1 comments about Somersize Appetizers: 30 Scintillating Starters to Tantalize Your Tastebuds at Every Occasion.

1. This is a wonderful book that is filled with scrumption recepies that will keep you tummy trim and belly full. I highly recommend this book for someone who loves food and is also watching their waistline. If you like this book, don't forget to try her original book Sommerizing! This book is a wonderful addition to her collection.

4 comments about Asian Tapas: Small Bites, Big Flavors.

1. Co-written by an executive chef, Asian Tapas: Small Bites, Big Flavors is a beautiful recipe book that blurs cultural lines in its presentation of exciting flavors from Bali, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Japan, China, and more. From Flaky Cashew Nut Puff Pastry Squares, to Summer Green Tea Noodles with Mussels, to Spicy Crab Salad Sandwiches and more, the preparations within combine traditional ingredients to create inventive and mouth-watering, succulent dishes. Each recipe is accompanied by a full-page color photograph that captures the dish with the precision of a skilled artist. A beautiful, captivating compendium recommended for kitchen cooks of all skill and experience levels who want to try preparing something a little different.



2. I agree the book is visually well presented and appealing, but the content is not suitable for home cooks, nor aspiring chefs. I admit I am 'flexible' in the use of 'fusion' cooking and terms, but I had definite ideas in mind when I read "Asian TAPAS". The (Spanish) tapas I know and love are not so labor intensive, nor contain such large shopping lists of ingredients. Elegant food? Absolutely. Flavorful and interesting food? Without a doubt. "Tapas", as I know them? Absolutely not - the French influence of intense preparation and manipulation (not a bad thing, don't misunderstand me), is inappropriate here - frustratingly intense efforts for 'tapas'. Also, where in the U.S. does a typical home cook/aspiring chef find, or more importantly, Afford, abalone?? It's my understanding that the finest North American source of abalone was California, and, greedy folks as they are, they overfished their abalone to extinction. Do you have the staff required to do all the mise en place and prep work for these works of art? Some cookbooks are more the display of the talents of the author chefs, rather than a source of encouragement and teaching to home chefs. This is the second time I have bought a cookbook without visual inspection - I will not do it again.



3. This has become one of my favorite cookbooks. It is perfect for extra special dishes for parties, or for two. The dishes are not difficult to prepare, have delicious flavors, quick to prepare, and are all shown in wonderful photos beautifully presented.
   This cookbook has classy recipes with a modern flair and gourmet flavors but didn't use exotic hard to find ingredients. I regularly cook the miso marinated black cod, and also love the satay. I think this cookbook would suit home cooks that like pan asian gourmet food, without hours of preparation, although the dishes all come out deceptively looking like you have spent much time making them...highly recommended!



4. I'm a chef and this book it's just great!! I love this book because the recipes are great and the pictures helps a lot to have an idea of plating. I totally recommend it because it's full of very good ideas for appetizers to make at home or even in a restaurant! If you're looking for asian-fusion recipes this is the book!

5 comments about The Essential Appetizers Cookbook (Essential Cookbooks).

1. The Essential Appetizers Cookbook is not only beautifully photographed, one of the things I love best in an great cookbook, but I found the recipes, directions,and ingredients easy to read, follow, and find, in that order. I used several of the recipes for a formal tea, and they proved to be a triumphant success. I highly recommend this book to those who love to entertain guests, and are looking for unique recipes which are fresh, eye appealing, and enormously scrumptious bites that will delight the taste buds of connoisseurs of the epicurean world, as well as friends and family alike. This book offers a wide variety of recipes, however; if you fail to find a recipe here, you can certainly use the book as a springboard to launch your culinary imagination in search of the "perfect appetizers." In other words, great book!



2. This appetizer book is wonderful. Great pictures, excellent selection, conveniently organized!



3. I have dozens of cookbooks and if I could only keep one, this would be it. Here's what I like about it: color pictures for nearly every dish .. wide variety, including themes and many ethnic dishes ... ranges from quick/easy to things requiring more skill ... creative ... not the dishes you find at any party ... my guests have raved about everything I've ever served from this book ... detailed instructions. BRAVO!!!! Publish a second volume!!!!!



4. One of the best appetizer books I've ever found.
   Solid flavors from around the globe with helpful information about spices and regional cooking. I've turned some of these appetizers into en-tree's. If you're having a regional flavor themed get together this book is truly essential. Mixing and matching the recipes will also produce very happy and satisfied guests. Recipes range from very easy to difficult (aka time consuming and a bit tricky) for the average cook.



5. I love cookbooks. I saw this one at my friend's house. I had to have it! This cookbook has so many choices for Appetizers. Many ingredients that you need to prepare recipes are in your kitchen. Most recipes are easy. I really enjoy it. It is a nice conversation opener If you like Appetizers, the purchase of this cookbook will be worth it.

3 comments about Tapas Deck: 50 Little Dishes that Capture the Essence of Spanish Cooking.

1. I am not sure what I expected, but it was not very simple recipes that fit on a single side of a 3 x 5 card. Many pictures did not even look good and all were unimpressive and simple.



2. I really loved this idea of a deck rather than a book because you can pull the one you're using, take it to the store and set it where you can read it during preparation. I had never made tapas before but after eating in a great tapas restaurant, La Boca, in Santa Fe, New Mexico, I became interested in trying to prepare them.
   I think the photos are beautiful and inspiring and the recipes simple enough for a tapas novice. All my cook friends are getting this deck for Christmas along with a nice bottle of Spanish olive oil.



3. Product was shrink wrapped but not 'new'.... 'like new' was true to description and product appeared brand new, or at least never used. Making tasty great tapas dishes already! :)

5 comments about Foie Gras: A Passion.

1. Chill your bottle of sauterne! Your mouth will be watering - makes a beautiful coffee table book or great hostess gift for a "foodie".



2. The recipes are great, well explained, and with phenomenal pictures. I also enjoyed learning how ducks are farmed and how the force-feed process works, so I can better understand why animal right rights activists complain.
   
   However, I find it unacceptable to see so many pages dedicated to the history of Foie Gras, while only 2 pages cover a key part of cooking foie gras, which is how to clean and prepare it. And there are no pictures of that procedure.



3. Before buying this product go online and do some research on this product and the truth behind it, you will not buy it after that.



4. Please do not buy this product as it is cuelty in its most evil form. Force-feeding ducks for a 'delicacy' is shameful and outrageous. Stop foie gras!!



5. This book is highly uneven in its quality. Luxury food items often bring out authors that just want to make a quick buck. This book is written by a goose farmer so it is sad to see it fall into that same category.
   
   The history section is 75 pages long. I would say too long, but that is my personal viewpoint. More important are the "missing" parts of the book:
   
   First, we hardly get any information about different ways foie gras is sold; whole, pieces, reconstituted. We don't get any information about conservation techniques; for instance would it have been nice with a discussion of fresh versus pasteurised, etc.
   
   Second, there are no simple foie gras recipes at all, but around 100 haute cuisine recipes. This is totally unacceptable. I don't mind the very fancy dishes at all, but the joy of eating foie gras gets totally lost in the book. Where is the section on just eating it cold with some good bread? Where is the section on simple accompanying ingredients, like figs, etc. Where is the section on quick pan-searing of the foie gras? These simple ways of eating foie gras are very joyful and it is a crime to leave them out all together.

2 comments about Ken Hom's Top 100 Stir Fry Recipes: Quick and Easy Dishes for Every Occasion (BBC Books' Quick & Easy Cookery).

1. My shelves are already sagging because I own so many cookbooks so you KNOW it would have to be terrific for me to want to add to the collection. I checked this book out from the library and the recipes were so easy to follow and turned out so well, that I really need my own copy. He does use Britishisms like ground nut oil (instead of peanut oil) but that is all explained in one section of the book. Highly recommend!



2. Good recipes that can be easily prepared and enjoyed, however, it wasn't exactly the book I was hoping for. It's a departure from traditional stir fry, which is great for those looking for something just a little different.

1 comments about Garde Manger, Study Guide: The Art and Craft of the Cold Kitchen.

1. i dont feel this is the most exciting thing.. but, it was required for school. it arrived in good time, and good condition.

4 comments about Easy Tapas: Spanish Snacks to Serve With Cocktails.

1. This book is great. The recipes are easy to follow and they don't require too many ingredients.
   
   I made several dishes from this book for a recent "Girls night out" and by the end of the night everyone was asking for the title of the book to purchase it. I'm a novice at cooking, so these dishes really made me look good.



2. If you like tapas and are looking for easy, varied recipes, try this book. Your tummy will thank you.



3. Thr cookbook, although quite small, has a fairly representative selection of tapas and is a good starting point for cooks interested in Spanish appetizers and having a desire to begin cooking them.



4. I also bought "Tapas" by Julz Bedford at the same time. Both have several good items that are simple to prepare. The problem was that they had exactly the same items in the same order in each book. Just different covers. Who copied who?

No comments about Turkish Meze: The Little Dishes of the Eastern Mediterranean.

5 comments about Fast & Fabulous Party Foods and Appetizers (Best of the Best).

1. Quail Ridge Press has once again published a cookbook that will be dear to those who like to make party foods and appetizers for their family or friends who gather 'round them.
   
   "Best of the Best Fast & Fabulous Party Foods and Appetizers" is 274 pages of recipes that are delicious, easy and quick to prepare and will have your guests asking for the recipe so they too can make it for their next party.
   
   As they usually do, QRP has placed the title of this cookbook on the plastic comb spine so it will be easy to spot on the shelf. Being comb bound it is also easy to lay flat while cooking from -- a feature cooks love.
   
   This cookbook is all about parties and there is an alphabetical listing of parties in the front, such as Bunko or Bridge Party, Father's Day Cookout, Mardi Gras Madness, Super Bowl Party, Wine-Tasting Party, just to name a few. Then there is another index of Monthly Parties with 2 menus for each month with listing of recipes and page numbers included. There is yet another index of Quick Fixes -- recipes that are super quick, as well as fast and fabulous.
   
   Some of the chapters that catch my attention are:
   
   "Wet Your Whistle"
   includes shakes, floats, smoothies, slushes, teas, punches, coolers, wines, and wassails.....WOW!
   
   "Crunchy Munchies" include recipes for crackers, chips, toasts, wafers, nuts, popcorn, and snack mixes.
   
   "Some Like It Hot" include recipes for hot dips, chafing dishes, fondues, and hot bread bowls.
   
   "Cheese, Please" includes recipes for cheese balls, squares, cubes, crisps, nachos, quesadillas and spreads. This is the section where I found a winner called "It's a Snowman Cheese Ball" and was a huge hit over the holidays when family gathered for Christmas dinner at my house. This held them over until I could get it all on the table and everyone was asking for the recipe (copied below for you).
   
   This cookbook is filled with celebration recipes as well it should be since it was published to celebrate Quail Ridge Press's 30th anniversary (1978-2008). Gwen McKee and Barbara Moseley have never let us down with their BoB cookbooks and they haven't this time either.
   
   Congratulations to McKee, Moseley and Quail Ridge Press on their busy, but exciting 30 years of giving the cookbook reader what they want -- exciting, delicious, easy, quick, challenging, unusual, wonderful recipes in wonderful cookbooks.
   
   I believe it's time to celebrate and have a party and I know where we can get some more recipes like the one below:
   
   "It's A Snowman Cheese Ball"
   
   2 cups shredded 4-cheese blend
   1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
   1/4 cup finely chopped fresh chives or green onions
   1 (2-ounce) package slivered almonds, toasted
   1/8 teaspoon ground red pepper, or to taste
   1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
   Peppercorns
   1 baby carrot
   
   Mix cheese, cream cheese, chives, almonds, and red pepper well. Cover and refrigerate 1 hour. Divide mixture into 3 balls -- small, medium, and large. Roll in Parmesan cheese. Arrange on serving dish small to large, like a snowman lying down. Decorate with peppercorns for eyes, mouth, and buttons, and carrot for nose. A green onion skin strip around his neck makes a scarf. Surround with crackers or cut-up fresh vegetables. Serves 16-20.
   
   Reviewed by Monita Olive for CookbooksEtCetera and Amazon on January 4, 2009



2. Love this cookbook! I rely on it for ideas on what to serve for both small and large gatherings. This book is filled with wonderfully delicious and easy-to-prepare recipes. As a bonus, it features a calendar of suggested menus for holiday parties customarily celebrated in each month. Right now I'm planning a Super Bowl party and will be using at least 5 of the suggested items under the Feb. Super Bowl Party listing. Great ideas, great cookbook!



3. Spiral bound to lay flat for easy reference, Best of the Best Fast & Fabulous Party Foods and Appetizers is a cookbook jam-packed with recipes perfect for all types of parties and gatherings. Four hundred recipes comprising twenty-four full party menus form the core of this incredibly useful and easy-to-follow cookbook. Best of the Best Fast & Fabulous Party Foods and Appetizers is further enhanced with hundreds of hints and suggestions for enhancing its preparations, and special sections on Quick Fixes (food that can be prepared in minutes) and Fun Foods (taste treats with an amusing appearance especially sure to delight younger folk) allow for extra flexibility. Recipes range from Pecan Cheese Wafers to Porto Mushroom Fries, Gingered Shrimp Kabobs, Zucchini Stix Dippers, and much more. Highly recommended for anyone seeking to liven up their gatherings with unforgettably good snacks!



4. This book contains hundreds of good party and appetizer ideas. I love how it has pre-planned menus for baby showers, birthdays, superbowl, ect. Great recipe book for the price. The only thing I would add is color photos of some of the dishes.



5. I purchased this book a couple of months ago and was very pleasantly surprised at the variety of recipes included. I have tried several of them and have had positive comments on all I have tried. I think this is well worth the price!!