General Books - Page 6

Spices of Life: Simple and Delicious Recipes for Great Health

Nina Simonds

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 7 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

In this groundbreaking cookbook, Nina Simonds offers us more than 175 luscious recipes, along with practical tips for a sensible lifestyle, that demonstrate that health-giving foods not only provide pleasure but can make a huge difference in our lives.

With her emphasis on the tonic properties of a wide variety of foods, herbs, and spices, this book also brings us up to date on the latest scientific research. In every recipe–gathered from cultures around the world in which good eating is a way of life–Simonds gives us dishes that are both irresistible and have a positive effect on one’s well-being. For example:

-Cardamom, a key digestive, subtly seasons her Steamed Asparagus with Cardamom Butter.

-Cinnamon, which strengthens the heart and alleviates nervous tension, adds spice to her Fragrant Cinnamon Pork with Sweet Potatoes.

-Basil has long been used as a healing salve and in teas. So who wouldn’t feel rejuvenated by a delicious bowlful of Sun-Dried Tomato Soup with Fresh Basil?

-Peanuts, which fortify the immune system and lower cholesterol, provide a tasty, crunchy accent in Sichuan Kung Pao Chicken.

-Mint, which has many healing properties, from taming muscle spasms to dissolving gallstones, can be relished in Minty Snap Peas accompanying Pan-Roasted Salmon or in a Pineapple Salsa served with Jerk Pork Cutlets.

-And peaches give us vitamin C, beta carotene, and fiber. So enjoy them in a wonderful Gingery Peach-a-Berry Cobbler.

To help us understand what part these health-restoring foods can play in our lives, Simonds peppers Spices of Life with lively interviews with a variety of experts, including Dr. Jim Duke, who offers anti-aging advice from his Herbal Farmacy; Dr. Andrew Weil, who discusses his latest nutritional findings; and Dr. U. K. Krishna, who explains basic Ayurvedic practices for healthy living. And more.

With its delicious, easy-to-prepare recipes and concise health information, this delightful book opens up a whole new world of tastes for us to enjoy every day and to share with family and friends.

Martin Yan's Feast : The Best of Yan Can Cook

Martin Yan

List Price: $34.95 By: Kqed Books Amazon Marketplace: 25 new & used starting at $2.75

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 15 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

I am so sad that people think this is Chinese food! 1 out of 5 stars.
11 of 31 people found this review helpful.

I just watched yet another Martin Yan show on TV. Being a Chinese who has lived in the U.S. for 10 years, I am ever so saddened by the fact that people really think this guy is cooking the "real" stuff. My friends and I just think that he puts on a good show. If you enjoy his food, please do not get the wrong impression that it is Chinese. He has substantially modified many of the dishes to fit American taste, just as many western restaurants in the Orient would make western food which have been changed to fit the Asian taste buds. I have seen westerners making faces in western restaurants in the Orient exclaiming, is this what you called a hamburger? (you can substitute "hamburger with the name of any other dishes) The reaction of Chinese towards Yan's cooking is the same!

Editorial Review:

Martin Yan served millions of television viewers across America with, what for many, was their first Chinese cooking lesson. "Martin Yan's Feast" is a striking hardcover collection of over 275 of Martin's favorite recipes like Mu-shu Vegetables, Hot & Sour Soup, and Home-style Peking Roast Duck, all perfected through years of experience. "Martin Yan's Feast" would not be complete without Yan's valuable advice on technique and method, or without his signature zeal for culture and sense of humor. Whether explaining the wisdom of yin and yang, giving instructions on how to grow your own Chinese vegetable garden, or introducing Chinese beverages, Yan swings open the doors of Chinese cooking and invites readers to experience the most popular cuisine in the world.

Thai and South-East Asian Cookbook, the Ultimate: All the traditions, ingredients and techniques, with over 300 spicy and aromatic recipes illustrated step-by-step

Deh-Ta Hsuing

Amazon Price: $19.79 List Price: $29.99 Usually ships in 6 to 12 days By: Lorenz Books Amazon Marketplace: 5 new & used starting at $19.29

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Editorial Review:

This comprehensive volume is not just a guide to the delectable cooking of Thailand but also to the classic cuisines of Asia, from China through Korea and Japan, down through Burma, Thailand and Vietnam to the islands of Malaysia, Borneo, Indonesia and the Philippines. Each country has its own distinctive style of cooking, but they share a similar approach to food. This book is a magnificently photographed guide to the ingredients and cooking of Asia, filled with enticing, traditional recipes.

Quick & Easy Dim Sum Appetizers and Light Meals (Quick & Easy)

Judy Lew

Amazon Price: $10.36 List Price: $12.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Japan Publications Trading Amazon Marketplace: 34 new & used starting at $7.43

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 1 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

Dim Sum and other types of small dishes continue to be one of our hottest culinary trends. These tasty little treats--from dumplings and spring rolls to buns, noodles and mini cakes--allow diners to sample a wide variety of dishes as a snack or a full meal.
Now, Judy Lew, author of the two bestselling books in the Quick & Easy series, shows readers that Dim Sum are not only fun to eat--they're fun and simple to prepare and serve as well. Lew begins with Basic Hints (if the formation of a dumpling seems difficult at first, try to shape it in an easier style, it will taste just as delicious) and Preparations (Basic Bun Dough); then goes on to offer 50 individual recipes, grouped according to type: Buns-Rolls, Black Bean Sauce Variations, Siu Mai Spring Rolls, Seafood, Meat, Rice-Noodles and Confectionary. She also covers essentials like how to make sweet and sour sauce, using a wok, steaming rice, making soup stock and preparing tea. The volume concludes with sections on menu planning, cooking methods, utensils and a glossary.
Dim Sum Appetizers and Light Meals has been designed and packaged in the immediately-recognizable and user-friendly format of the Quick & Easy series. Each recipe is accompanied by a vivid color photograph of the finished dish, as well as photos showing ingredients and each step of the preparation.
With its emphasis on simple, fresh seasonal ingredients, Quick & Easy Dim Sum Appetizers and Light Meals will appeal to cooks at all levels of experience who want to produce delicious meals for casual family dining or festive occasions.

Sam Choy's Island Flavors

Sam Choy, U`i Goldsberry, Steven Goldsberry

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 17 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

One of the best cookbooks I own (and I own 80+) 5 out of 5 stars.
7 of 8 people found this review helpful.

All of Sam Choy's books are good, but this one has a special place in my kitchen, because it covers the gamut of dishes. Unlike his seafood and Poke books, Sam provides some of the finest "home cooking" recipes of the islands.

Well done!

Editorial Review:

Charismatic restaurateur Sam Choy, famous throughout America for his innovative take on Hawaiian home cooking, brings the flavors of the islands right into your kitchen. Chef Choy's unique cuisine is based on fresh, healthy ingredients, unexpected combinations of spicy and sweet, and low-key preparation, often involving grilling with friends. This gorgeously designed cookbook celebrates Choy's diverse culinary heritage with over 200 recipes ranging from imaginative appetizers, to seafood and meat entrees, to delicious desserts and tropical drinks. With dishes like Baked Teriyaki Mahimahi, Roasted Chicken with Macadamia Nut Stuffing, Big Island Beef Short Ribs, and Mango Guava Sorbet, Choy proves that you can have great flavor with minimal fuss and maximum flexibility. Perfect for entertaining, intimate dining, or dinner with the kids, Choy's cooking is as vibrant and easygoing as Hawaii itself. Aloha!

Authentic Recipes from the Philippines (Authentic Recipes Series)

Reynaldo G. Alejandro, Luca Invernizzi Tettoni

Amazon Price: $10.85 List Price: $15.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Periplus Editions Amazon Marketplace: 29 new & used starting at $9.00

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

beautiful book, beautiful pictures of Filipino food 5 out of 5 stars.
5 of 5 people found this review helpful.

I'm not sure what the other reviewer meant by the book not covering traditional Filipino food he's known. This was lovingly put together by Philippine-born Filipinos famous for their work in documenting authentic Filipino cuisine... very unlike other cookbooks whose writers only parachute into the country, if at all, and compile recipes for publication.

True, it's not a typical cookbook that focuses solely on recipes. The first ten or so pages are essays. Its value is not only in the beautiful photographs, but also in the substantial background it provides for Filipino food. What a deal at $12!

You can preview the book above with Amazon's "Search inside this book" feature. The reviews of the edition that came out in 1999 are here: The Food of the Philippines: Authentic Recipes from the Pearl of the Orient.

Editorial Review:

Filipino food, influenced by over 300 years of Chinese, Hispanic and American culinary techniques, is one of the most vibrant and intriguing cuisines in Asia. A tantalizing concoction of textures, flavors and colors, these popular Filipino recipes range from national dishes such as adobo, to the spicy dishes of the Bicol region.

Genuine native artwork and a detailed description of life in the Philippines distinguish this title from other ethnic cookbooks. With all of the dishes and ingredients vividly photographed, you'll know just what to expect when preparing these exotic delicacies.

Vegetarian Sushi (Essential Kitchen Series)

Brigid Treloar

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 10 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Vegetarian Sushi? 1 out of 5 stars.
50 of 58 people found this review helpful.

This book has everything it needs to pass as great to the majority of the population; glossy photos, cute names, and it's about sushi.
Very trendy.
As a Vegan, I was not as impressed. The stock recipes include bonito (dried fish), and offered no substitutions for it. Several of the recipes called for the stock, or water. Water doesn't add any flavor to food, obviously. So it's either fish, or a substandard dish. The author also includes seafood suggestions on nearly every page. The last time I checked, fish are living creatures. Fish are not vegetables.
I expected a few mentions of egg or dairy, it is a supposedly Vegetarian book. But I can't say I expected flesh to be involved in the cooking process.
Before becoming Vegan, I had never eaten sushi due to my allergy to seafood. So if you have a similar allergy and are looking to enjoy Sushi, I would recommend searching elsewhere.

not totally vegetarian 3 out of 5 stars.
21 of 22 people found this review helpful.

i was looking for a strict vegetarian sushi book and this book often uses bonito which is a fish product...

Healthy Thai Cooking

Sri Owen

Amazon Price: $14.93 List Price: $21.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Frances Lincoln Amazon Marketplace: 33 new & used starting at $7.87

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 4 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Fabulous 5 out of 5 stars.
11 of 11 people found this review helpful.

I am Balinese, have a restaurant and love food. I especially love Thai food.

The recipes in this book are excellent and have obviously all been tested by the author. Follow them and you will not be disappointed.

The presentation is clear at all times and the photographs are superb.

Partcularly helpful are a couple of pages on which wines best accompany Thai food - and they are not those that you would immediately think of. The explanations are interesting and illuminating.

I would recommend this book to restaurant owners, as well as people cooking at home for a few friends.

mmm. 5 out of 5 stars.
6 of 6 people found this review helpful.

very tasty. quite healthy. many recipes are quick and easy, too. some ingredients are a little tough to get, but easily substituted. gorgeous pictures.

Editorial Review:

A guide to Thai cooking, offering dozens of delicious and healthy recipes, each one accompanied by a complete nutritional profile. Recipes include savoury snacks, soups, salads, fish and poultry main courses, vegetarian offerings, sauces, relishes and pickles, and sweets.

Quick & Easy Sushi Cookbook

Heihachiro Tohyama, Yukiko Moriyama

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 2 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Very Worthwhile! 5 out of 5 stars.
11 of 11 people found this review helpful.

I bought this book in a bookshop here in Tokyo actually after reading through it, I worked in Japanese resturants both in Australia and Japan for about 4 years and after making a change in my line of work I wanted a reference book on some of the areas that I didn't get time to learn in full. I'd made Sushi professionally but wasn't doing it long enough to rotate through all of the different areas of prep

There are very good step by step picture (glossy photos) instructions for how to cut fish and prepare different types of fish plus there are some great novelty chirashi items for kids too.

The proof in the pudding for me though was the part on Shari (sushi rice), if that more fundumental part isn't good then it calls the quality of the whole book into question. It was certainly not lacking!

In the end, with the sushi rice in this book so good the fact that there are lots of imaginative recipes in here that you might get in a japanese home but never in a resturant on top of the standard stuff really makes this book worth while. All the fundamentals are here, plus a lot of fun stuff so you get to involve yourself to a level that suits you.

Editorial Review:

The ideal first book for learning to make the various styles of traditional and authentic sushi.

Singaporean, Malaysian & Indonesian Cuisine

Christina Sjahir Hwang, Wei-Chuan Publishing

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Total reviews: 6 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Amazing Authentic Cookbook! 5 out of 5 stars.
25 of 25 people found this review helpful.

Being a native Indonesian far away from home, I crave for the rich and savory flavor of the cuisine from these three countries. Unlike Thai cuisine, Singaporean, Malaysian and Indonesian cuisine is still not well known here in United States. Therefore there are limited restaurants that offer this cuisine. You can imagine my agony of having to suppress my craving until I make a trip to these restaurants in NYC or Toronto. It all changed after I bought this cookbook. This cookbook is amazing! It contains 68 recipes that are divided into Singaporean, Malaysian and Indonesian recipe sections. A one-page spread picture accompanies each recipe, which is very helpful for people who are not familiar with this cuisine. The author starts by introducing the countries and their cuisine followed by glossary of ingredients, seasonings, spices and herbs. It then continues with recipes for stocks, condiments, pickled salads, sambal chilli sauces (used like chutneys in Indian cuisine), and assorted spice pastes. These spice pastes are used in a lot of the recipes and they are what give this cuisine its fragrant, rich and savory flavors. This book offers specialties from Singapore (Hainan chicken rice, spiced sparerib soup, spring roll, laksa, spicy crabs, sweet coconut rice balls, etc), Malaysia (fried noodle, coconut rice, sate, beef curry,vegetable with grated coconut, etc) and Indonesia (beef rendang, eggs in spicy red sauce, java salad or gado gado, turmeric fried chicken, etc). I have tried more than a dozen of the recipes and they all taste fantastic! Most of all they taste authentic. They are a huge hit with my American boyfriend and roomate. There are some ingredients that are hard to find, even in Asian markets (especially in small towns). I had to shop online at an Indonesian grocery store to find most of the hard to find ingredients like candlenut, dried galangal, pandan leaves, palm sugar, kaffir leaves and shrimp paste. However, they are worth it. I use dried galangal because I don't have access to fresh ones. I substitute fresh red chilli with bottled ground chilli paste called Sambal Oelek. It works just as wonderful! I think this is the most authentic and remarkable cookbook I have. It is simple, clear, precise and a gem. I would recommend this cookbook if you want to bring authentic new flavors to your table. It helps ease my homesickness. Nowadays, I call my mom up to say "I made beef rendang today!"... something I had never said before this cookbook.

Editorial Review:

The dishes of Singapore combine spices and cuisine from all over Asia. Hainan Chicken and Rice (Nasi Ayam), Noodles in Spicy Coconut Milk Soup (Laksa Lemak), and Spiced Sparerib Soup (Bak Kut Teh) are Singapore s most popular dishes. Malaysian cuisine combines the delicacy of Chinese food with Indian spices and regional herbs; famous dishes include Penang Noodle Soup (Penang Laksa), Lacy Pancakes (Roti Jala) and Beef Sate (Sate Daging). Indonesian food is known for its unique and exceptional spicy aromas and flavoured dishes such as Sticky Yellow Rice (Nasi Kunjit) with Spicy Chicken Braised in Coconut Milk (Rendang Ayam), Batavia Beef Soup with Glass Noodles (Soto Betawi) and Balinese Fried Fish (Ikan Bumbu Bali). Rarely indeed, has a cookbook come along that combines within one cookbook cover, the tantalising cuisine from these three cultures so well.