5 comments about The Black Dog Summer on the Vineyard Cookbook.

1. As a self-professed foodie, I am opposed to destination restaurants at any level. However, I happened to glance at this cookbook (mostly to reaffirm my beliefs) and was so surprised I bought it. I have to say, everything I've tried has been a 'do-over' at my house (which is high praise coming from my now spoiled family!) Easy, yet very tasty, makes me (almost) want to stand in line for an hour for breakfast this summer!



2. This is one of my favorite cookbooks, both to cook from and to simply read and look at. The recipes are easily presented and simple to follow. That comes in handy, since its versatility covers breakfast, lunch, dinner and desserts while combining a true sense of the summer lifestyle on Martha's Vineyard. It's a funny cookbook, beautifully photographed and -- no other word fits -- lovingly presented.
   
   Among my favorite recipes: The simple pasta putanesca and the fish chowder are ones you'll rely upon time and again. The recipes are true restaurant combinations, meaning they're a little more forgiving than recipes developed mostly out of test kitchens or home economics departments. Flavors adapt easily to home cooks' preferences for more or less spice, more or less fuss.
   
   A good thing about this book is that the dishes coordinate well with each other. It's easy to come up with a full dinner menu out of this book. A brunch could easily be built around the breakfast-lunch chapters and impress the most discriminating palates. Same with dinner; present what you see, and you'll wow your family, your guests or simply give yourself a treat.



3. I like cookbooks with lots of beautiful pictures and this one rates five stars for its pictures and interesting stories. I like recipes that use ingredients most of us have in our kitchens although recipes with the more exotic ingredients are welcome, too. Recipes have to be easy to prepare and not too time-consuming. Black Dog scores points here, also. But, the bottom line is, are you happy with the end result of all your labors and would you make the recipe again. So far, Black Dog fulfills this requirement with the recipes I have tried. For instance, the clam chowder recipe is excellent. I highly recommend this cookbook. I think it would make a great gift for the novice as well as "seasoned" cook.



4. As a regular buyer and user of cookbooks, this cookbook is one of the easiest to use and has loads of good recepies. Several of the recipes are now part of my daily menu plans. My family especially likes the Pork Cutlets with Madiera Sauce. Plus, finding a Stuffed Quahogs receipe that is so much like my grandmother-in-law's famous Quahogs is a rare find!



5. A nice collection of easy, low key recipes. Very nice addition to one's library of casual cooking.

2 comments about Delish! The J.W. Jackson Recipes; A Martha's Vineyard Cookbook.

1. After falling in love with Philip R. Craig's Vineyard mystery series, I decided that a cook book by the same author couldn't be half bad. I've tried several recipes thus far (I received the book as a Christmas gift) and each has turned out wonderfully. The recipes are succinct and easy to follow. The dishes are a varied collection of family favorites and classic island cuisine. Each recipe takes up no more than a page and is made up of ingredients that fairly common, not foreign or difficult to find. I would highly recommend this book to anyone with an interest in cooking and a taste for the Vineyard.



2. I really love Philip Craig's Martha's Vineyard series. Each mystery has solid, but laid-back plotting, engaging characters, and lots of atmosphere. I have enjoyed the subtle additions of the recipes from protagonist J.W. Jackson. I was delighted to see recipes from J.W. come out in a stand-alone book. I have had fun playing with them - they're really good! I can't help but comment on the nice influence of Craig's (or his alter ego's)wife! I look forward to each Craig and Jackson offering. They do not disappoint.

5 comments about The New England Clam Shack Cookbook: Favorite Recipes from Clam Shacks, Lobster Pounds & Chowder Houses.

1. If you are going to new England this summer, be sure to take along this book. It's a combination of tour guide, restaurant guide and beach read. Following the clam shack trail provides a perfect itinerary for the trip. I can't say that I ate in all of the places suggested, but enough of them to recognize that Ms. Dojny knows what she's talking about. This stuff is the perfect summer food. (and cheap!)

   You'll also find the edit informative and fun. I recommend it highly. Hope that she does New Jersey next.




2. One year before I moved to Maine, I was visiting a friend in Yarmouth and we went for seafood at Harraseeket Lunch and Lobster. I was hooked! The meal consisted of 2 lobsters, fries and fresh native corn. The place was also packed, itself a tribute to the popularity of the food served there. The fried clams are dipped in batter which the people 'from away' aka tourists, seem to prefer. You can also purchase fresh shellfish for the home clambake or lobster boil.

   I am a SCUBA diver and the cove near Two Lights Lobster Shack is a great place at high tide. And no dive could be complete without a lobster roll from the Lobster Shack. In fact, the opening and closing dates for this establishment are announced in the local paper...sure signs of the arrival of spring or fall.

   Clam shacks are 'real' seafood restaurants. They aren't fancy but the food is outstanding. Brooke Dojny has captured the essence of this New England cuisine and provides a wonderful insight to this uniquely Yankee culinary tradition. Lest you think that this book is only about seafood, there are chapters about chicken, sides and desserts. After all, what's a seafood dinner without a good cole slaw?

   Ms. Dojny also covers in detail the differences and preferences of various regions within New England. For instance, Maine folks prefer chowder made with soft-shell clams and milk(with a little cream for a thicker base) while in Massachusetts, hard-shell clams called quahogs are used along with milk and flour for thickening. Southern New England features clear or red chowders with hard-shell clams and tomatoes. Mainers consider it heresy to serve 'that red stuff' and you won't find it unless you make it yourself.

   Chowders aside, the book is easy to read and a wealth of information about New England. Did I say that the recipes are great too? There is even a recipe for Whoopie Pies!! No cook in this region is without a recipe for them and if you haven't tried one, buy the book or stop by Harraseeket Lunch and Lobster for a scrumptious treat!

   In short, buy the book! That way you won't have to wait until spring to enjoy this delicious fare.




3. Great, fun book for those of us who know and love New England clam shacks. It's fun to read and to look at, brings it all back to you about what fun those places are, and what a vanishing breed, and if you care to make some of the recipes, why they're there as well. Excellent book, in every aspect, and would be a fun gift book or memorabilia from travels to New England. Just love it. Very light-hearted content and lovely visual presentation, but informative as well. Nothing boring here.



4. Just what you might expect. Buttery cholesterol laden food that almost everyone loves! 'They' now tell us now it might kill you, but what the heck? It is a review of reicpes from many roadside eateries in coastal New England. I find much of it repetitive, after all, how many ways are there to deep fry a clam?
   If you love this vacation food, it is fun. As a cookbook, it is very limited.
   DOC



5. This is a great book. So far, we have made the clam chowder from the Seahorse Tavern, and it was superb. Just like the clear chowder I grew up eating. However, aside from two Connecticut restaurants, the author virtually skips over the whole state. There are so many excellent clam shacks and seafood places in CT, and I'm hoping the 2nd edition (set to come out in May 2008) will include more recipes from my former home state. But other than that, no complaints. In addition to great recipes, the book is a lot of fun to read through. The author includes lots of fun facts and anecdotes.

5 comments about Nantucket Open-House Cookbook.

1. Looking for interesting foods, lush ingredients, reliable recipes? Sara Leah Chase has it in her blood; these recipes are perfect in their uniqueness, but are so do-able. The comments prefacing each recipe are helpful, and bring back many memories of my 15 Nantucket summers. Her recipes often include traditional foods with an inventive, flavorful twist. This book is also just plain enjoyable to read. Chase's attitude is Good Food + Warm Hospitality = Memorable Times. Best recipes: hummous, scallop puffs, swordfish kebabs, duck breast w/ grilled radicchio, cranberry-kumquat relish...and every dessert.



2. I lost almost all of my cook book collection to hurricane Katrina. This is the book that I replaced first! I was so happy to find it here at Amazon since I have been looking for it for awhile. The recipes are those that I use over and over and they never fail to please.....Ms. Chase has a wonderful way with food that is both comforting and elegant. You will enjoy this book!



3. What a great cook book full of good ideas for entertaining. The recipes are unique and easy to follow. This is a go-to book for potlucks and parties.



4. Ms. Chase has a fresh, innovative style in her writing and recipes. I enjoyed reading this book as well as trying out some of the yummy, creative dishes. As I was researching Ina Garten's website, I discovered that Ina herself finds this cookbook to be indispensible in her own food preparation and also in sparking her culinary creativity. If Ina says it's good, it's gotta be good!!!



5. 
   I bought it in 1984, then misplaced it, I liked the recipes, and with Summer coming, decided to by it again

5 comments about Recipes from a Very Small Island.

1. I had liked Linda as an author but this is an outstanding cookbook. It
   has lots of favorites in it and also lots of new ones to try. She and her mother did a great job in their collaboration. Great cookbook for new cooks as well as us older ones! If you like seafood, you should enjoy this one.



2. One of my favourite cookbooks. Beautiful to look at, amusing stories, and good, unpretentious recipes. Linda Greenlaw is one cool chick!



3. This cookbook by far is my favorite. It has great stories to go along with some wonderful recipes. I have tried several recipes so far and have loved them. I like having two new friends in my kitchen...that can cook!!



4. This is very nice story. I like Linda's books because these are real people doing real stuff. She explains what she's doing and why. To me that is all important. Reading these books is like reading a diary. If I ever get around to doing a family history I'll write it the same way. I can't wait to go from book to book.



5. Excellent recipes from a remote island off the coast of Maine. Great photography as well. Recipes are clearly written with none of the upscale gourmet ingredients which sometimes prevent the novice cook from trying something. A good choice for a house-warming gift.

5 comments about In the Kennedy Kitchen: Recipes and Recollections of a Great American Family.

1. I live about ten miles from the compound and own over 2,000 cookbooks and this is one of the best I've ever seen. It has receipes that are easy to follow with ingredients that are readily available and is both current and traditional. It's the best addition to my collection in a long time.



2. I bought this book as one of our prizes for out annual 4th of July races. I skimmed it and copied a few recipes before placing it on the prize table. Wonderful stories with every recipe. The three recipes I made have been excellent. The meatloaf is the best I've tasted and easy to make.
   
   I plan on ordering another copy for myself and trying more recipes.



3. I love the Kennedy family and I love New England. This is the best cookbook I have ever read. The photos are amazing, and the stories are wonderful. Everytime I read the book it makes me hungry for authentic New England seafood. It also makes me wish I lived in New England.



4. Interesting collection of recipes & anecdotes, spoiled for me by the overly servile tone of the authors. Actual recipes that I've tried are delicious, easy to follow & easy to cook. Wonderful photography. Well worth buying



5. This book contains recipes and recollections of a great American family, the Kennedy's. It contains the family's favorite, Meat Loaf. I made this on 4-27-07 and it was incredibly delicious! The Lobster Stew is a rich stew which is quick to make and elegant at the same time. The Honey-Pecan Sweet Potatoes are so good, you'll want to slap someone! You will also enjoy the family fotos included in the book and the little stories that go with them.

5 comments about At Blanchard's Table: A Trip to the Beach Cookbook.

1. This is one of the best cookbooks we own (and we own a lot). Everything we have tried has turned out great and taste wonderful. Well worth owning



2. I also own a lot of cookbooks. I love to read them. I checked this book out from the library, and it is the only one I have ever checked out for free that I wanted to pay for, not matter how much it cost. Wonderful tips on products, unpretentious - almost apologetic in tone because she didn't graduate from culinary school (neither did I! Perfect!), beautiful photography, many, many recipes I want to try. Sandwiches fillings that become dips that become sauces, terrific adaptation and suggestions. I am so glad to have this cookbook/story. It is an irresistable love story of food and hospitality. Makes me want to go to their restaurant in Anguilla - wherever that is..... At least I can eat and serve the food! Try it at your library and see. Delightful.



3. The restaurant is beautiful and the cookbook is awesome. I've made several of the recipes and all were fabulous!



4. I met the Blanchards at a book singing where they were demonstrating some of the recipes; that was a few years back and I have not tired of awesome ideas found in this book. I have given this book to several family and friends and they rave about it as well!



5. These recipes are OUTSTANDING! They are so simple and use simple, fresh, flavorful ingredients that most people already have on hand. Some examples of recipes include:
   Baguette Stuffed with Sun-Dried Tomatoes, Mascarpone, and Basil
   Blanchards Corn Chowder
   Spicy Coconut and Sweet Potato Soup
   Chicken and Green Bean Salad with Kalamata Olive Dressing
   Potato Salad with Lime and Sun-Dried Tomatoes
   Orzo Salad with Corn, Tomatoes, Feta, and Chili-Lime Vinaigrette
   Sweet-and-Sour Swordfish with Onions, Raisins, and Tomatoes
   Calypso Chicken with Lime
   Pan-Roasted Chicken with Lemon, Olives, and Rosemary
   Penne with Sun-Dried Tomatoes, Capers, and Olives
   Island Rice with Cumin and Coconut
   Light-as-a-Cloud Lemon Mousse
   Coconut Cheesecake
   Homemade Coconut Ice Cream
   
   Believe me when I say that neither you nor your dinner guests will be sorry that you ordered this cookbook!! I promise! It is my absolute FAVORITE cookbook and my go-to when I don't know what to make. Order now...you won't be sorry!!

5 comments about Cooking with Shelburne Farms: Food and Stories from Vermont (Shelburne Farms Books).

1. This is a beautiful cookbook! The recipes are a great mix of rich and complex to earthy, fresh and simple. There are also wonderful pieces between the recipes on Vermont farmers and artisan food makers and the featured local ingredients which are fun and informative reading. I might add these recipes are certainly not just for the local Vermonter as I'm out in California and easily able to cook the recipes by occasionally using a suggested alternate ingredient. I've made a number of recipes from the book already and can't wait to make more, some will certainly become standards in my house.



2. I bought this for my wife after eating at the Gatsbyesque Shelburne Farms Inn this summer (at which Chef Gencarelli is the head chef) and must say it is fabulous. The recipies are both incredibly delicious and beautiful, as well as approachable; with the emphasis on local ingredients you don't have to order the book from Amazon and then half the ingredients from "obscurefoodstuffs.com" or the like. We have both loved making recipies from it. You will love this book!



3. Always on a search for a good apple pie recipe and WOW I found one here. It was fast, easy and delicious. It even looked like the photograph in the book.



4. This cookbook made a perfect present for those living in Vermont. My daughter living in Vermont really appreciated this gift.



5. I love cookbooks and have a lot of them. This has truly become a favorite. I have made 5 recipes from this book and have enjoyed and marveled at everyone. The chicken with apples and roasted sausage with cider dressing was unbelievable. The apple blackberry crisp is a new family favorite. It is such a fun read. Makes me feel very connected to my food.
   It truly makes you want to go to Vermont to visit the farm. A real pleasure you won't be disappointed.

2 comments about The Summer Shack Cookbook: The Complete Guide to Shore Food.

1. This is a delightful cookbook because it is so wonderfully put together. Each recipe has a few paragraphs providing background for the dish. These articles can talk about a variety of things: the history of the dish, the author's personal association with the dish (always interesting), and considerations about the ingredients, preparation, or equipment needed.
   
   The list of ingredients also includes equivalents and the steps for preparation provides helpful information about what you can do to work ahead of time and variants. There are some beautiful color plates of selected dishes grouped in various sections of the book. The first 50 pages or so include very helpful introductory information about preparing and service seafood along with the equipment you will need and want to have to prepare it properly.
   
   The book has eleven chapters (each with its own introduction and table of recipes for easy lookup): the first chapter lays out the basics, chapter two talks about eating seafood raw, especially oysters, clams, and such. Chapters 3 & 4 are about kettle cooking by steaming, boiling, soups, chowders, and stews. Chapter 5 uses your icebox for chilled dishes and seafood salads. You move to the grill in chapter 6 and 7 takes you to indoor cooking on your stovetop and in your oven. Chapter 8 provides favorite Shack fried dishes. You get into the morning baking of biscuits, breads, pies, and other dessert items in chapter 9. Chapter 10 takes you into drink recipes. The final chapter addresses basic sauces, dressings, and stocks you will use in preparing and serving other dishes. There is also a very useful index.
   
   I was fortunate to meet Chef White at a special dinner here in Ann Arbor at Zingerman's Roadhouse (a wonderful place to eat anytime, by the way). Chef Alex of the Roadhouse and Chef White worked together to present more than 100 of us a sampling of starters, salad, entrees, side dishes, and desserts. While these were smaller individual portions, the sheer quantity of dishes left us all achingly full. And the delight of trying so much wonderful food (obviously prepared with care and love) made it an evening we will always remember.
   
   Chef White talked about his philosophy for the food at his Summer Shack restaurants. He focuses on the quality of the ingredients with simple preparation that tries to present the ingredients at their best rather than trying to make them into something else. I think he said that he wanted to stay out of the way of the ingredients. This showed in the dishes we were served. It was Chef White who told us that Ari Weinzweig and Paul Saginaw, the founders of the Zingerman's businesses here in Ann Arbor were given a lifetime achievement award by Bon Appetite. We here in Ann Arbor have known about Ari and Paul for decades and our community has been blessed to have them, but it is especially nice when they get well-deserved recognition by others.
   
   This is a very interesting book to read, the recipes are inviting to the non-professional chef because they seem to be something you can accomplish without extensive training or an incredibly well equipped kitchen. A few key pieces of equipment, some good ingredients, a ready heart and a desire to experiment and learn are all that is required.
   
   Enjoy!
   
   Reviewed by Craig Matteson, Ann Arbor, MI



2. I've been a fan of Jasper White's for many years, but I held off ordering this book because I was afraid it would be full of lobster recipes. I realized long ago that I was not going to pay the premimun lobster demands in the south, so why buy another book heavy on lobster. Well, I was wrong! This is a terrific book of seafood recipes and side dish ideas too. The thing I liked best is that all the food is very casual, not the fancy stuff that looks great on the cover but that you'll never cook. The fish recipes offer ideas for substitutions if the ideal fish isn't in season or region.

5 comments about The Tasha Tudor Cookbook: Recipes and Reminiscences from Corgi Cottage.

1. Tasha Tudor's cookbook makes you long for the past when your grandmother taught you how to make the perfect pie crust. Ms. Tudor's own illustrations add to the charm of a book that reminds you of happy times spent in the kitchen. Her recipes and personal stories encourage you recreate that time with your own children and grandchildren.



2. Anything by Tasha Tudor is a work of art! Her illustrations, and down to earth practicality, is revealed -- upclose -- in this delightful book! This is the kind of book you can give a little girl of any age -- even 99!



3. I bought this more for nostalgia, so in that case it gets 5 stars for pictures and memories. Most of the recipes are modern, yet impractical. There are a few that I would say are great heirloom recipes, but that's all.



4. This book is so charming. The artwork is lovely and the recipes are good too. It's a book to use and treasure for years to come.



5. This cookbook is actually very beautifull. Havent tried the recipes in it yet, it was a gift for my mom. She really loved receiving it. It took a little longer to come to my house than i expected, but i did order it right around Christmas, so i guess that can be expected. I cant wait to try the recipes. The pictures are georgous!!