5 comments about Nourishing Traditions: The Cookbook that Challenges Politically Correct Nutrition and the Diet Dictocrats.

1. LOVED, loved, loved this book. Great Anatomy and Physiology review of how the body works and why to eat natural foods. Loads of common sense and the recipies are easy and yummy!



2. Thank you for the super service. The book came timely and in good shape.



3. More than a cookbook--more like an encyclopedia. Provides great recipes, plus additional information, such as sources of products. Detailed explanation of nutritional aspects makes the book educational. Comprehensive indices make finding things easy.



4. This cookbook is a must have. I learned so much about how foods are supposed to be prepared, that I had never even heard of before. This is phenomenal resource for learning about the body and how it actually uses natural fats and how they are good for you. This is a must read. I take it with me everywhere and read a little at a time. It seems there is more to learn on every page.



5. I cannot believe or trust an author beginning with the premise that one's body requires animal fats (an absolute falsehood). Given that major error, everything that follows in this book is suspect.

5 comments about The Biggest Loser Cookbook: More Than 125 Healthy, Delicious Recipes Adapted from NBC's Hit Show.

1. 
   
   6/23/2008
   
   THE BIGGEST LOSER COOKBOOK
   More than 125 Healthy, Delicious Recipes
   Adapted from NBC'S Hit Show
   
   By Chef Devin Alexander, et al
   
   (picture jacket here)
   
   A review by Marty Martindale
   
   The whole Biggest Loser concept is good, it seems, for these times, in that they have dealt with not only the food and its recipes, but a pyramid, general instruction for good sense and several graded workouts with Bob Harper and students on CD. This is a good program for these times when weight seems a problem for too many.
   
   The Biggest Loser Diet is "calorie-controlled, carbohydrate-modified, fat-reduced and high in protein (which controls hunger.)" They want you to eat three meals and two snacks each day. "The 4-3-2-1 Biggest Loser Pyramid" is four tiers, the base, or largest is fresh fruits and vegetables, the next level is protein foods, seafood, cheese, beans, fish and yogurt. The second from the top level is whole grains, your breads, cereals and wheat pasta. The top level, or "The Extras" are sweets with a 200 calorie daily limit. They have an equation for your calorie quota: if you weigh between 150 and 300, multiply your weight by seven, and this is the number of calories you should keep your maximum to. Some simple pointers: No white potatoes, limit amount of starchy vegetables such as pumpkin, winter squash, sweet potatoes and yams. Avoid dry fruits. Choose whole fruits over juices. Vary your proteins and limit red meat servings to two a week. Avoid processed cold cuts. There's a few more guidelines, but nothing too restrictive, really common sense.
   
   They divide the recipe section into Breakfasts, Hearty Snacks, Sandwiches-Soups-Stews, Sides & Salads, Main Courses and Sweet Snacks. Here's some examples:
   
   MANGO STRAWBERRY BREAKFAST SUNDAE: Calls for orange juice, ice cubes, honey and high-fiber, low-sugar cereal
   
   SUNRISE OATMEAL: Orange juice, oats, blueberries, water and orange extract
   
   BRIAN'S BREAKFAST SCRAMBLE: Green bell pepper, onion, tomato, egg whites, and Cheddar cheese
   
   COCKTAIL-HOUR TUNA TARTARE: Mango, cucumber, lime juice, cilantro, green onions and sesame oil
   
   JESSICA'S "THE RANCH" BLT WRAP: Turkey bacon, wheat tortilla, Galeo's Miso Caesar Dressing, lettuce and tomato
   
   PB & J SPIRALS: Wheat flour tortilla, peanut butter and strawberry all-fruit spread
   
   PAM'S COTTAGE CHEESE MARINARA: Cottage cheese, mozzarella cheese and spaghetti sauce
   
   JEN'S ASPARAGUS GUACAMOLE: Add sour cream, guacamole seasoning mix and tomato.
   
   INDIAN CHICKEN SALAD POCKETS: Mayonnaise, lime juice, curry paste, cucumber, red onion, wheat pita and lettuce
   
   MATT'S GRILLED CHEESE SANDWICH: Rye bread, Cheddar cheese and oil spray
   
   PARMESAN-PEPPER SWEET POTATO FRIES: Olive oil, garlic powder, paprika, cayenne and ketchup, if desired.
   
   DANA'S SPINACH AND FETA BROWN RICE: Onion, garlic and feta cheese.
   
   PARMESAN-ROASTED CAULIFLOWER: Parsley, garlic powder and olive oil
   
   FRESH AND COLORFUL JICAMA SLAW: Cucumber, carrots, cilantro, lime juice, olive oil and red pepper flakes
   
   BROCCOLI SALAD WITH SWEET VINAIGRETTE: Orange juice, plain yogurt, mustard, orange marmalade and red onion
   
   HOT AND COLD BROWN-RICE SALAD: Chicken, broccoli florets, bell pepper, red onion, Italian dressing, and balsamic vinegar
   
   DARI'S PICANTE CHICKEN: Picante sauce, cream cheese and Cheddar cheese
   
   HEATHER'S MEXICAN ROLLUP: Ground turkey, extra-lean, wheat tortilla, sour cream, romaine, tomato and salsa
   
   ANGEL HAIR WITH ROCKIN' RED CLAM SAUCE: Onion, garlic, baby clams, tomatoes, oregano, olive oil, red-pepper flakes and Parmesan cheese
   
   ICED BUFFED MOCHA: Powdered coffee, chocolate soy milk, vanilla yogurt, Splenda, fat-free whipped topping and cocoa powder
   
   RASAH AND EDWIN'S WARM GRAPEFRUIT DESSERT: Add ground cinnamon and bake.
   
   TIFFANY'S CANDIED ALMONDS: Butter spray, almonds, cinnamon and Splenda
   
   In a world where too many are jeopardizing their health by carrying too much weight, the whole Biggest Loser program, the exercises, advice and recipies are well worth considering.
   
   You can reach Marty Martindale at Food Site of the Day.
   
   Special interests: Healthy Living



2. I haven't really tried many recepies in this cookbook. I'm a really picky eater so this cookbook doesn't really help me. But I stil thought some of the recepies had some really good ideas.



3. This cookbook is great and provided me with great stuff for my husband and I to eat. Trying to get Coach D to eat healthy is kinda hard. So if I fill him up on these great dishes, maybe I can keep him healthy. Most of the recipes are easy and quick to fix.



4. Product was shipped quickly and I was kept informed of the transaction from start to finish. Would buy from this seller again.



5. Wow!! So far I've made at least 10 dishes from this cookbook and I am really impressed!! The ingredients are usually very easy to find and for the most part each recipe only requires a few ingredients. The recipes are mostly made for 1-4 servings which is convenient if you are single or if you are just cooking healthy for yourself and not for your whole family. I have been scaling the recipes up (if necessary) to make enough for my whole family and they are just as impressed by the meals even though they aren't trying to lose weight!! Since eating more wholesome meals I feel more full, more energetic and and just better overall.

5 comments about Martha Stewart's Cookies: The Very Best Treats to Bake and to Share (Martha Stewart Living Magazine).

1. This cookbook was jus what I was looking for. I like Martha's cookbooks, she has a lot of experience and a very good staff.
   If you like to bake cookies, this is the book for you--a lot of old recipes and some very new ones. It has a great variety.



2. My granddaughter borrowed this book from the library, and enjoyed it so much she didn't want to return it!! I told her I would purchase it for her on Amazon.com. She was thrilled. I was able to buy this book for her at a good price, and she is on her way to trying all the recipes!!



3. I just love this book. I have tried some of the recipies and i cant wait to try more. The recipies are easy to follow and the result lookes like the pictures. Everyone who loves baking should own a copy of this book.Martha Stewart's Cookies: The Very Best Treats to Bake and to Share (Martha Stewart Living Magazine)



4. Wonderful cookie plus other deserts cookbook, everything I have tried so far has been great. Easy to use.



5. Great variety in this book. I love how the recipes are broken out by texture and that there are photos of everyone in one place. Love the chewy chocolate gingerbread recipe.....my kids love gingerbread and chocolate, so these were a hit.

5 comments about Alinea.

1. this is what the culinary world has been waiting on is cutting edge stuff from a cutting edge chef- Awesome!



2. Achatz - to cuisine - is what Dali was to canvas. Esoteric, ephemeral, surreal, transcendent, a-linear, the Alinea images are an introspection into the poetry of taste.
   
   Having had the fortune of experiencing Alinea earlier this year, I was happy to stumble upon the book later in the fall: as I had been trying to "paint the picture" of the experience for my friends, I felt the insufficiency of words to convey the whimsical intensity and the moody nuance of Alinea forms. The book solved the problem. With this in mind, I recommend the book as a kind of photoalbum of Alinea pilgrimage to compliment the memories.
   
   
   I would like to muse on the semantics of the restaurant's name itself...
   
   The word "alinea" is a typographical character that derives from the Latin off the line and is used as a paragraph sign to mark a new train of thought.
   
   As such, the restaurant name "Alinea" is a logical choice for a bite-sized journey that is Achatz' cuisine. The restaurant offers two menus - a Tasting and a Tour. Each menu is a stream of gustatory consciousness in which the mind of the Chef takes the pilgrim's palate on an odyssey of fleeting encounters... in which each bite-sized course is a paragraph of mindfulness and a new train of thought...
   
   The resulting experience is that of continuous attention and presence. Alinea is akin to a culinary harem of exotic one-night stands, in which the touch-and-go courses assure that an eater can never bite more than his or her mind can chew... It is a kaleidoscope of subdued Enya-like mood-wafts of taste amidst the uprising thermals of futuristic presentation...
   
   I know, I know - if this sounds poetic, it's because the experience was, indeed, poetry, with each course - nothing more than a stanza; with each course - nothing less than a taste off the line of the Expected - i.e. an alinea.
   
   Alinea - to sum up - is a non-linear eating experience for an open mind.
   
   
   
   
   Pavel Somov, Ph.D., Author of "Eating the Moment: 141 Mindful Practices to Overcome Overeating One Meal at a Time" (New Harbinger, 2008; www.eatingthemoment.com)
   
   Copyright, 2008



3. This book is stunning--beautifully designed and photographed and very interesting to read! I live far away from Chicago, and may never get to go to Alinea, but reading this book is like stepping into a magical food world. I might not ever cook anything from it, but I know that I will look at it often to stimulate my imagination to try create my own edible works of art.
   
   This is a wonderful gift for any food obsessed person--I have already purchased 2 for presents.



4. Great Book , one of the best I bought this year . Grant Achatz is a master of his kraft , and a missionary for the future of food .
   Best Value for money Cook book in 2008 .



5. A friend of mine bought this book and loved it so much he also bought an autographed copy too. I got to read the book at my friend's place. The photography and graphical design of this book was just extraordinary! The elegant book is truly a coffee table book. It really shows the elegancy of presentation of the food. Awesome book!

1 comments about Biggest Loser Family Cookbook: Budget-Friendly Meals Your Whole Family Will Love.

1. I had bought the other Biggest Loser cookbook but the problem with those recipes was it was for about one person at a time. This one is different in that it can feed more than one person--a family--and you get low cal, delicious recipes. The meals seem very nutritious and by eating this, a person would probably lose the weight--but you can't snack too much! All in all, this is a gret recipe book for those who want to feed their families good, nutritious foods. I also liked and would recommend, for dieting: Fatass No More! How I Lost Weight and Still Ate Cheeseburgers and Fries.

5 comments about Top Chef The Cookbook.

1. As a huge fan of Top Chef I was happy to read more in depth material on the show and the contestants. So much editing is done for on air purposes that the written remarks are more revealing. The reciepes are a little much for the home cook but can be modified. Excellent read!



2. I bought this more for novelty than anything else. Like the show, I wish it was more about the food and less about the people. The pictures are lovely. Recipes are good, I haven't attempted them all yet. I recommend if you like the show.



3. This was a gift for a friend who loves the show. She was very pleased.



4. I love this cookbook, and it was in perfect condition. It was also perfectly priced!



5. I purchased this book as a present for my boyfriend. He loved it. The book arrived very quickly (was at my door in 2 days.)

5 comments about Paula Deen's My First Cookbook.

1. This is a great cookbook for kids - purchased two of them for my grandchildren and look forward to memorable cooking experiences with them.



2. First, the one big downside: Far too many of these recipes are unnecessarily unhealthy. While some foods *should* be made with butter, adding lots of butter to the inside of a chicken pot pie (to name just one example) is unnecessary. Cream cheese, butter, various types of canned dough and sugar play major parts in many of the recipes.
   
   I know, I'm from the South, too, and that's how it's done. But, with all the diet-related health problems our children are facing today--why not teach kids to make yummy foods that will nourish their body for a lifetime? I find that children are very likely to eat what they've cooked, so cooking together is a great way to improve your child's eating habits.
   
   Fortunately, so far we've found the many of the recipes fairly easy to improve by using healthier fats, whole grains, etc. Knowing how to make recipes healthier is an important skill to teach kids, and this book provides that opportunity.
   
   Now, the upsides: So far, everything we've made has been delicious and the book is easy to use. The size and shape is perfect, the pictures are cute and book lies flat on the counter. We also had good luck drying off a page that was dribbled on. Another big plus is that the reading level is just right for my 2nd grader. She loves studying the table of contents in each section (dinner, lunch, etc.) when deciding what to make. It's also nice that most of the directions are very simple to understand. And I appreciate that she tells the kids when the adult needs to do something that would be unsafe for a child to do.
   
   Overall, this cookbook is cute way to get your early elementary aged child interested in cooking...and a great way to introduce the concept of changing recipes to make them healthier.
   
   Pamela Gould
   Author of Feeding the Kids: The Flexible, No-Battles, Healthy Eating System for the Whole Family (Fork and Spoon Field Guides) (Fork and Spoon Field Guides)



3. We purchased this cookbook for our 7 year old grandson. He relly loves to cook. He has already used this book several times.



4. This is a great first time cookbook for kids. Very easy to read and follow for children. I am giving three of them for christmas! And the recipes are tastey and real that kids love. Plus there are some non food favorites in the back!!!



5. I Love it. Will be great fun cooking with my Granchildren.
   Only draw back is No where did it say recommended ages !!
   My Granchildren are only 3. BUT directions on recipes can be adapted for the age.

5 comments about Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day: The Discovery That Revolutionizes Home Baking.

1. I just love this book. I work full time and have had mixed results with my bread machine - basically it wasn't as easy as I want and the bread isn't that great. So until this book came along, homemade bread never happebed. Now I whip up a batch of dough on the weekend and make personal sized loaves whenever I want. The master recipe makes great bread and is worth the price of the book alone. But I am IN LOVE with the brioche... which I've made into pecan caramel rolls. Again, couldn't be easier. Highly recommend this to the person who likes homemade bread, but not the time and fussing... or to folks who may have been intimidated by bread.



2. I don't think the book had ever been used and is in perfect condition. I am very satisfied and purchased a book for my friend as well.



3. This is so much fun. There definitely was a bit of a learning curve forming the dough into loaves but it only took me a few loaves before I had that all figured out. Now, it is so easy. The best part is you can make a loaf for 2 or for 6 depending on how much you use. Nothing is better than the smell and taste of hot bread. I have only tried the basic recipe but I have added olives and garlic. So good that my son thinks it's the best olive bread he has ever had!! Enjoy.



4. EXCELLENT BOOK--CLEAR CONCISE, VERY GOOD FOR BREAD BAKING BEGINNERS.
   EASY TO FOLLOW RECIPES AND DIRECTIONS



5. I really enjoy having home made bread baking in the oven and this book makes it easy and quick to do and the breads are delicious. Put the ingredients together, absolutely no kneading required, wait a couple of hours and presto, it's ready to bake. The recipes are mostly for 4-1 pound loaves and the left over dough can be refrigerated for days to weeks and ready for use. I've tried many of these recipes and fine them all to be delicious and enjoyed by all.

5 comments about Jamie at Home: Cook Your Way to the Good Life.

1. I loved the series and the cookbook is a great companion in the kitchen. Jamie Oliver has convinced me that we can make small differences to our habits when cooking that make big changes not only for our palettes but for our communities. I now will go the extra step to try to buy local when possible. I will search out available farmer's markets. I will speak with the grocer as to why there is not local produce. And then we have the actual taste of the recipes! So far, my particular favorites are the English Onion Soup with sage and Cheddar. This is a very basic recipe with the emphasis on the bountiful array of different onion species. This is the essence of Jamie's recipes, simple ingredients but perfectly put together making a memorable meal.



2. I bought this book from a large-scale book store for full price (doh!) only a few days ago, and I'm eager to cook many of these recipes. The directions are concise and clear, the photos are gorgeous, and the meals themselves seems like a dream come true. The book even includes educational tidbits on meat cuts, asparagus nutrients, etc. The only reason I give this cookbook 4 out of 5 stars is because the recipes aren't all that practical for every-day cooking, especially at every-day salaries. I'll have to spend five times the money (time aside) to make homemade french onion soup instead of buying some in a jar, and my favorite recipe in this book (guinness, beef, and cheese pie) will require 3 hours and 15 minutes of oven time alone. I would say this recipe book is much more usable than the NYT cookbook, which I find to be a little pretentious, but not as easy to implement as the Moosewood cookbook. However, this one has amazing non-vegetarian dishes in it. I'm definitely going to impress my boyfriend with this stuff.



3. If you were fortunate enough to catch his "Jamie at home" show on the Food channel, then you already have this book. He uses good natural, fresh from the garden food items and makes delicious food. Love the butternut squash muffins, the Beef guiness and cheese pie...I could go on. Great hearty tasty food. He talks about his garden, his vegetables, and gives you hearty recipes for all. Love this book!!



4. This book is a lot like his others in that he tells a story along with sharing favorite recipes. The pictures are beautiful (except for the bunny picture) and in this particular book he shares his love of gardening and tips on how to garden yourself which I found very helpful. If you are a Jaime Oliver fan this is a must have.



5. This is Jamie's best cookbook yet. This is the companian to his newest Food Network series by the same name. This great chef has a knack for combining unusual elements together and presents them in a wonderfully rustic and simple manner. For the home gardener, Jamie reveals his techniques to growing vegetables and fruits, putting the reader on a personal level with the chef. It reminds me of Irish super chef Denis Cotter, who also sees the importance of understanding the growing process.
   
   Anyone can reproduce these recipes using Jamie's basic techniques. Its his ability to meld unique combinations together that makes him a genius. This is really a must-have for any serious foodie interested in gaining insight into the creative process behind some truly great-tasting dishes. Thanks, Jamie.

5 comments about Joy of Cooking: 75th Anniversary Edition - 2006.

1. When I'm looking for ideas, just want to browse some recipies, or have a food question, this is the book I turn to 90% of time. It covers a great deal of culinary territory and packs tons of information into every section. In short it gives you the basics and enough info to get cooking and creative. It's straight forward, well written, and in my case, as is the sign of any good cookbook, the most worn in my collection.
   I have plenty of that other type of cookbook, you know, the food porn ones. They're filled with all sorts of beautiful, glossy, mouth watering pictures, and for the most part they sit nice and neatly on the shelf, barely ever getting touched.
   If you're only going to buy one cookbook--this is it. If you've got a young cook in your life that could use a starting point--this is it. If you need to brush up on your basics or need a quick referance guide--this is it.
   Sure no cookbook can do it all, but this one does far more,far better then most of the other ones out there.



2. Joy of Cooking is downright amazing. It's rare that I need a recipe that I can't find in here. And never has this book let me down.
   
   I love cookbooks. I have the ones by famous chefs, I have the local collections put together by churches. I have the ones that are put out by magazines and the ones put together by websites. I've got some like this, densely packed with information but not a lot of pictures (aside from instructional ones) and I have some that seem like they exist only to show off pictures of the food. (And that's fine by me!)
   
   But when I'm making something for the first time, I come to Joy. When I need to do a recipe and I don't have time to try a recipe that might turn out awful, I go to Joy. When I just want to eat really good food, Joy of Cooking is bound to be my first stop.
   
   And why wouldn't it be? There are so many recipes in this book! For everything! See the number on the cover? 4,500? They're not kidding. There will be some of those recipes that you don't like. But that will probably come down to your own taste -- you couldn't get me to eat borscht in a million years -- and not a bad recipe.
   
   A lot of people say that if they could only keep one of their cookbooks, this is the one they'd grab. I'm going to echo that sentiment. This is the only cookbook a lot of people will need. If you're a cookbook addict like me, you'll still buy more, but if you just need a comprehensive book to help you out in the kitchen, then look no further.
   
   However, there are mistakes in this book! With any cookbook or craft book or anything that gives you instructions on doing something, you should always look for the errata. Joy of Cooking has a pdf file of their corrections on the website [.....]. There's a section right at the bottom of the front page talking about it. The recipes that will need corrections are:
   
   Orange and Onion Salad (Sicilian Salad), Chicken Marengo, Chicken Paprika (Paprikas Csirke), White Bread, Whole Wheat Bread, Pancakes or Griddle Cakes, Pecan Lace, Caramel Buns (Schnecken), Crisp Chocolate Cookies, Beer Bread, Sponge Cake, Orange Curd, Filled Sweet Crepes, and Madeleines.
   
   If you notice any others, please let them know so that we can all get them fixed!
   
   There are two kinds of people looking for cookbooks that I would not suggest this book to. The first kind are people who don't really cook, and don't really care about the recipes. You know who you are! You like to look at the pictures of delicious looking food and maaaybe you think, "One day, I might make that." but you know you won't. I was like that once, and owned many many colourful cookbooks. Once I started cooking, I got this book. And there are very few pictures. The black and white drawings that do occasionally show up are, as far as I've seen, not of the finished product. You'd be better served with a different book.
   
   The other type is the person who only wants a cookbook for one kind of food or one method of cooking. It's not that there aren't recipes from various regions and cultures, or that there aren't tons of things to bake, barbecue or deep fat fry. But if that's ALL you want, then there may not be enough, say, Greek recipes for you, or everything that doesn't involve grilling may get in your way.
   
   But for everyone else in the cookbook market, I would say, if you don't have this book yet, you have to get it!
   
   I haven't even mention the other things in the book. The Know Your Ingredients section could probably be a book in itself, and doesn't just cover background information on ingredients or help with how to use them, but in many cases, how to grow them, get them and prepare them. There are instructions for choosing a maple tree to get syrup from and how to tap it. Seriously!
   
   Cooking Methods and Techniques covers kitchen equipment and cookware and of course, methods and techniques such as cooking in your fireplace, outdoor cooking, high altitude cooking, deglazing, skewer cooking, microwave cooking, and how to deal with burns and get out stains.
   
   It's time to end my gushing now though. If I don't stop writing you'll never finish this review and then how will you get it?



3. The infamous and unfortunate late 1990s "update" of this important classic took it in a trendy, low-fat, vaguely-Northern-Italian-accented direction -- and worse, removed so many of the key instructions and techniques that made the classic Joy the one all-purpose reference. A sad day indeed. Fortunately, a happier day followed when it was announced, after some uproar, that the 1975 revision -- the Last Good One -- would remain in print, and so it does to this very day. Do yourself a favor: Forget this unfortunate hodgepodge and go get the real thing, ISDN #0026045702, available in lovely durable timeless hardcover right here at Amazon.



4. "Joy of Cooking: 75th Anniversary Edition - 2006" is a terrific cookbook. I am the cook in our houshold and I have it sitting out where I can get at it. Also, I still have the previous edition sitting on a shelf, just in case. This is the cookbook I consult first, when I want to make sure of anything having to do with cooking or any sort of food preparation.
   
   This is the one cookbook that will give me a good recipe for any standard dish, with lots of hints for more difficult dishes. Also, it has a huge amount of cooking basics.
   
   This book also makes a terrific present!



5. As a Chef for the last 10 years, this book has never done me wrong. Every recipe is rock solid, I love being able to find a recipe for something that I may not be familiar with. I give it to every novice cook or aspiring chef I come across. Its step by step recipes is an invaluable resource to even those who are unsure of themselves in the kitchen.