5 comments about Southern Lady: Gracious Tables: The Perfect Setting for Any Occasion.

1. Highly recommended if you love china and setting the table. I find myself pulling this one out of the bookshelf whether I'm planning a dinner party or not...



2. Absolutely Fabulous!!! It's really difficult to choose what I love the most, the tablescapes or the recipes. A must have for anyone who loves to cook or entertain.



3. I purchased this book after reading reviews of it on amazon.com and I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THIS BOOK. It is everything previously said and more. First, her dinnerware is beautiful - from the simple to the extravagant. All of her table arrangements are fresh and new ideas - not the same old stuff seen in other tabletop books I own. And, even though she may use expensive things (not all are), her ideas and design can easily be duplicated with what you may own. I am a dish fanatic not a cook. But, I was even interested in checking out the recipes and the beautifully displayed food. Then, near the end of the book, she has added beautiful and quaint drawings of the different types of dinnerware, explaining what each piece/shape is used for, e.g. cream soup cup and saucer...bouillon cup and saucer...luncheon plate...fruit saucer, etc. The next bonus is a section on artful flowers - again, designs that can easily be imitated/duplicated. Everything in the book has that "welcoming" feeling - even the formal table settings. If you are a dinnerware aficionado, you must have this book. I love it and know I will reference it frequently.



4. This book is lovely with beautiful photographs and wonderful recipes (wish there were a few more). It is well written. I collect books of this kind and this is definitely one of the better ones and a personal favorite.



5. This book is full of wonderful tablescapes and recipes. Great photos. Gives great ideas for entertaining from the formal to the casual but with elegant appeal. Love this book would recommend to anyone - and have purchased for gifts to friends for the holidays.

5 comments about Frank Stitt's Southern Table: Recipes and Gracious Traditions from Highlands Bar and Grill.

1. Frank Stitt's Southern Table is truly a masterpiece. I am a Southerner and was raised on the wonderful flavors that form the recipes in this book. I love that Stitt showcases humble vegetables that can be found at any Southern farmer's market and presents them in impeccable fashion. His philosophy on using the freshest, in-season ingredients is wonderful advice for all cooks. I also keep this book on my coffee-table and I often read his charming writings on Southern food and the culture that surrounds cooking and eating in the South. I recommend this cookbook above all others. My family has adored everything I have made from this cookbook. I recommend the Lowcountry Red Rice, Pimento Cheese, All the cookie recipes, Spiced Pecans, and the fabulous section on perfectly mixed cocktails. This cookbook has got me planning a trip to Birmingham for the sole purpose of eating at the Highlands Bar and Grille.



2. I have this cookbook, ordered another for a friend and it was in perfect condition, as stated.



3. Wow!! This cookbook rocks. I've recently bought over a dozen Southern cooking cookbooks and this is the BEST hands down. Frank Stitt's recipes are inspiring. No longer does Southern Food need to be somewhat bland and heavy. I'm ordering my Gourmet Cook daughter a copy for her birthday in a couple of weeks. I know she'll love it.



4. I'm just a regular mom who likes to plunk down with a really good cookbook and try new gourmet recipes to amaze and delight my family. Lets just say that my 3 year old toddler and husband look forward to dinner every night that I pull out Frank Stitt's cookbook. Some recipes make me crazy, especially when I have to flip through 3 different pages to get various related recipes such as sauces, but oh what heavenly delight if you persevere and see the recipe through to completion. I can't say enough good things about this book - makes one appreciate the time, effort and loving care that is evident in the recipes. The sauce gribiche is worth the price of admission. The book feels like an old friend, calling me every few days to try another recipe. What a fantastic chef. This cookbook rivals my other beloved and tattered cookbook " The French Recipe cookbook" by Clements and Wolf-Cohen. You will NOT be disappointed if you get this book. 5 star rating all the way.



5. I have only eaten at Highlands Bar and Grill once and it was the best food i have ever eaten in a restaurant, a pinnacle moment, like the first time I saw Pantera play live. It beats out many so-called fancy hip places in many of the major cities of the country. The food at Highlands can be simple and complicated simultaneously. This book takes the philosophy of the restaurant and shares some its secrets. What you will find is that many of the best meals are made from simple, fresh ingredients. It is a book that I have read and used more than I thought I would.
   
   The book has chapters covering various topics: adult beverages, appetizers, seafood, poultry, meats, vegetables, desserts, a section on commonly used sauces, dressings, etc., and some tips on kitchen equipment and techniques. there are lots of very nice photographs throughout the book including pictures of the various dishes, local farmers, and other people.
   
   You will find the food can be very Southern (e.g. Spoonbread), or the recipes are infused with the French flavors that Frank Stitt leans toward. Most of the recipes are actually not that complicated or difficult. Some are super easy like potato cakes. Since i cook mostly sweet treats, I have focused on some real jewels here. One of the coolest sweet thangs here is Brown Butter Almond Financier - a slightly more complicated recipe than the usual cake, but well worth the effort.
   
   It's quite fashionable to talk about buying local produce these days, but Frank Stitt has been pushing this idea for years and years. He emphasizes fresh ingredients and using what you have locally both for the benefit of the flavor and the benefit of the people who make our food. I also like that Frank Stitt can be very practical at times - when discussing buying a mandoline, he recommends an inexpensive plastic model over the expensive steel versions.
   
   By the way, the best food i've ever eaten isn't in a restaurant. my mom makes that food.

5 comments about Chef Paul Prudhomme's Louisiana Kitchen.

1. This is the best cajun cookbook. It's asy to read and follow. All the recipes are great. This is actually my third copy. I've had to give away the first two to family.



2. This is Cajun/Creole cooking at its best! Paul Prudhomme is the master. I've spent hours reading through this book and I still find myself coming back to it. Recipes are perfect as they are but are also easily modified to suit different tastes. It's hard to find redfish in my area but I blacken other fish to substitute using Paul's method and it is always delicious (I cook professionally so I know what I'm talking about). This book is both practical and entertaining and I highly recommend it to anyone looking to expand their knowledge of Louisiana cuisine.



3. This is Louisiana food at its best. I follow the recipes with conplete condifience to be simply wonderful and they never fail.



4. Good. Authentic. Full fat, full flavor (no 2% milk, "fat-free" sour cream, or "non-fat" chicken broth here)!
   
   Great tasting recipes. 'nough said!



5. This cookbook is a classic of authentic Louisiana recipes. They are all based on the true methods of Louisiana cooking that is so famous. I have lived in Louisiana all my life and I can tell you that you will not find a cookbook that is better if you are interested in "the real deal." I have wanted this cookbook to add to my collection and although I have been cooking Louisiana food for many years, these recipes produce truly astonishing results. You'll think you are in New Orleans!

5 comments about The Lady & Sons Just Desserts: More Than 120 Sweet Temptations from Savannah's Favorite Restaurant.

1. I have many Paula Deen books. I just love her. Every recipe I've tried has that great old fashioned southern taste. This is one of my "go to" cookbooks. I know that whatever I make from it, will be fabulous.



2. Paula Deen delivers in this book full of fantastic recipes. So far everything I have tried in this book has turned out great. I always get praises from the desserts I have made from this book. If you like to bake, I'd highly suggest purchasing this book. You won't be disappointed!



3. I was very disappointed by this book. There were very few photos (16 pages of photos for 120+ recipes). I expected higher class recipes from a restaurant (less use of canned Pillsbury biscuits, brownie and cake mixes, jarred ice cream topping, frozen whipped topping, and saltines). And way too many recipes call for coconut (with no note of possible substitutions or omissions).
   
   I bought this book for my mom. I hope she likes it more than I did.



4. This is the first of Paula Deen's cookbooks I have owned, and wow! Recipes are so easy, and most ingredients are already in my pantry (really amazing for me!!) Tonight I made her gooey butter cakes, and what a hit! So far, haven't found a recipe we haven't liked! I love cookbooks, but normally only find a couple recipes I actually like in the entire book. Not this one!! My favorite!!!



5. So it's a cookbook, along with many others. It does have easily found common ingredients and the recipes are fairly easy to follow. Not a bad buy.

5 comments about The Lady & Sons Savannah Country Cookbook.

1. How does one take skill such as Paula's and put it in a book? Oh, shucks, I'm starting to sound like our reporters who cannot report a story without asking a question. Forgive me. Paula has done it again. Her cookbooks have become a family favorite set of the absolute best and quite easy recipes. Being from the south is not a requisite. It is only a place where some of the best foods come from.



2. This is a great little book with some very good Southern Recipes. If you like Paula Deen you will like this book. My only dissapointment was no pictures. Am a very visual person and would have enjoyed seeing end results on paper. Most recipes are just plain ole' down home which I enjoyed.



3. I am a big fan of Paula Deen's show and decided to get this book after trying some of her recipes. The recipes in the book are easy to follow, and are full of wonderful flavors and textures. A word of warning, the recipes are not for those who are on any type of strict diet. She even mentions in the forward that these are recipes that are not meant to be made with a bunch of "low cal" or "diet" substitutions. They are just good, easy comfort foods meant to be enjoyed and remembered. This is not the type of cookbook that I would use every night of the week, just because the recipes do tend to be a bit more heavy in fats and sugars, etc. I think to enjoy this book you need to have the attitude that this type of food is great once in a while, and when you cook a recipe from it, make it the way she tells you! Just decide to have some good ol' comfort food and do it in moderation. So far there has not been one recipe that my family has not enjoyed- they are all good. A nice addition to my cookbook collection. Enjoy!



4. I ordered this cookbook becuse I wanted to add some southern food to my collection, after receiving this cookbook I read it from cover to cover. and recepies are simple and delicious! Paula Dean has been through rough times but she keeps on cooking! What an inspiring personality! and her recepies are fantastic too. Order this book and you wont be disapointed!The Lady & Sons Savannah Country Cookbook



5. The only reason I don't give this five stars is for lack of pictures (I know, I know, but what can I say? I like a visual and there's not a single photo in the whole book). I made a dutch oven dish that was wonderful. Absolutely one of the best dishes I've had. Paula Deen isn't for everyone though. She's very country, which means she uses a lot of cream, butter, etc, etc. She's not afraid of going over the top, so discretion is advised. However, she is accurate in saying that butter makes everything better and these recipes are no exception! Also, this isn't 'thirty minute meals' by any stretch of the imagination, so if you're looking for something quick you might check elsewhere, but if you have a little bit of time these are some good old fashioned recipes.

5 comments about Southern Living 2007 Annual Recipes (Southern Living Annual Recipes).

1. As always excellent cookbook with a variety of cooking methods.
   Wonderful for newly weds to try new recipes and know the dish will be eatable.
   
   Great for experienced cooks to add new dishes to their tried and true recipes.



2. This book is full of wonderful Southern recipes. It was given as a gift to my brother who loves Southern cooking and he just raves about it over and over.



3. I have purchased Southern Living Annuals since 1979 and have never been disappointed. 2007 is especially good...



4. My mother-in-law expects book every year. I feel it's unhealthy, mundane and worse now using mixes in the recipes.



5. As a long time Southern Living magazine subscriber, I collect the yearly collections of the magazine recipes. The worst I can say about Southern Living recipes is that they may not always be the healthiest, but they're always good. Purchasing cookbooks can be a bit of a crap shoot, but you can't go wrong with these collections of recipes; they're a good investment. Compared to other magazines that I've tried, this one reigns superior when it comes to recipe offerings and I've noticed that more and more are healthier--great for those of us getting older and encountering cholesterol, sodium, and fat issues. I usually purchase these books second-hand and save a considerable amount of money that way. I also recommend the annual Christmas collections which have less recipes but instead give lots of great Christmas decorating ideas.

5 comments about Southern Living 40 Years of Our Best Recipes (Southern Living).

1. What can I say? This book is full of gorgeous color photos and delicious, timeless recipes. If you know Southern Living, then you already expect and know that this is another great installment. If you don't know Southern Living, start with this book and welcome to the family.



2. This is one of my favorite cookbooks, in my vast collection!
   Wonderful recipes, easy to follow, beautiful pictures. A must for any cook!



3. This southern living cookbook lives up to my expectation. The timely delivery helped with thanksgiving dinner. Keep up the good work.



4. I love this cook book!! I used this book within a day of receiving it and the cream cheese pound cake I made was great!! It didn't even last a whole day! I would recommened this book to anyone!! It has a great variety of dishes to choice from!



5. One of the greatest portions of Southern Living Magazine are the recipes. Even though I live in the west I subscribe to Southern Living Magazine for the wonderful recipies in each addition. This cookbook has combined all of the very best recipies from so many past additions of the magazine. The food, illustrations and menu's fill this cookbook with page after page of exciting and tasty dishes. The recipies are easy to prepare and each one will grace your table with a delicious dish. I love and collect all of Southern Living Cookbooks and this one is an important addition to your library.

5 comments about White Trash Cooking (Jargon).

1. I must confess that I resisted buying this cookbook for many years. I am an avid collector of American Regional and International cookbooks, but found the title of this book offensive. I assumed it was written to mock rural whites, a people I know to be hardworking, self-reliant, and decent. I was wrong about this one. This book actually celebrates these people and their cuisine, and is one of the very best traditional American cookbooks in print. Great recipes for fried chicken, catfish, hushpuppies, collard greens, Hoppin John, cornbread, and biscuits, as well as rabbit, squirrel, and yes, even possum. The book has a folksy humor throughout, and the recipes are authentic. Books like this become even more precious as this and other American regional cuisines disappear under a blanket of bland corporate burger chains, sub shops, and pizza joints. Incidentally, several recent medical studies have shown that rural Appalachians who consume this traditional fare are far healthier than those who embrace the modern suburban diet of chain restaurant food! If you have any interest in traditional American cooking, this book is a must-own.



2. As a chef, and a food historian, this book is a "must" for anyone serious about regional cuisine. I have pilfered many recipes from the "White Trash" series of books to the delight of my guests. Offering a bit of "home" to guests is a treat for both me, for being able to bring their "comfort foods" to them, and to them, for having it available. Many of his recipes have been adapted onto my specialty menus, and even born and bred Yankees want a taste of the classic southern cooking that Mr. Mickler has preserved.
   
   I also have found some great Americana recipes in the Firefox series, and would recommend those to anyone who is interested in traditional family Appalachian cuisine.



3. This cookbook has a lot of basic and simple recipes in it that are good for every day use. It has great ideas for family "gatherins" I found it to be very helpful when I want to make a quick lunch, or when unexpected people stop by. It uses very common ingredients that I usually have on hand.



4. I was tired of getting my mom the typical Mother's Day gifts, so I turned to cookbooks. Instead of typical cookbooks, I got my mother White Trash Cooking and White Trash Cooking II to play on the fact that she and my father relocated to Mississippi in recent years.
   
   While I myself have not had the pleasure of reading these, they were a huge hit. We're just wondering where to get our hands on a cooter to cook up....



5. i mainly bought this book as a gag gift for a coworker who always claims he had a white trash upbringing...he got a kick out of the cookbook and mentioned there are many recipes he remembers as a kid...anything with lots of ketchup! Mmmm...good.

5 comments about Crazy Sista Cooking: Cuisine and Conversation with Lucy Anne Buffett.

1. Great recipes and fun stories. Can't wait to try some of the recipes and am thinking about a road trip to try her cooking in person.



2. This cookbook is not only a cookbook but a "novel". I loved it & in fact, my sister wanted one & ordered it also from you. Thanks



3. If you love the cuisine in LuLu's, you'll love the book. As far as I can tell, she gives good, detailed recipes for everything on the menue, including her cocktails.



4. I really enjoyed reading the history of Lucy's restaurant. I did find a few recipes I will be trying,especially the drinks! It made me feel like perpetual summer!



5. This is a wonderful book ... lots of fun to read and the recipes are the best. I've been a parrothead since the
   early 70s ... so this was a natural for me!

No comments about Nobu Miami: The Party Cookbook.