5 comments about Semi-Homemade Cocktail Time (Sandra Lee Semi-Homemade).

1. This is a wonderfully designed book with great photos and cocktails for every month. I have a ton of cocktail books but this is simply my favorite. I highly recommend this. I'm giving this as gifts this year.



2. Want some inspiration for your neighborhood cocktail party? Need to pep up your family gatherings? Then this is the book you have been waiting for! I have had this book for two weeks and I have already used countless recipes, and cocktail ideas....it has been a great friend during the winter holidays. Instead of the same old, same old, we have had lots of fun with this cookbook that is full of easy inspiration. Thanks for making my life easier Sandra Lee!



3. This is a great book. I bought it mainly for the cocktails. She organizes the cocktails based on month, with several selections each month. And the drinks range in complexity, from simple drinks with a couple of ingredients, to more complex recipes.



4. I purchased this book because of an appearance on TV, it did not measure up to what she presented on TV.
   Items featured rare liquors or alcoholic beverages you'd have to go out and buy special.



5. I bought this for a friend who was having trouble finding this book. She was super excited to get it and said there are great recipes inside.

5 comments about Small Bites.

1. This is a great book with easy and clever ideas for lots of "small plates, or bites". Our family seems to love this idea of many flavors and this is one of the best books I've found. Great pictures, easy to follow recipes and great fun!



2. You can now enjoy pub night at home with Small Bites. This great cookbook is full of great snacks, finger foods, and side dishes for formal entertaining or a casual nibble for two. The recipes range from simple one or two ingredient eats that can be made in minutes to more complex dishes that take a little more effort. Almost all of the recipes can be made in a half hour with very little marinating or preparation time. Since I tend to get in a mood to cook and grab a cookbook, I like that I don't really have to organize myself ahead of time in order to make the majority of these dishes. I also know that these aspects will come in handy when unexpected guests show up at my door.
   
   I used the recipes in Small Bites for a big get together. I cooked like a mad woman and had a very good spread to show for my efforts. Quite a few of the recipes said that they could be made ahead of time and reheated. I was a bit concerned, especially about the deep-fried onion rings, the corn fritters, and the zucchini cakes but they tasted just as crispy outside and wonderful inside as when I first made them.



3. My husband bought me this book 2 years ago and since then I have made at least half the recipes and I have never been disappointed. It is great for dinner parties or for a light dinner. The avocado crostini and grilled halloumi/sourdough skewers are amazing!



4. I will enjoy using the ideas in this book. Very easy recipes and the presentations in the book are elegantly photographed



5. I love this book because it's very inspiring, colourful and entertaining. Has plenty of great recipes and pictures, wich is great, because it gives you an idea about the result! Totally recommend it!

5 comments about Amuse-Bouche: Little Bites Of Delight Before the Meal Begins.

1. Serving an amuse bouche at the start of any dinner is in style but even if it wasn't it's a wonderful way to kick off any dinner party. The purpose is, yes, to kick off the dinner but also with one or two bites to create anticipaton for what is to follow. It is meant to awake the senses and to impress and if you like a way for the cook to show off his skills and imagination.
   
   In most of the recipes Rick gives ideas that accomplish the above and then some. An impressive amuse bouche may often be difficult to prepare and often more expensive than your first course. It is however a way to introduce some expensive ingredients into your dinner menu without breaking the bank. As far as I am concerned this is the only book out there on this subject that will become an invaluble resource for those of you who wishes to really impress.



2. Rick Tramonto is a master of the amuse-bouche (first bite)! His recipes are outstanding and give you an idea of the type of chef that he is! His amuse creations can be just a stepping stone towards any chefs own unique creations. Rick Tramonto is a chef who creates "outside the box." Any cook or chef who desires to create new and innovating recipes should get this book because it will encourage you to create in a new and different way! Simple creations all the way to extravagant, in his thought process, ingredients and presentation.



3. A great book filled with great recipes that can be used to make an amuse-bouche, appetizers, or even a main course. This book is not for beginners, however, and many of the techniques and ingredients are going to be outside the reach of beginning chefs. Furthermore, creating an amuse is really not appropriate for most people who are going to be entertaining. They're really for restaurants. A good amuse gives you a sample of what's coming or a window into the chef's mind, but at a dinner party they might seem like fussy appetizers that are too small and will leave your guests wanting more. Great recipes, but to put this book to good use, make appetizers and entrees.



4. I bought this book for my sister-in-law, who is head chef of her own restaurant. She reads cookbooks like most people read newspapers. She loved the ideas and presentation.



5. Easy to follow recipes & great pictures ... a book and serious cook can enjoy!

No comments about Gourmet Game Night: Bite-Sized, Mess-Free Eating for Board-Game Parties, Bridge Clubs, Poker Nights, Book Groups, and More.

5 comments about Garde Manger: The Art and Craft of the Cold Kitchen (Culinary Institute of America).

1. DO NOT BUY THIS BOOK!! If you are interested in Garde Manger history and want to experiment making any cold kitchen products, especially pates and sausages, this is not the edition for you. At school when I took the Garde Manger class my Chef did not use the recipes from this edition. Many of the contributiting chefs did NOT test the recipes and many of them do NOT work. The history is accurate but is simliar to the 1st and 2nd edition. I, and many of the old school students and chefs will all recommend the BLUE Garde Manger CIA text, which I believe is the 1st edition. I bought this and used it for my class instead. Much better.



2. I am home cook who really loves appetizers. So this book was really exactly what I was looking for! Very detailed guidelines starting from the basics and all over to decorating and finishing. High quality photos, including step-by -step ones, as well as a great variety of recipes. There are dedicated chapters for each type of cold food, such as salads, sandwiches, terrines/pates/galantines, cheese, cold soups, condiments etc. There is also a really inclusive chapter fro charcuterie, as well as a section for the basics (stocks, sauces etc).
   
   As it includes a great number of techniques and cooking tips, i consider this a very good guide for any type of cooking. Moreover, judging from the recipes i 've tried till now i do not see any difficult to ingredients, which is really surprising if you consider that it's actually a professional oriented cookbook.
   
   I strongly recommend this to anyone who wants to know what to prepare for a gourmet party and surprise his friends but at the same time deepen his knowledge in cooking !



3. Great book. I used it for a Buffet & Catering class. A lot of good recipes in it. I think the chapters could have a bit more lessons in them (this is why I give it a 4/5), but overall a great book.



4. I am enrolled in a gard manger class and have found this book to be very informative and have learned much from it and glad that I purchased it and now know a lot more about cold foods in the kitchen. I have found recipes in the book that I will try and recommend this book to all who want to know about cold foods.



5. This book could use more pictures given the subject matter of the book. Other than that the book has relevant data and is a useful tool in class.

5 comments about Snack Attack!: Over 150 Guilt-free Treats for Healthy Munching.

1. It had some good recipes to try but for the most part not anything great. A lot of it is time consuming and not a "ready" snack.



2. Lots of great quick recipes for the diabetic.
   
   The volume I got has been evidently used by a 'heavy' smoker and still carries the scent. Nothing against this book, but the particular seller. This means I will buy more new and less used books in the future.



3. I ordered the Snack Attack book for my wife, since she rarely orders on line. She loves it!!! and I enjoy the rewards! Great book, fantastic snack ideas, recipes and organization. May order a few more for gifts! Great snacks for everyone, not just diabetics.



4. Not so much snacks as general items. Recipes full of uninspiring substitutes - for example, if you are wary of the additions needed to make cottage cheese fat-free - instead of interesting alternatives.



5. In some circles "Snack Attack" is touted as a good reference "snack" cookbook for diabetics and while there are some quaint ideas for good snacks, the book is only moderately useable for diabetics. Peruse the margins for the nutritional information and you may soon realize that these "Guilt-free Treats" may only be relatively healthy depending on your current diet. But for diabetics... be very careful: too much sugar and too many carbohydrates per meal, per serving.

4 comments about Pastry Queen Parties: Entertaining Friends and Family, Texas Style.

1. Rather has demonstrated with her other cookbooks that she brings the Southern charm and style to her pastries and other culinary offerings. Here she turns to one of her passions, partying Texas style. A Texas native, she related her desire to do such a book after a lifetime of enjoying Texas partying and her catering biz, etc.
   
   So, this wonderful work is organized around the different Texas regions and their partying specialties: e.g. Hill Country, Gulf Coast, Big City, etc. What I find exceptional about this colorful and exciting offering is the writeup on each of these and the absolutely great color photos is one of my favorite things about it.
   
   There are so many enticing recipes in this collection, and what is great about them is that one can either mix and match, or go with a theme party as this cookbook is organized around. Those that intrigue me to try include: Roasted Beet Salad with Spicy Pecans and Fresh Chevre; Watermelon Salads with Tequilla-Lime Dressing; Layered Salad in a Jar; Butterscotch Brownies with Brown Sugar Butter Icing; Fiesta Chile Rellenos; Key-Lime Cocunut Cream Cake; Mary's Crayfish Pies; Stuffed Bandera Quail with Pepper Glaze; Sohnne's Mama's Double Decker Blackberry Cobbler.
   
   A great Texas addition to one's collection.



2. I have all the Pastry Queen recipe books and LOVE them all. This book is as wonderful as the others as far as the quality of recipes go. In particular I have loved the Hostess with the Mostest Cupcakes, Cocoa Cloud Whipping Cream, and Beans a la Charra. I am a little disappointed, however, in the number of recipes in the book (probably about 25% of them) that contain alcohol as an ingredient. For those of us who don't drink alcohol, it makes many of the recipes unworkable. If it weren't for this fact, I would give it a 5 star.



3. I have all 3 of the Pastry Queen cookbooks, and have discovered you can rely upon them to be your fall-back recipe for every dish they cover. My whole family loves it when I get a new cookbook of hers, as they know lots of good food will soon follow.
   
   Off the top of my head, I know we've had enchiladas, beans and rice from this one, plus the home-made Hostess cupcakes, while looking difficult, were out of this world delicious and easy.



4. How could one not love this beautiful cookbook? It is filled with down-home Texas cooking, over 100 photos, and numerous stories. Pastry Queen Parties, includes not only many delicious recipes, but also tells about some of the long held traditions of the Lone Star state. Ms. Rather also shares cooking tips and hostess secrets. Recipes include: Pineapple Bundt Cake; Vanilla Sand Dollar Cookies; S'mores Cupcakes; Deviled Eggs; Double-dipped Buttermilk Fried Chicken; Gangy's Spoon Bread; Butterscotch Brownies with Brown Sugar Butter Icing. This will easily become one of my favorite cookbooks for party planning.

1 comments about Better Homes and Gardens The Ultimate Slow Cooker Book: More than 400 recipes from appetizers to desserts (Better Homes & Gardens).

1. This cookbook is great! There are lots of pictures. Of the several meals I've made so far, I've liked them all.

5 comments about Pintxos: Small Plates in the Basque Tradition.

1. I am always looking for new foods, new ways to present old foods and new techniques to prepare them. This book is a treasure! The food of the Basque region of Spain has them all, and this book presents them in a tapas-like format. Pintos is the Basque version of tapas. Great party foods!



2. Look, you need to buy this book. it's simple and straightforward. the recipes are tasy and easy. that's it. You will wow your friends cooking anything out of this.



3. The writing is clear and Hirigoyen's story of tapas and his own life is told in an interesting and relatively concise way. Pintxos shows how a book can capture a chef's style and cuisine traditions without feeling forced, pretentious or too much like a self-promotional device. An enjoyable book to cook, eat and entertain from.



4. Quite a few interesting and tasty tapas of Basque inspiration with modern twist. Great pictures also.



5. the pintxos and tapas are all there, and you can prepare them at home and invite friends to share the basque tradition.

5 comments about Sam the Cooking Guy: Just a Bunch of Recipes.

1. i love everything about this book! I came home to find my husband grilling maple pork chops one summer afternoon and they were delicious and simple! The food always has a lot of good flavor without the ridiculous ingredients you can't find and/or will never use again. The recipes are great for family dinners, quick lunches, parties, etc. The information provided is valuable to ANY kitchen. I can't wait for the 2nd book. BTW-- this makes a great gift (think bridal showers, weddings, housewarming)



2. I bought this as a present for my cousin. He loves it and uses it almost every day. Great seller!



3. Got this book for my wife and she loves it. It has several great recipes in it and he makes cooking easy. Can't wait to get her his new book coming out in a few months.



4. Bought this for my husband. He loves watching Sam but we changed TV providers and don't get it on local access anymore. The recipes are easy, taste great and you don't have to bo out and buy a bunch of crazy ingredients.



5. I found myself looking up Sam's recipes online all the time, so figured it was time to just buy his cookbook. Love that his recipes don't call for 10+ items, so I don't look like Rachel Ray carrying 10 ingredients in my arms from the pantry to the counter. His recipes are simple but always seem to include at least 1 ingredient that makes them unique (in a good way). My kind of cooking.