Book Description
The slow cooker can be so much more than a repository for nacho cheese dip—use it to raise the standards of your everyday dining from the mundane to the gourmet. THE GOURMET SLOW COOKER brings an upscale approach to this new-old phenomenon, using fresh ingredients in imaginative recipes that you can create all during a day's work. Focusing on traditional one-pot meals from various cultures, recipes such as Apricot Chicken from India, Molé Poblano from Mexico, Neopolitan Truffle Risotto from Italy, and Boston Baked Beans from the United States are delicious meals truly fit to serve guests.
Customer Reviews:
If I owned just one slow cooker book, this would be it........2007-10-07
Alley's book works best for those of us who have time for preparation, but as she points out, the browning steps can be skipped if need be, but expect a less complex flavor.
Here are a few sample recipes that I've tried and liked: Chicken Piperade [chicken with bell peppers], Tarragon Chicken, French Split Pea Soup, Italian Pot Roast, White Truffle Risotto, Bread Pudding, Tuscan White Bean Soup, Baked Eggplant.
Her tips are useful, her recipes simple, and most importantly for a slow cooker book, the timing and amounts work out.
One of the best!.......2007-09-12
This is a great slowcooker cookbook. I have owned this book for a year and a half and use it regularly. My kids ages 7 and 9 LOVE many of these recipes. Yes, the meals do require prep, but who wants to eat slop that gets thrown in the pot all at once?! I prep everything the night before, put the slowcooker insert in the refrigerator, and then just pop it in the slowcooker in the morning. Not a big deal.
I highly recommend this book for those looking for something more than the tired old "cream of mushroom"-type recipes.
slow cooker cookbbook.......2007-08-12
Many of the recipes look good but take a little prep before throwing everything in the cooker.
Unique tasty recipes.......2007-08-11
I agree with another, not enough recipes - the opposite of the 'Fix it and Forget it' books, which have too many. Also, in contrast to those books, there are only a couple in here that you can actually fix in the morning and leave all day, but then they do taste better than those. Most are ready to eat in less than an avg workday, and require too much prep for a workday morn (suggestion - make as much as possible ahead the night before). I've tried 4 recipes so far, and they have all been better than your average crock pot dish. I've had difficulty getting the spice level right - 2 I made were lacking in salt quite a bit, one was way too spicy. I really like the uniqueness of the recipes. The best cookbook I've found for crockpots. Oh, I also like that most have a picture - I'm a very visual person...
Not What I was expecting........2007-05-10
Really did not have the recipes I wanted or was looking for.
Book Description
With Cover & Bake, the editors at Cook's Illustrated set out to revive the venerable casserole. From Turkey Tetrazzini and Chicken Divan to Crab Imperial and Hoppin' John, casserole cooking represents the ingenuity and practicality of the American cook. In Cover & Bake, the editors set out to investigate the old standards and in the process have re-imagined the art of the one-dish meal to meet the demands of today's cook.
Here you will find classic assemble and bake casseroles like Macaroni and Cheese and Creamy Chicken and Rice as well as more inventive dishes like Mediterranean Chicken Bake and Polenta Casserole with Italian Sausage. We've experimented with techniques that allow you to cook everything in just one pot where possible, avoiding the need for hours of preparation and clean up just to get a casserole in the oven. And nearly every recipe can be made ahead allowing busy cooks to serve these wholesome dishes on a busy weeknight.
Looking beyond what most people consider to be a casserole, the editors offer a rather original take on the subject with inventive skillet "casseroles," slow cooker meals that are really worth serving, pot pies with multiple topping options (many of which you can make ahead), oven braises and stews that cook in a low oven for hours so you won't have to stand over a hot stove, and breakfast and brunch dishes that can be assembled the night before.
In addition, this book contains all the relevant tastings and testings conducted in America's Test Kitchen. Learn which casserole dish is our hands-down favorite. Are all storage containers created the same? Want to know which slow cooker has the best combination of features?
In short, Cover & Bake is filled with 200 one-dish meals for everyday cooking. We've made these casseroles a whole lot better tasting while making sure that what everyone loves about casseroles remains - the fact that they are practical one-dish meals that require a minimum of fuss and last minute attention.
Customer Reviews:
Good recipes.......2007-04-26
I have made several recipes from this book and they have been great and easy to follow. this is the first cookbook I own from Cook's Illustrated and I'm now adding one more to my collection.
My Favorite Cookbook.......2007-04-03
This is my favorite cookbook, and I use it often. It not only has wonderful recipes that I use often, but also features little snippets and articles such as which tomato paste is best, how to know if your eggs are fresh, and how to choose a dutch oven.
My favorite recipes are the Macaroni and Cheese, which is a favorite at pot luck dinners, the Beef Stroganoff, Beef and Guiness Stews, 4 cheese pasta with basil and tomatoes, and there are dozens more I haven't attempted yet.
This book is not about your mother's (or maybe just my mother's) casseroles. The ingredients are top notch and the result is fantastic. I've given it as a gift on several occasions and can't recommend it enough.
There is not, as another person mentioned, an abundance of photos, and I do wish there were more, but I'd prefer great recipes and fewer photos over fabulous glossy photos and lackluster recipes, which I've found in plenty of other books!
Hungry for more pictures.......2007-03-08
I am inspired by photos of the finished products in any cookbook. So, this one disappointed with only a handful of photos. I would pay a few $ more for an abundance of delicious looking pictures. Cook's Illustrated is very dependable for excellent recipes and continues to be in this book. They have ironed out the wrinkles and achieve perfection with these recipes.
Great recipes.......2007-02-05
When I look at reader reviews of cookbooks, I want to see names of specific recipes that were outstanding, so here's one I tried last night: page 61, Chicken Casserole with Spring Vegetables and Tarragon Cream Sauce (oh, gosh, I just noticed it says it's for 6-8 people, and my husband and I snarfed down half!) Any other recommendations out there??
SO GOOD I BOUGHT TWO.......2007-01-09
This is a great cookbook for anyone that has to cook for a group or just likes to cook dishes that can be enjoyed for the next few days. It is filled with warm and comforting recipes from a wide range of backrounds. Every recipe I have tried has come out as wonderfully as it was described. As is the case with all of the Best Recipe Classics cook books by the Cooks Illustrated editors this book includes comprehensive descriptions of the history of the recipes as well as the trial and error lessons that the test kitchen discovered in the process of perfecting the recipe. I have enjoyed this book so much that I gave it to a friend for Christmas.
Book Description
The slow cooker has made a fast comeback in recent years, and why wouldnt it? You get to serve great tasting, home-cooked meals that demand minimal preparation, require only a single pot, and deliver maximum family- or crowd-pleasing fare. All with little oversight on your part. And no one does slow cooker cooking better than Southern Living. This new volume features more than 200 recipes that show you how to maximize this essential appliance for successful make-ahead cooking. Features nAll-new slow cooker recipes focused on simplicity, dependability, and versatility nHandy resources like 15 Minutes or Less, Kids Love It!, Freeze It, or Southern Living Classic nQuick Menu tip boxes throughout help you enhance your slow cooker meals with no-cook or easy-cook side dishes
Customer Reviews:
Hardly counts as cooking.......2007-09-07
Nearly every recipe relies heavily on canned soup, processed cheese, bottled sauce, etc. Not my idea of home cooking. I'm donating this one to the library book sale.
Good Cookbook!!! Lots of Comfort Food!.......2007-07-23
Bought this after seeing it at a friends home. Have made a few of the recipes and all are very good. I am very pleased with this book - it has many great family style recipes that are easy and healthy.
Oh, yuk!.......2006-12-30
Just more dumb crock-pot recipes that rely on one packaged product after another being dumped in. Why would I want to use a whole bottle of BBQ sauce in a recipe?
Where is the book that uses fresh ingredients, mixed together in a sensible (and maybe slightly creative??) way, simmers them together in the crock pot during the course of the day, resulting in an easy - and HEALTHY - meal? This book is NOT it!
Not many interesting recipes.......2006-12-08
I want a slow cooker cook book for main course recipes, this book emphasizes side dishes, desserts, etc. and has few main course recipes that interest me. Some of the ones I looked at said to cook 9 hours on high which doesn't make sense, based on my experience with crock pots, but I did not try them so can't say if the advice is wrong. I purchased used, cheaply, but would NOT pay full price for it.
Not well thought out.......2006-10-16
Although the recipes are lovely, too many of them (at least half!) have cooking times of 4 or 5 hours. So for the wonderful breakfast casserole, I'm supposed to get up at 4 a.m. to put it together for breakfast at 8? What were they possibly thinking? And I'm also supposed to run home from work at 2 p.m. to put dinner on for 6 p.m. that night? Huh? Maybe these recipes are supposed to appeal to folks who don't have jobs, and are free to start the meal at anytime (althought the 4 a.m. breakfast recipe still puzzles me). But are they really the folks who use slow cookers? Most of us want recipes that cook for at least 8 hours, so that we can put them on before we go to work and have them ready and waiting when we get home. Maybe someone at Southern Cooking needs a reality check.
Book Description
From the New York Times best-selling author of 101 Things to Do With a Cake Mix! comes 101 Things to Do with a Slow Cooker! Call it a slow cooker, a crockery cooker, or your best friend, the popularity of these handy machines has exploded recently, and "Mrs. 101" Stephanie Ashcraft has stepped up to the plate (or bowl, or serving tray) with an amazing collection of timesaving recipes. From South of the Border Pot Roast to Hearty Vegetable Soup to Cherries Jubilee, now anyone can make hearty, healthy dishes for the whole family the "throw-n-go" way-simply throw several ingredients into the slow cooker, get on with life, and come home to a kitchen filled with the aroma of real home cooking. 101 recipes for main courses, side dishes, desserts, and more are included, along with suggestions for how and what to serve with each dish, time-saving meal preparation tips, and easy modifications to fit your families tastes. Stephanie Ashcraft, New York Times best selling author of 101 Things to Do With a Cake Mix, is a full-time mom who has created and collected recipes for years. She also teaches a monthly cooking class for Macey's Little Cooking Theater. Janet Eyring's interest in learning how to cook healthy, inexpensive meals without living in the kitchen inspired her to write a cookbook that relied on the ease of the slow cooker. She also teaches cooking classes at Macey's Little Cooking Theater.
Customer Reviews:
101 Things to do with a Slow Cooker.......2007-09-17
Very disappointed with cook book. Nothing exiciting or new. If you are a slow cooker user you came up with these recipes on your own and have been using them for years. Most call for simple and few ingredients which is the best part of the book.
101 Things to do with a Slow Cooker.......2007-05-24
I purchased "101 Things to do with a Slow Cooker" as a gift. The recipes looked so easy and so good that I may have to order one for myself!
My other slow cooker books are collecting dust!.......2007-01-19
This is one of the best slow cooker books I've come across. The recipes are simple, tasty, and best of all - most have very few ingredients. I love to cook, but as a busy mom, I'm tired of recipes calling for 15 ingredients. Those recipes are fine for the weekends - this book is GREAT for the busy workweek.
I didn't realize until now that there is a whole series of these books - "101 Things to do with a ___________." Here I come!
Lazy Recipes with Prepared Food.......2007-01-07
The point of a slow cooker is to prepare something in one dish from wholesome ingredients and be done with it. Instead, the author has taken this to an extreme new low. There is no excuse to suggest recipes that combine canned chili and Velvetta cheese and actually consider that a slow-cooker recipe... not to mention even to consider that food!
If like me, you like to cook using top grade ingredients from scratch (mostly) then this is NOT the book for you. Processed ingredients like Chedder Cheese Soup, Chili, Spaghetti Sauce, Minestrone soup, Velveeta cheese, taco seasoning mix, bouillon cubes, jarred salsa, onion soup mix, canned chicken, cranberry sauce, scallopped potatoes from a box, salad dressing and even cake mixes are considered as proper ingredients for recipes in this book.
Personally, I have no problem when a recipe might include ingredients like Chicken broth, barbecue sauce or even onion soup mix, but this book really exaggerates. This is hardly "from scratch". Unless you really need a recipe to tell you to put pork chops and a jar of barbecue sauce together... skip this book.
Simplicity - How to cook out of your pantry.......2005-12-12
I love this book for what it is - a collection of simple recipes. Most of the ingredients are items you have in your pantry or freezer. It is a great book for the end of the week when you have not been to a grocery store in days. And the recipes are yummy. So if you are looking for a long list of ingredients and many steps of preparation this is not the book for you. If you want a book where in five minutes you can make a meal from your pantry this is the perfect choice.
Book Description
New Way of Cooking in an Ancient Pot
Customer Reviews:
Yum Yum!!.......2005-12-01
I recently ordered this book and have tried three recipes in one week. I do not exaggerate when I say this is some of the best food I have ever tasted. The book warns to use only a non-glazed cooker, but I have a Schlemmertopf, which is glazed, and the recipes cook perfectly. Five Stars.
Wrong Book for my Clay Pot.......2004-04-27
I gave the book 5 stars because that is what most people do and the book probably deserves 5 stars. I may never use the book because nowhere was it mentioned that it was only for unglazed pots. My pot has glazed bottom, so now I must search for a book on using glazed pots. I had hoped for information for adapting recipes for microwave, but there was none.
No Time to Cook? Let the Claypot do all the work!.......2000-07-15
I purchased a Romertopf clay pot 5 years ago and bought this book soon after. Grover's Roast Chicken recipe was my first attempt and it was scrumptious! I steered clear of the recipes containing organs but I found that soups, stews and even breads turn out beautifully in the clay pot. I now have 3 sizes and would advise the user to line the pot with parchment paper just to reduce the cleanup time. This book helps to demystify a basically simple cooking utensil and you will love the results. Food is packed with flavor and moisture and you just have to sit by and wait to serve. It is a lifesaver for those of us who love a home-cooked meal but don't have the time after a long day at work.
The clay-pot classic shows it's age........2000-01-22
Georgia and Grover provide a fun read. There is not an intimidating, high brow paragraph in this book. The recipes include clear, easily followed directions. Reading the opening and any three random recipes will provide adequate information to make one an expert clay-pot chef. Don't let the organ meat recipes frighten you off. They make up a small portion of the book. The authors claim that clay-pot cooking is very healthy - low fat, low sodium, yet richly flavored. The definition of low fat, low sodium must have been much different in 1974. Many of the recipes in this book add unnecessary fat and salt. Some even call for bouillon cubes - Jean Bell's Beef Stroganoff calls for two cubes and is garanteed to make guests thirsty all evening! Most of the recipes are easily tweaked to meet low fat, low sodium guidelines. Nothing wrong with enjoying them in their original sinful forms! Just beware if you buy this book seeking health reform.
Excellent main dish recipies for clay pot.......1999-10-17
I have used this book for 20 years and am ordering a copy for friends. It is one of the two best clay cook books out of seven I have tried-- my other favorite is out of print. I have lots of our family all time favorites marked in this book. Many recipies are relatively low fat or can be modified and use a minimum of canned or packaged ingrediants. That's in contrast with "Cooking in Clay" by Joanna White-- which also has lots of breads and desserts, not the best use of the clay pot in my opinion.
Book Description
This book illustrates perfectly what authentic, original, regional American cooking is all about. This is food at its most appealing: simple, delicious fare that leaves lots of room for variations and that the home cook can feel proud to serve anytime.
Customer Reviews:
Bad recipes.......2007-02-07
This is a lovely, cheerfully written cookbook, and only one recipe I have prepared from it has been any good. The rest are boring and flavorless. I love casseroles, but I've finally given up on this book.
These are too much work!.......2007-01-21
To me, the whole point of a casserole is "quick and easy," so I want recipes where I just dump things into the casserole dish and put them in the oven. But, like many other casserole and "hot dish" cookbooks, most of the recipes in this book require you to do a tremendous amount of cooking and prep before you put the stuff in the casserole dish -- and, since the ingredients are already cooked, why do they need an hour of baking time? Answer: so they can be called "casseroles" or "one-dish meals". Most of these things could be stirred together and served right after the stove-top cooking process (maybe with minor adjustments), without wasting another hour in the oven. I would also add that many of these casseroles are loaded with butter and are too fattening for me. I took this book out of the library and photocopied about a dozen things -- that was it.
Worst Cookbook Ever.......2004-08-14
I hate to disagree with the glowing reviews for this book but since I relied on the other reviews I had read to buy this book, I thought maybe a differing view would be useful. I am a seasoned cook and can say that this is one of the most poorly written cookbooks I have ever cooked from. I have made 3 recipes thus far. All have had major proportion issues and have lacked flavor. Even corrections I made as I went based on previous experiences could not save these recipes. If you like food that is basic in flavor (kinda like standard cafeteria fare) then you will probably like this book. If you like flavor in your food, then I suggest not buying this one.
Best Casseroles cookbook with fascinating informations!.......2004-03-11
Although it requires some extra time to assemble, I always have plenty leftover to eat on next day. Also, I can freeze them. It is worth of extra labor. We really LOVE Blue Plate Beef and Cheese Noodle and Classic Tuna Noodle Casserole. Those really surprised our guests! Villas really made this close to perfect ones. I enjoyed his details on how he adjusted specific foods and the recipes' history. I like one straight way to a best casserole than trying on many recipes people giving or I find thru magazines. This book is one! Strongly recommend this one!
I also like the big book of casseroles by Maryana Vollstedt. The recipes give ingredients that I have on hand. They are mostly from stratch, not canned ones. Comparing to both book, Crazy about Casseroles is more like Classic, International, and Historic ones while the The Big Book of Casseroles is more on from stratch and similar ingredients on other recipes. I love both books, anyway!!
Old School Cooking from an Old School teacher.......2004-01-16
James Villas has written a book which may succeed in single-handedly succeed in reviving an interest in the great American casserole. I'm not entirely sure what the trendy term `old school' means, exactly, especially as I have mostly seen it in connection with motorcycles, but I am certain that Jim Villas is an `old school' culinary writer and that casseroles are an `old school' kind of food.
Jim Villas, although much younger, belongs to the James Beard school of culinary writing, along with his Beard protégés Barbara Kafka and Marian Cunningham. As he recounts in this book, the American casserole, based on several different European precursors, clearly reached it's apotheosis after World War II and went into eclipse in the late seventies and eighties with the scorning of canned and otherwise processed ingredients.
That the casserole is making a comeback is also clear from both this book and from it's starring role in a recent episode of Alton Brown's very trendy `Good Eats' Food Network show.
In the introduction to the book, Villas eschews some of the less savory casserole ingredients of yore such as canned meats and vegetables, frozen chives, dried parsley flakes, processed cheeses, liquid smoke, MSG, crushed potato chips or canned fruit cocktail. He is not entirely born again, since he does embrace some traditional casserole roles and ingredients such as canned soups, frozen vegetables, dried noodles, bread stuffings, and leftovers. In fact, some themes are so close to the `Good Eats' episode that I suspect Alton Brown may have used this book as a reference for his show.
The book opens with a very worthy introduction on casserole `hardware' materials and sizes plus advice on freezing casseroles. The casserole pantry repeats the theme of a reasonable use of prepackaged ingredients, citing Campbell's condensed cream of chicken, cream of mushroom, and cream of celery soups as essential. Some recipes even state that he tried to create the casserole with a homemade replacement for the Campbell's product and found the home brewed substitute wanting.
The names of casserole types are a feast for the crossword puzzle addict. There are quiches, stratas, scrambles, pilafs, pies, perloos, surprises, suppers, shroupes, royales, supremes, puddings, bakes, gratins, souffles, cobblers, crisps, crunches, and delights. Some of these names such as quiches, pilafs, and souffles indicate that the author may be coloring outside the lines a bit here and there, but I do not find this a criticism of the book. It adds to the value of the book as a source of good one-dish meals centered on the American classic. The author also seem to color outside the lines a bit when he includes some of his own recipes, but as Jim Villas has recently acquired the status of a classic American writer, I will give him a pass to contribute classic recipes himself.
This is one of my favorite kinds of cookbooks, as it makes it easy to find a recipe to fit a particular need. Anyone who shares that attitude about cookbooks will do well to purchase a copy of this book.
Amazon.com
Emeril Lagasse needs no introduction. TV chef par excellence, and author of eight other cookbooks, he's become something of a one-man industry. Emeril's Potluck, concerned with "comfort food with a kicked-up attitude," follows the MO of his other books--easy, attractive recipes (in this case 150-plus of them) presented in a voce that will be reassuring to some, while all-too-familiar to others. If Potluck seems even more mechanically formulaic than the other books, it nonetheless contains many valuable recipes for a full range of dishes and drinks. Among these, Cajun Quiche, Oven-Poached Salmon with a Pink Grapefruit and Tarragon Sauce, and Slow-Cooked Pork Roast with Barbecue Sauce are representative and worthy. The drink section shouldn't be overlooked and contains recipes for the likes of Milk Shakes for grownups, which include kalúa, and the nonalcoholic mango lassai. Two casserole chapters offer easy treats like Mexican Breakfast Casserole and Risotto and Mushroom Casserole. Desserts like Deep-Dish Banana Pudding with Chocolate Sauce are satisfyingly no-frills. The guiding--perhaps, nominal--idea is that the dishes are perfect for gatherings, picnics, and tailgate parties, but they're also suitable for everyday enjoyment. Readers should also note that many of the recipes require Emeril's food products--for which online sources are given, but no descriptions. --Arthur Boehm
Book Description
America's favorite chef Emeril Lagasse is ready to party. Parties and celebrations mean food. Lots of food: tureens of soup, platters of chicken, bowls of salad, casseroles of baked pasta. From family reunions to holiday buffets, summer barbecues to tailgate parties, and weekend brunches to bridal showers,
Emeril's Potluck offers crowd-pleasing dishes perfect for gatherings with friends and family.
Emeril's Potluck brings together everything Emeril loves most about cooking and eating. The food is simple, flavorful, and perfect for sharing at any get-together. Each recipe serves a whopping 8 to 10 people, but don't assume you're making too much -- everyone will be heading back for seconds and thirds of these Emerilized starters, entrees, drinks, sides, and desserts.
Start by toasting the occasion with a glass of Champagne Punch, a Watermelon Daiquiri, or an Orange Emeril. Then let the feast begin! Classic Blue Cheese Dip, Alain's Sweet and Spicy Asian Wings, or Sausage-Stuffed Mushrooms will get your party started right! Main courses range from Olive-Stuffed Leg of Lamb and Creole Mustard and Herb-Wrapped Beef Tenderloin to homey favorites such as Charlotte's Lasagna Bolognese, Penne à la Vodka Casserole, and Tuna Tetrazzini. Of course, it wouldn't be a party without dessert, so save room for Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie, Strawberry Shortcake, and Emeril's Tiramisu.
The recipes are quick, easy, and portable. Enjoy these dishes at home or take them on the road.
Emeril's Potluck -- so foolproof, so easy, so crowd pleasing that luck has nothing to do with it.
Customer Reviews:
This is his best cookbook........2007-08-07
I own several Emeril cookbooks and most of them are so complicated they are not reproducible at home. This is not the case with Potluck. I have made several recipes from this book and they turned out great and got rave reviews. The Spinach Enchiladas were declared restaurant quality by my brother-in-law. I also made the Spanish Rice and it was awesome. I have made the homemade ranch potato salad and it was a huge hit. The Ambrosia turned out good...I don't have my book in front of me so I can't remember all the recipes off the top of my head.
You will love this cookbook.
Kick it up a notch.......2007-03-17
The thing I love about this book is that there are many classic recipes such as green bean casserole and lemon squares that are just so much better than the old recipes.This book is also good for company and large families(of which I am a representative).There are no bland recipes here.They are all to die for.If I had to choose one of my many cookbooks to rescue from a fire,this would definitely be it.
Emeril's Potluck:comfort food with attitude........2007-01-05
I ordered this and another Emeril Cookbook for my daughters Christmas present. When they had not arrived by the 20th, I called Amazon customer service. They said they would send out two more overnight. Well on the 22nd of Dec. both orders arrived here. They were opened by other than me. So now I have to send a set back to you. I'd love to just keep them and save the trouoble, but I really can't afford to do that. If you will e-mail me a return address I will get them in the mail to you.
Sincerely,
Valerie B. Anderson
great recipes.......2007-01-04
I enjoyed many recipes from this book - threy were all tasty but with readily available ingredients. I'm always looking for new recipes to bring to our get-to-gethers. Thaks, Emeril
Emeril Rocks.......2006-08-06
Excellent book. Easy to follow recipes that make comfort foods a pleasure to prepare; and of course to eat.
Customer Reviews:
Best casserole book around.......2007-01-03
The best thing about this cookbook is that it was meant for a homemaker. Virtually all the recipes can be made with items you have on hand in your cupboards and freezer. Simple, easy to follow instructions with excellent pictures of the finished casserole to help you choose which recipe to make! I bought one for a friend and then bought one for myself!
Amazon.com
Diane Phillips, celebrated cookbook author, culinary school instructor, and brand spokesperson, presents a pantry full of helpful, timesaving suggestions in The Soup Mix Gourmet. Packed with over 375 recipes, the book uses soup mixes, starters, and pre-made condensed soups as key components for all of the dishes, making them easy and quick to prepare. But her recipes should surprise and delight even those who enjoy spending hours in the kitchen. The use of Lipton Savory Herb with Garlic makes a nice rub for a Holiday Standing Rib Roast, while Campbell's Condensed Cream of Chicken soup creates an appealing element when used in Chicken Piccata. Lipton Onion Soup is mixed with sour cream for a chip-and-dip staple; Top Ramen Salad is suggested for potluck dinners; and Beef and Onion Soup enlivens the standard pot roast. For every vegetable, pasta, meat, and marinade, there appears to be a soup mix destined to enhance it. With the time saved in this comprehensive and inventive book, the family and guests may slow down enough to actually enjoy a meal. --Teresa Simanton
Book Description
Mainstream short-cut cooking at its best, with 375 recipes that use dry soup mix or canned condensed soup as a key flavor ingredient.
Customer Reviews:
A great Cookbook.......2004-04-07
This cookbook is one of the best I have come across. I love cookbooks and I'm always trying different recipes. But this cookbook has really got me trying one recipe after the other.
If you like to cook and like tasty and delicous food and most of the recipes are pretty easy to prepare you should purchase The Soup Mix Gourmet.
A great Cookbook.......2004-04-07
This cookbook is one of the best I have come across. I love cookbooks and I'm always trying different recipes. But this cookbook has really got me trying one recipe after the other.
If you like to cook and like tasty and delicous food and most of the recipes are pretty easy to prepare you should purchase The Soup Mix Gourmet.
A New Favorite.......2003-12-08
After finding this book in the library and looking through it... I knew I HAD to buy it. There were just too many recipes I wanted to try. I usally only buy canned soups, and while I have used them in creative ways I never dreamed that they, along with dry mixes could add so much to so many foods! I plan on making one of the shrimp dip recipes for our department pitch in, and a co-worker is going to make the Tomato Soup Spice Cake. This book is for the novice as well as the experienced cook. Keep it handy.. you will use it often!
Good variety - Easy Prep & Cooking.......2003-11-09
This cook book is a must have for anyone needing new ideas for the family. A short grocery list is all thats needed to provide variety. I found that most of the items required were things I already had in the pantry. These dishes have very simple ingredients and I have found many that are winners with my sometimes picky young adult children. They are quick which is great for the working mom. Vegetables are used throughout, so it's not just a cheese and starch book. What impressed me most was the layout of the book itself - it's just as easy to find a new recipe as it is to prepare one.
It would be great without the MSG..........2003-11-07
I checked this out from the library after reading the great reviews. It gives some very helpful advice with a list of must have spices, herbs, and a list of the different soup mixes with an explanation of what each can be used for. There's also a section on recipes for dry rubs and seasoning mixes which was great.
I made the meatloaf last night with the beef onion soup mix and used cornbread stuffing in place of plain breadcrumbs and spread the ketchup on top. It tasted so good! Then I realized that I wasn't feeling like myself which usually happens after I have something with BHT or MSG (monosodium glutamate). All the Lipton soup mixes contain MSG. I was so disappointed. Unless I can find another brand of soup mix without MSG this book won't do me much good. :(
Book Description
The secret is out: That slow cooker that's been collecting dust in your kitchen cabinet is a wonderful and easy tool for making delicious entrees at the touch of a button. With new U.S. sales estimated at 6 million a year, more people are finding slow cookers indispensable in getting a home-cooked meal on the table. Besides tasting good, slow cooked meals are convenient and nutritious because you use fresh, wholesome ingredients.
Slow Cookers For Dummies is for working families, couples, single people, students, and anyone who is tired of takeout. Perhaps you love cooking but have little time to do it or want to decrease your reliance on prepared mixes or boxed convenience foods. Slow cooking may be right for you if you want to
- Save money on food and utility bills
- Control your sodium and fat intake
- Free up your oven and cooktop for more holiday cooking
- Take a hot dish to a potluck supper
If you already know how to use a slow cooker, the delicious recipes in this book can help you expand your repertoire beyond soups and stews. If you're thinking of getting a slow cooker, Slow Cookers For Dummies takes you from the basics of how these cookers work to preparing special occasion meals, to troubleshooting slow cooker problems.
Here's a closer look at what Slow Cookers For Dummies includes:
- Guidelines on how to choose the right slow cooker for you
- Techniques to help you slow-cook the right way
- Easy recipes for snacks, beverages, chili, stews, and casseroles
- Scrumptious recipes for roasting beef, pork, lamb, and poultry
- How-to's on cooking and freezing in batches
- Ways to adapt favorite traditionally cooked dishes for the slow cooker
In Slow Cookers for Dummies, food and appliance cooking experts Tom Lacalamita and Glenna Vance show that this classic cooking appliance is really a wonderful tool for making creative, delicious meals. With 75 recipes for making the most out of your slow cooker, you'll never put that slow cooker in your cabinet again.
Customer Reviews:
slow cookers for dummies.......2007-04-10
I found this book to be very helpful. I recently recieved a slow cooker as a gift from my niece and had no clue how to use it. After reading this book I felt very confidant and gave it a try. To my surprise, the whole family loved the meals that I cooked from this book. The book gives you both the traditional way to cook the meals and the slow cooker way.I now cook with this book at least once or twice a week--what an easy way to get a delicious meal on the table without having to hover over the stove! The stew was great, as was the roast pork with apples, sweet potatoes and plantains(a new family favorite). Can't wait to try the cranberry brisket and the lemon chicken.
lots of good tips!.......2007-01-26
i searched and searched for a slow cooker/crock pot cookbook and finally found this one. not only does it have good recipes, it mainly has instructions/tips, etc. about how to use your cooker and how to get the most from it. i only wish it had recipes for my size cooker/3 and 1/2 qt. instead of the 6. but, i can usually adjust down the ingredients. this is the perfect cookbook for me since i am a dummie when it comes to cooking. lol!
Good book for a slow-cooker beginner like me!.......2006-02-24
I liked the fact that this book explains so much about slow-cooker cooking, in addition to the yummy-sounding recipes. I haven't tried any yet, though, so I can't comment on the recipes themselves...
Buy this book BEFORE you buy the slow cooker.......2006-02-15
I'm going to jump the gun and review this book before I've cooked any of the recipes. I haven't bought the slow cooker yet. I mainly chose this book to educate myself on what to look for when shopping for a slow cooker. I've never owned one before and I didn't want to buy one and then realize which features I should have looked for. How many appliances have I bought that I wish I hadn't, only because I didn't know enough about how the appliance functions. Not going to make that mistake again so this time I'm starting with the cookbook first. I think it's going to pay for itself even if I don't like the recipes (which I'm sure I will once I try them). Information contained in this book still applies to slow cookers sold today, I've been shopping for them this week. What has changed is that the quality of slow cookers has declined, reviews show you that, all the more reason to purchase this book to help you sort out the wheat from the chaff.
Looking at the recipes in this book I see that they call for a 4qt or a 6qt slow cooker and the instructions are given in hours on either a Low or High setting. Now that I've seen what a slow cooker recipe looks like I know that a cooker with a dial that has these settings is going to make it easier to follow the recipe. I also know that there is a difference between cookers that use a wrap around heating element and a bottom only heating element. The book warns you about the pitfalls of owning a slow cooker with a bottom only heating element. It also talks about the insert, how some models allow the insert to be placed directly on your stovetop but this means you do not have a true slow cooker. Lots of informative advice I am so glad I am aware of now. Makes shopping for a slow cooker less daunting.
Great Cookbook.......2005-12-06
I love this cookbook. It gives the reader all sorts of helpful information on cooking with a slow cooker, along with many excellent recipes. Much better than some of the fancier slow cooker cookbooks, with recipes that take too much time. After all, I bought my slow cooker to SAVE time!
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Books Index
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General
| Cooking, Food & Wine
| Subjects
| Books
Not Your Mother's Slow Cooker Cookbook
The Gourmet Slow Cooker: Volume II, Regional Comfort-Food Classics
Biggest Book of Slow Cooker Recipes (Better Homes & Gardens)
Food Made Fast: Slow Cooker (Williams-Sonoma)
Slow Cooker Ready & Waiting: 160 Sumptuous Meals That Cook Themselves
