4 comments about Asian Grilling: 85 Satay, Kebabs, Skewers and Other Asian-Inspired Recipes for Your Barbecue.

1. This book is different from many Asian cookbooks in that its primary focus is on grilling techniques as they apply to Asian foods. The result is a scrumptious wealth of recipes which are truly a delight to prepare and eat. The only reason I didn't give the review 5 stars is that I found that many of the recipes were a little more time-consuming than I prefer, taking 45 minutes minimum to prepare. However, the result is food that is truly authentic Thai, Vietnamese, Chinese, Laotian, and so on. This book really delivers on the flavors of South East Asia. Most recipes call for ingredients which can be found in any grocery store, but there will be times you'll have to make a trip to your neighborhood Asian mart to discover the delight of cooking with real banana leaves, palm sugar or some of the more unusual ingredients. I would say that if you love cooking, especially on the grill, and enjoy flavorful food, you'll really get a lot out of this book.



2. I buy this book so that I can cook some Southeast Asian food for my Chinese in-laws. I made the Malaysian Beef Kabob, but it turned out more like Thai beef Kabob. Too much emphasis on one ingredient, i.e tumeric, that I have too modify it. I was a little dissapointed.



3. My wife and I have been visiting Thai and Vietnamese restaurants for years. I have bought several other cookbooks with little success; The recipes looked good on paper but didn't measure up. I found this book easy to follow. The ingredients were easy to find and the results were great. I would recommend this book to someone who has as least cooked some Asian food.



4. This is a nice cookbook for those interested in Asian food. There are many recipes for marinades and sauces, as well as grilled salads, noodles and flatbreads, even Thai quesadillas. Su-Mei Yu, a native of Thailand, does a nice job of explaining methods for grilling and for proper satay. There are recipes from most countries in southeast Asia, Japan, Korea and China. The recipes appear to be rather authentic and easy to follow. There are many good pictures of the food, and she suggests multiple ways to serve particular dishes (for example, with different sauces or sides).
   
   While this isn't my very favorite Asian cookbook, it is one I refer to often. I'm glad it's in my library. Those who love to grill and/or make Asian food will likely find it to be very useful.

5 comments about Mastering Barbecue: Tons of Recipes, Hot Tips, Neat Techniques, and Indispensable Know How.

1. This book has a ton of recipes, not too many for smokers, mostly for grills.



2. Not well organized, to detailed for the average backyard barbequer. Needs more recipes and less blather.
   
   Not for me!



3. Book arrived ahead of schedule in great condition and contained the info that I needed.



4. Looking at the recipe for honey mustard sauce, it's just 2 cups of each ingredient. Seems a little suspect. I tried it in a smaller quantity and it's terrible. And I like honey mustard.
   
   2 stars for giving an overview of types of BBQ by region.



5. This is the best BBQ book on the market! No fluff; just tons of receipes and BBQ information. I have a dozen BBQ and grilling books (the more popular titles and authors); this book is the best!! A must have book for any BBQ/griller! Get the lump coal, and kettle grill ready because you'll want to grill everyday!!!

3 comments about Taste of Home: Parties, Potlucks, and Barbecues: Recipes for Casual Gatherings (Taste of Home Annual Recipes).

1. Great book! Contains many family style recipes that are also a hit when entertaining. It's an Americana cooking style that Taste of Home is known for. This is a comprehensive book that includes all types of recipes. For me, it was a "gotta have it" recipe book.



2. This book has a variety of great recipes that are not hard to make, not very time consuming, and a hit at any function.



3. Recipes are okay, nothing really stands out. I felt there was a more mexican flavor to this book than traditional which is fine if that is what you are looking for. My biggest disappointment was the fact that it was advertised as a "hardcover" book. It is a large paperback. I wouldn't have made the purchase had I known it was paperback.

5 comments about Hot Barbecue (Hot Series).

1. This is one of the barbecue books that you need to own. I have a few burger/barbecue books and this one as well as burger meisters are the best.



2. This book is very practical and easy to follow. It gives preperation instructions for grilling, smoking, and baking for each recipe. It also give instructions for steps you can do in advance. The only reason I give this book a 4 is because it uses some comercial products, such as plum sauce and green tobasco. I prefer to make everything from scratch. Otherwise I would recomend this book.



3. The outdoor grilling & barbecuing season where I live is far too short. As such, I take every opportunity I can to fire up the grill. I've made many of the entrees in this book & have sometimes used the marinades and/or glazes for cuts of meat or kinds of seafood other than those specified on the recipes. All have been quite good. In some instances, I have increased or decreased certain ingredients but, only due to personal taste and not due to any shortcoming of the actual recipe. I also appreciate the suggestions for sides and desserts although there are no recipes for those.
   
   A few cooks may be rather dismayed with some of the long lists of ingredients. However, the labor isn't really that much & the returns on that labor are worth it. Further, many of these marinades, sauces, glazes, chutneys, etc. can be made from a day to a few days ahead. Most even benefit from having been prepared in advance so that ingredients marry well!
   
   Tips abound on do-aheads as well as the requisite grilling and barbecuing how-tos. Altogether, an easy-to-use, foolproof (well, unless you forget you've got something on the grill) and reasonably-priced book of some fine, tasty grilled/barbecued dishes. Tonight, it's teriyaki salmon and Thai-high barbecued shrimps with a side of yellow rice!



4. H. Carpenter's focus is fusion/Asian: Therefore, if your idea of BBQ is some meat and a bottle of prepared sauce....forget the book. If, however, you like Asian foods and don't mind assembling your own sauce, you will be rewarded with some sensational flavors. They get ready to get the rest of his "Hot" books. I had several cooking lessons from him and really enjoy his style.



5. I absolutely love this book....the recipes are unique, easy to make (if you have a food processor) and tasty as it gets! Highlights....jerk marinade, amazing glaze, thai bbq. A must have for BBQ enthusiasts!

5 comments about The Sonoran Grill (Cookbooks and Restaurant Guides).

1. Mad Coyote Joe hosts "The Sonoran Grill", a popular television cooking show and in this superb regional cookbook showcases 130 of his favorite recipes featuring a Southwestern touch. From Posole (a classic American Indian soup), to Chile Rellenos (a delicious Mexican dish), to Habanero-Lime Butter (perfect for vegetables, potatoes, grilled fish and pork), to Sonoran Mesquite-Smoked Brisket (a true Sonoran dish with a twist!), The Sonoran Grill offers the best of the Southwest suited for transforming even the most novice kitchen cook into a skilled grilling expert!



2. I had some time to kill while waiting for a flight to take off from Sky Harbor Airport in Phoenix. I started looking at some cookbooks, and this offering from Mad Coyote Joe was displayed prominently. Once you flip through this book, it's as good as bought!

   MCJ is upfront about his background - he's not a trained cook, but he loves the food he makes, knows it backwards and forwards, and has a passion for letting others know about how to make the stuff he loves. Most importantly, the language he uses is clear and concise and is therefore accessible to all levels of readers, including those like me who have to ask our spouses where they keep the butter.

   The recipe for Joe's 'Two-Chile Salsa' is alone worth the price of admission. This is the type of dish you bring to a gathering and as the guests gorge themselves you're bound to get an incredulous "*you* made this?"-type of reaction.




3. I have tried most of the recipes in this book, and have repeated many of them over and over again. I have not tried one yet that was not a big hit with the family and friends, all of which are southwestern cuisine fans. The instructions are vague, but I was curiously complimented that Mad Coyote thought I already knew the basics. The flavors from each of the recipes (ie: Black Bean/White Corn Salad and Gazpacho Soup) are outstanding. A great way to impress any dinner party guest.



4. I live in arizona and make sure to watch the "sonoran grill" on tv everyday. Sorry to those of you outside the arizona area. I dont believe they broadcast anywhere else. Mad coyote joe lives in cavecreek arizona with his wife and children and hosts this great cooking show from his own backyard while throwing scraps at his yellow lab. He is the top authority on everything sonoran. This book is full of his best recipes for fresh,hommade salsa.BBQ rubs and anything else grilled. If you like the flavor of the southwest you'll love this book even if you dont know the show!



5. Every recipe I have made from this book has never ceased to amaze me and those I serve it to for unique and amazing flavor. The ensalada de orzo diablo is amazing - I make it often and it is received with enthusiasm and even those unsure who may take a little at first (even if to be polite) come back for a big second serving. Don't forget to try the chinese asparagus salad, it's so good!
   
   I collect cookbooks, and many I have never used, or barely used; this book however is well loved, is used frequently, and has the splatter marks to prove it!

5 comments about Panini.

1. Jo McAuley's PANINI surveys the grilled Italian sandwich which is becoming so popular in bistros and delis in North America. You'd think panini sounds too exotic to produce at home, but quite the opposite: McAuley demonstrates it's the perfect sanwich for producing in a home kitchen and packs her cookbook with recipes for vegetarian, meat, and even dessert sandwiches to prove it. Color photos face nearly every page and encourage cooks to sample.



2. I searched for a good panani cookbook to compliment a Christmas gift of a panini press/maker. While it's a small paperback, it has great recipes and it's all panini recipes. I looked at several books in the brick-and-mortar book stores and most gave panani sandwiches a passing glance and moved on to other recipes. At least McAuley stayed with the title of her book and didn't go astray. You'll also find a good mix of breakfast, lunch and dinner offerings and even some tasty all-veggie recipes. It's the best all-panani book I've found so far and well worth the small price.



3. I was a bit disappointed. "Simple Italian Sandwiches" costs more but has a better selection and more information.



4. Am very disappointed in this book - I only marked 3 or 4 that I even wanted to try.



5. The book was a dissapointment. I would not have bought it if I had had a chance to look in it.

5 comments about Matzoh Ball Gumbo: Culinary Tales of the Jewish South.

1. Fascinating subject matter as I grew up in an area where Jews were a vocal and very assimilated minority. The author's extensive research came to the same conclusions in every chapter: it was hard to keep Kosher in the South and black household help did much of the cooking. As a Jewish woman I am proud of our reputation for a sense of humor and delicious cooking. There are very few recipes; even those were not particularly tempting or typical. The book's major flaws lie in the author's dry, labored, one-note writing style that had me laboring to stay awake.



2. This book is a wonderful compilation of Jewish history of the South and Jewish food of the South. Fascinating reading about the history and excellent eating. Enjoy!



3. Good book if your into a history lesson but I was looking for more receipies.



4. As a Deep South Jewish expatriate, I can't say enough about how thoroughly Marcie Cohen Ferris did her research. There is no doubt that she has covered the differences-and similarities-of the various southern states with great heart and accuracy! The sheer volume of names of those she got family information from is more than admirable. The book belongs in every Jewish household-northern and southern! And non-Jewish readers will get a wonderful picture of the influence food had in Southern Jewish homes-part of American culinary history.



5. This was a wonderful topic for a book -- how Southernness and Jewishness came together in the Jewish kitchen. Cohen Ferris, herself a Jewish woman from a small town in Arkansas, has done exhaustive research, no doubt a labor of love, and has perpetuated many people's memories.
   
   The problem with the book is that it is quite repetitious. Ferris Cohen correctly points out that the culture and history of Atlanta, New Orleans, the Mississippi Delta, and so on are all distinct from each other. Then, however, she spends much of her time recounting menus of long-ago occasions and concluding, over and over again, that the balance between kosher and non-kosher food and between European and American Southern delicacies was important and hard to navigate, because food is so important in daily life.
   
   It is not so much a question of Ferris Cohen's writing style but of the fact that she seemed compelled to put on paper all of the results of her painstaking interviews. Perhaps a more insightful historian could have made more of Ferris Cohen's material, but this book just seemed too long.

3 comments about The Best Little BBQ Sauces Cookbook.

1. While there is not much information about this book at this site,the author kindly provided a list of 76 recipes!I received the six books I ordered today. It is difficult to list all the recipes, but they range from Basic Barbeque Sauce to Que Queen Royal Jelly. The book is not flashy but has all the information to make great sauces. This is a great book for the price. I am going to purchase one for myself!



2. This may be a small book, but it has great variety. All the sauces we've tried have turned out well.



3. has some great recipes and great ideas you can add your own personal touches too. covers a great many areas of homemade bbq sauces.

1 comments about Real Barbecue: The Classic Barbecue Guide to the Best Joints Across the USA --- with Recipes, Porklore, and More!.

1. My son-in-law says one of the best books he read on Barbecue.Thats says it all.

No comments about Stonewall Kitchen: Grilling: Fired-Up Recipes for Cooking Outdoors All Year Long.