Reviews (13)

Microwave Gourmet
This book is filled with ways to cook in your microwave, things I would not have thought could be done. It is an especially good book for beginning cooks, and I would highly recomend it for a wedding present.

A Good Introduction
This book provides a good introduction to Microwave cooking techniques and it gives several useeful tips on selecting and buying Microwave Cookware.The only drawback are the recipes included.Several of them are too gourmet and they should put more emphasis onn basic and popular dishes.However, I have found about seven dishes which I will prepare.There should also be more emphasis placed on dishes and cooking for the Single person.

A serious cookbook for the microwave, truly excellent!
Don't cook in the microwave without this book.Transversely, if you don't have this cookbook, then you will miss out on many wonderful things you CAN cook in the microwave with superior results.Don't be fooled, the finished product will be truly delicious. I was highly sceptical of many of the recipes in the beginning but they turn out perfectly every time.Have relied on these recipes for many years.You will cook more often, quickly and easily, (saving you money as well) when you use this cookbook. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Cooking    2. Cooking / Wine    3. Methods - Gourmet    4. Methods - Microwave    5. Microwave cookery    6. Microwave cooking    7. Cooking / Microwave    8. Gadget cookery   

Reviews (2)

Indoor! Grilling as good as outdoor and EASIER!
We don't have an outdoor grill. I love my George Foreman grill but didn't have a good variety of recipes and still always envied my friends who cooked incredible recipes on their gas grills outdoors. No more! I am loving the variety and end result of many of the recipes I've tried in this new, comprehensive cookbook!

THE GRILLIN' GURU IS BACK!
Steve Raichlen is the Grillin' guruand author of such books as BBQ USA, The Barbeque Bible and more.In this book, Steve tackles the problem that those of us in the frozen north face every year at this time.The snows on the ground, it's 15 degrees, and none of us wants to leave the warm comforts of our home to go out and fire up the grill.
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Subjects:  1. Barbecue cookery    2. Barbecue cooking    3. Cooking    4. Cooking / Wine    5. Methods - Barbecue & Grilling    6. Cooking / Barbecue    7. Gadget cookery   

Reviews (2)

Very similar to Betty Crocker's!
While this is a fine cookbook, my wife and I were startled to find that many of the recipes contained herein are virtually identical or very similar to ones found in "Betty Crocker's Slow Cooker" book.Even some of the pictures are the same! Pillsbury + Slow Cooker = YUMM!
I have a cookbook collection that exceeds five hundred titles. Ten of my books are from Pillsbury and I have never been disappointed.When I received a card from Pillsbury announcing the newest in their collection, I immediately ordered it.Read more

Subjects:  1. Cooking    2. Cooking / Wine    3. Electric cookery, Slow    4. Electric cooking    5. Methods - Quick & Easy    6. Methods - Special Appliances    7. Regional & Ethnic - American - General    8. Cooking / Quick & Easy   

Editorial Review

Solar cooking is easy, free, and clean, and you can build a solar oven and a solar hot plate with a few dollars' worth of materials andhand tools. Read more

Reviews (5)

COOKING WITH THE SUN
THIS IS A VERY GREAT BOOK FOR ANY ONE GETTING IN TO SOLAR COOKING. YOU WON'T BE SORRY. DANIEL T. SHANNON

Very Basic, but Thorough
This is a well written, friendly book that teaches solar cooking without being preachy. The directions to make the cookers are reasonable...The recipies are also good and well organized for the different kinds of cookers. As energy prices skyrocket, these kinds of cookers can really help save you money, keep the environment a little cleaner, and keep your house cooler. (You can bake with these things - and you don't have to bake yourself along with the cake or run the a/c to cool off again!) And though the sun doesn't shine all the time, it's free, and even in California, you'll be able to keep cookin' right through the rolling blackouts while not heating up the kitchen!

A great book with many workable designs and complete plans
This book does an outstanding job of outlining exactly how to construct and use solar cookers. The designs use available materials and no special equipment is needed. Most solar cookers in this book can be built in a fewhours, and the reflector size can be modified to provide adequateheatunder even cold, cloudy conditions. A first choice if you are interested inpractical uses of solar energy. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Cookery    2. Cookery For Medical Conditions    3. Cooking    4. Cooking / Wine    5. Methods - Special Appliances    6. Reference    7. Solar cookery    8. Solar energy    9. Solar ovens   

Reviews (2)

Once again, not impressed...
This book had many of the same recipes as the first Betty Crocker Slow Cooker cookbook--even the same pictures! The recipes are OK, but many are dull and made with prepackaged items. I'd rather know what's in my food, thank you. Not impressed. The new Southern Living Slow Cooker cookbook was a million times better.

Fantasic Crockery Cooking
I have to admit that my crock pot is a lifesaver, when you can start dinner in the morning and have it done with no problem by 6:30 p.m., how can you go wrong? But I had a problem finding new recipies that are family friendly. I have no problem making beef stew, chili, corned beef, you know the usual slow cooker fare. But that gets old.
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Subjects:  1. Cookery    2. Cooking    3. Cooking / Wine    4. Electric cookery, Slow    5. Methods - Gourmet    6. Methods - Special Appliances    7. Cooking / Gourmet    8. Gadget cookery   

Subjects:  1. Cookery    2. Cooking    3. Methods - Quick & Easy    4. Methods - Special Appliances   

Reviews (4)

not the best
you don't really understand how big this thing is until you see the finished product. Which by the way -- there are no finsihed pictures. I actually saw the finished oven on ebay. When it towers over the 6' privacy fence- you began to rethink making it.

Not so helpful
The book gives one set of plans without much discussion on how to modify them.I was hoping for more theory and explaination about size, height, chimney placement etc. a good supplement to The Bread Builders
If you're interested in building a wood-fired oven for baking, this is a good supplement to Alan Scott's essential "The Bread Builders".Provides very interesting historical background, amusing anecdotes and aset of plans which are aimed a bit more squarely at the amateur builderthan Alan's plans. I'm building an oven now using plans interpolatedbetween the two.If you're going to tackle a project like this, get a goodbook on masonry techniques too, or better yet, a video. (Amazon, care toprovide some suggestions?) ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Cooking / Wine    2. Courses & Dishes - Bread    3. Courses & Dishes - Pizza    4. Methods - Outdoor    5. Cakes, baking, icing & sugarcraft    6. DIY    7. Gadget cookery   

Reviews (7)

Finally--good slow cooker food
I love the concept of a slow cooker. I love the idea of being able to dump some ingredients in, leave it all day, and come back to a tender, delicious meal. But somehow it almost never seems to work out that way.
Horrid recipes!!
I'm a great cook, but I got a slow cooker thinking it'll help me on days when I don't have time to fuss with too much cooking, and so I got this book as well (without reading the other reviews). Disappointing
I bought this book at the same time I got my first slow cooker. I was attracted to it because it seemed to contain so many different recipes. However, I have to agree with the reviewer who said that many of the recipes are essentially variations on the same idea. In addition, there are whole sections of the book that I would never even bother with--making bread in the crockpot in a 2-lb coffee can? I'd rather get a bread machine or devote a few hours on the weekend to making bread in the oven. Cookies in the slow cooker? Why would you spend time making 4 cookies at a time when you can just as easily slide a cookie sheet in the oven and have a dozen in 10 minutes?Read more

Subjects:  1. Cookery    2. Cooking    3. Cooking / Wine    4. Electric cookery, Slow    5. Methods - Special Appliances    6. Gadget cookery   

Reviews (4)

"Why" as well as "how" is important
While one can not truly barbeque on a grill, this guide gets you as close as possible.Good grilling is not rocket science but this book explains what many have learned only through trial-and-error.When trying a new receipe, I always compare it with this guide.While I may prefer sauces and rubs found in my other six grilling books, this is my Bible on how to apply them. Buy this book first and use it as your standard when reviewing others. Of course, like all receipe books, you must use your own good judgement. For example, one receipe says start your salmon fillets skin side down while another says skin side up. (I think skin side up is the right way to go to get better marking and to make it easier to see how cooking is progressing.) I use this book and I give it to my friends.Enjoy!
I'm getting another one for myself
I gave this book to my brother for his birthday.He is a BBQ addict - once flew to Memphis for a week, just to do BBQ research.He rarely finds anything of interest in most books or magazines.He loves this book and within the first 20 minutes of reading it (while we finished assembling his birthday cake) he announced, twice, that he had "found something".Having found the perfect gift, I couldn't be more pleased.

A "Must Have" Grilling and Barbeque Book!
"The Cook's Illustrated Guide to Grilling and Barbeque" is in my opinion a "must have" book for anyone wanting to learn or improve his/her outdoor cooking skills. This book, copyrighted in 2005, appears to me to be an updated and revised version of the similar "The Best Recipe Grilling & Barbeque" book copyrighted in 2001 (which I bought at the same time). After reading through both books, I do not see any reason for purchasing the 2001 book.
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Subjects:  1. Barbecue cookery    2. Cooking    3. Cooking / Wine    4. Entertaining - General    5. Methods - Barbecue & Grilling    6. Methods - Outdoor    7. Gadget cookery    8. Main courses   

Editorial Review

The Silver Palate, a small but notable New York eatery, won several national awards and distributed their packaged goods to fine food stores across the country. Owners Julee Rosso & Sheila Lukins wrote Read more

Reviews (36)

Disappointing
Sorry guys, I looked forward to working on recipes from this cookbook due to the very enthusiastic reception it received from the media.The graphics of the book are truly beautiful.The recipes however, hmmm,try again.I followed a simple recipe for Apple Crisp and got a bad result.I now go to respected standard cookbooks for my Apple Crisp recipe and the old family favorite always turns out great.Really people, the recipes are NOT the stuff of greatness.Graphics? Great. Photography? Great?Recipes? You have got to be kidding
This cook book is awesome
I agree, if you own just one cookbook, this is the one. It has the best recipe ever for Potroast and cranberry bread. I'm finally beginning to explore other recipes b/c these two have been so good and I'm not the adventuresome type. I'm dieing to try the gorgonzola cheese tortellini as well as a few others. These women are awesome!

A True Classic
This has been my favorite cookbook for years and years.The recipes are wonderful and the illustrations and quotes are delightful.Forget the new cookbooks and buy this one.It's very charming. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Cookery    2. Cooking    3. Cooking / Wine    4. Entertaining - General    5. General    6. Methods - Professional    7. Cooking / General    8. Gadget cookery    9. General cookery   

Reviews (17)

Caro Bakercook book nut
This cook book was OK it just needed more recipes that had easier to use. JUst was'nt the right Pressure Cooker Cook Book for me.

The best out there
Of about 4-5 pressure cooker cookbooks I have bought, this is far and away the best one, not even an issue.The recipes are fairly simple, easy to put together, easy to find/common ingredients, and they taste great.This is what a pressure cooker should do for you.There are good general guidelines on how to cook other things as well.While there are not a whole lot of recipes in here, they are all great and easy.If you have to have one pressure cooker cookbook, this is it!

strange
I bought this book and am sending it back. The recipes were a little strange for my taste. I wanted more everyday type dishes. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Cookery    2. Cooking    3. Cooking / Wine    4. Home Economics (General)    5. Methods - Special Appliances    6. Pressure cookery    7. Reference    8. Cooking / Special Appliances    9. Gadget cookery   

Features

• Illustrated

Reviews (22)

The most usable collection of slow cooker recipes
There's something for everyone in this book.It includes a wide variety of recipes:every day dishes, fancier dishes for company, main dishes, side dishes, one-pot meals, recipes using fresh ingredients, and time-saving recipes using more processed ingredients (i.e. canned soups, etc.). I've tried a number of the recipes so far and each has been a winner, impressing my discriminating friends and family. The wealth of tips from the kitchen is most beneficial.I have tried a number of slow cooker cookbooks and this is far and away my personal favorite.

Really good introduction
We greatly enjoyed the selection of receipes.The price to quality ratio is very high.

disappointing
This book is very disappointing. My main complaint is that many of the recipes call for ingredients such as frozen vegetables, canned soup, mayonnaise, and one which actually calls for an entire bottle of Catalina salad dressing. This really is not my style of cooking. Another reviewer commented that a lot of recipes need something done throughout the cooking process or are partially cooked on the stove before being put into the Crockpot. This was a big turn off for me too. I suggest trying a different book. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Casserole cookery    2. Cooking    3. Cooking / Wine    4. Electric cookery, Slow    5. General    6. Methods - Special Appliances    7. Reference    8. Cookbook    9. Cookery    10. Cooking / Special Appliances    11. Recipes    12. Slow Cookers   

Reviews (6)

good basic slow cooker recipes
My dau-in-law is diabetic and this new cookbook has helped me prepare the proper meal.She is at my home at least once a week, and she has also purchased this book as a basic slow cooker reference.

Fit-It and Forget-It Diabetic Cookbook
I have enjoyed the many receipes from this book.Very helpful would recommended it to others

Incomplete Nutritional Information
The authors have the nutritional values calculated for as many as 20 servings yet fail to provide the serving sizes.They have to figure out the size of a serving to calculate the information, so why not include that with the recipe so we, who must count our carbohydrates for insulin purposes for example, don't have to dirty dishes to dish out the entire crock pot.There are authors out there who care enough about their readers to provide this information. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Cooking    2. Cooking / Wine    3. Diabetes    4. Diet therapy    5. General    6. Health & Healing - Diabetic & Sugar Free    7. Methods - Special Appliances    8. Recipes    9. Cooking / General   

Reviews (12)

Not perfect but still a good book to own.
This book has some great-tasing recipes, which is the number 1 thing I look for. Are all of them perfectly low carb? No--and that's why it loses a full star.
Happy Medium for Split Households
I have enjoyed this book for a few years.When I recently went on-line to buy a copy for my mom, I was shocked to see all the bad reviews it received.My husband is an avid Atkins fan, I am not.For the times when he is following the diet rigorously, this book provided some much needed relief from another plate of bacon and eggs.Many of the recipes are higher in carbs than Atkins may suggest, but I'm happy it gives the non-Atkins people in our household a little break without going too overboard on the carbs.Most dishes I've made from this book taste great and they have a variety of recipes for any type of meat you want to throw in your crockpot.

Mostly gluten-free!
I know that this is supposed to be a low-carb cookbook, but I bought it because most of the recipes are gluten free.There are a few that call for cream of something soup or barley (neither acceptable on a GF diet), but most have basic ingredients and sauces.I've enjoyed all but one of the recipes I've made from the cookbook, and it's great to find a book with so many GF recipes. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Cookery    2. Cooking    3. Cooking / Wine    4. Electric cookery, Slow    5. Health & Healing - Weight Control    6. Low-carbohydrate diet    7. Methods - Special Appliances    8. Recipes    9. Cooking / Dietary    10. Gadget cookery    11. Main courses   

Reviews (24)

surprisingly great
I got this based on recs at another site. honestly, I was underimpressed when I read the recipes.I've been using a crockpot for several years and consider myself a relatively good cook without using recipes much...the recipes to me appeared to be very similar to what I already throw together.but...the minor changes have helped me to make the most delicious food...in fact, yesterday I made the brisket with picante sauce (I really didn't want to make it but had already purchased the ingredients) oh my gosh, it was delicious.I would highly recommend this everyone - even get it for people asawedding gift.I am so glad I gave this a chance...

You Will Learn Basic Crockpot Skills
Hoffman's recipes sound delicious, but in fact are often flavorless. If you use her recipes, you WILL learn slow cooking tecniques (stacking meat in the pot, thickening sauces, etc). But after 7 years of using this book, my notes on the recipes have a continual refrain: "Needs more pizzaz"; "Add vegetables"; "Flavors need more depth".

I like it
I haven't used the book for very long but loved the meatloaf recipe.Used ground sirloin and tripled the sauce(delicious).
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Subjects:  1. Casserole cookery    2. Casserole cooking    3. Cooking    4. Cooking / Wine    5. Electric cookery, Slow    6. General    7. Methods - Special Appliances    8. Fiction / Suspense   

Reviews (5)

Meat Smoking and Smokehouse Design
I had recently the pleasant plessure of reading a new book. Meat Smoking and Ssmokehouse Design by Stanley Marianski, impressed me before I was halfway trough the book. The information is written in a clear to understand and follow language. The information is firstclass and accurate. There are so many books on the market about meat processing, making sausages and many other meat related subjects that it is a real pleasure to see once in a great while a book of this sort actually worth reading and gaining knowledge from it.
Smoking and Smokehouse design
This book does a masterful job of explaining grilling, BBQing and smoking. There is extensive discussion of curing as well as the particulars about smoking sausages, meat, fish and poultry...this is not a book of recipes but a scholarly treatment of the hows and whys of smoking.. Especially liked the theory on combustion as it applies to smoking.This is a book that will take some careful thought and study.Most books on smoking just give some elementary information and then are filled with with recipes; this text is the reverse, scholarly information and theory as it applies to smokeing meats and a few recipes that will get you started. The sections on smokehouse design include many construction diagrams and photos that cover most known methods: masonry, portable, wood, concrete, Kamado, and drum smokers, etc. There are 18 pages on combustion theory, pit design, baffle positions and wood fuel that provide insight to smoker efficiency.I strongly recommed this book to the serious smoker as well as the beginner.

Great book on making quality smoked products
Smoking temperatures, cooking temperatures and all rules and tips are presented here without one waisted word. Very practical, straight to the point approach.
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Subjects:  1. Cooking    2. Cooking / Wine    3. Methods - Special Appliances   

Reviews (8)

Outdated and Bias
A lot of the information suggests diets and foods that are not acceptable for everyone.They push macrobiotic and raw diets which are not the best.Many vegetables (such as tomatoes) need to be heated at a particular temperature enable to reach their full nutritional value.Also this book suggests many soy-based products, when in reality soy was created as an easy substitute to cow-dairy and is extremely processed.Many consumers are unaware of the fact that soy is very toxic to the body and is only nutritional when fermented (tempeh or miso).Someone who is allergic to cow-dairy should try goat-diary.Goat cells are smaller and easier for humans to digest, and has far more nutritional value and no allergens that cow diaryis exposed to.

Awesome!
I am a nutritional consultant and recommend this book to all my clients.Juicing is a nutrient dense way to get important vitamins and minerals.The Juicing Bible provides not only a wide variety of wonderful recipes, but also includes information on juices for specific health problems.There is a section on smoothies and medicinal teas as well.An excellent book - the only juicing book you'll ever need.A perfect gift for a health conscious friend, or one who should be.Enjoy!

True help to juicing...
I am a first time juicer. I bought The Juicing Bible, the book has so much useful informtion. It is truly the juicer's bible, cause its food for the soul. It will help me bring my family to a more healthier lifestyle. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Beverages - Non-Alcoholic    2. Cooking    3. Cooking / Wine    4. Fruit juices    5. Health & Healing - General    6. Health aspects    7. Healthy Living    8. Methods - Special Appliances    9. Nutrition And Diet    10. Personal Health    11. Specific Ingredients - Natural Foods    12. Therapeutic use    13. Vegetable juices    14. Cooking / Natural Foods    15. Non-alcoholic beverages    16. Specific Ingredients - Fruit    17. Specific Ingredients - Vegetables    18. Health & Fitness    19. Nutrition    20. Alternative Therapies    21. Diets - Better Health   

Reviews (44)

Very good cook book, worth acquiring
The layout in my '98 paperback edition is quaint, at best, but the information is top-notch, an interesting assortment of dishes, most of which I'm interested in making. While this book isn't as pretty as some others, the information is unique, I like Rick Rodgers' writing style -- lots of useful information and food combinations I don't imagine that I'd have ever thought of. I'd like to see this cook book updated, I'd buy another copy. It would be really great if it had a spiral binding, so that it would lay flat -- I love details like that, making things truly useful.
A Surprisingly Wonderful Cookbook

Real food, really simple
I grew up in the 1970s eating dinners from the Crock Pot prepared in the morning to be ready when my parents came home from work.My mother was picky, she had only a handful of recipes she liked, because back then far too many recipes called for raw meat dumped in with a can of whatever soup and combined with frozen vegetables.But there were a few, a very few, that with some extra effort yielded wonderful results.
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Subjects:  1. Cooking    2. Cooking / Wine    3. Electric cookery, Slow    4. Methods - Quick & Easy    5. Methods - Special Appliances    6. Cooking / Special Appliances    7. Gadget cookery   

Reviews (15)

Too Complicated
All the recipes are pretty advanced (and expensive).I'd like to see more easy dishes that don't take 5 hours to prepare and $100 per oven.

The Outdoor Dutch Oven Cookbook
This is well organized and appealing book for outdoor cooker.If you have cast iron dutch oven, you have to have this one.
Great receipes, assumes basic skill however
I have been collecting and trying dutch oven receipes for some time and found the content of the Outdoor Dutch Oven book very solid.Some receipes are too involved for outdoor trips, but would work just fine in the kitchen.I originally checked the book out of the library, but was so impressed I thought it deserved to be purchased.The comments regarding no instruction on dutch oven skills are valid.You'll want another resource for that. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Camping    2. Cooking    3. Cooking / Wine    4. Dutch oven cookery    5. Hiking    6. Methods - Special Appliances    7. Outdoor cookery    8. Sports    9. Gadget cookery    10. Sports & Recreation / Camping   

Subjects:  1. Cooking    2. Cooking / Wine    3. Electric cookery, Slow    4. Methods - General    5. Methods - Special Appliances    6. Cooking / Special Appliances    7. Cooking; slow cooking    8. Gadget cookery