5 comments about Gator Gumbo: A Spicy-Hot Tale.

1. Very nice book, very fun, great characters, nice graphics and a high learning curve and this is better than Disneyland.



2. This Cajun-style version of the little red hen has a real twist at the end of the story. There are wonderful rhythms and repeats that invite listeners to chant along with the story. Kids who are used to "happy, clappy" endings were open-mouth when has some of the characters come to a very bad end! I love cautionary tales!



3. This french speaking gator is old and cannot catch his meals any longer. He is teased by the other "critters". He decides to trick them by offering them a taster of the gumbo he finally makes. They fall in and the gator finally gets his stew. Very similiar to the Little Red Hen story only it has a HOT twist.
   
   The only problem is that the language is difficult for some early readers.



4. My kids love this book! It is beautifully illustrated and a fun tale with a Cajun flair. I highly recommend!



5. Great book for kids. New Orleans style story with a surprise twist at the end!

3 comments about Good Housekeeping Blend It!: 150 Sensational Recipes to Make in Your Blender-Frappes, Smoothies, Soups, Pancakes, Frozen Cocktails and More (Good Housekeeping).

1. I just bought this book recently and the recipes are easy to make and DELICIOUS! It has the best frappe's and smoothies recipes i've ever tasted. It also has stuff to cook on the morning like waffles, pancakes, french toast, heavy shakes and it also have flavorful soups, dips and drink(with alcohol) etc etc. The best thing is that the ingredients used are common and you can find them anywhere.



2. We just got this book recently, and it is very easy to use with lots of recipes. One of the great things about it is that it gives you the calories, carbs and protein for each item, which is really helpful for me. There are soups, smoothies, sauces, etc.



3. I bought this book for my daughter-in-law along with a blender which was what she requested for Christmas.
   
   The recipes are not complex and she has tried many of the recipes with her new blender. She says she likes the book because it has breakfast recipes, drinks, and soups.

5 comments about The Soup Peddler's Slow & Difficult Soups: Recipes And Reveries.

1. David's writing is almost better than his soup. I notice this everytime I read something of his, whether the weekly Soupie email, article or something else. He beautifully brings to life the South Austin scene, and does it without condescending, something non-Texans seem hard-pressed to avoid. In fact, his love for the landscape and people in his adopted home comes through in every paragraph. For this, for his soup, for his talent with the written word, I am eternally grateful.



2. This is a well-written, easy-reading HILARIOUS book that gives one a magnified glimpse into the life of an Austinite. The characters David reveals, the places to which he takes you, and the adventures he shares are guaranteed to give you that "warm, fuzzy feeling". Oh -- and the soup recipes are great, too! I haven't tried all of them, but the ones I *have* tried are delicious. Get this book, and be weird vicariously!



3. This is a truly great cookbook. In my experience soup recipes are sometimes afterthoughts, as if soup isn't worth the attention of a main course, but these have been carefully considered, and tested extensively on many happy Austinites. The story behind the author's soup business and regional Austin flavor is entertaining as well, so this book makes a great gift.



4. If you think you are buying a book filled with recipies you are mistaken. In its 181 pages there are 35 recipies--wonderful and tasteful.
   
   If you are intersted in reading David Ansel's reveries, then this is primarily what the book is about. They are fascinating.
   
   Since I expected to find more or the former and less of the latter, I was disappointed.



5. This book is absolutely wonderful. It has some great recipes to match up to the adventures that "Soup" went through. Not a thriller, but definitely a wonderful read.

5 comments about The Little Gumbo Book: Twenty-seven Carefully Created Recipes That Will Enable Everyone to Enjoy the Special Experience of Gumbo.

1. The first time I ever made gumbo from this book, it was a raving success. I didn;t think I was ever going to try this marvelous New Orleans recipe when I tasted it there. The opening chapter called step-by-step to great gumbo is exactly that and led me through it. Now I feel comfortable trying all sorts of gumbos and dazzling my guests. Great book



2. Anyone can complile a list of ingredients and a set of sterile directions. Gwen McKee does so much more! Her step-by-step section not only tells the reader how to make gumbo, but what to expect the dish to look and smell like during various stages. Get your cast iron skillet, a glass of wine and start stirring!



3. The Little Gumbo Book is a cookbook featuring twenty-seven gumbo recipes for anyone seeking to create and experience the unique flavors and varieties of this distinctive Cajun dish. Tips, tricks, and techniques for everything gumbo-related, from different ways for preparing roux (the browning of flour, crucial to the richness of gumbo) to using microwaves and crock pots, to low-calorie gumbo for the health conscious, and much more. A superb giftbook written with passion as well as practical advice, recommended for any Cajun food lover.



4. I've lived near New Orleans but have moved away. This book is authentic. Make gumbo by these recipes and you can't go wrong. I have used it many times and sent a few as gifts. Gives a lot more than basic recipes. A real "how to" cook book.



5. I've lived in Louisiana all of my life and learned how to make a roux when I was knee high to a grasshopper by watching my Aunt Mace stir and stir and stir it in her big black cast iron skillet or pot. Almost every recipe my Mama and Aunt Mace made started out with the words, "First you make a roux..."
   
   I'm very happy to report that this book has the most wonderful recipes for roux and gumbo that I've ever read. My youngest daughter recently moved from Louisiana to Tennessee and was looking for a jar of roux in the grocery store. The store manager had no idea what she was talking about and had never even heard of gumbo. I immediately thought to buy her this book for Valentine's Day. I taught her to make a roux during the holiday season, so she's halfway to gumbo already.
   
   A coworker gave me a copy of this book back in 1988 and I've completely worn out my copy. It's a one-of-a-kind treasure that should be in every kitchen, especially if you enjoy true Southern cooking.

3 comments about A First Cookbook for Children (Dover Pictorial Archive Series).

1. I bought this cookbook for my grandchildren. It came to where I work and all the ladies just loved going through looking at the simple recipes and all the great information about measurements, etc. One of the ladies even asked me to get her one for her daughter who is going off to college. The daughter loves it and the first night she sat down and colored one of the pages, ran into where her mom was and said mommy look at my picture I colored!!!! How fun!!! The recipes are simple, there's tons of information and you can even color the pages!!! What more could you want!!! Went back and bought another one for my son who will soon be out on his own!!



2. This cookbook was a gift for my grandchildren. They were delighted to receive it. I think they have already used it, and I look forward to using it with them when we are next together.
   Suzanne Marion



3. I wasn't so disappointed with the content as much as the "package". I could have put together this book using a computer and a printer. Guess I was looking for something more substantial. I purchased it for a Christmas present, but ended up not giving it.

No comments about The Waldorf School Book of Soups.

4 comments about Delicious!.

1. Duck, Squirrel and Cat previously encountered in Cooper's Pumpkin Soup (Farrar Straus Giroux, 1998) and A Pipkin of Pepper (Farrar Straus Giroux, 2005) want to make pumpkin soup but they do not have a ripe pumpkin. They look in a recipe book and then make fish soup, and cat says, "It's scrumptious!" Squirrel says, "Nutritious!" but Duck says, "YUCK". They also make mushroom soup but Duck still says, "YUCK". Duck refuses to eat beet soup because it is pink and when the soup spills on the counter, the friends quarrel just as they did in the first book. A humorous parallel story shows some bugs enjoying the discarded fish soup and muttering about the waste, " Think of the starving poor" then drilling a hole in the kitchen sink pipe so they can siphon future discarded soup. The mixed media illustrations are brimming with color, movement and humor and the characters sparkle with personality. The three animals sit together and leaf through a cookbook, Squirrel and Cat rest their heads on their paws while Duck turns a page revealing a picture of a snail. The final double spread shows the three friends holding their spoons and happily sharing a big bowl of orange vegetable soup. A recipe for beet soup is included.



2. This book is wonderful for getting kids to see all the wonders and secrets that books can hold. The secondary story of the bugs is amazing. It also adds a touch of adult humor. The rhyme makes it captivating for kids to hear read aloud or it can help them in reading it themselves.



3. It's lunchtime in the old white cabin but Cat, Duck and Squirrel haven't got a ripe pumpkin for the Pumpkin Soup in Helen Cooper's Delicious! Can they substitute something else? There are possibilities, but Duck won't consider them - so how can they find a new dish to share? Recipes and fun culinary insights abound in a fine, different story of sharing.



4. The 3rd in a series, this book is very sweet. The illustrations are works of art & bottom line, it makes my son happy.

5 comments about Braises and Stews: Everyday Slow-Cooked Recipes.

1. I have found Tori Ritchie's "Braises and Stews" to be just the book for me. I grew up in the midwest (Chicago) where braises and stews were the staple of winter cuisine.
   
   My Irish heritage was certainly front and center in my grandmother's and mother's kitchen. And what else is easy to make for five boys (the famous Loarie Boys of the Northshore)...a slow cooked stew or braise!
   
   Ritchie provides 74 recipes using beef, pork, fish, lamb, and poultry. She also covers the basic equipment needed, cuts of meat to buy, and the essential ingredients.
   
   This book is really a hoot for those longing for a great stew or braise. I am now fully prepared for my brothers' next visit.



2. What a great book! I am making the meat dishes every weekend for the past month or so, and I haven't been disappointed yet. The "Pub Ribs" dish is simply great when paired with the Chedder Mash Potatoes dish, also found in the book. Just delicious so far! Unlike many cook books that seem to go out of their way to be overly complex, the ingredients and preparation techniques are very straight-forward.



3. This book is one of the few cook books that provides really practical and great receips. It covers the basic meat groups and provides good instructions and simple ingrediants. I particularly like the Lamb Shanks with white beans(WOW) and the Asian beef ribs. I bought one for our daughter and am now buying 2 for gifts for our friends.
   
   I love my new Strub oval dutch oven pot and enjoy using this book. Buy the book and WOW your family and friends.



4. I've been making braises and stews for many years now and found this to be a rewarding book. While simple in approach and ingredients, the results from the recipes I've tried have all been good to very good. Under the vegetable section, the green beans with dill was especially good. Whether for the beginning, or advanced, cook I can recommend this book. For the beginner, it's a good place to start; and, for the advanced cook, these recipes can provide something to build on and "fine-tune".



5. For anyone interested in slow cooking using "dutch ovens" this cookbook presents easy, flavorful recipes. From the beginning chef to more advanced, all the recipes are straight-forward and easy to manage. The author's addition of how to make various side dishes and seasonings is especially useful and worth making.

3 comments about Chicken Soup for the Coffee Lovers Soul: Celebrating the Perfect Blend (Chicken Soup for the Soul).

1. This book is the perfect present for the holiday season (or any other special occasion). For those not knowing what to give as a gift, this little tome will definitely please male and female friends and relatives with its inspirational true stories of coffee and how the coffee drinking experience has brought people together in fellowship and family. First off, this book looks a bit different from the usual Chicken Soup tome - the cover is about an inch smaller in size and the inside pages are printed on an off-white paper (instead of the usual bright white) which makes reading easy on the eyes. The cover is shaded with a coffee cream color, reminiscent of brewed coffee. It's a pleasure to hold this book in my hands. And it's an even greater pleasure to relax with this book for an uplifting spell of reading enjoyment. I always feel better after leafing through a Chicken Soup book, and this one in particular. I thrive on "feel good" stories. I appreciate the life lessons that the authors provide, and I get a kick out of seeing how they incorporate those lessons with the joy of drinking coffee. Pass the cheese tray, friends, and relax with a steaming cuppa - and this book.



2. I love all of the chicken soup books. They are all great in their own way. If you're having a bad day, just pick one up and read a couple of pages! Instant smile!



3. I purchased this book for a co-worker as a Christmas gift. SHE LOVES IT. She frequently brings it to work to show me something in it that she finds interesting, and this is many months after I gave it to her! She brings it up all the time how much she enjoys this book. So if you know of someone who likes this kind of reading AND enjoys a good cup of coffee, this is THE gift to get for them.

5 comments about Kafka's Soup: A Complete History of World Literature in 14 Recipes.

1. this is so much fun for someone who not only loves to read but loves to cook.



2. Crick has produced a small but rich volume that pays homage to writers from Homer to Raymond Chandler and if there is a false note struck anywhere, I cannot detect it. As an added bonus, the recipes look to be perfectly wonderful all by themselves.
   
   Crick begins with the hilarious Chandler shtick centered on Lamb with Dill Sauce. "It was time to deal with the butter and flour so I mixed them together into a paste and added it to the stock. There wasn't a whisk, so using my blackjack I beat out any lumps until the paste was smooth." Almost makes me sorry I come equipped with three different whisks and not a blackjack in sight.
   
   Speaking in the articulate phrasing of the Marquis de Sade, Crick manages to make fun of politically correct cuisine with its "naive trust in low-fat yogurt" and celebrate the sensuality of food with a story about an innocent maiden forced to observe a hypocritical judge as he lecherously prepares Boned Stuffed Poussins. Makes you quiver, it does.
   
   The Harold Pinter playlet titled "Cheese on Toast" features ciabatta and eggplant and mozzarella and, I swear it, you can taste the results before you've finished reading. My tummy growls in frustration for I have none of the aforementioned ingredients on hand.
   
   So far, my favorite is the gem in the voice of Gabriel Garcia Marquez, titled "Coq au Vin." There is a priest tormented by mosquitos and a mulatta cook who prepares a last meal for a murderer, Fidel Agosto Santiago, and the meal is the tough carcass of the fabled fighting cock, El Jaguaracito, donated by its owner, the Syrian. It's all there -- drama, rich characterization and food so wonderful it will make you weep.
   
   I love to read and I love to cook. It's hard to imagine a single book that combines those two pleasures more perfectly than this one does. This book will hold a place of pride and joy in my cookbook collection. Now -- I wonder if I can find a blackjack on eBay?



3. It is no wonder this $14.95 little book sells new for $3 at Amazon. Once you see how bad it is you couldn't give it away. To anyone who is REALLY interested in authors and their food, this is embarrassingly bad, and a terrible read. It should come with Malox.



4. Very happy with the 2 copies of this book. They arrived safely packed and very prompt. Many thanks.



5. I bought this book as a gift for a friend who is a great lover of literature. She loved it, and she and her partner enjoyed reading aloud to each other from it. Some of the recipes even look pretty good. The only complaint is that it's so short for the price. Another few recipes would have made it more worth while. This said, I'll probably order it again as a gift for another friend...just not somehting I'd buy for myself.