5 comments about Lunch Boxes and Snacks: Over 120 healthy recipes from delicious sandwiches and salads to hot soups and sweet treats.

1. This book is filled with some creative ides. However, This book is not for my picky eaters!! Hopefully someday we'll be able to get the picky-eaters to be open to new foods. Also some recipes was just not practical. Over all I am glad to have this book for future use.



2. I bought this book based on some reviews that I have read. I found it to be okay. It gave me a few new ideas for lunches. A lot of the recipes call for mayo, ketchup or chicken. Overall, I think the recipes are fairly simple and kid friendly.



3. If you are burned out trying to come up with ideas for kids' meals this book is for you. Meals are easy to make and colorful to be of interest to your kid. A bonus, if your kid likes to be in the kitchen like mine, s/he can assist in making the items.



4. I just became a full time mom lately, and having EXTREMELY little experience in the kitchen, but also a daughter that is about to go to full day school, I am in desparate search for "life saving recipes" ( to save my life, and probably my daughter's too so that she won't have food poisoning cause by my lack of knowledge in cooking), I bought a bunch of cook books / bento books from amazon. I must say this is one of my favourite.
   
   It is easy to read, instructions are clear and easy to follow ( you know sometimes cookbook can be quite intimating to learner cook like me , but not this book), pack with healthy food choices ( yet they look tasty in the photos), and there are tips about packing lunches for your children througout the book...
   
   I wish I can find a few more books like this !



5. As with any cook book there are hits and there are total misses but this book presents a wide variety of new ideas and twists on old ones to keep your lunch interesting for weeks. It has good eye appeal, though there aren't pictures of every dish presented. Another plus for this title is the great variety of items to chose from; there are the requisite sandwiches but also wraps, salads, hot items, and sweets. Some recipes aren't conducive to packed lunches (open faced sandwiches)but even those can be adapted. I see this as a great book for SAHM's and daycares to stir things up at lunchtime. Many of these dishes are simple enough that children can help make them. Well worth the small investment.

5 comments about Love Soup: 160 All-New Vegetarian Recipes from the Author of The Vegetarian Epicure.

1. Really disapointed in this book. Nothing new here and the quality of the paper in the book is also marginal. Go to a soup can for more imaginative ideas for soup.



2. Anna Thomas' previous vegetarian cookbooks are staples in my kitchen and have been since they were originally published so I fully expected to find her new creation -- Love Soup 160 All New Vegetarian Recipes - up to her previous efforts. I wasn't disappointed.
   
   A simmering pot of soup on the stove may be the culinary definition of home, and this book is filled with imaginative combinations that will satisfy everyone in the family, vegetarian or not. I am particularly impressed that each vegan recipe is noted with a V in the table of contents so anyone interested may easily identify those recipes instead of paging through the book, reading each recipe in search of those without eggs and dairy.
   
   The book is well organized and divided into chapters largely based on when key ingredients are readily available at market -- Broths, Beautiful Fall Soups, Green Soups, Winter Squash Soups, Bean Soups, The Comfort of Soup in Deep Winter, Big Soups and Stews, Holiday Soups, First Taste of Spring, Green and Greener, Sweet Summer, Hearty Soups of Summer and Cold Soups. The final four chapters include accompaniments to make the soups a complete meal - A Few Good Breads (the Fresh Corn and Cheddar Cheese Cornbread is delicious), Hummus and Company, Salads for Summer and Winter, and finally A Few Easy Sweets (the Bittersweet Chocolate Brownies are perfect.)
   
   This is a cookbook so overflowing with ideas that I will be testing recipes the entire year. I have tried three soup recipes from the book and loved them all. Fennel and Onion Soup is a vegetable broth based soup, flavorful and light. Old-Fashioned cream of Mushroom Soup is decadent and complex with light cream, a little butter, dry Marsala and surprisingly - Arborio rice. And finally, the Spicy Indonesian Yam and Peanut Soup is hardy and absolutely delectable.
   
   The paper is the same simple plain stock used in her previous cookbooks and care should be taken not to splash onto the pages while cooking, making the use of a cookbook holder smart. Other than the recipe name, the ink color for the text is black which makes reading the book easy. As with her previous cookbooks, there are no photographs of the recipes. But since the majority of the recipes are for soup, photographs would add more to the book price than enlightenment. I do wish nutritional information was included but that isn't yet standard in most cookbooks. This substantial 500 page cookbook is one I will turn to again and again and I recommend to all.



3. These soups are packed with layered flavor--luxury for the mouth. I've given several copies of Love Soup as gifts and always hear back that the recipes turn out wonderfully.



4. Can hardly wait for the Farmer's Market to begin. Although most of the recipes are easy and quick enough to make for "right then" serving, I double or triple the recipes and freeze. All I have tried freeze easily and my friends bless the day I bought this book!



5. I made the pickle soup with the light vegetable broth as a base, and I made the walnut bread. I doubled the walnut bread recipe with no problems. Very soft and tasty bread, not at all like the rustic and crackly-crusted breads I usually make. I approached the soup with trepidation. There were so many ingredients that I was a little skeptical. But it turned out great. REALLY great. I made it for a vegan friend, so I did not serve it with the dairy accompaniments she suggested and it was still awesome. It is time-consuming chopping all of the veggies. But if you have the time, it is definitely worth it.

2 comments about The Mediterranean Diabetes Cookbook (ADA).

1. I found "The Mediterranean Diabetes cookbook" format easy to read and the recipes a delicious change from needed
   
   dietary restrictive menu. The preparation is easily done and the ingredients are not exotic or hard to shop for.
   
   The final results are tasty and please a wide variety of taste buds...
   
   These recipes will be long in my repertoire of every day and special meals for friends and family.
   
   Cooking these recipes will make me look good and as well as make my life easier...
   
   
   S.Simonet Damascus, Maryland



2. Amy Riolo has done it again! I've enjoyed her Arabian and Egyptian cookbooks, "Arabian Delights" and "Nile Style," both of which are food stained from frequent use, but "The Mediterranean Diabetes Cookbook" is the most user-friendly of the three. It includes bright, flavorful recipes from Spain to North Africa to the Levant that include mostly common ingredients such as chicken, olive oil, tomato, and fresh herbs with a touch of the exotic such as rose water, couscous, and arborio rice. Many of the recipes are simple to make for after work, requiring only one pot and a few ingredients, most of which are staples. Each recipe includes nutritional information and a tidbit about the origin of the recipe. Also, there are two helpful indexes, one divided by main ingredient/dish, and another divided by country. There are even recipes for spice mixes to use with the recipes in the book or for the cook's own creations. So far, my favorite dish is the chicken with carrots and leeks--perfect for a cold winter night, but I've also enjoyed the Dijon-glazed chicken, Moroccan chicken with lemon, Turkish chicken with tomatoes and yogurt, and the Caprese-style chicken. I'm looking forward to trying the salad and sorbet recipes during the summer, not to mention the seafood and soup recipes. This book will keep me busy for a while!

5 comments about New England Soup Factory Cookbook: More Than 100 Recipes from the Nation's Best Purveyor of Fine Soup.

1. I bought this cookbook after browsing through a LOT of them. I am so happy I did! The pictures, instructions, and comments are excellent! I have not made any of the soups yet, but am SO looking forward to getting started this weekend! :)



2. I always take cookbooks out of the library first to be sure they are worth buying. I bought this book right away. It has 20 recipes I want to make. The Sweet Potato Soup with Caramalized Onions is out of this world and the Black Bean with Pumpkin and Lime is the best black bean soup I've ever had. I make soup every week through out the winter and am anxious to try more of these delicious recipes.



3. Easy and very tasty recipes. We now have "soup night" at least once per week, and these are very healthy and delicious meals. My husband loves them.



4. I discovered this gem of a book through the Soup Factory itself. Delicious, but surprisingly simple soups are presented with pictures and easy cooking methods.



5. I was very excited to get this book; but was gravely disappointed to find out that the recipes call for bouillon to make the stock. Any home cook knows that bouillon is the lazy way out of a good stock and a good stock is the secret to a great soup. There are many other soup books that do a much better job giving the basics of stock 101.

5 comments about Japanese Hot Pots: Comforting One-Pot Meals.

1. I recently bought this cook book and my three kids and I have been having a lot of fun exploring the recipes! At first I was a little scared that we wouldn't have access to the Japanese ingredients needed for some of the recipes but quickly discovered that the authors suggest alternatives for each and every item that may be hard to find in your neck of the woods. (i.e. A small Japanese onion can be replaced with two scallions). I like to make my kids simple, home cooked meals, and these recipes are very easy to follow and make great family meals! I highly recommend this cookbook.



2. The authors' years of experience with Japanese cooking might make you think that this is a book for experts, but they also make it easy for the beginner. A lack of special equipment need not stop you, as the authors tell you how to use tools that you probably have if you cook much at all. There is also a guide to tell you where to find ingredients in your area. They even make it easy for people in outlying areas by suggesting substitutions available at any supermarket. Want to learn about Japanese cooking other than sushi? The best way, short of going to Japan, might be to do it yourself. Great for family meals or dinner parties.



3. It took one hot pot recipe - the one with the hand pulled dumpling to open the door. Then I needed a new hot pot. I have tried these recipes with both my donabe and electric skillet. It has completely converted my meatasaurus husband to eating his vegetables. He was delightfully eating the cabbage!?! I couldn't believe my eyes. Not to mention, it was such a healthy way of cooking that tastes absolutely delicious, fresh and robust at the same time. It truly warms the soul
   
   My one recommendation - Have a couple recipe options available since not all ingredients are readily available. You will find that almost all the ingredients are available at a well-stocked Japanese grocery store.



4. The recipes are easy, the ingredients are a little tricky to find. I've substituted
   some of the ingredients for others I have on hand with out a problem. So far the recipes I've made are pretty simple and incredibly flavorful.



5. I am a huge fan of soups and stews, for breakfast or/and dinner, for winter or/and summer. Of course the problem is the length and work they take to prepare and cook. I have to confess that at first I was a little intimidated by Japanese Hot Pots because of the strenuous work I assumed it implied. Quite the contrary. The recipes are easy to follow, the process itself very concise, creative and quick. The result is a luscious stew that admits almost any thing on it, even while I am already serving it, I remember I have other ingredients in the fridge that might go well in it, and they always do! One of my favorites is the one called "strawberry" to designate balls made of shrimp and ginger, oh my G, those balls are so fine and delicious! Me and my friends keep talking about "the pink balls" and make plans to cook them again and again.
   
   The book is also very beautifully laid out(I love the square format!) with some mouthwatering pictures on it that will not let you to wait any more to taste them. All the basics are very well-explained and illustrated and all of the ingredients are easy to find in the specialized groceries. They are also easy to remember recipes that you can keep on improvising and adding and changing. And the taste of these hot pots... once you have tasted them, you will be hooked for life. There is something quite addictive on it, and you will find yourself daydreaming for another bowl, and another...

5 comments about Heirloom Beans: Great Recipes for Dips and Spreads, Soups and Stews, Salads and Salsas, and Much More from Rancho Gordo.

1. I was so excited to receive this cookbook-there are SO many great recipes. And this is one book to share with family and friends. Now I need to order some of those beans that I cannot purchase here.
   Thanks.
   L Weil



2. This is a nice resource for those interested in how best to use various varieties of heirloom beans. I appreciated the descriptions of some of the varieties. My only complaint is that they did not include descriptions of all the varieties they offer for sale at Rancho Gordo. The recipes are straightforward and delicious!



3. They are truly great recipes for some great beans. I went to Napa and met Steve along with purchasing some beans. The Ayocote Negro beans are out of this world. I can hardly wait to try more! Check out his recipes on the Rancho Gordo website and sign up for his newsletters.



4. I've been buying Rancho Gordo beans for some time, ever since local favorite Phipps Ranch started consistently disappointing. A sad thing, because I LOVED going to Phipps Ranch and pawing through the amazing selection of dried beans there.
   
   I've also had Heirloom Beans for some time, but for some stupid reason hadn't cooked out of it.
   
   OMFG.
   
   The tepary bean stew (admittedly found on web and not cross-checked with recipe in book yet) with green beans and zucchini? Seems so boring. Seems so plain. ABSOLUTELY not so.
   
   Delicious! Made it exactly as specified except sub'd some of onion with shallot, and added some home-smoked serrano "chipotle" (chipotle by definition is made from smoked jalapeños, not serranos).
   
   Unbelievably flavorful. Steve has done it yet again. And tepary beans from Rancho Gordo were flawless -- no dirt, no stones, uniform size.
   
   Thanks again, Mr. Sando!
   
   Sign me: A long-term satisfied customer



5. The variety of beans in this book of recipes will make your head spin and your stomach growl. There are a multitude of exotic and simple recipes to keep the palate expecting more. My family has yet to meet a bean we don't like, and this book has proven to be a pirate's treasure trove for those who love the care to be-an. There is no other book of recipes like this one. The only drawback might be for people who live in smaller towns where some of these beans might not be available. Otherwise, if you like beans, this book will blow you away.

5 comments about Vegan Soups and Hearty Stews for All Seasons.

1. Ok.. I am not a Vegan ( I am a "Pescetarian" -- shoot me!) But these are really nice recipes, that really taste great, are low in fat, and are very easy to make!
   
   
   Jim



2. Aside from being a cookbook hoarder, I am also a die-hard soup lover! This book is perfect for those of us who eat soup regularly, and for those of us who want to eat soup more often. Nava Atlas is an excellent cookbook author. Her recipes are clear, simple (but not boring), straightforward and tasty. I really like the seasonality of this book as well. Now that winter is approaching, a hearty bowl of chili with savory muffins or scones is just what we need to keep us warm and toasty. You will find all of that here. Nava's cookbooks are also just what busy people need on their bookshelves. As a full time working mother of two, I don't have hours to put together a healty, delicious meal. Nava makes getting a healthy meal on the table easy. It doesn't have to take forever, and a soup, salad and biscuits are suitable for kids and adults. Thumbs up!



3. What I love about Nava Atlas is, she writes for the average cook. Her recipes are colorful, easy, and quick to prepare. She doesn't bog down recipes with exotic ingredients. Most recipes call for three or four easy-to-find ingredients and take about 30 minutes or so to put together. The color photographs in this soup and stew cookbook are great. I've prepared several of these recipes and shared them with non-vegan diners - they never suspected a thing. This is a great gift book - not too expensive, very beautiful, and useful for the day-to-day cook, especially during the winter months. Also, these recipes are perfect for a single person. You can make a pot of soup on a Sunday and you've got your meals for a few days.



4. If you enjoy making a variety of delicious and healthful soups and stews, look no further. Whether you like brothy Asian noodle soups, hearty bean stews, or creamy vegetable bisques, you'll find it within these pages. The recipes call for easy-to-find ingredients and the instructions are clear and simple to follow. I especially love that the book is organized according to seasons, so you can savor these wonderful soups all year long. The yummy selection of accompaniments is an added bonus.



5. gave this book to our vegan son who is recently single. he took right to it! as he lives in the north east he is frequently inside during the harsh winter and is now enjoying a favorite of mine...long, slow cooking of hearty, satisfying meals. an added bonus is that his weekend cooking serves to carry him part way through the work week. he is even baking bread. who would have thought? it's good for me to know that he is eating well and it's been fun for him. win...win.

5 comments about 300 Slow Cooker Favorites.

1. This cookbook beats others I own because it's more natural...no more canned soup recipes. The ingredients enable one to regulate the amount of salt and sugar. Crock pot cooking is a great idea but you still have to do some preparation and that's not always easy in the morning. This book has simple recipes with few extra ingredients. I was able to "try" it before purchase because both my sister and son were using it.



2. I bought this cook book for my wife who loves to cook. It is a very good source for many recipes that will become favorites that you use over and over again. For fans of slow cooker recipes I recommend this book.



3. I bought this cookbook for my son and daughter-in-law for Christmas. While we were sitting around after Christmas, we took turns paging through the recipe book and at first, I thought the author was really searching for things to put in this book. But that section was the simple soups and broths.
   
   Then, I sat up and found more than 3/4s of the book fun to page through and wanted nearly every recipe. The photos looked great and the ingredients and instructions looked easy to follow. Whether for a slow cooker, pressure cooker or on stove, I'd like to try these recipes myself. I have TWO slow cookers, too, so why not? I thought I'd just copy the ones I wanted, but there were too many. I'm going to buy another one of these cookbooks for myself.



4. I love cookbooks that have good recipes and easy to find ingredients. I read them like novels. Great cook book.



5. My mother gave me her ancient slow cooker a couple of months ago, confident that I would use it much more that she ever could (she knows that I'm a devoted happy housewife who loves to cook). I was very hesistant to have one of these big ceramic monsters taking up space in my tiny condo, the only thing I could think of cooking in this would be some weiners and maybe a stew or two...NOT WITH THIS BOOK IN HAND. Dammit, I use my slow cooker so much that it actually sits on my COUNTER.
   
   At least 80% of the recipes have come from this book, the rest are from Fix-It n Forget-It and some recipes that my mother passed on to me.The recipes in THIS book, though, are super easy but the result is very good. Most of the ingredients are things you have in your house if you're a home cook. You can control some of the ingredients to your tasting and nutritional preference (just be mindful of the liquids!). The author gives some tips on using a slow cooker, then follows into some meal suggestions for entertaining before entering into her world of slow-cooked deliciousness. My only tiny, tiny complaint is that I wish it would list nutritional information, but most of the recipes use such fresh ingredients that I can't think to take a star out for that. I'll list some of my favorite recipes:
   
   Chicken Stew with Rosemary Dumplings - This was the first one I made from the book, and it stays a favorite because even though I messed it up on my end (the dumplings broke apart because of a mismeasurement) it was a huge hit. I made them again fully following the directions and it was perfect. It also reheats really well.
   
   Chicken Cacciatore - great dish with pasta, the recipe asks for chicken thighs but I used boneless chicken breast and it came out delicious.
   
   Turkey Mushroom Loaf - This one is probably my absolute favorite to make. It's really easy, and it comes out looking gorgeous and tasting like something from a restaurant. With some mashed potatoes, you can't go wrong. The second time around I replaced some of the ground turkey with some veal and pork just to vary it, worked out.
   
   Chicken and Black Bean Chili in Tortilla Bowls - Fabulous dish for a small casual dinner party. Doesn't it even just SOUND freaking delicious...tortilla bowls for pete's sake!
   
   Burgundy Beef and Wild Mushroom Stew - the 'dark horse' stew of my house, I love how simple and rich the flavors result. Another great reheater.
   
   
   I can't list all the ones I've made or even want to make in the future. This book is a must have and is used VERY often in my house. VERY OFTEN.

5 comments about The Ultimate Rice Cooker Cookbook : 250 No-Fail Recipes for Pilafs, Risottos, Polenta, Chilis, Soups, Porridges, Puddings and More, from Start to Finish in Your Rice Cooker.

1. I have wolfgang puck 7 cups rice cooker,and I am looking for the right book. Can I use this ultimate rice cookbook for cooking with my W Puck cooker?



2. I wish I could tell you that I just love the book but am sorry to say it was disappointing. The layout is hard to follow but trying to read the print is frustrating. It is colored in a fine light green and pale orange print that makes it very difficult to see. If you have any eye condition at all you may want to consider a cookbook in different colors.



3. I ordered this book after my recent purchase of a rice cooker and was very much looking forward to trying the great sounding recipes. I was so disappointed when I opened the book and saw the print. It is printed in a light olive green print and a light orange print, both of which are drab and faded looking. Maybe it's just me, but I kind of like to see the recipe I'm trying to make. If this book had black or a much darker print that was easy to see, I'm sure I would have liked it. Unfortunately, I found the print annoying enough to return it.



4. Ordered this for our son who is away at college living in an apartment. He used a spanish rice recipe out of the book and cooked it in his new rice cooker. He said the rice was very tasty, just a little dry. He will use a little more liquid next time and cannot wait to use other recipes out of the book.



5. What genius came up with the idea of using light orange type on a pale orange background? Or light green type on beige paper? Tasteful and completely useless. This cookbook may be very good. Or not. I don't think I will ever know. Reading it in the kitchen would necessitate a flashlight and magnifying glass. And it would be worse in any other room.

5 comments about The Italian Slow Cooker.

1. What a wonderful cookbook! I've made quite a few recipes from it and each one has been fantastic. They are also easily adaptable to cooking in the oven if you want to double the recipe for larger crowds. Whether you're an experienced cook who likes to modify recipes, or a novice just learning the art of cooking, you can't go wrong with buying this book.



2. I made the beef short ribs last night for company and everyone thought they were great. Yes, there is more prep work involved in these recipes than the typical "throw it in the pot and ignore" crock pot cookbook recipes but that is also why they taste more interesting. While these recipes could probably be made on the stove as well, it was nice to do the prep work and then be able to go about my day without worrying about dinner cooking dry or the stove catching on fire. I would definitely recommend this book for anyone willing to do a little extra work for great tasting food.



3. What a wonderful book! My husband hates slow cooked food he say's it all taste the same like mush. I've made two recipes from this book and he loved them.



4. This is one great cookbook. The recipes are easy to read and follow, and the final product is awesome. What I like the most is that they require very little in prep time and are very fast to do for people who work outside of the home. You do not have to sacrifice taste for speed. The recipes include are for: soups, sauces for pasta, risotto, polenta, grains, seafood, eggs, chicken, turkey, beef, veal, pork, lamb, vegetables, dried legumes and desserts.
   
   Some of the recipes that I tried were: Creamy Cauliflower and Potato Soup (page 21), Pasta Fagioli -- my husband's favorite (page 35), Mussel, Saffron, and Fennel Stew -- takes a longer time (page 100), and Pesto Chicken (page 125).
   
   All the recipes turned out delicious and I am not a great cook (but I can follow recipes). About half the recipes require a longer prep time but I thought that it was worth it since they turned out very good. I highly recomend this cookbook for everyone.
   The Italian Slow Cooker



5. I love this book...I have made soups and fish stews and even the amazing meatball meatloaf from this book and my husband and I have loved everything. Recipes are clearly written and easy to follow and it is truly delightful to be able to make Italian food in this new way. Sauces are easily thrown together and simmer away...the result is that my entire kitchen smelled so fragrant...I am working my way through almost every recipe. It is a much needed addition to the volume of recipes out there for slow cookers. The fact that these recipes have such an Italian flare is wondrous.
   
   
   
   The Italian Slow Cooker