5 comments about Justin Wilson's Homegrown Louisiana Cookin'.

1. I had only recently heard of Justin Wilson. My husband and I love cajun food and I wanted to learn how to make it at home. Someone told me about him and a new fan was born!!! My husband bought me this book and another of Justin's to start out with.

   The recipes are simple and delicious. I had no trouble making them, even as a first-timer. You can interchange a lot of the different kinds of meat as well - for example with the crawfish etoufee, we have made with shrimp as well as petite lobster.

   The little stories in his book are entertaining as well. If you enjoy eating cajun, you will love this book!!!




2. I love this book! Can't wait to try out some of the recipes. I really enjoy the pictures and stories also! Worth the cost!



3. Excellent cookbook. Easy to follow receipes. My husband pours over that book and tries a new one each week. He cooks on the weekends. I am more of a meat and potatoes eater but I have liked everything he has tried so far.



4. I acquired this cookbook when it first came out and harbored high expectations for the content. At this point, they are all pretty much dashed.
   
   I cook every day and have for years. The best of these recipes is mediocre. On one occasion, I clearly recall preparing yet another of Justin's dishes and, just as it was nearing completion, my wife strolled into the kitchen with a wrinkled nose and said, "What stinks?" Sadly, she was right.
   
   I DID give the book an extra star here because I loved the homegrown photographs which were snapped by Justin's pretty wife. I thought that they were really good and quite reflective of his regional cooking.
   
   If you really want an outstanding cajun cookbook, grab a copy of Paul Prudhommes, "Chef Paul Prudhomme's Louisiana Kitchen":
   
   Chef Paul Prudhomme's Louisiana Kitchen
   
   I actually did love old Justin and I think his cooking show was more fun than any other which ever aired on television -- but you can safely skip these recipes.



5. This book is fabulous! There are so many wonderful recipes in it- I am going to try every one of them!

5 comments about Cocina criolla.

1. My Mom had this book and my sister has it too. It is the classic cookbook for Puerto Rican food. There is also and English version that leaves nothing out.



2. I may be repeating what others have said ... but I became familiar with this book when I was growing up. I remember making Tembleque using this book as a kid, and it came out wonderful.
   
   My mom used this book as her main cookbook -- and when she gave it away instead of giving it to my sister and I we got really angry (because we wanted the book)! I'm planning to replace it as soon as I get a chance.
   
   The cookbook definitely has traditional puerto rican cooking. The recipes are great.



3. Sin duda un clasico. Este libro no debe faltar en ninguna cocina puertorriquena o en la cocina de alguien que desea cocinar comida puertorriquena. Buen provecho.



4. I am currently going to school to become a private chef. I have over 20 years cooking experience, and I wanted to go pro. My roots are of Puertorrican tradition (boricua). All of these recipes are down to the basics just like AUGUSTE ESCOFFIER Complete Guide To The Art of Modern Cookery. You really must understand traditional Puertorrican cooking to appreciate this book. Ask any puertorrican chef and yes they have it.



5. I just bought 3 of the Cocina Criolla books, it is so great to know that we can still find the same great cooking book that I got when I got 25 years ago. The recipes are still excellent and now our daughters, a new generation, continues the tradition.

5 comments about Who's Your Mama, Are You Catholic, and Can You Make A Roux? (Book 1): A Cajun / Creole Family Album Cookbook.

1. I was going to give it one or two stars but really it's pretty good for what it is, folksy Southern cooking, Louisiana style, with lots of family history that doesn't interest me. If you're looking for Cajun haute cuisine, this isn't it. I might try a few things before I drop it off at Goodwill, but not the baked macaroni with evaporated milk and American "cheese."



2. Who's the yankee looking for "Cajun Haute Cuisine"???? Do you understand the cajun way of life? or even what a cajun is???? It may pain you to put evaporated milk and american "cheese" in baked macaroni, but I bet you will never have tasted anything better!



3. Who's Your Mama, Are You Catholic, and Can You Make A Roux? (Book 1): A Cajun / Creole Family Album Cookbook
   Great Book! Accurate Cajun recipes. I bought three, one for each of my grown children. Very good service. shipped quickly, well packed, books very good!



4. I just got this book like 10 minutes ago-scanned all of the recipes and as a Louisiana native, from a Creole family, it offered nothing new for me. Most of these recipes were already in my head(in one form or another). The book is good but mostly for those intrested in Creole/Cajun cooking. It isnt a great authroity on Louisiana heritage or cooking but instead a simple, family cook book that is directly from the head of the writer. It isnt a compilation of Creole/Cajun cooking and doesnt offer a wide variety of recipes or history. It's a good knick-knack book to have on hand.
   I am already going to give it away as a gift to my neighbors but one is already Cajun so maybe his boyfriend can use it, but I doubt it since he grew up in Louisiana and has been living with a Cajun for the past five years.



5. The title says it all. This truly could be "My Family". Well worth the price for these charming family recipes and memories.

5 comments about The New Orleans Cookbook.

1. Origional New Orleans recipes! Easy to work with and helpful hints for substuting what you have on hand. How to make the special seasonings that make Cajun/Creole food unique! Spicey does not necessarily mean, hot! Great history of the different folks and festivals that make New Orleans special. Great place to visit and taste the food for yourself. Or buy the cookbook and cook it for yourself.



2. I am a native of New Orleans and have taught cooking for over thirty years. I have had this cookbook since 1975 and it is my most used source for many of my Creole and Cajun dishes. I have not come across a bad recipe yet. If you were only able to have one book on New Orleans cooking, this is the book you should purchase.



3. This book was first printed in 1975. I have the 9th edition, printed in 1982.
   The recipe for sausage jambalaya is one of the greatest recipes from any town, any culture that I know of.
   
   I have a friend in Florida who flies here to Chicago once a year to eat in the best restaurants in town with us for a week. The jambalaya recipe is, I think, the main reason for her trip. The jambalaya is what's waiting for her when she walks through the door. It's what she eats every morning for breakfast. And lunch, if we don't go out to eat.
   
   The whole house smells like heaven for at least two days after you're done cooking it.
   
   I would get the book for this recipe alone. Just disregard the instructions, and don't use any salt.



4. I wanted a cook book so that I could make New Orleans foods at home way over here in CA. I found this book to be thorough, concise, helpful, and authentic. Exactly what I wanted. I highly reccommend.



5. Absolutely the best and truest reference for New Orleans cooking. I've owned a copy of this book ever since it was first published in 1975, wore my way through a hardcover copy, and now own it in paperback (again). It's simply the most reliable, best researched book for real New Orleans cooking. You may not get the recipes for signature dishes from Arnaud's, Galatoire's or Commander's Palace in this tome, but all the basics and classics are here. You simply cannot go wrong with these recipes, because Rima and Richard Collin have really done their homework. If you want the authentic taste of New Orleans, you'll find it here. Their book also includes some New Orleans food history with the recipes and a detailed discussion about ingredients.
   
   Best of all, this book was written by locals, not out-of-town chefs who came to New Orleans from outside Louisiana and learned Creole cooking on the fly as they settled into their new jobs (Emeril Lagasse, this means YOU, you Massachusetts carpetbagger!). Rima and Richard Collin are the authors of The New Orleans Restaurant Guide and The Pleasures of Seafood. Richard Collin is the author of the New Orleans Underground Gourmet and was for a decade a food and restaurant critic for the New Orleans States-Item newspaper. Rima Collin founded the New Orleans Cooking School in 1975. Together, they have a wide and practical knowledge of "N'awlins" food.
   
   Many are the chefs who have 'reinvented' Creole dishes, some to the point where the dishes aren't quite recognizeable. True, putting your own little spin on the recipes is a long New Orleans tradition -- but these recipes need no 'reinvention' of the contemporary sort: they deliver the real, soulful thing. Which is probably why my third copy is already so dog-eared. You want a Mardi Gras in your mouth?? Then get this book!

5 comments about Crescent City Cooking: Unforgettable Recipes from Susan Spicer's New Orleans.

1. I grew up in New Orleans but never had the pleasure of eating at any of Susan Spicer's restaurants. How unfortunate that is! I can only imagine what that dining experience must be like now that I've been using this cookbook regularly. My husband and I cook a lot..out of Food & Wine, Cook's Illustrated, Bon Appetit. We've both been duly impressed by the meals and desserts we've prepared from Crescent City Cooking and look forward to cooking our way through the entire book. Did I mention that the book is as beautiful as the food is delicious? This is one of my favorite gift for the newly married couple. Well done!



2. Susan Spicer's "Bayona" is one of the best-kept secrets in New Orleans. Unarguably the best restaurant in that city of restaurants, it has managed to be a NOLA secret, rather than a tourist trap. Thus, it is a stroke of good fortune that Chef Spicer has chosen to share her recipes. For those who like cookbooks, this is a treasure; wonderful recipes, clearly presented--gourmet cooking without intimidation! Highly recommended.



3. Although we love New Orleans and the cuisine of the region, we were unfamiliar with Susan Spicer until we started hearing the buzz about this book. Now that we own it and have cooked from it, we are total fans. The book is fun, with recipes for great meals and cocktails, it's beautifully put together, and best of all -- everything we've made from it is a total success. Her brined pork chops are the most amazing chops I've ever had, and I could not believe that we made them ourselves. It's that kind of book, one that makes you feel like the most clever, talented home chef in the world.
   
   This is a must-read book. In fact, we often give it as a gift and would rank it at the top of our cooking books that we would never want to give up!



4. Susan Spicer is as amazing as the food she prepares and
   presents to her customers.
   I just returned from a week long visit to New Orleans
   for a Personal Chef Convention.
   Susan Spicer was a fabulous presenter at the
   USPCA (United States Personal Chef Association Conference)
   and while dining with a group of fellow chefs at Bayona last
   week, hef Spicer prepared multiple appetizers and entrees
   that we shared familystyle enabling us to enjoy many of her
   featured entrees, lovingly prepared and presented in her
   well appointed, quaint and charming restaurant Bayona.
   Out of all the fine dining experiences we encountered as
   chef's....Susan Spicer and Bayona take top ratings in my eyes,
   trust me! The cookbook is wonderful on so many levels and a
   treasured reference to pull from the shelf as you create lushious
   food with great layering of flavors that bring the dishes to a
   superb level. The recipes and tips and preparation secrets are
   a gift to the readers and the complexity of the preparations
   is one that is mild to moderate and attainable by anyone
   interested in spending alittle time in the kitchen and presenting
   food that is delicious for any celebration!
   
   Chef Mary Jane Curry
   Custom Cuisine
   Camarillo, CA



5. Well written, with great recipies and nice photographs. This cookbook has kept me busy for almost 3 weeks. Lots of winners and no duds so far. Would have given it 5 stars but someone chose to be cheap and print it in China.

5 comments about Rice Cooker Meals: Fast Home Cooking for Busy People.

1. This is a great cookbook for those who like easy, inexpensive ethnic meals in their rice cooker. The book is almost entirely recipes, easy to read, with common, easy to find ingredients as well as recipe suggestions by readers on each recipe for adjustments or substitutions. For those who don't like spicy, just buy the tomato products without chilies, and as for the book not being low fat-it never stated it was a low cal cookbook!
   
   If your looking for more recipes for your rice cooker, this books a bargain at $10.
   Recommended-4 stars.



2. If you like "Cajun Cooking", you will like the recipes in this cookbook ... please note the recipes are developed using the "old style" rice cooker ... the ones I have tried in the "new style" (Sanyo) rice cooker did not turn out well ... less water is required when using the "new style" rice cooker ... I'm still working on a conversion ... the recipes I have tried using the "old style" rice cooker turned out great and were very good ... but the recipes are great even if you decide to cook them in a standard pot using the stove top ... RPH



3. This cookbook is simple and has good food, only negative it dosent tell you what size rice cooker you need!



4. An ingenious new way of cooking has been discovered by Neal Bertrand. Through the use of a rice cooker he reveals how to create mouth watering meals in minutes. This book is ideal for those who are limited on kitchen space or who are challenged by cooking. Each recipe is easy to put together and requires no advance culinary skills.
   
   I was amazed at the overall content of this book. Each recipe was so simple to prepare and produced delicious results. I must admit that all these years I thought a rice cooker was just to be used to cook rice. Now through this one book I have found a quick and easy way to create meals fit for a King. The recipes that I couldn't resist to try included:
   
   "Crawfish Boil" Potatoes
   Cabbage "Casserole" I
   Candied Yams with Marshmallows
   
   There are many unique features about this book. It allows you to experience a true taste of Louisiana cuisine through dishes such as: Crawfish Jambalaya, Crawfish Etouffee, and Cajun Pepper Steak. In addition it provides a helpful resource entitled the well-stocked rice cooker meals pantry that lists the ingredients you will need to have available to make the recipes in the book.
   
   Rice Cooker Meals: Fast Home Cooking for Busy People is a must have for anyone who is looking for a fresh new approach to cooking. It offers a wealth of scrumptious recipes that will quickly become some of your all time favorites. This book would make an excellent gift for that special someone who you know deserves a home cooked meal.



5. Delivered way ahead of schedule. Thank you. I can't wait to try some out.

5 comments about Real Cajun: Rustic Home Cooking from Donald Link's Louisiana.

1. I really tried to like this book but ended up donating it to the library after a few months. I just don't like the food. It is a difference in tastes that really shouldn't reflect on the quality of the book. But I will say that Cajun cooking as presented in this book is not for everyone. That's why I give it a lower rating than I would have liked to give.
   
   I tried about fifteen recipes and didn't like any of them. Some were appetizers, some were entrees, some were soups, some were side dishes, none were desserts. My son made the buttermilk biscuits, but prefers his own recipe. I avoided some recipes because of the extreme amounts of salt and saturated fat. Other recipes, like the fried chicken and the potato salad, just didn't go over very well with me because I don't like the style in which they are prepared. (The days of frying things in lard are over for me. Potato salad that's more like seasoned mashed potatoes doesn't work for me either.)
   
   On the other hand, there are a lot of good ideas and concepts in the book, and I have used those to develop some new favorites. For example, I was inspired to make my own link sausages and this has been a magnificent discovery. I didn't use the extremely salty and fatty recipe in the book, though. I love the Cajun use of green pepper, onion, celery, thyme, and chili powder. I used this knowledge to develop a great bean and rice dish that has become a family favorite. I also like the concept of the boudin and the Cajun style jambalaya in the book because these concepts can be the basis of excellent rice-based stuffings for poultry or as a side dish.
   
   I recommend this book to somebody who is a cooking enthusiast wishing to expand his or her knowledge about cooking, and examining the important influence of Cajun foods on American cuisine. I would be very reluctant to recommend it to somebody looking for a practical cookbook because my tastes differ from that of the author and most of the people who have reviewed this book.



2. An amazing cook book for anyone wanting to know about cajun cooking. The german chocalate cake recipe is awesome as well as the meat pies. I've read this book about twice it is a good read, and the photos awesome



3. Cajun and Creole cuisine is NOT for everyone. If you've never had Cajun food before and you run from anything more exotic than plain potatoes, this is not for you.
   
   To the rest of us, I have tried recipes from each section in this book with AMAZING results and it has really clear instructions. I've gotten a household of former bland-lovers to turn into genuine Cajun fans. Even things like the Cajun meatloaf -- and I'm not a meatloaf fan ordinarily -- came out truly wonderful. All these leftovers get eaten! Of course, what I'd been after when I got the book originally were the gumbo and jambalaya recipes. I got so much more than that.
   
   The food is also really filling and like most genuine Cajun recipes, the ingredients don't cost an arm and a leg. You can't say that for all cookbooks, believe me, I know.
   
   SOME of the recipes, I will admit, will have ingredients that are not for the squeamish and/or non-adventurous. You can ignore those ones if you want OR easily substitute said ingredient for a slightly tastier alternate (I'm talking about the gizzard stuff, which isn't for everyone).
   
   I love this cookbook. If I had to take only one cookbook with me somewhere, this would be the one.



4. Great cookbook for the cook, who loves southern Cajun cooking. Donald Link's family memories are the same binds that us to our foods.



5. This Chef has one of the hottest rated restaurants in New Orleans. The cookbook is wonderfully illustrated, and I like the fact that it contains stories and incorporates the family aspect so key in Cajun and Creole cooking.
   
   Take it from someone who lived most of their life in South Louisiana, this one takes true, traditional recipes and breathes some new life into them. Definitely have discovered some new twists on traditional cuisine I can't wait to try !!
   
   Highly recommended.
   
   
   Regards...

5 comments about Chef Paul Prudhomme's Louisiana Kitchen.

1. THIS IS PRUDHOMME'S BEST! I WAS SO HAPPY TO FIND IT AND RECEIVE IT IN
   SUCH A SPEEDY MANNER AND IN SUCH GOOD SHAPE FOR THE PRICE. GREAT JOB!
   GREAT SERVICE. THANK YOU



2. I have dozens of cookbooks on the shelf, but this is the one that comes out most often. Our favorites are the Cajun Shepherd's Pie, the shrimp etouffe, and the brabant potatoes. As another review said, follow the recipe's exactly, even if you're an experienced cook, and you will be pleased with the result.



3. I've had this since it first came out. This was a present for my son who loves to cook.



4. I cannot believe anyone gave this less then a 5 star rating!!! A 'Perfect 10', they don't have a ten so here it is **********. This is not one of those cookbooks you will use 3 recipes out of it and be disappointed with the rest. You will wear it out. This cookbook will teach you to be the king/queen of your kitchen. Your guests will love you. Your friends will adore you if you give them a copy.
   
   We have a library of cookbooks and had this since originally published. Wore it out and bought a couple more. Can't believe you can get a used copy for $4. No better steals on the internet.
   
   If you want to start out with easy the cornbread is simple and to die for. Impress your friends with a main course you can't screw up just follow the recipe to the 'T'. My ex used to short cut these recipes just due to being so busy, still outstanding. These recipes are awesome.
   
   The Enchiladas (we use chicken due to the lack of fresh seafood and it is still fab!) are one of the best recipes in here. Not spicy at all, but definitely a heart attack waiting to happen! Your friends will be wanting to come back as soon as their bypass surgery has been completed. If you are searching for that perfect recipe to impress a wide range of guests. Not a typical Mexican recipe (and I love Mexican), everyone will love it and they won't call it Mexican. We call it Cajun Enchiladas just because it is so unique.
   
   Lots of 'hot as you can handle it' recipes in here. As one reviewer said, 'if you don't like spice reduce the cayenne by half or completely if you don't like it or reduce the amount of seasoning blend.'
   
   The sticky chicken is a classic as well. Could just almost copy the table of contents to this page to list the outstanding recipes. The shrimp picante will hurt you so beware, still great though.
   
   If you want something really special make the BBQ shrimp for an appetizer when you do one of his main courses. You won't be able to run your guests off till all the food is gone!
   
   When you get this you will wonder why you had never heard of it before!



5. The seller did describe the books as some being worn and very used and they were right. No problem with the seller. I received my book quickly and I am very satisfied with the seller. The price was right, so I can't complain about the book's condition. I will use it often.

5 comments about Creole Made Easy.

1. Use this book and the acompanying CD and you will have a good dominion of creole for any work you might do in Haiti. You will not be a fluent speaker, but you will know enough creole to communicate and understand others.



2. Fantastic book. I had the book for a while then I found the CD that goes with it. I would highly recommend the CD with book purchase. It all makes sense when you see it written AND hear it pronounced.



3. This book has made learning the language easy. Would like to see more examples of how words are pronounced.



4. If you are generally exposed to the Haitian culture and/or frequently hear Creole's general language sounds and pronounciations, I highly recommended that you purchase this book. You will NOT be disappointed. This book serves as an excellent reference as it helps to put the words and sounds you hear into perspective. The reader quickly gains language skills, and before you realize it you're speaking Creole! I am living proof that this book works. I was given this book as a gift by one of my Haitian friends. After a couple months of hearing their conversations and studying the book, I am now able to both read and speak Creole even better than most Haitians! It always shocks my friends when they hear me speaking Creole. This book is well written and again I highly recommend it!



5. Ok, if you are going to travel to Haiti *and have Haitian friends*, this is the book you want. (I'll qualify that in a moment) Thorough dictionary in the back, the lessons are clear and if you do your homework, you'll be conversant on your first trip. Haitian Creole is a wonderful language, topped only by Haitians themselves.. and if you want to find out firsthand why those who know speak so highly of our Creole friends, learn the language and talk to the people in their own tongue!
   
   Here's the caveat, and also the reason for 4 stars: Very few phrases! This means that everyone will understand you but you may not understand them, simply because Creole is loaded with colloquialisms, layered meanings and humor.. which if you're not from that culture, you won't have much grasp on at first. However, if you have some Haitian friends, ask them for help and you'll be well on your way with this book.
   
   I also recommend (in addition to this) "Hidden Meanings" by Betty Turnbull. It is a book of Haitian proverbs-- first in Creole, then with a translation and interpretation (in English). A great window into the culture as well as vernacular.
   
   Bon Chance, zanmi mwen!

5 comments about My New Orleans: The Cookbook.

1. This cookbook is amazing, wonderful stories, photos and recipes made this book a great Christmas gift.



2. Great book on New Orleans cuisine. Some people may find the recipes make too large a quantity, but it is great for planning parties. Also love the photos and historical info.



3. And they do not stand by their products. If you have a defective product and use "the wrong language" they will not replace that product. Be warned.



4. I am from New Orleans and have been living in Atlanta for the last 15 years. This book brings me home in more ways than the recipes. It is a great book about New Orleans and the cuisine.



5. 
   Great Creole recipes, wonderfully illustrated cookbook with aspect into the Chef's family life and influences.
   
   Not a diet cookbook by any stretch of the imagination. Not the cuisine for everyday fare, but a fantastic resource for the special occasions.
   
   Take it from someone who lived most of their life in South Louisiana, and nine years in the New Orleans area, this one is a valuable addition to your cooking library. I would also receommend "Real Cajun", by Chef Donald Link.
   
   
   Regards...