Reference Books - Page 15

Top Secret Recipes: Sodas, Smoothies, Spirits, & Shakes

Todd Wilbur

Amazon Price: $11.20 List Price: $14.00 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Plume Amazon Marketplace: 74 new & used starting at $3.25

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Cooking, Food & Wine -> Baking -> General
Subjects -> Cooking, Food & Wine -> Drinks & Beverages -> Spirits
Subjects -> Cooking, Food & Wine -> Drinks & Beverages -> Smoothies

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 4 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

Todd Wilbur has made a career out of his Top Secret Recipes series, dissecting popular recipes from America's favorite restaurant chains and presenting the results to eager home cooks. Top Secret Recipes: Sodas, Smoothies, Spirits, and Shakes continues the theme, offering homemade approximation recipes to satisfy the craving and expectations of the thirsty reader looking for a brand-name fix. Wilbur presents a host of potables to create at home, including sodas such as 7-Up and A&W root beer, brand mixtures such as Orange Julius, and even signature adult drinks from a variety of restaurant chains including Chili's, Hard Rock Cafe, and Red Lobster. But Wilbur offers more than just the genetic code to these concoctions: he provides interesting anecdotes on the origin of the beverages as well as humorous, but necessary, warnings about the various alcohol-infused drinks included. He's even dedicated a chapter to the home version of popular (and expensive) spirits such as Bailey's Irish Cream and Grand Marnier. For convenience and economy, this addition to the Top Secret collection offers a truly satisfying alternative, saving readers a trip to Starbucks for that addictive Frappuccino. --Teresa Simanton

The Instant Cook

Donna Hay

Amazon Price: $23.07 List Price: $34.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Fourth Estate Amazon Marketplace: 31 new & used starting at $13.40

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Cooking, Food & Wine -> General
Subjects -> Cooking, Food & Wine -> Culinary Arts & Techniques
Subjects -> Cooking, Food & Wine -> Quick & Easy -> General

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 10 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

Donna Hay is swiftly becoming the source American cooks go to when they ask themselves, "What should we have for dinner tonight?" She has garnered a passionate global following for her fresh and modern approach to food -- bringing out clean, sparkling flavors with simple techniques and streamlined instructions. In The Instant Cook, she offers more than a compendium of flexible recipes; it is an elegantly simple philosophy of cooking, and of eating.

Donna Hay pulls together flavor combinations and cooking skills from the Mediterranean and the Pacific Rim - two of the most luscious and quick-cooking cuisines on the planet - to create delicious meals with a handful of ingredients in a few minutes. She gives home cooks the confidence to cook with instinct and with style.

Exquisite full color photographs on every page illustrate Donna's signature look -- chic yet never fussy. It reminds you that cooking is a pleasure. Pour a glass of wine and catch up with family as you cook; shop without waste or confusion; host a weeknight dinner party with little planning and less effort. The Instant Cook is destined to be the cookbook that is never put back on the shelf.

The Cheese Plate

Max Mccalman, David Gibbons

Amazon Price: $23.10 List Price: $35.00 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Clarkson Potter Amazon Marketplace: 46 new & used starting at $7.94

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Cooking, Food & Wine -> Baking -> General
Subjects -> Cooking, Food & Wine -> Cooking by Ingredient -> Cheese & Dairy
Subjects -> Cooking, Food & Wine -> General

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 12 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

Thanks to increased exposure to the world's finest cheeses, Americans are finally learning to love and appreciate this versatile food. But how to enjoy cheese at home? Max McCalman, maître fromager at Manhattan's three-star Picholine restaurant, provides real help. The Cheese Plate, written with David Gibbons, offers introduction to the world's cheese repertoires, cheese manufacturing and finishing methods, how to choose cheese and pair it with wine and other foods, and more--all of which is sensibly and accessibly presented. Without attempting a comprehensive investigation, McCalman nonetheless touches all the necessary bases, providing just the right blend of fundamental and sophisticated counsel.

Beginning with chapters that explore cheese creation--a fascinating partnership of animal, terroir (place of origin), and skills honed over the millennia--the book then provides succinct buying, storing, and serving advice. (Buying rule No. 1: cultivate a cheese monger.) Here and throughout, McCalman offers a wealth of diverse investigations like the Seven Degrees of Ripeness (1, too young; 4, peak; 7, "fuggedaboudit") and Is Shrink-Wrapping Bad for Cheese? (yes, cheese must breath); he also provides informative asides on cheese makers like Britain's famed Neal's Yard Dairy, plus cheese-plate blueprints for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. A final section profiles McCalman's favorite cheeses, country by country. With color photos, a glossary, and list of resources, the book is an exemplary place to begin or further a cheese-at-home education. --Arthur Boehm

River Road Recipes: The Textbook of Louisiana Cuisine

Junior League of Baton Rouge

Amazon Price: $17.95 List Price: $17.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Junior League of Baton Rouge Amazon Marketplace: 29 new & used starting at $4.99

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Cooking, Food & Wine -> General
Subjects -> Cooking, Food & Wine -> Reference
Subjects -> Cooking, Food & Wine -> Regional & International -> U.S. Regional -> South

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 22 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

One of my favorite cookbooks! 5 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

I always go here first when I'm looking for something new, and many of our family's favorite recipes are in this book. I've given countless copies as gifts, which are always appreciated once the recipients start trying out the recipes. We discovered this treasure when my sister went to LSU years ago (we lived in Connecticut at the time), and have been grateful ever since. We also use all of the subsequent River Road editions.

Best Southern cookbook period 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

I am from the South. Cooking is a hobby and I collect cookbooks. I have had this book for about 30 years. In my opinion, this is the best all around Southern cookbook you can buy. In addition, it contains the best Creole recipes.

When I look through a cookbook, the first thing I check is that the ingredients are correct. It is amazing how wrong some can be. This cook book sets the standard.

There are about 3 later editions of this book which are good, but they do not compare to this, the original.

You will be more successful if you can try an authentic Creole dish before you try to make one yourself. That way you will know what you are aiming for.

Editorial Review:

River Road Recipes is the nation's #1 best-selling community cookbook series. This cookbook features classic creole and cajun cuisine. These 650 recipes include the basics like "how to make a roux". This is the "Textbook of Louisiana cooking".

1001 Foods You Must Taste Before You Die

Universe

Amazon Price: $24.39 List Price: $36.95 Not yet published By: Universe

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Cooking, Food & Wine -> Gastronomy -> General
Subjects -> Cooking, Food & Wine -> General
Subjects -> Cooking, Food & Wine -> Reference

Editorial Review:

From single press extra-virgin olive oils and artisanal cheeses to more exotic fare such as zebra jerky, this compilation is a cornucopia of culinary delicacies from every cuisine around the globe. Featuring luscious photographs and descriptions of must-eat foods from sweet to savory, this culinary gazetteer of the world offers expert guidance on how to really eat like a local when in Rome or how to find the most authentic Peking duck when visiting Beijing. Any foodie will delight at the fact-filled descriptions and marginalia and sidebars bursting with culinary history and trivia. Whether looking for the "must-taste treats" to seek out on your next vacation or inspiration for a romantic dinner for two, this compendium is sure to be a source of gourmet inspiration, certain to expand even an experienced epicure’s mental grocery list. The book is divided into sections based on food type (meats, dairy products, fruits, vegetables, sweets and confections, etc). Included are classics as well as delicacies little known outside their home turf. Each entry features authoritative yet opinionated descriptions as well as anecdotes about the producers or the region ensuring that this book will have wide appeal to connoisseurs and novices alike.

The Best 50 Salad Dressings (Best 50)

Stacey Printz

Amazon Price: $5.95 List Price: $5.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Bristol Publishing Enterprises Amazon Marketplace: 23 new & used starting at $2.54

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Cooking, Food & Wine -> Baking -> General
Subjects -> Cooking, Food & Wine -> Cooking by Ingredient -> Sauces, Salsa & Garnishes
Subjects -> Cooking, Food & Wine -> General

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 3 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Stunning and unique flavors; quick and easy to prepare! 5 out of 5 stars.
43 of 57 people found this review helpful.

Using the most exotic flavors, this cookbook is a creative and delightful new way to dazzle your dinner guests. Designed by a young, busy working woman, the recipies are fast and simply written. A necessity for any kitchen!

This Is A Tiny, Tiny Little Book 3 out of 5 stars.
19 of 23 people found this review helpful.

So surprised to just unwrap my amazon.com box and find The Best 50 Salad Dressings book. With shipping it comes to almost ten bucks for this postcard-size book. While I am sure I will enjoy making all of the salad dressings, someone should make a note for potential buyers that this book is not a typical size paperback. It's very small.

Great for vinaigrette lovers (not so much for creamy dressing lovers) 4 out of 5 stars.
4 of 4 people found this review helpful.

This little book is cute and easy to use. It has a few creamy recipes in the beginning, but most of the book is devoted to vinaigrettes. I was personally hoping for more creamy recipes, but this will still be a useful tool. I look forward to trying the Avocado Dressing, the Italian Buttermilk Dressing and the Creamy Curry Dressing.
I would wholeheartedly recommend this for people who love vinegar-based dressings.

Editorial Review:

Choose from a plethora of recipes for dressings, and salads with which to toss them.

Find a range of choices, from creamy and indulgent to tangy and fat-free.

Essentials of Cooking

James Peterson

Amazon Price: $16.47 List Price: $24.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Artisan Amazon Marketplace: 40 new & used starting at $7.80

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Cooking, Food & Wine -> General
Subjects -> Cooking, Food & Wine -> Reference

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 28 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

After reading Essentials of Cooking, you will grill any fish with confidence, make delicious gratins using whatever vegetables are nicest at the market, and know that any pilaf, risotto, or paella you cook will come out just right. Author James Peterson's goal is to get people to cook comfortably without hewing to the precision of recipes and to feel relaxed in the kitchen whatever the task. Peterson accomplishes this by combining text with detailed color photos and paying attention to everything that makes a cook proficient. He teaches both small techniques, such as how to hold a swivel peeler, as well as large ones, such as how to determine the doneness of a steak, roast, or fish using just touch and sight and how to dress a salad by coating the leaves with oil, then dissolving salt in a spoon with vinegar and drizzling this over the greens before tossing them. In every case, the 1,100-plus color shots give a precise picture of what the reassuring text explains.

To teach skills and technique, Peterson leads you, for example, through sweating the leeks for Pureed Leek and Potato Soup in butter, then cooking the potatoes until they soften, and so on. This explanation includes no quantities or timing. Peterson's point is that these vary according to how much soup you are making, so he tells what to look for and when, enabling you to make this soup for 4 or 40. One possible drawback of this book is that you may have to consult its well-organized index when you need to locate one of the valuable hints grouped in any of the Kitchen Notes and Tips boxes, like the fact that chicken can be cooked over lower heat than steaks and chops because it takes longer to cook through. But cooks and eager students will settle into Essentials of Cooking, as one dives into a good novel, becoming immersed in its depth and practicality. Complete beginners might feel overwhelmed at first by the density of information and the tightly packed layout on each page. If they view this volume as a handbook, reading particular sections as needed, they will comfortably appreciate the nurturing Peterson offers their kitchen skills. --Dana Jacobi

Extending the Table: A World Community Cookbook

Joetta Handrich Schlabach

Amazon Price: $14.79 List Price: $21.99 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Herald Press Amazon Marketplace: 24 new & used starting at $8.52

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Cooking, Food & Wine -> General
Subjects -> Cooking, Food & Wine -> Culinary Arts & Techniques
Subjects -> Cooking, Food & Wine -> Reference

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 22 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

Extending the Table calls itself "a world community cookbook," but it is far more than that. Yes, there are recipes here from all over the globe: Sesame Spinach Salad from Korea, Hunter's Stew from Poland, and Watermelon Jan from Botswana. There are myriad rice dishes, lots of recipes featuring beans and lentils, and an array of delicious beverages--from Philippine Punch to a Ginger Cooler from the Ivory Coast. But what makes this cookbook so special is its social conscience: following the lead of Doris Janzen Longacre, author of the More-with-Less Cookbook, Extending the Table invites readers to reduce their own levels of consumption and share resources with others around the world. Even more, it encourages us to learn from the global community. In addition to the recipes, there are stories about both individuals and whole cultures, explanations of the importance of certain types of food in different lands, and the rituals that surround particular meals. Extending the Table is the work of the Mennonite Central Committee, and many of the contributors are missionaries whose faith in the values of humility, community, and respect for others imbues the pages of this thought-provoking book. Extending the Table is truly food for the body and soul!

The Wine Club: A Month-by-Month Guide to Learning About Wine with Friends

Maureen Christian Petrosky

List Price: $17.95 By: Meredith Books Amazon Marketplace: 25 new & used starting at $5.50

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Cooking, Food & Wine -> Drinks & Beverages -> Spirits
Subjects -> Cooking, Food & Wine -> General
Subjects -> Cooking, Food & Wine -> Reference

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 37 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

Everything you need to know about starting a wine club. This sassy handbook teaches you and your girlfriends the art of selecting, sampling, and sipping the fruit of the vine (while you indulge in the latest gossip, of course).

A foolproof month-by-month plan by sommelier, Maureen Petrosky, highlights all the pesky details, so you and your girlfriends can sit back and sip.

From still to sparkling and delicate whites to rich reds, each month's chapter singles out a grape for study and enjoyment-school was never like this! This course with class includes easy-does-it entertaining tips, taste-testing know-how, and tantalizing wine facts.

Expert recommendations for brilliant wines at killer prices! What woman doesn't love a bargain?

Wine-laden tidbits such as how to collect bottles for a personal wine stash.

Outrageously scrumptious recipes that teach you simply to pair wine and food-it's a no-brainer.

The latest on the snazziest wine gizmos and gadgets. Shoppers, start your engines.

Demystified terminology: a short course in “wine speak” makes any wine novice comfortable when shopping for and serving wine.

The Well-Fed Backpacker

June Fleming

Amazon Price: $11.16 List Price: $13.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Vintage Amazon Marketplace: 77 new & used starting at $0.58

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Children's Books -> Science, Nature & How It Works -> Health -> Diet & Nutrition
Subjects -> Cooking, Food & Wine -> Baking -> General
Subjects -> Cooking, Food & Wine -> General

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 11 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

The Hungry Backpacker 5 out of 5 stars.
3 of 3 people found this review helpful.

This is a must have book for the backpacker. It is full of great recipes and cooking hints. I would recommend this to anyone packing thier own food.

Well-fed 5 out of 5 stars.
3 of 3 people found this review helpful.

Of all the sources of backpacking recipies that I have found, this is by far the best. Not only are most of the recipies reasonable, easy and tasty, but her many suggestions regarding saving money and easy planning are terrific.

If your pack carries 60+lbs... 3 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

The ideas in this book are pretty good, though I wouldn't necessarily consider this a book for 'backpackers' - more likely for those who are car camping, and who don't mind some extra weight.

Great recipes, great food! 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

I've used recipes from this book many times over years of canoe-camping. I've never been disappointed. Many have the notations "A hit!" and "VG!!" and "Delicious!" beside them. Friends always ask for the recipes.

Editorial Review:

A vastly expanded edition. Offers a long list of food sources, new material on drying techniques and many more winter meals to provide heat and sustenance on an icy hike. Haute hiking menus for spring, summer, fall, and winter.