekend. (Preferring Cortland apples for baking, I substituted them for Granny Smith, and skipped the lemon juice as well). It was delicious all the same, and the spring-form pan worked out beautifully.  (We topped ours with a scoop of vanilla Bean ice cream:) My husband is begging me to make it again this weekend.

VERY EASY - Trust Me.
(a Martha Stewart Recipe)

Ingredients

• 2 cups flour
• 1 cup packed light-brown sugar
• 2 teaspoons cinnamon
• 1/2 pound (2 sticks) cold unsalted butter, cut into 8 pieces
• 5 pounds (about 12) tart apples, such as Granny Smith
• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

Cook's Note

To dust the cake with confectioners' sugar, put some sugar in a standard sieve, hold it over the cake, and tap the edge lightly.

Directions

1. Step 1

   In a large bowl, combine flour, brown sugar, and 1 teaspoon cinnamon. Using an electric mixer or a pastry cutter, cut in butter until the mixture forms pea-size pieces. Press 2/3 of the mixture onto bottom and 1 inch up the side of a 9-inch springform pan.

2. Step 2

   Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Peel apples, cut into thin slices, and place in a bowl. Pour off any accumulated liquid. Toss apple slices with remaining teaspoon cinnamon and lemon juice, and put them in the prepared pan, pressing down gently as you pack them in (they will mound above the edge of the pan). Sprinkle remaining crumb mixture on top.

3. Step 3

   Put the pan on an aluminum foil-lined baking sheet, and bake for 1 hour and 15 minutes, or until golden brown on top. Run a knife around the edge of the pan, and let the cake cool in the pan to set. Serve at room temperature.

3 Delightful Cookbooks for Fall ~ 365 Slow Cooker Suppers ~ Better Homes and Gardens Baking and Fine Cooking Thanksgiving Cookbook

365 Slow Cooker Suppers; Stephanie O'Dea

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt - 2013

Fall and Winter means the crock-pot gets used at least 2-3 times a week, so when I saw this book, I was immediately interested.  Oh, yes, my life Mon-Friday just became less complicated if I can get into the groove of starting supper before I walk out of the door in the morning.  Even though there are just (2) of us, I plan to cook for "a family" and freeze for future meals as well.

There is plenty to like about this book. It's divided into sections: soups and stews; beans; beef and lamb; pork , fish and seafood and sandwiches (hmm -- slow cooker sandwiches?)  There are meatless main dishes, a good amount of gluten free selections.

Some of the recipes do require a fair amount of prep work, so not every recipe would be one I could toss together before work, but some of these would be great to try on weekends.  Here are some of the recipes that caught my eye and I plan to try: turkey and stuffing dinner (using drumstick) - yup in the slow cooker. I also liked the sound of: sweet and savory cabbage rolls (this is one that requires a bit of pre work). How about Chinese Pot Roast with Snow peas, or Spanish chicken stew served with quinoa; Wild Mushroom beef stew, Lasagne soup, Chicken Piccata and lots of hearty soup recipes that sounded good as well.

Most every page has terrific color photos, and easy to read text for aging eyes like mine, and a section titled "THE VERDICT", which consists of comments on how the finished product was and how it could be modified in the future.

This is definitely one of those cookbooks that would be used on a regular basis by me, so I am hoping to purchase it when it released at the end of the month. GREAT BOOK

Better Homes and Gardens Baking:

More Than 350 Recipes Plus Tips and Techniques

Better Homes and Gardens

WOW, I loved this book, even though, we shouldn't be eating all of this delicious stuff.  This book has "everything" you need to know to whip up some delicious and lovely treats.

The chapters are divided up as follows: techniques; cookoes; bars and brownies; cakes and cupcakes; cheesecakes; down home desserts; artisan breads; quick breads; morning favorites; coffee shop items; holiday baking and weekend baking.

What I loved was that the instructions for each recipe are easy to understand, are presented beautifully (great photos) and like other BH&G Cookbooks, it's easy to be a success in the kitchen.

A few of the recipes I jotted down at first glace were: a classic carrot cake recipe, Bourbon chocolate Tipsy Cake, Island Bananas Foster and a white chocolate and almond pound cake.  That is just the beginning though, there are so many other recipes that are worth trying.

Hope to BUY this one too when it releases on October 3rd. LOVED IT!

Fine Cooking Thanksgiving Cookbook
Recipes for Turkey and all of the Trimmings

Taunton Press

I always wanted an all-encompassing cookbook with favorites for Thanksgiving, so I was happy I got a chance to read/review this one.  I am happy to say that I liked it so much that I ordered a print copy (which arrived today) and it was less than $10.00 on Amazon. I Love it.

From the editors of Fine Cooking Magazine, this book was originally released in 2012.  Some of the topics covered in this one are: avoiding dinner disasters (like a frozen bird); helpful techniques; make a head strategies; (6) different ways to cook a turkey; leftover and recipe options and a baking section.

There are lots of appetizers to try: I'm planning on trying: Crostini with Beef and horseradish cream, and a Cranberry and Pear salsa from this book. I also will experiment with a few new sides before Thanksgiving and a Triple Chocolate Cheesecake.

There are also plenty of soups, salads and gravies; many veggie dishes and sides; different kinds of potato, stuffing and gravy options and desserts to die for -- pies, tarts and more.  I liked the section on "continuing the feast", with plenty of ideas for leftovers as well.

Great illustrations and simple to understand recipes for even novice cooks. Worth Buying.

thanks to NetGalley and publishers for eGalley previews of each book

Fix-It and Forget-It Cookbooks - mini reviews

I own a couple of Fix-It and Forget-It cookbooks already: Fix-It and Forget-It Pink Cookbook: More Than 700 Great Slow-Cooker Recipes and Fix It and Forget It Vegetarian Cookbook: 565 Delicious Slow-Cooker, Stove-Top, Oven, and Salad Recipes, Plus by Phyllis Pellman Good, and for the most part, I think that they are pretty good.  I've made a dozen or so recipes from each which we enjoyed a lot.

 

I now had a chance to browse and review (4) different ones that came out in 2013 and wanted to share my thoughts on these:

First, in my opinion, these cookbooks are great for beginner cooks and time-crunched cooks. Most every recipe is fast and uncomplicated, and most are made with items that you probably tend to keep on hand. What I liked about these was that there were a good variety of recipes. All of the recipes had simple instructions with very little prep work required.  Of the (4) books, there was a combination of both slow-cooker and oven cooked recipes. Many of the recipes would be perfect to make ahead of time like on a rainy weekend and freeze, and then not have you worrying about what to cook when you get home from work.  One thing I did notice in most every one of these books, which I wasn't crazy about was that canned condensed soups were often called for.  People who are trying to limit sodium intake or those trying to eat more whole/natural foods need to be aware of this.  Below are a few recipes from each book, I either tried or plan to try soon.

Fix-It and Forget-It Vegetarian Main Dishes by Phyllis Pellman Good (Jan 29, 2013)

• spinach lasagna and the stuffed peppers were both ones I thought were pretty tasty and easy to make

Fix-It and Forget-It 5-Ingredient Soups 

• Toscano soup, Busy Cooks Stew and chili-taco soup were pretty good, and there were several different chicken soups that I would like to try once the weather gets cooler. 

Fix-It and Forget-It Vegetarian Soups, Stews, and Chillies 

• 50+ recipes
• spicy veggie chili, black bean chili, butternut - mushroom bisque and asparagus-potato soup were tasty as well
• most of the recipes in this book are soups, with just a few different chili and stew recipes

 Fix-It and Forget-It 5-Ingredient One-Dish Dinners

This is one of my favorite Fix-it and Forget-It cookbooks. Like others in the "F&F" family, the recipes are quick and easy and perfect for beginner cooks and busy people. Here are a few of the recipes I plan to try:

• slow cooker lasagna, apricot stuffing and chicken, Greek chicken pita filling, Herby French dip

In case anyone wants to check these out, I noticed that all of these were available on Amazon as a Kindle download for under $4.00 each

(eGalleys received via NetGalley/Open Road Media for review)

Baby and Toddler On the Go Cookbook: Fresh, Homemade Foods To Take Out And About; Kim Laidlaw

Baby and Toddler on the Go Cookbook: Fresh, Homemade Foods To Take Out and About; Kim Laidlaw

Wendell Owen - 2013

Perfect Resource for new and busy moms. I loved this book and so did my daughter. Here's why:

 

First of all as a visual person this book meets all of my requirements for a cookbook. The photos are visually appealing, there are plenty of them and the recipes are relatively simple to prepare. Perfect for busy moms or grand moms.

 

The recipes are easy to make and encompass a wide variety of tastes, spices and textures so that little ones can have lots of new food experience. I liked the way that there is a section broken down by age groups: (4-6 mths) (7-9 mths) (9-12 mths)  and toddler foods (1-3 years), and the types of foods to try introducing as these stages. For new moms this is very valuable. 

 

Over 75 different recipes, there were a variety of recipes that could be best described as "bites" - Mac and cheese balls made in mini muffin tins (how cool is that?), also lots of different frittata bite foods: spinach and cheese, asparagus and mozzarella, ham, tomato and swiss, ham and veggie mini quiches. I also like the variety of smoothie recipes, muffin recipes, a section on how to make your own yogurt and the avocado toasties - all of which seemed very healthy.

 

Highly Recommended - 5/5 stars

The Yankee Chef: Feel Good Food for Every Kitchen; Jim Bailey

The Yankee Chef: Feel Good Food for Every Kitchen

Schiffer Publishing, Ltd.~ February 2013

As a life long New Englander, I am always looking for new ways to tweak some of our favorite foods that many people consider regional. I admit, at first, I was taken by the pretty cover of this book, but it's way more special than that. I was amazed that it had some 550 recipes. I wouldn't consider ALL of the recipes to be "Yankee or regional", but there were at least 100 recipes at first glace that I thought would be worth trying at some point. I was especially thrilled with the soups, stews, seafood and dessert sections.

I liked the way that the chapters were divided. They cover the following: Breakfast Treats; Breads, Sweet Breads, Biscuits and Stuffings; Beverages; Soups, Stew and Chowders; Vegetables; Snacks, appetizers, dips and spreads; Poultry; Fish and Seafood; Beef, Lamb and Pork; Pasta, Rice, Grains and Legumes; Cakes, Cookies and Confections; Desserts; Pies as well as an appendix with measurements and conversions.

Not all of the recipes are new, but there seems to be just something different (a new ingredient or two added here and there), as opposed to the traditional way i had prepared certain recipes previously. Most of the recipes are definitely not low-calorie, but every once in a while we all like to try a few recipes without regard to the calories or fat content right?

Some of the recipes that jumped out at me immediately were:

• Crunchy Corn Muffins
• Maple Streussel Muffins
• Chef Jack's New England Cake Donuts
• Apple Cheese Bread
• Peppermint Mocha Coffee
• Yankee Seafood Bisque
• Chicken Stew with Dumplings
• Cauliflower Crab Chowder
• Caesar Green Beans
• Maple Glazed new Potaoes
• Potato Pancakes (I miss my dad - he made the best ones) 
• Spaghetti Squash with Avocado Pesto
• Chicken Croquettes
• Lobster Stuffed Flounder
• Spicy Lobster Gumbo
• Apricot Upside-down Gingerbread
• Orange cappuccino Cheesecake
• PB & J Bars
• Coconut Cream Pie

There are beautiful colored glossy pictures to go along with the recipes, but the pictures are kind of small as is the print. I loved most of the recipes, as well as the scenes of New England. There is also a bit of New England history as well in this lovely father and son cookbook.

 I am planning on buying a copy for a bridal shower gift along with some cookware for a special New England bride-to-be. Don't get me wrong, I think this book will be a hit with anyone who enjoys seafood, comfort food and recipes that offer a bit more than your basic cookbook, yet most every ingredient you will need are ones you would find in most of our pantries and cabinets.

4.5/5 stars

The Hedgerow Cookbook; By: Wild at Heart

 

The Hedgerow Cookbook; By: Wild at Heart

Anova - July 2013

It was the title and the pretty cover that made me curious about this cookbook, as well as the fact that it seemed a bit different -- focusing on "wild food plant sources".  After finishing this book I was totally impressed. This lovely book contains 100 different recipes, and there is a gorgeous color photo for just about every delight in this book. As a visual person, this was a definite plus.

The book is divided into sections which covers: flowers & hips; leaves; berries; fruits with stones; fruits wit pips and nuts.  There is a section on the "basics" of preserving, which was very good for a novice like myself.  I liked the fact that they also discussed useful equipment.

Each "wild food source" gets a page devoted to the specifics, and then also a photo and a page with a gorgeous high gloss color photo and a recipe, such as Dandelion and Dandelion Flower Wine and Dandelion Marmalade; Elderflower and Elderflower Cordials, Brambles and Bramble Apple Jam with Cinnamon. How about whipping up some tasty delights using rose petals (rose petal jam), rose hips, wild berries and fruits such as wild plums and there are plenty more that I thought were worth trying as well.  

Admittedly, if there was one drawback to this book, it was the fact that some of the "wild food sources" may not be readily available to many of us here in the US. Even if this proves to be true for some, there is plenty to make this book worthwhile. Nature lovers who is just kind of bored with traditional recipes I think will especially like this one. Here are a few examples of the beautiful photos (taken with my iPhone so please forgive quality and glare).

WILD GARLIC and Wild Garlic Pesto

BLACKBERRIES and Blackberry Post & Almond Trifle

Blackberry and Apple Crumb Cake

The authors, Wild at Heart, operate a small business: www.wildatheheartfoods.co.uk. The Company makes award-winning jellies, relishes, and fruit cheeses based on traditional English recipes, using wild, native, or ancient fruits.

 (eGalley provided to me via NetGalley)

---

Williams Sonoma Soup of the Day: 365 Recipes for Every Day of the Year

Williams-Sonoma Soup of the Day: 365 Recipes for Every Day of the Year

Kate McMillan (Author), Erin Kunkel (Photographer) (Wendel Owen Publishing - 2012)

 

I've rarely been disappointed by a Williams-Sonoma Cookbook. We are a soup-loving family so I couldn't resist checking this one out.  It is both lovely and well designed with a calendar-style with loads of recipes soups and stews for every season  and every day of the week -- 365 recipes.

 

There are lots of great recipes that should please vegetarians and meat lovers alike. All the bases are covered in this book. At least 3/4 of the recipes are ones that I would consider preparing, although a few seemed like ones that I might like to add more spices to based on my family's taste. 

 

The color photographs are gorgeous, but there were not enough of them, in my opinion. There were a few minor things that I did not like about the book:

• Some recipes like the ones for pureed soups require a food processor
• As a visual person, I would have preferred more photographs, and the photos should have corresponding text to tell you what recipe is being displayed.
• The print is also very very tiny (at least for my eyes), so for readers who may be visually impaired, and are still interested in this book, that might be an issue. If available,  I would recommend an eBook version so you can enlarge the print to a size that is comfortable for your eyes.

Some of the recipes that I plan to try include:

• Savory Barley Soup with Wild Mushroom and Thyme
• Cauliflower Soup with Cheddar and Blue Cheese
• Shrimp Bisque
• Broccoli Soup with Parmesan Lemon Frico
• Orzo, Delicate Squash and Chicken Soup with Sage
• Chickpea and Roasted Tomato Soup with Fried Rosemary

 Other than the few things I've mentioned, this is a beautiful book to add to any collection.

 

Rating 4/5 stars

The America's Test Kitchen Menu Cookbook: Your Guide to Hosting Stress-Free Dinner Parties and Holiday Feasts

Title: America's Test Kitchen Menu Cookbook
Author: Americas Test Kitchens
Publication Year: 2011

Publisher: Boston Common Press

Edition: hardcover

Source: personal copy / Amazon Vine

Date Completed: 11/8/2011 

Rating: 5/5

Recommend: yes

I've always loved looking at beautiful cookbooks, especially ones that have beautiful, mouth-watering illustrations, and recipes that are not too complicated or time consuming.  This is my first experience with ATK's Cookbooks, and it's all that I look for in a cookbook and more (some recipes are a bit more involved and/or take longer to prepare.)

The book  has (51) different complete menus for every occasion, special occasions and holidays included. There are about (250) different recipes all together.  What is great is that there are seasonal recipes with  lighter dinners, cold soups etc. for summer entertaining, and more substantial meals in fall and winter months. All the recipes are for 8-12 people, and the idea is that you can prepare these dishes ahead of time so that when your guests arrive, you can spend less time in the kitchen, and more time with your guests.

There are several things I like about this book, especially if I were to give it as a gift to someone just starting out.  At the beginning of the book there is a section on cookware and tools to make your life easier in the kitchen. (with all the gadgets now available, this can be very confusing when you are a novice in the kitchen). Every menu shows what can be done in advance and when, but they leave it up to you to actual do the implementation, and there is even an emergency substitution list that is terrific if you've run out of an item.   I also liked the sections on Quick Preparation Tips and Clever Serving Tricks and Clean-Up Ease.  Last minutes appetizers and Easy Desserts were also great.

All this plus simply gorgeous, glossy illustrations, and this book will be one that you would be proud to display on a coffee table.

Some of my favorites (all of the desserts make me drool) which I plan to try are:

• Elegant Salmon Dinner - Israeli Couscous with caramelized fennel and spinach
• New England Cod and Potato Dinner
• Tomato and Mozzarella Tart (made with sheets of frozen pastry puff)
• Mushroom Pasta Supper
• Beef Tenderloin Dinner - potato and fennel gratin
• Individual Hot Fudge Pudding Cakes served with ice cream
• Lemon cheesecake with hazelnut crust
• Lemon Tarts (to die for)
• Oatmeal fudge bars
• Cranberry upside down cake

If you aren't familiar with ATK's Cookbooks, you must check them out!

142 - Barefoot Contessa: How Easy Is That? Ina Garten

Ina Garten has always had the most eye appealing cookbooks.  In her latest book,  Barefoot Contessa How Easy Is That? There are 225 color photographs, and many recipes made me drool a bit just looking at them.  Some of the ones I jotted downs were an Old fashion Banana Cake, that one kind of reminds me of one that my mother made years ago; cranberry/apple cake;  a strawberry rhubarb crisp, easy Parmesan risotto, Lemon Chicken Breasts, and a wild rice salad with dried cranberries, oranges and pecans.

There were many other recipes that sounded great BUT....a description overview of the book says,  "How Easy is That? and...that you don't need special equipment, and won't need to stop at more than one grocery store to make wonderful dishes for your family and friends."

I don't know about your grocery store, but mine doesn't carry Stonewall Kitchen, Fox U-Bet,  or Barefoot Contessa products --not that I would buy them when I thought about trying a new recipe, so I would have to go to more than one store and to me --"That is not Easy".  Why McCann;'s quick oatmeal and not Quaker? The thing that I did not like about this cookbook is that Ina does too much product endorsing: LeCreuset, Williams Sonoma, and so many more.

Despite this, I did jot down a few recipes to try (not all were new but variations of ones I've seen before).  Although this book is terrific visually, I am glad that I borrowed it from the library instead of buying it.  You might want to do the same, and then decide if this is a keeper your collection.

RATING - 3.5/5 STARS

Library Book