Reviews (7)

It is what it is
Pretty coffee table book...don't buy for the recipes unless you are a professional.I am a chef and have been at several for and five star establishments.I had the pleasure a few years ago to do a banquet with Susur and he is the real deal.Will his techniques translate to the amateur cook looking to learn from his book?No.These are professional recipes designed to be executed by a top class brigade with years of technique and time to prepare the needed mis en place.But as a professional, the way he approaches food as well as the culinary foundation that he has built for himself is unique and will be appreciated by those in the know.What isn't pretentious about a $50 coffee table book?This book gives exposure to a unique and talented chef who is grounded in solid technique and is able to translate that into well presented and balanced dishes that are not silly fusion.Definetly worth a look.

Susur Lee
This book its all about creativity by a man who has been over looked for too many years as one of the worlds Top Chefs.This book is in one simple word "Awesome"

Susur: Some Thoughts on Perfection in Cuisine
Given the acidity of previous reviews, let me start with some background on myself: I am an American not resident in Canada; I am a non-professional chef -- I cook for myself, my family and my friends. I love food, both from the philosophy that one can learn the history of a country or region by learning about its cuisine and from the perspective that I truly believe we are what we eat ... and the miserable record of American health and longevity is directly due to the poor quality of what we consume.
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Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Biography / Autobiography    3. Chinese Cookery    4. Cookery, Canadian    5. Cookery, Chinese    6. Cooking    7. Cooks    8. International And Ethnic Cookery    9. Ontario    10. Personal Memoirs    11. Reference    12. Regional & Ethnic - Canadian    13. Regional & Ethnic - Chinese    14. Toronto   

Editorial Review

Todd Wilbur has baked, boiled, digested, fried, and tested--all in the name of duplicating some of America's favorite convenience foods. He now shares 41 of these naughty but nice gastronomical delights in Read more

Reviews (19)

AWSOME cookbook!
I love to cook, hope to go to college at the Culinary.
Todd Wilbur is KING!
I made my own Twinkies and Reese's cups!! They were pretty darn close, that's good enough for me because everything was delicious!!(My hips aren't crazy about the book.) It's fun to impress people as well as make their mouths water when you tell them what you have accomplished. If you like to have fun in the kitchen, this book will not disappoint you. Then again, I do not know you.Enjoy!! :o)

Too much hassle for a Twinkie Clone
Some of the recipes in this book are easy to make and delicious--Mrs. Field's Cookies, Orange Julius, Dairy Queen Blizzard, Twix Bars, to name a few. But I balked when reading the "how-to's" of Homemade Twinkies. Who has time to roll tin foil around spice jars to use as a mold for the cake batter? Then the boring task of poking holes into each individual "Twinkie" and filling them up with whipped cream. I can't imagine wanting more than a couple Twinkies a year, anyway, and this recipe makes a whole bunch. However, this IS a fun book, and I imagine parents would have a great time whipping these treats up with their kids. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Cookery    2. Cookery, American    3. Cooking    4. Cooking / Wine    5. Junk food    6. Reference    7. Regional & Ethnic - American - General    8. Cooking / American / General    9. National & regional cuisine    10. USA   

Reviews (1)

Weak
I originally bought this book to give myself a crash course in how to evaluate my own homebrew beer.My goal was then to condense the content and provide a quick and dirty process for my beer drinking friends to provide me feedback on my beer.
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Subjects:  1. Beer    2. Beverages - Beer    3. Cooking    4. Cooking / Wine    5. Judging    6. Reference    7. Beers    8. Cooking / Beer   

Reviews (24)

I can't believe I read a how-to book!
Denise Vivaldo has done the food service industry a service of her own in writing this book.As a caterer, I couldn't put it down, I read the entire book in one sitting.If you are considering a catering, or even a restaurant business read this book!I found Vivaldo's insight to be not only helpful, but it pointed out areas of the field I had scarcely considered.
The best of its kind!
After reading several other books on the same topic, I ordered and read this one hoping I'd get at least one important tip from this book that I didn't get from the rest.Much to my surprise, I found that this book was the most informative, useful and up-to-date source I'd come across.It was well organized and very thorough - far more so than The Food Service Professional's Guide.It covers every facet of the business and offers practical advice on how to run a successful catering business and also provides numerous resources in the back that will help you further your career.This book has become my primary source of reference.I can't praise it enough!

Excellent Orientation to Newbies!!
This was the first book my sister and I bought to research home catering and WE HIT THE JACKPOT!This resource is especially helpful because it has a conversational tone and reminds newbies to catering of some important points: you will learn as you go and always keep the profitabililty of the business in mind in all decisionmaking.The author literally reminds readers to "not act like you can't understand the math" and run the business properly from day one.
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Subjects:  1. Business / Economics / Finance    2. Careers - General    3. Cooking    4. General    5. Home-based Businesses    6. Industries - Hospitality, Travel & Tourism    7. Reference    8. Cooking / General   

Reviews (10)

encyclopedic, but not a good first book on the subject
This is a long and detailed book.I picked it up with another volume (Kobler's "Making Great Sausage") an thought Aidells' book was the less useful of the two.

Looks Pretty, Tastes Bland
I have used this cookbook now for six months or so.The book looks very nice and has some good pointers on grinding, making and stuffing sausage.I have tried a number of the fresh sausage recipes (mostly pork).The breakfast sausage recipe is really pretty good, although probably too hot for your average breakfast palatte (and I like hot food, works great for gravy though).A number of the other sausage recipes seem very bland (especially the Italian recipes, both sweet and hot).I was actually pretty amazed by this in that Aidell's is a premium brand of sausage.

Excellent Source on Fresh Sausage. Buy It!
`Bruce Aidells' Complete Sausage Book' by meat and sausage experts Aidells and Denis Kelly is the third book by Aidells I have reviewed and it easily maintains the consistently high quality I have come to expect from this writing team on the subject of meat. Along with the team of Schlesinger and Willoughby, they seem to be the reigning kings among culinary writers on the subject of meat, more especially on the subject of pork and sausage.
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Subjects:  1. Cookery (Sausages)    2. Cooking    3. Cooking / Wine    4. Reference    5. Sausages    6. Specific Ingredients - Meat    7. Cookery by ingredient   

Editorial Review

Since its first private printing in 1931, Read more

Reviews (347)

Great content, LOUSY MANUFACTURING
I use this book a lot. The publisher chose to cut costs by perfect-binding 1156 pages, a big NO-NO. (Perfect binding is the kind of glued binding used for paperbacks, but they at least have the added strength of the paper-back cover.) Here the perfect-bound pages are inserted into a hard-cover case, and have no support. The binding broke after two or three openings, pretty bad for a book you want to use often.

My absolute FIRST choice for everything book!
This is an excellent cookbook that I go to for everything from soups, deserts, conversions, cooking times, etc.I haven't made a bad dish yet and have been cooking from this book for 6 years.My husband and I received it as a wedding present and it has been a golden reference.If you are looking for a good basic cookbook, this is the one for you.Many of the recipes provide some geographical or historical context for the dish, which I find interesting and makes for great dinner conversation.Don't be intimidated by the length or number of ingredients in some of the recipes.These such recipes provide that flavor layering effect which takes the taste of the finished project off the charts!

A far cry from the old classic favorite!
I was so disappointed in this version! I have a "Joy" from the mid-1950s and one from the early 1980s -- I would chose either old one over this one any day. The print is terrible and the tone is smug and elitist. It doesn't act as a foundation for cooks -- it assumes you already know everything! PLUS, despite my not using it very often, the binding came apart and pages came out (after less than two years.) Find an old "Joy" on ebay and you'll be happier! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Cookery, American    2. Cooking    3. Cooking / Wine    4. General    5. Reference    6. Cooking / General    7. General cookery   

Subjects:  1. Cookery    2. Cooking    3. Cooking / Wine    4. Entertaining - General    5. General    6. Methods - General    7. Reference   

Reviews (13)

Not Soul Food, Not Real Food.
What a disappointment!
my favorite cookbook!!!!
This is the best cookbook!!! I bought it for my mom and then ended up borrowing it so much I had to buy my own! The recipes are incredible!! I have not found a bad one yet. Mac & Cheese is amazing!!

I love it, I love it, I love it
The Black Family Reunion Cookbook came just in time for my own family reunion this past weekend - July 4, 2005. It's an excellent choice for newcomers or oldheads like myself. It takes you back to the good days when your mother was in the kitchen whipping up a delicious peach cobbler or some tasty macaroni and cheese. I just loved this! Every single recipe took me back to my youth. It was funny running across dishes that I had forgotten about. Whether you're African American or Hispanic, you will love this cookbook!! Highly recommended to the world of book lovers
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Subjects:  1. African American cookery    2. Blacks    3. Cookery    4. Cooking    5. Cooking / Wine    6. Reference    7. Regional & Ethnic - African American    8. Regional & Ethnic - American - General    9. Regional & Ethnic - Soul Food    10. Social life and customs    11. Cooking / Ethnic    12. Food & Drink / Cookery   

Reviews (5)

Disaster Preparedness Books
If you're like I was, you're looking through the various disaster preparedness books wondering which one is best. I have worked my way through 7 of the most popular books and offer a shared review of all of them here. I hope this comparison helps you make a decision.
basic start
I found the book informative but a little on the basic side. It would be good if it gave a more indepth list on individual storage times for foods.

Exactly What I was looking for!
This is exactly the book I was looking for.It gave me ideas I hadn't even thought of in terms of items needed for food storage & survival.
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Subjects:  1. Cooking    2. Cooking / Wine    3. Emergency food supply    4. Emergency water supply    5. Reference    6. Safety    7. Survival skills    8. Cooking / Reference   

Reviews (14)

The perfect holiday book
I bought this book when I first discovered Susan Branch books. I loved it so much I gave it to all my sisters and sisters-in-law. They have all used it as a reference during the holidays and even through out the year.I have given this book to so many others as well and they all love the book. I can only state that this book stands up with all the Susan Branch products and is wonderful and so useful.

A Wonderful Gift!
This book is so charming!I received it as a gift from a dear friend many years ago and I re-read it every Christmas!Recipes, ideas, and holiday thoughts pulled together with Susan Branch's truly unique artistry make this a favorite.

A beautiful holiday treasure!
No matter what else is going on, this book is a wonderful holiday "pick-me-up".You will feel instantly more "Christmasy" after looking through it.I keep it on my coffee table throughout the holiday season.Read more

Subjects:  1. Christmas cookery    2. Christmas decorations    3. Cookery    4. Cooking    5. Cooking / Wine    6. Entertaining    7. General    8. Holiday - Christmas/Hanukkah    9. Reference    10. Christmas books    11. Cooking / Reference    12. General cookery    13. Handicrafts   

Subjects:  1. Cooking    2. Cooking / Wine    3. Food    4. Methods - Barbecue & Grilling    5. Reference    6. Regional & Ethnic - General    7. Cooking / Ethnic    8. Main courses    9. Reference works   

Editorial Review

There are thousands of cookie recipes out there already, and probably hundreds of cookie recipe books. What makes Read more

Reviews (15)

Yum!
So far I love this book!The recipes I have tried are really good - the other reviewers are right about the chocolate chip cookies. I spent several evenings just perusing the book before I made anything because there's quite a variety and most of them sound really good. It's nice to have so many recipes in one place. My only very minor complaints are that there aren't enough pictures and that for someone who doesn't like coconut or walnuts in cookies, there seem to be a lot of recipes with them.I'd like for the author to indicate when nuts are optional, but I guess I'll figure that out on my own.The chocolate chip cookies were awesome even without the nuts and without any adjustment to the recipe.

True to its title
I had originally seen this book at the library and loved it. Had many recipes that you just won't find in regular books. Recipes are easy to follow and in most cases use ingredients most people keep on hand. Especially recomend the glazed lemon-poppy seed hearts. Cut them as stars for Christmas.

The Best Cookies ever!
The Good Cookie is the best cookbook I own because every recipe I have tried has been fantastic!(I agree with another reviewer - the chocolate chip cookie recipe is the best ever; I just made another batch today).There is a marvellously wide range of types (bar, refrigerator, decorator, drop, cut-out, etc) and flavors.And there are even cookies from around the world, from fortune cookies to hamentaschen to biscotti (several flavors) to ANZAC cookies to various British cookies.The recipe layout is visually pleasing and easy to follow.There are several pages of color photos to get your saliva glands and desire to bake really going.And every cookie I have tried has been perfectly delectable.I really love this cookbook and couldn't give it enough praise.Comprehensive, easy to use, nice to look at, and delicious.It is the best cookbook I've ever bought! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Cookies    2. Cooking    3. Cooking / Wine    4. Courses & Dishes - Cookies    5. Methods - Baking    6. Reference    7. Cakes, baking, icing & sugarcraft    8. Cooking / Baking   

Editorial Review

Is it safe to let a biochemist into your kitchen? If it's Shirley Corriher, extend an open invitation. Her long-awaited book, Read more

Reviews (95)

Great Background on Chemistry of Cooking
I am new to cooking and let me say I really njoyed Cookwise.In fact I've already read it al the way thru - twice.In truth I didn't buy it for the recipes (I've only tried two).What I bought it for was the indepth look at the science of cooking.I personally enjoyed all the details and followed the book no problem. Topics I enjoyed most were the discussion on eggs and how to keep vegetabbles fresh in the fridge.I constantly refer to this book and always get something new out of each reading. This book is good for those interested in the whys of cooking and not just cooking itself.It would also be good for young people interested in chemistry.

A "must-have" for serious cooks and lovers of cooking
Second only to the classic "On Food and Cooking" by Corriher's good friend Harold McGhee, Cookwise is a pragmatically focused book on the science of cooking applied to actually doing it. I've read other reviews here that complain they don't like the recipes (Corriher's baking, for example "is too sweet") - this isn't a recipe book gang. Its a book that helps you apply the science of cooking. Corriher's recipes are illustrative of the physics, chemistry and process she's discussing (and frankly, most are wonderful). They're Southern in their approach, so there's a regional bias - its fine.
AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This is the best cookbook I have ever bought, it is worth every penny! I have underlined and highlighted so much of this book. This book gave me confidence to try new things. I have learned so much from her, i wish she would write more books because I would be the first one in line to buy them. She teaches you in simple English the hows and whys of cooking. If I could only have one cookbook I would choose this one. It teaches you how to cook rather than just how to follow a recipe. AMAZING BOOK! God bless you Shirley! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Cookery    2. Cooking    3. Cooking / Wine    4. Methods - Baking    5. Methods - General    6. Reference    7. Cooking / Reference    8. General cookery   

Editorial Review

Sophia Loren is more than a beloved movie star--she's a cook. The author of two personal cookbooks, she's been recognized by the Italian government for her culinary prowess. In Read more

Reviews (13)

Wonderful simple Italian recipes!
When I was in my early twenties I enjoyed cooking Italian dishes with my grandmother every Tuesday. My grandmother is a true Italian woman, raised in New York and believes a family should eat a homemade meal every night. She gave me this book as she thought it was a suberb Italian cookbook. I couldn't agree more. As a young person, this is a great book because the receipes are not too comlicated, as common Italian dishes and taste delicious! Almost every recipe has a color photo too. My favorite recipes in the book are: Bucatini alla Carbonara, Spaghetti al Limone and the lentil soup.

A Delicious, Heart-warming Book!
"Sophia Loren's Recipes & Memories" is a book to be treasured, read and re-read, for its charming insight into the life and times of one of the world's great actresses, and for its wonderful, traditional Italian recipes, laced with more than a little spice-of-life.
BookIdeas.com Book Reviewer Marie Jones says:
More than just a collection of family recipes, "Sophia Loren's Recipes and Memories" is a sumptuous and often intimate journey into the life of one of the world's classiest and most admired and loved movie stars. The 100 traditional and improvised recipes are accompanied by insightful anecdotes about the movie business, acting, family life, the art of cooking, and growing up in her home country of Italy, with gorgeous photographs that bring Ms. Loren's passion for her past, and her present, to glorious life.
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Subjects:  1. 1934-    2. Anecdotes    3. Cookery, Italian    4. Cooking    5. Cooking / Wine    6. Italian cooking    7. Loren, Sophia,    8. Reference    9. Regional & Ethnic - Italian    10. General cookery    11. Loren, Sophia   

Reviews (5)

Worth The Wait
I patiently waited out many Amazon "order delays" figuring the book had a high order rate after the movie was released.Finally arrived about a week ago. The book is very well written and gives a great amount of detail on this slightly "odd" but determined fellow.I have not seen the movie yet as it came and went in our town in about one week.The one character flaw that shows up for Mr. Munro is that in the pursuit of his goal he seemed to forget he had a family.Worth the read.Could use some more pictures......

A great book
I saw the movie first and absolutely loved it. Got the book from Europe after two failed attempts to order in the US.
Get the Book from the UK - Quicker that Amazon in the US!!
The book is great.I ordered it here back in early February, and eventually cancelled my Amazon order.
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Subjects:  1. Biography & Autobiography    2. Biography / Autobiography    3. Biography/Autobiography    4. General    5. Motor Sports    6. Sports - General    7. Biography: general    8. Cooking / Reference    9. Motorcycle racing    10. New Zealand   

Reviews (18)

Recipes mediocre, more work than they are worth
I liked the idea. I was drawn to it because of the title and thought it would give me good ideas for healthful food for my little one. It didn't.
Just
I was excited to find an organic cookbook for babies and toddlers, hoping to find some new inspiration and/or healthful recipes for my 3 kids (all under the age of 4).I did glean a few new healthy ideas from this cookbook, but was really surprised about some of the things suggested to feed a 4 to 7 month old baby.For example, I can't wait to try the hummus recipe for my 4 year old and 22 month old.The recipe isn't that original in any way, it's more that I hadn't thought about making hummus in awhile.But, one of the first recipes suggested to make in the 4 ot 7 month old category is a rice cereal with raspberries and strawberries.For a baby that young??Yet, off to the side there is a note saying something about needing to remove all seeds from fruits because babies at this age cannot process seeds comfortably since they are so young.I don't know many moms willing to pick the seeds off of strawberries.Most of the recipes for young babies contain multiple ingredients, including olive oil, oregano or other spices and I have always read/heard that you introduce one food at a time using the 4 day wait rule in case of allergies.Much of the same is found throughout this age category of recipes.
Inventive food to feed your toddler.
I think every food book tells you something different on the subject of nutrition, and you can add this one to that list.I think it would be impossible for any author to keep current every piece of advice the 'experts' in America dish out.As a British author you can bet she didn't even consult them.Nor should she have.I find it interesting that many of the reviewers didn't even consider that fact in their reviews.
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Subjects:  1. Baby foods    2. Cookery (Baby foods)    3. Cookery (Natural foods)    4. Cooking    5. Family / Parenting / Childbirth    6. Health & Healing - General    7. Health - Nutrition    8. Natural foods    9. Reference    10. Specific Ingredients - Vegetables    11. Cooking / Vegetables   

Editorial Review

Marion Cunningham's brilliant revision of this classic home cooking reference addresses "good everyday cooking." Cunningham states that "every meal should be a small celebration," and she eases the preparation of those celebrations with clear, straightforward instructions and hints on how to make the most of every meal through beautiful presentation and balanced nutrition. The chapter on microwaved foods is clear and presents recipes that are simple and taste great. Cunningham's work especially shines in the chapters on baking, as might be expected from her work on Read more

Reviews (77)

Not reliable like Joy of Cooking
I use this cookbook sometimes, and find most meat and vegetable recipes good.But be forewarned: the baking sections are mediocre at best.Cakes from this book are pedestrian.And the Molasses Cookies, a recipe I expected to love, come out gooey, undercooked and too thin.After redoing the recipe by adding flour and nearly doubling the cooking time, I had a good cookie.But who has time to throw out a batch and start again?
Best Cookbook Ever Published
I must have 300 cookbooks on my kitchen shelves, everything from French cuisine, to the standard Joy of Cooking, to low-fat and low-calorie cooking.But there is one cookbook that stands miles above the others--Fanny Farmer.Every recipe is a winner.The family favourites are marked, and they invariably turn out to be the best thing you ever tasted.And the recipes are always simple.You never have to leave a recipe in the middle to find the "interior recipe" that must be made before you can complete the first one.My rule for good cooking:check Fanny Farmer first.

Still Outstanding
I have 3 editions of this- and I absolutely love all of them. When I croak, I hope my kids will love them too. They have always been THE reference for me. Especially I use it for simple things, that I really should remember how to do but don't- like how to boil an egg without cracking it- which I do about once every 3 years..... love everything about this book. It should be on every north american kitchen shelf. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Cookery    2. Cookery, American    3. Cooking    4. Cooking / Wine    5. Reference    6. Regional & Ethnic - American - General    7. Cooking / American / General    8. General cookery   

Reviews (5)

Cooking for an Army?
I am not a vegetarian but I would like to become one.I bought this book because it offered balanced vegetarian breakfasts, lunches and dinners - just what I was looking for.However, the dinners are HUGE!Of course, a person does not have to cook every dish on the menu, and she does state that, but the whole reason I was drawn to this book was I wanted a book that would say, "Here eat this and you'll get all the nutrients you'll need as a vegetarian."I did not have a problem, as one reviewer did, with the idea that I would need ingredients from dinner, for example, for breakfast the next day.In fact I liked that idea.The first fall menu is:Miso Soup, Brown Rice, Aduki Beans, Sauteed Carrols, Onions and Squash and Cabbage Salad.Doesn't that sound great?For this meal, she writes that you will need TWO 2 or 3 quart covered pots, a 4-quart pressure cooker or 3-quart covered pot, plus a skillet or saucepan.Do you have, or usually need, that many pots?I don't.The next day after cooking this dinner, you use the left-over rice for breakfast, the left-over aduki beans for a soup for lunch and the left-over sauteed carrots-onions-squash in a dish of fried rice with vegetables, also part of the lunch.I like that but I would have to make the lunch for the next dinner because I just don't have time to spend over a half hour cooking a lunch.I will screw up my courage eventually to try to see how I can use this book, perhaps even buy some more pots and whatever, but I wish someone had written a review warning me about the cooking vessels needed to do the menus as written.(Waffle iron needed for breakfast number three, by the way.)

different from what i expected...
this book was not what i expected. it may be a very good book for those who cook or intend to cook 3 meals a day. But when i bought this book, i thought it was about making a full balanced meal at one time. this book is set up a bit differently. it gives instructions to prepare breakfast, lunch and dinner all at once. the breakfast needs some bit of dinner leftovers, the dinner requires some part of lunch leftovers and the lunch needs some ingredient from the breakfast. So in order to make one meal, you have to make all 3 meals. so if you just want to come home and cook a single meal of dinner, then this book is not for that.

A Classic ... A good place to start
With this book, I started at the first fall menu and started cooking my way through it. It's been totally doable. The recipes are so simple and laid out with directions of what to do first, second etc. that preparing entire meals with dessert gets faster with time. (She includes a healthy dessert in most of them.) I have noticed a couple mismarkings that would've affected the whole dish if I hadn't caught them, and while some of the recipes are really wonderful, others are just plain yuck! (I know it's health food but sometimes it goes too far!) As for flavor, it's definitely on the side of the old "healthy" stuff. If you're looking for the creative haute-cuisine vegetarian/vegan stuff you can find today, this is not it. However, the meals make me feel good and satisfied. They are so balanced, I find I don't crave sweets afterwards. The suggestions for what to do with the leftovers are really useful. Also, if you are nervous (as I was) about using all of these strange ingredients, the directions are simple enough that you'll become a pro in no time. One more thing - my complexion has really improved since I started using this book. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Cooking    2. Cooking / Wine    3. Reference    4. Specific Ingredients - Natural Foods    5. Cooking / Natural Foods    6. Health & wholefood cookery   

Reviews (1)

What a Title!
When my friends see this book on my bookshelf they often look puzzled. Perhaps they think twice about letting me cook for them! After all with a title like "Little Cyanide Cookbook," the book is bound to raise someeyebrows.