5 comments about The Four Ingredient Cookbooks-Three Cookbooks in One!.

1. This cookbook is good/great for the lazy cook like me and also for one with no time to cook. After I got one I order one for two of my granddaughters who are able to start cooking.



2. The postage cost far outweighed the cost of the second hand book and the book is not really useful as many of the ingredients are not English.



3. This book was wonderful a great time saver, you can actually cook a meal using only 4 things I never would have believed it until I got this book, if you have a lot of functions to make food for like I do this is a real life saver, I just can't say enough good thing about it and highly recommend it to anyone.



4. This cookbook is great for someone who is just starting out, or on a budget. They items are easy to prepare, quick, and taste great.



5. This handy cookbook has been around for a decade, and it comprises Volumes I, II and III of the Coffee & Cale cookbooks of the same title:
   - "4 Ingredient Cookbook"
   - More 4 Ingredient Cookbook"
   - Low-Fat & Light 4 Ingredient Cookbook".
   The book is arranged in Sections I, II and II, and each section starts with new page numbering. Not to worry about finding your favorite flavors easily though: the back index is comprehensive, alphabetical & has enough cross-referencing to find a main dish by the main spice or dressing that goes with the meat or fish.
   We just got hold of it in January 2010 - wish it had been a little sooner because it is a time saver. The recipes are simple, not time-consuming, made with common readily available ingredients, much of which you will already have in your freezer, canned goods stock, spice rack, and condiments and dressings.
   You'd be surprised what can be done with crushed party mix or cheese crackers (instead of bread crumbs). That old standard - dry onion soup mix - get many new uses in ways that never occurred to us. A can of Coca Cola can be a surprising seasoning for a roast (yes!).
   NOT TO BE MISSED:
   - MUSTARD-APRICOT PORK CHOPS on page 79 of Section II. Unbelievably simple, savory, done in the broiler.
   - COKE ROAST on page 61 of Section II - (there's that can of Coke, the packet of onion soup mix, but there's a surprise ingredient that we are NOT going to reveal here...)
   This little book gets a LOT of use in our kitchen. We wash a LOT fewer pots and utensils. We spend less time trying to be clever and gourmet with everyday meals. It took us 10 years to discover this cookbook - sad, isn't it?

5 comments about Martha Stewart's Hors d'Oeuvres: The Creation and Presentation of Fabulous Finger Foods.

1. I've enjoyed this one so much {'ve moved on to her new Hors d'Oeuvres Handbook. However, this one has much in it, so to get this one as well and use it.

   Some of my all=time favorites are here: Apples with chicken liver pate, Orange muffins with Smoked Turkey, and Roquefort Grapes.

   I find this a useful book in its structure by function: Tea Party, Christmas Cocktails, Outdoor Barbe, etc. Bonus as in all her cookbooks, fantastic clear photos and marvelous creative ways to serve an eye=catching, tastebud wowing first course!




2. This is great if you have all the time and money to spend on Hors D'Oeuvres--I would not buy it again, but it was fun to look at.



3. The guests hated the finger food and I would think there are better books on the subject. I am terrified to visit the golf & tennis club after the dinner debacle. Maybe Martha's finger food was well received in Nutley, NJ but in Short Hills it was another story.



4. These early books and magazines are the best! Have used lots of these hors d' oeuvres. Presentation
   fabulous too. A favorite of mine.



5. I am always looking for new hors d'oeuvre recipes. She has a few good ideas, but it seems dated. Just as fashions change from year to year, so do tastes and types of popular foods. The photos are inspiring.

4 comments about Perfect Vinaigrettes: Appetizers to Desserts.

1. "If you know how to prepare a vinaigrette, then you know how to cook" Stephanie Sedgwick quoted from "Perfect Vinaigrettes Appetizers to Desserts"

   Although great vinaigrettes seem to be somewhat of a lost art (especially in today's world of pre-made dressings). Linda Dannenberg leads the way for any that are eager to learn the necessary techniques of making perfect vinaigrettes.

   In her beautifully done book "Perfect Vinaigrettes Appetizers to Desserts" Dannenberg takes the mystery out of preparing perfect vinaigrettes by walking the reader step by step through the process. Broken down into easy to read sections the book is a great starter for the beginner cook or an excellent reference for the more advanced. Perfect Vinaigrettes is not at all overwhelming, in fact it is a fairly small book. I found that the recipes were very easy to follow, and the accompanying photography excellent.

   There are many things that I like about this book, but what I liked best is the different stages it goes through in explaining to the reader how to prepare a truly great vinaigrette. In her introduction Dannenberg starts off by pointing out some of the philosophy behind making vinaigrettes and states that "something as simple as mixing oil, vinegar, and seasonings is often very difficult even for the best of cooks". Even though a vinaigrette has the potential for disaster, Dannenberg ensures you that all you need to know to create a perfect vinaigrette is elementary, the quality of your ingredients and the proportion.

   Putting aside the philosophy of vinaigrettes, Dannenberg then goes into great detail describing the different components that make up a perfect vinaigrette. I found this to be an excellent section of the book, and aptly titled "The Vinaigrette Pantry". It is here that the reader will find such excellent information as to what purpose a particular ingredient serves, and recommended brands to use. An especially nice touch was the addition of an appendix (near the back of the book) of quality food purveyors where the reader can obtain the recommended brands.

   The rest of the book is devoted primarily to the preparation and use of various types of vinaigrettes. Beginning with the most basic vinaigrettes, the book builds on this base throughout the book as it progresses towards the more advanced vinaigrettes. With over sixty excellent vinaigrette recipes through the book (many of the recipes are from top chefs from around the country) the book is an excellent resource for new vinaigrette ideas. Even if you don't feel very comfortable with the more advanced vinaigrettes, the beginning vinaigrettes will give you good base of simple vinaigrettes that you can try different variations with, and still achieve a great vinaigrette.

   Perfect Vinaigrettes is an excellent book and offers a refreshing look at vinaigrettes, salads, and their preparation. If you are tired of the store bought dressings I highly recommend Linda Dannenberg's Perfect Vinaigrettes.

   Review by Nicko Sahlas of
   cheftalk
   "A food lover's link to professional chefs"




2. Generally, this book does a good job covering the class of sauces having an acid component, but I think the author could have done a better job compiling recipes of true vinaigrettes. Of the 60 recipes in the book, fully one third don't have vinegar as an ingredient; these generally use citrus juice as their acid. That's all well and good if you're just looking for a tangy dressing, but these definitely are not vinaigrettes. And while this probably isn't much of a failing if you're not a vinaigrette purist, the book has a few other failings as well.

   While most of the recipes are extremely simple, some are unnecessarily difficult to follow the first time through, and many of the ingredients are definitely beyond the pale of what is available at the average city market.

   The author does seem to have a good sense of flavor and offers many useful tips for how to create an effective sauce, but overall the book could have done a better job with the topic.




3. This book concentrates on the basics of vinaigrettes - the fundamental ingredients, classical additions, techniques, adjusting for the food context. It also expands the class of vinaigrettes to include sauces with alternative acids, most often citrus, or alternative oils such as yogurt.
   
   Recipes for vinaigrettes are provided for green salads, composed salads, vegetables, fish, meat and fruit. These recipes demonstrate the creative adaption of the fundamentals into actual finished foods. Most of the recipes are simple to cook even when creating complex flavors. The ingredients for most recipes are basic; a few more "exotic" recipes nudge the creativity of even the most accomplished cook.
   
   This is an excellent book for a cook who wishes to thoroughly learn the basics in order to become a creative cook, confident of their own adaptations to particular ingredients and pairings.



4. I think this is a great resource for salad and dressing ideas. I use the coleslaw recipe all the time and people rave about it. The quickie Caesar vinaigrette is also very good. Well worth buying!

1 comments about Tapas.

1. My daughter and I took "spring break" in Spain this year. We were there 10 days and visited 4 cities including Barcelona and Madrid. We had a wonderful time and LOVED the food. I looked at many cookbooks in Spain BUT decided to wait till I got home and get them through Amazon. We had Tapas almost every day either as a snack or for a light lunch. This title was Great. I found allot of recipes that are like the food we had while we were in Spain and some new ones to try---so far all my tapas have been very delicious!

2 comments about 3 Books in 1: Silly Snacks, Classroom Treats, Cookie Dough Fun (Spiral Bound).

1. Love it!! There are big, colorful pictures for almost every recipe, which helps my 4-year-old find what he wants. I love the ideas, and how SIMPLE most of the recipes are!! Plus, they're CUTE and FUN! I'm the "funnest" mom on the block!



2. This cookbook is full of very cute ideas for children's snacks. Many would be great for birthday/holiday parties. However, I wouldn't say that all the recipes are kid friendly, as some require many ingredients and detailed assembly.

4 comments about Dip It! Great Party Food to Spread, Spoon, and Scoop.

1. I just purchased this book a few weeks ago, and I cannot believe how easy the recipes are. Simple ingredients... awesome results. I first tried the seven-layer dip - SUCCESS! Everybody loved it... and wanted the recipe. With recipes like these, I am definitely looking forward to hosting many more parties!



2. In my search for a great dip book, I found it in this one. I did a lot of searching and browsing and came upon this book. The recipes are easy to make and delicious. I also like the little tidbits at the beginning of eat recipe, along with recommended dippers.



3. I have a number of Rick Rodgers books. I have also taken two demo classes with him for holiday menus. This book is typical Rodgers, well written, concise and intriguing. A different take on the most favorite of all party foods. I ordered it for my three kids.



4. After searching EVERYWHERE for a recipe for ratatouille that children could at least TOLERATE to go along with a fun home movie night--I found this gem of a book. There are several excellent dips using common ingredients like lime and cilantro, one "home made" onion dip that--frankly--we liked the soup mix kind better AND the ratatouille receipe! His good suggestions included cutting up the veggies into good size pieces (about 1/2 ") and roasting them first. That keeps their color and it doesn't turn into a grey mush. Additionally, because this is FUN, the kids can actually pick out "suspect" veggies because they can see them. Typically they get so engrossed in the movie and it's love of fine food they can be persuaded to at least try a new veggie. Best of all the sidebars offer many good suggestions for non-traditional dippers--like toasted whole grain pita triangles to make a meal out of a fun time.

No comments about Amor y Tacos: Modern Mexican Tacos, Margaritas, and Antojitos.

1 comments about Appetizers.

1. First, this is not a book. It has a built in stand. This makes it feel much more dense than it really is.
   
   As for the recipes...very good. I like that variety. I found much of the information to be new, to me at least. What is it with all of the expensive ingredients. Truffle oil...C'mon...I'm on a budget.
   
   I think it is thin for the price. The information is good. I have not been able to find duplicate recipes on line elsewhere.

5 comments about Five in Ten Cookbook.

1. Happy with book but the recipes it would seem to take a bit longer than 10 minutes and no pictures but having said that most of the recipes are easy enough you don't need a picture. The book is smaller than I thought but easy to use as it lays flat 180 pages. Happy I got this one



2. I hate to cook. However, I hate fast food and takeout even more so I was forced to figure something out that went beyond salads, spaghetti and sandwiches. Cooking "real" food daunted me because of the long list of sometimes difficult to find or expensive ingredients, the amount of them needed, the time it takes, or the amount of food you end up with when you only want to cook for one to three people max. On the flip side- you're stuck with boring one trick pony soup-can casseroles day in and day out if you take the simple route.
   
   This lovely little cookbook solves all of these problems and more in tasty, easy, inexpensive and often creative ways. It has cured most of my kitchen phobia (except the cleanup, heh) and encouraged me to try a lot of new things I probably wouldn't have if I hadn't discovered how easy it could be. 5 items, 10 minutes (half an hour, tops) and there you have it. I think this book is best for those of us with cooking phobias, lack of time and/or skill and knowledge or simply those who like the KISS method. I'm interested in finding the other books in the series too.



3. Let's say you've just come home from work, and you'd all like to head out to the movies. You can add a trip to the fast food joint and pack on a few pounds, or break the budget at a "real" restaurant. Or, you can get out your copy of Paula Himilton's 5 in 10 Cookbook, saving both money, time and (probably) tons of calories and fat. It's not a diet cookbook, but eating at home usually involves healthier meals -- and you'll certainly find them here.
   
   Fast, easy and simple recipes made from a short list of ingredients (when you have time, you'll probably want to embellish) will give you a real home-cooked meal without robbing you of precious time.
   
   The book is spiral-bound, which makes it extra easy to refer to you as you work. 5 in 10 is a great book for yourself and a great gift for the college student going out on his/her own.
   
   Love it!



4. At first, I was skeptical about this book. I thought only an experienced chef could throw together dinner in ten minutes. And with only five ingredients, would it really be possible to create something that would actually taste good? All of the cookbooks I've previously purchased were full of long, complicated recipes with some ingredients that were difficult to find, so I had to make substitutions or take shortcuts. Well, this cookbook is truly different. All of the recipes really are fast and easy, with easily obtainable ingredients. As far as the taste, I have not yet been disappointed. The most complicated piece of kitchen equipment you will need to prepare some of these recipes is a blender or food processor. Some of the recipes call for capers, olives or sardines, so that is a word of caution to people who don't care for those ingredients. There is enough variety in this book, however, that I don't think too many people would have a problem finding something that appeals to them or that would please a crowd of dinner guests. I think these recipes would also be great for novice cooks, or even people who just don't like to cook. The best part about these recipes is that they don't take long to prepare, but they taste like gourmet, so people will think you slaved over a hot stove for hours.



5. This is my go-to cookbook. I particularly like that most of the ingredients are not super-processed brand name foods, but pantry items (chicken stock, peas, corn, etc.) that are put together in clever ways. It's a small cook book, but all the recipes are easy to follow and most are pretty tasty. And it certainly is good for those 'What's for Dinner' nights after work.
   
   I've been relying on "5 in 10" for years and will continue to keep this tiny cookbook in my kitchen.

5 comments about Fast Appetizers (Fast Books).

1. I have had the pleasure of attending Hugh's culinary cooking camp in Napa and own all of his cookbooks. There is a reason.
   Hugh's recipes are simple to prepare, always have a "wow" factor, and above all else, taste fantastic. The other important ingredient in Hugh's cookbooks is that the recipes are 100% trustworthy. This is not something that I will say for many cookbooks. His recipes are designed for the home cook and have been tested and re-tested so that you can trust the recipe.

   So stock up your pantry with hoisin, coconut milk, and yster sauce and have fun making his recipes! Some of my favourites in the book are the Pan-Fried Scallop Dumplings with Coconut -Herb Glaze, the Spicy Thai Meatballs Wrapped in Lettuce, and he Quesadillas with Barbecued Meat and Brie. All are wonderful.

   Hugh makes cooking fun and his flavours are intense and exciting. You won't be disappointed at your next dinner party!




2. I am disagreeing with most reviews, if you do not like goat cheese, don't buy this. If you have no access to buying wild mushrooms, don't buy this. If you don't like tuna, salmon or lamb, don't buy this. I was looking for a more practical appetizer book with common things I buy each week at the grocery, many recipes with goat cheese, caviar, salmon, tuna, and lamb just don't fit my lifestyle or my budget. If you like eggplant, oysters, lamb and swordfish recipes then go for it!



3. This is one of if not the best appetizer books of all time. The recipes are easy to understand and execute. It is fantastic!



4. The recipes in this book were really simple to make. My guests were wowed by my creations! I substituted certain items for others and the food still came out great. Easy, fast recipes and very tasty!



5. I've used these recipes for cocktail party after cocktail party and the majority of guests ask for the recipes each time.