Editorial Review

Michele Scicolone wrote Read more

Reviews (1)

I was delighted with these authentic Italian recipes but....
This is one of the better Italian cookbooks I have come acrossRead more

Subjects:  1. Cookery, Italian    2. Cooking    3. Cooking / Wine    4. Entertaining - General    5. Holiday - General    6. Holiday cookery    7. Holiday cooking    8. Italian cooking    9. Regional & Ethnic - Italian    10. Cooking / Italian   

Reviews (4)

Picky Eaters Beware!!!
I am the Mom of a very picky eater & I am purchasing this book from Amazon after trying it out from the library.
Too much fat!
This book contains way too many recipes with high fat items.It also doesn't contain the nutritional info for the finished items, which makes it useless to me.If you're thinking "healthy" means moderate to low fat/calorie, then this isn't the book for you!

Should be called peanut butter snack book!
I was hoping to find some help in the snack dept, as I have a limited variety of ideas for my partially food-allergic kid.He is allergic to a few items -- one happens to be peanuts, the other egg whites, but that's it.And unfortunately, 80% of the recipes in this book include peanut butter, nuts, or eggs!Nothing more original.I expected some of this knowing kids love PB, but most of the recipes are inclusive of one of the 2 allergens my son has, so this book was a huge disappointment.Read more

Subjects:  1. Cooking    2. Cooking / Wine    3. Courses & Dishes - Brunch    4. Health & Healing - General    5. Quick and easy cookery    6. Snack foods    7. Cooking / General    8. Dictionaries    9. General cookery   

Reviews (5)

Cooking for Company is the BEST
"I have two small sons, I work (more than) full time and so does my
SENSATIONAL!!!
After hearing the charming Nicole Aloni on NPR I immediately purchased this cookbook book.(I even was late to an appointment because I didn't want to leave the car until the interview was finished). I became especially intrigued with her5 criteria for including any recipe in her book (such as "delicious and easy yet look like they took all day", and "traditional enough to appeal to your grandmother's palate, yet sophisticated enough to impress your new fashion designer daughter-in-law"). Can't wait for the holiday party season now!
This book is so much more than a collection of wonderful new recipes (Hot Scampi Dip, Coconut Crab Dip, Pork Tenderloin w/ Fig Sauce, just to name a few)...the author offers wine recommendations for almost every item, as well as explicit instructions on how far in advance an item can be prepped.Can entertaining get any easier than this?? The roasting charts cover virtually every cut of meat and every vegetable imaginable, making the book a veritable gold mine of information.And the section at the end entitled "Year Round Entertaining Menus", well, all I can say is that Nicole seems to have written this section for all of the cooking enthusiasts who never feel entirely confident that their party menu reflects an adequate balance of tastes, textures, and flavors.With this book in hand, I'm ready to entertain year-round! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Cookery    2. Cooking    3. Cooking / Wine    4. Entertaining    5. Entertaining - General    6. Reference    7. Fiction / Mystery & Detective / General   

Editorial Review

The mysteries of cream of tartar revealed! How to make maximum use of blackening bananas! The hidden meaning of folding in dry ingredients until just blended! Perfect pie crusts for perfect fools! It's all here in Read more

Reviews (34)

Fail-safe recipes and in-depth explanations
I love this book!For two reasons - first, everything in it is always good.Usually the best I've ever eaten, too - I don't even bother with other molasses cookie recipes any more, for instance.
Good book could use some more pictures
Tried the Pizza recipe from this book so far and it came out good. Could use more pictures for the recipes.bbb

Step Up to Perfection
I baked my first cake when I was nine years old, with the help of my Dad who was a pastry chef in the Navy.That's when I became a closet pastry chef! I want to open my own bakery, but I need to hone this craft, trying to get my baking to be as close to my Dad's perfect pastries as I can and this book, "Baking Illustrated" has helped me take a huge step up to being close to perfect!I love it; the recipes are good and the explanations and tips are even better.I wish there were more pictures of each finished item, but the pictures and illustrations are really helpful also.I've had the book for one month and I've baked something from each section so far and have already planned my fall baking and my Thanksgiving and Christmas baking from this book.If you want to learn to bake and if you want to impress your family, friends and coworkers, then please, buy this book and make sure that you have some people ready to indulge in these goodies! I'll send out ads when I open my bakery shop! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Baking    2. Cooking    3. Cooking / Wine    4. Desserts    5. Entertaining - General    6. Holiday - General    7. Methods - Baking    8. Methods - General    9. Reference    10. Cakes, baking, icing & sugarcraft   

Reviews (7)

extra ingredients sacrificed to page layout
If you want a cookbook that is so poorly edited that you will have multiple extra ingredients from the ingredient list that are not used in the recipe, then this is the book for you.
A fun and original book!
I was very impressed with this book. Art and Cook is a very original concept and a great conversation piece for your coffee table or as a gift. There are fun recipes and VERY fun design to compliment them. This was a great purchase. The package alone is worth the cost of the book!!
A stupid pretentious book, written by a stupid pretentious person, for stupid pretentious people - a complete rip-off.
Aside from the fact that the book was plagiarized by Allan Ben from unknowing photographers & designers who were swindled out of their ideas, designs, compensation, and credit - the book has no soul.There is no "running thread" or theme.Not one original thought. Not even worthy as a coffee table book. Don't embarrass yourself - you deserve better. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Art / General    2. Cooking    3. Cooking / Gourmet    4. Cooking / Wine    5. Courses & Dishes - General    6. Design - General    7. Essays    8. Methods - Professional    9. Art    10. Cooking / General    11. General    12. Methods - Gourmet    13. Political aspects    14. Popular Culture    15. Recipes    16. The Arts   

Reviews (7)

Not that helpful
I hope there are better books out there, because after reading this one, I'm still struggling to put together a classy shower.Many of the ideas seemed silly, and most of the games would make me run as fast as I could away from the shower.

A Waste of Money!
I bought this book with the intention of using it to help plan made my head hurt
wow-too much information!! this book is a little too thorough in my opinion. it made me feel like i needed an army to help me throw a party. lots of info-but nothing too out of the ordinary if you ask me. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Cooking / Wine    2. Entertaining - Party Planning    3. General    4. Parenting - Motherhood    5. Reference    6. Showers (Parties)    7. Parties    8. Pregnancy, birth & baby care   

Reviews (9)

Great tips!
Great tips in this book and quite a fun read!Some of the recipes were a little too involved for me, but still something to try when you are not rushed for time.A ton of ideas for working on things ahead of time so the day of the party will be stress free, but most involved freezing the food on cookie sheets until the party.I have a side-by-side fridge and cannot fit a cookie sheet.Such a shame because some of their ideas were quite appetizing!

I love this book!!
I have been awaiting entertainment help like this forever!The tips shared by the Purcell Sisters are priceless - modern, easy, and fun!Just reading the book makes me want to throw a party.
Saw this book in Us Weekly's Buzz-o-meter this week . . .
Saw this book in Us Weekly's Buzz-o-meter this week . . . and in the latest Budget Living magazine. Loved the tips that make it easy to throw a party without losing your mind to stress. And the recipes are totally make-able and delicious. The down-to-earth tone is fun, too. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Cocktail parties    2. Cooking    3. Cooking / Wine    4. Entertaining    5. Entertaining - Party Planning    6. General    7. Cooking / General    8. Food & Drink / Cookery   

Reviews (4)

Mouthwatering fun
Finally a great cookbook with beautiful, vivid pictures of a finished product. i love many cookbooks but the one thing I am usually diappointed with is no photos. I want to see the end so I have an idea where I am going while cooking. This books provides great ideas and gives you fabulous pictures. This is a wonderful addition to anyone who loves comfort or southern food. My favorite section is the Autumn/harvest section simply perfect pumpkin recipes to die for.

review of Get Togethers with Gooseberry Patch
I love this cookbook.I have purchased many Gooseberry Patch cookbooks through the years. I like the pictures in this one, although sometimes due to their placement, it is a little difficult to find the recipe that matches the picture. I like this cookbook because it contains so very many of my favorites and those I like to serve to family and friends. I am not a gourmet cook, just like to prepare delicious, low-fat meals. This cookbook has so many favorites together in ONE cookbook. I don't have to take a lot of time rounding up recipes. It makes preparing my grocery list easier.

Beautiful pictures & wonderful recipes
I am very rarely surprised by a cookbook, but I was this time.I am ordering it as a Christmas gift for all my family members that cook. The recipes are just one step up from easy and the pictures make your mouth water. This is the kind of cookbook that I will not put on the shelf. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Cookery, American    2. Cooking    3. Family / Parenting / Childbirth    4. Friendship    5. General    6. Cooking / Entertaining   

Reviews (6)

Simple, Fast, and Innovative, too!
I really love all of Jack Bishop's cookbooks. I have an entire bookshelf of other vegetarian classics, but I keep coming back to his. This cookbook has a great span of cuisines, good tips, and I like how it is organized by season. A great pick for someone looking to expand their vegetarian recipe collection It has the best squash risotto recipe ever, too...

Great Vegetarian Meals for Casual Dining or Entertaining
This book is organized into seasons, so the author is assuming that you won't be interested in buying produce that is not at its freshest (meaning most of the produce from a supermarket in the winter).Most people are very aware that tomatoes in the winter are terrible and there is no point in buying them.This is the basis behind this cookbook.If you are the type of person that loves shopping at specialty markets like Whole Foods and love to visit local farmer's markets or have a garden in the summer this book is perfect for you.
Of Interest to All Cooks Not Just Vegetarians
I was impressed with the originality and inventiveness of this recipe collection. I think all cooks would welcome this author's ideas on how to include more fresh fruits and vegetables in their family's diets.Also recommended Professional Vegatarian Cooking by Ken Bergeron ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Cooking    2. Cooking / Wine    3. Menus    4. Tablesetting    5. Vegetarian - General    6. Vegetarian cookery    7. Vegetarian cooking    8. Cooking / Vegetarian   

Subjects:  1. Cookery, American    2. Cooking    3. Entertaining    4. Menus    5. Reference    6. Cooking / Entertaining    7. Food & Drink / Cookery   

Reviews (4)

Table Settings
I really enjoyed this book more than most of the books that I've purchased on the subject (I have thirteen).The pictures are fabulous and the variety of table settings is superb. same as 1985 edition, only cover differs
True, this is a very good book, and provides a "fix" for the dish junkies among us.However, it should be noted that it is a re-print of the 1985 eidition of the same volume, but with a different cover.So if you are looking for a different book or at least additional pictures, as I was, you will be disappointed.On the other hand, if you've always wanted the original, which I believe is out of print, this is your opportunity.

A Lovely Book
I am very happy with my decision to buy this beautiful book and know that I will make great use of both its table settings and recipes well into the future.My only negative comment (and this is from a purely personal perspective) is that it contains more casual table settings than formal, the latter being what I was actually looking for when I purchased the book.But I am still very glad that I did. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Cooking / Wine    2. Decorating - General    3. Do-It-Yourself    4. General    5. House & Home    6. Tablesetting    7. Etiquette & entertaining    8. Home furnishing & decoration    9. Hospitality industry    10. House & Home / General   

Features

• Box set

Subjects:  1. Cooking    2. Cooking / Wine    3. Entertaining - General    4. Holiday - General    5. Methods - General   

Reviews (2)

Excellent jazz coordination cookbook
I recently received this book and I've been working on it for more than a week. It's somehow surprising that this book is not widely known in the drumming community (at least here in Italy).
Excellent!
An easy to follow progression of fundamentals leading to solos, this is a great book for staring your jazz studies.It does follow the one primary basic ride sound, but by the end I would think one would be able to improvise fairly well around that pattern. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Cooking    2. Entertaining - General    3. Music    4. Music/Songbooks    5. Musical Instruments - Percussion   

Reviews (7)

Fantastic - the best of the fondue cookbooks
I am an avid chef, and I LOVE fondue.I researched LOTS of fondue cookbooks, and this one has fantastic recipes.I think the reason I particularly love it is because we like to make fondue in a more healthful style (i.e., not cooking meat in boiling oil) and this book has an entire chapter just on fantastic broth recipes.In the end, if you cook shrimp, lamb, and flank steak in chicken broth, red wine, mushrooms, and garlic, you have yourself a very healthy meal!You'll love this book...it also gives GREAT fondue cooking tips in the whole first section.

Excellent Choice
If you are looking for well written, easy to follow recipe book on Fondues this is it.
Good Food
I am pleased with the above recipe book, every kind you can imagine and tasty.I want to try each one. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Cooking    2. Cooking / Wine    3. Courses & Dishes - Sauces & Dressings    4. Entertaining - General    5. General    6. Methods - Special Appliances    7. Cookery dishes & courses    8. Cooking / General    9. Fondue    10. Gadget cookery   

Reviews (9)

The Art of Jean Louis - Food almost too beautiful to eat!
Lucky me, this book's release party fell on my 30th birthday at Lloyd's Books in Georgetown, which was owned by a friend.Jean Louis (and photographer Fred Maroon) were there, with Jean Louis turning out a good number of the dishes seen here in the book.Even though I'd eaten at his restaurants, this was a remarkable birthday for me with friends and Jean Louis in the middle of it all.
One of the Greatest Chefs...not so great book.
As much as I loved the food at Napa and the Watergate. This book is not a book for the serious cook/chef. When the recipe for stock includes V-8 juice, one knows the recipes have been completely overhauled for the "cooking for dummies" dummy. Also, not significant to the quality of the book, the photos, although artistic are not realistic. Never had I ordered a plate a one of Jean-Louis Palladin's restaurants and received such overly manicured food. I believe the photos were designed to appeal to those who appreciate the style of the 1980's. Save your money and purchase one of Ducasses' books.

Breathtaking
This is without question the most visually stunning"cookbook" I have ever seen.I put cookbook in quotes because I think the objective was to show food as art, and not to give people ideas as to what to throw on the stove tonight.Read more

Subjects:  1. Cookery, French    2. Cooking    3. Cooking / Wine    4. Menus    5. Palladin, Jean-Louis    6. Pictorial works    7. Regional & Ethnic - French    8. Seasonal   

Reviews (2)

An amazing little book.
I saw this guy on the Today Show and he was very captivating and creative.His book is the same way, with pretty cool ideas on how to make gatherings unique using "green" products.It makes a great gift, too.

Great gift!
I just received this book today and was so impressed by its presentation and great ideas.The size of the book is somewhere between a paperback book and a coffee table book so it's perfect to carry with you as well as a great little gift to give.I'm planning on buying more so I can give them out as housewarming gifts.The ideas are fresh and innovative and keeping in mind with being eco friendly.Highly recommend getting it!And will wait to get the follow up book, Simply Green Giving. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Arts And Crafts    2. Cookery    3. Cooking    4. Cooking / Wine    5. Decorating    6. Entertaining - General    7. Entertaining - Party Planning    8. Environmental Conservation & Protection - General    9. Environmental aspects    10. Handicraft    11. Home Management    12. Nature Crafts    13. Parties    14. Crafts & Hobbies / General    15. Food & Drink / Cookery   

Reviews (3)

Idea generator for parties, play dates and birthdays
I was looking for books that would help with active games for my daughter's summer birthday party when I ran across this book.In contrast to many other books which are organized by party theme (dog, princess, superhero, etc.), this book is helpful because it is organized first by age and then by type of activity.The age ranges are preschool (2-5), school age (6-9) and preteen (10-12).The activities are grouped by traditional games, contemporary games, group activities, outings and events (which are closer to the theme parties you get in other books) and entertainers.Each game identifies not just the target range, but how far you can stretch to encompass older kids, the number of players needed, game objective and what materials to have on hand.It also gives ideas for creative ways to modify the game to fit children's disparate interests or different settings, prizes, favors, and trouble-shooting tips.We host our children's birthday parties at home (in contrast to many families, which use other locations such as gymnastics centers, pottery facilities, etc.) so I am always looking for activities both to keep kids active, but also to calm them down at the right time.This book offered ideas for both.All in all, a very helpful book not just for the upcoming birthday party, but also for future play dates and field trips with my kids.

Kids Party Games and Activities.
This book was arranged in 3 age groups.Tha's really helpful, so you can zoom in on your child's party and find just the right activities.Each section includes lots of traditional games as well as innovative ones and other party activities, like face painting.Also included are trip parties and theme parties for each age group. A wonderful book for ideas and themes!
I think I may just like the ideas from this author, because I liked another one of her books. This book will help you with games, invitations, tips,etc. I think it's a good book to keep around and pass around. I wasstuck with no ideas and it lifted alot of stress from my party planning. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Amusements    2. Children's parties    3. Children: Grades 3-4    4. Cooking / Wine    5. Entertaining - Party Planning    6. Games    7. Games & Activities - General    8. Juvenile Nonfiction    9. Indoor games    10. Juvenile Fiction / Holidays & Festivals / General   

Editorial Review

A fine whole tenderloin of beef is a great piece of meat to roast and serve on a special occasion, and is expensive enough it could give one pause at the open oven door--that great What If, as in what if I don't really know what I am doing. The editors of Read more

Reviews (3)

An Informative Guide for Meat Lovers
If you are not familiar with Cook's Illustrated magazine and their numerous cookbooks, let me introduce them to you. What they do is they take a recipe into their test kitchen, prepare it over and over again until they reach the very best way to make it, and then publish the recipe, along with a detailed report on their testing and how they arrived at their findings. This is a wonderful concept for the serious home cook and baker, because aside from their delicious (mostly) foolproof recipes, the cook is invited to learn the science behind the recipe, and this is a valuable learning tool. To me, the people behind Cook's Illustrated and their cookbooks are more than just a source of good recipes, they are EDUCATORS. And I have learned a great deal from them in the couple years that I have been exposed to them. "Steaks, Chops, Roasts and Ribs" is one of the wonderful cookbooks in the Cook's Illustrated series that I wholeheartedly recommend to the home cook who wants to learn more about the art of preparing various meats. Although some of the recipes within can be found in their much more comprehensive and all-encompassing cookbook "The New Best Recipe", this book stands apart if not solely for its wonderful and fully detailed section on the various cuts of meat. Every type and cut of meat imaginable is addressed in the beginning of the book, with a description of the cut, its alternate names, a rating of its flavor and an idea of its cost. There is also an informative section about the primal cuts of meat, what "branding" means and basic cooking methods. The information doesn't stop there, however, because scattered throughout the book are many other tidbits of information, like how to successfully make pan sauces, the best wines for cooking, product reviews, and helpful cooking illustrations. The recipes themselves (and their cooking methods) are varied enough to placate any home cook, from the grill maniac to the stew lover. There is something for everyone in this wonderful book. And unless you're already an expert on meat, I feel confident that you will learn something new from this book!

This is an amazing books
I first encounted this book in the library, I was attracted by the title. I was a little skeptical at first, thinking it would be extremely boring since there is no fancy picture in the book, but as I started reading it, I was amazed by the info in the book, they tell you every single detail involved to make sure everything turns out perfect. And they tell you the every single little things e.g. the science behind aging your beef...
If You Like Meat, Buy This Book
In general, this book is reliable, complete, and extremely useful to anyone who eats meat more than once in a while. It is good addition to your bookshelf and recommended highly.The primary value of this book is completeness. No matter what type of meat or cut you have, there is a relevant chapter and recipes for it; this book covers it all. Systematically developing recipes for all types of meat must have been a daunting task. Although this book is seriously flawed, if you cook based on the wonderful piece of meat you got at the supermarket or butcher rather than cooking from a cookbook from a famous celebrity chef, this book is pretty much the only game in town and rather indispensable. My main warning about this book: the recipes are focused on the proper procedure and technique, not on what is easy or convenient; some of the fussiest recipes I have ever seen come from this meat cookbook (I will refrain from complaining about the futility of Yankees trying to cook oriental food, chili, or barbecue).
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Subjects:  1. Cookery (Meat)    2. Cooking    3. Cooking / Wine    4. Holiday - General    5. Meat    6. Methods - Barbecue & Grilling    7. Specific Ingredients - Meat    8. Cookery by ingredient   

Reviews (6)

Jiggle-icious!
As a college graduate, I had the distinct pleasure of enjoying many "gelatin shots" throughout my undergraduate career.I thought my friends and I were fairly inventive but this book shows us for the frauds we were!
Gelatin Shots for the serious shotmaster
Gelatin shots have moved beyond the college campuses and into the home of creative partygivers. Now, three friends who enjoy the creative end of gelatin have complied a book of some pretty interesting flavors.
Amazing!
Jiggelo plays on the fact that gelatin shots were once a staple only for college student.As a student, I must say this book is wonderful, especially for college students.My next party will most definately jiggelo oriented.Way to go Mary! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Bartending    2. Beverages - Bartending    3. Beverages - Wine & Spirits    4. Cocktails    5. Cookery (Gelatin)    6. Cooking    7. Cooking / Wine    8. Entertaining - General    9. Food & Drink / Cookery   

Reviews (2)

Super Cookie Book
I was delighted with this book. I love the recipes and especially the directions on decorating these special treats. Would recommend!

Not what I thought
I purchased this book with high hopes and great expectations.I have the Whimsical Bakehouse and was thrilled by it.This book was not what I assumed it would be.It is a collection of Christmas cookies of varying types.There are bar cookies, gingerbread, and cutouts, to name a few.I was hoping to find a book with wonderful decorating ideas for Christmas cutout cookies since that is what is displayed on the cover.In fact, they only give a template for that cookie but no real instruction as to how to achieve the look.Now, I am quite proficient at decorating, but sometimes need some great ideas to kick start my creativity.In fact, there were quite a few truly adorable cookies in the front section of the book, but no further information on them.
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Subjects:  1. Baking - Confectionery    2. Christmas cookery    3. Cookies    4. Cooking    5. Cooking / Wine    6. Courses & Dishes - Cookies    7. Holiday - Christmas/Hanukkah    8. Holiday - General    9. Methods - Baking    10. Cooking / Baking