I know you've all been patiently awaiting these reviews, but I have been distracted w/ my retirement & new career as exhibit/show photographer...... also I have been less inclined to read/review any cookbook that I consider to be less than 3 stars!
FIVE
STARS ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Last Dinner on the Titanic:
Menus and Recipes...., Rick Archbold
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Oddly I am entranced with the subject of the
Titanic.... not so much its sinking, rather the elegance and beauty of the ship
and romance of the Edwardian era.
This book contains history, photos, menus,
and recipes of the ship, its crew, and passengers. I was surprised that even
the Second Class passengers had a generous dining menu, that was basically
unheard of at the time.
Their April
12, 1912 "Hot" Luncheon menu consisted of: Pea Soup; Spaghetti
au Gratin; Corned Beef; Vegetable Dumplings; Roast Mutton; and Baked Jacket
Potatoes.
The "Cold" menu: Roast Mutton;
Roast Beef; Sausage; Ox Tongue; Pickles; Salad; Tapioca Pudding; apple tart;
Fresh Fruit; Cheese; Biscuits; and Coffee.
That sure is a whole lot of food for a 2nd
class passage!
The First-Class Titanic Dinner was a
"choreographed" affair with: Hand-written "formal"
invitations (with advice on what to wear); a biography of the character your
are asked to "portray"; flowers for the ladies; boutonniere for the
men; and court music.
Before dinner: Formal introductions; cocktails or lighter
drinks (champagne); and hors d'oeuvres.
Dinner: Dinner announcement w/ a gong;
courses on silver salvers; a nine course dinner; and coffee, cigars, port or
cordials.
A sample dinner menu w/ recipes:
First Course- Hors d'oeuvre: Oeufs de caille
en aspic et caviar (Quail Eggs) w/ White Bordeaux or White Burgundy
Second Course- Potage: Potage Saint Germain
(Spring Pea Soup) w/ Madeira or Sherry
Third Course- Poisson: Homard Thermidor
(Lobster) w/ Dry Rhine or Moselle
Fourth Course- Entree: Tournedos aux morilles
w/ Red Bordeaux
Fifth Course- Punch or Sorbet: Punch Rose
Sixth Course- Roti: Cailles aux cerises
(Qualis w/ cherries) w/ Red Burgundy
Seventh Course- Legume: Asperges
printanieres, sauce hollandaise (no wine?)
Eighth Course- Entrements: Macedoine de
fruits; Oranges en surprise w/ Sweet
dessert wines (Muscatel, Tokay, Madeira)
Ninth Course- Les desserts: assorted fresh
fruits and cheeses w/ Sweet dessert wines, Champagne, or Sparkling wine
After Dinner: Coffee, cigars, Port or
Cocktails
That is just one of the menus w/ recipes from
one of the dining rooms..... Oh my.... The First-Class Dining Saloon had a menu
w/ ELEVEN Courses.... and several of the courses, you had a choice of
dishes.....
I'm surprised at all the liquor! Let's just
call this an exercise in gluttony... but delicious gluttony and I for one,
would have been happy to partake for just one night.
pies:
delicious homemade pie recipes, Love Food Books
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
A
very simply put together book by one of my favorite author/editor LOVE FOOD.
This is a small book in size but not content...Each recipe has a corresponding
beautiful color photo (OMG) and the recipes (if you are so inclined- which I am
not, because I do not like to bake) are clear & simple to follow....
however some of the techniques are not so simple.....
The contents include: Introduction, 4 sections of recipes, and Index
Classic Pies: Traditional apple pie; Banoffee pie; Bakewell tart; Mississippi
mud-pie; Queen of puddings; Custard pie, Key Lime pie; & Lemon Meringue pie
Sweet Snacks (many are minis) include: Maple pecan pies; Chocolate nut strudel;
Paper-thin fruit pies; Apple strudel w/ cider sauce; Chocolate berry pies; and
Lime w/ coconut meringue pies
Dessert Treats include: Pear pie; Apple lattice pie; Chocolate crumble pie; One
roll fruit pie; Sweet potato pie; Forest fruit (berries) pie, Coconut cream pie
(w/ mango on top); Peach almond pie; Tarte au citron; Chocolate almond
pithiviers; and Peach cobbler
Special Occasions include: Pecan pie, Baked chocolate Alaska; Sweet pumpkin
pie; Latticed cherry pie; Blackberry chocolate flan (really not a flan); and
Boston chocolate pie
I'm tempted to keep this, but as I know I won't use it... I'll let it go back
to the FOL Holiday book sale... someone is sure to score!
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FOUR STARS ★ ★
★ ★
Indian Home Cooking...., Suvir Saran
★ ★ ★ ★
If you like modernized Indian food and are not adverse to time-consuming challenging
recipes... you might like this cookbook. Although the recipes sound
tempting, making Lemon Rice that uses EIGHTEEN (18) ingredients is not for me,
oh no it is not!
The book itself is heavy due to the slick paper it is printed on and there are
only photos every-24 pages and not necessarily of the dishes that are given in
the recipes. The Recipe title is in large bold font, the explanation
paragraph is a small grey bold font, the ingredients list in a medium black
bold font, and the instruction are in a small plain black font, which I found
amazingly easy to read.
Contents include: Foreword, Introduction, 13 sections of recipes,
Glossary, Acknowledgements, Index, & Credits.
Recipe chapters include:
Soups include: Black pepper Rasam (Consomme) w/ tamarind; Pineapple Rasam w/
tamarind; Carrot & pea soup; Chilled yogurt soup w/ cucumber & mint;
and My mother's tomato soup
Dals include: Simple lentil dal w/ cumin & dried red chilies; Empress dal;
Simple Gujarati dal w/ three chilies; Yellow mung beans w/ spinach &
Panchphoran; Sour chickpeas w/ garam masala & tomato cumin; Spicy
squash,eggplant, & lentil stew; and Curried black-eyed peas
Vegetables include: Stir-fried green beans w/ coconut; Stir-friend carrots w/
cumin & lime; Cauliflower in a piquant tomato sauce; My sister's favorite
corn curry; Smoked spiced eggplant; Crisp whole okra w/ fennel & coriander;
Spicy peas w/ ginger; Plantains in curry; Crispy potatoes w/ cumin; Indian
cheese in an herbed green sauce; sweet-sour butternut squash w/ ginger &
chilies; and Stir-fried mushrooms w/ onions & tomatoes
Rice includes: Plain Basmati rice; Cumin-scented rice pilaf; Lemon rice (18
ingredients!); Sweet saffron pilaf w/ nuts & currants (This is what we
serve at Armenian weddings); Chicken biryani w/ cream & garam masala;
Coconut mint rice; Lamb biryani w/ orange & whole garam masala; and My
grand-uncle's khitcheree
Poultry includes: Simple Lahori chicken curry w/ onion & tomato; Southern
spiced Lahori chicken curry; Braised chicken in white sauce & garam masala;
Butter chicken; Bombay chicken curry w/ coriander & coconut milk; Coconut
chicken w/ cashews; Ground turkey w/ spinach & whole spices; and Tandoori
roast Cornish game hens
Meats include: Simple lamb curry w/ coriander & garam masala; Parsi lamb
curry; Pork vindaloo (the only pork dish); Lamb cooked Delhi style; Ground beef
w/ spinach & fresh mint (the only beef dish); Ground lamb w/ almonds,
cardamom, & coconut; and Mogul lamb 'filet' in a cream sauce w/ garam masala
Fish & Shellfish includes: Salmon curry; Halibut in a hot-sour sauce; Spicy
friend salmon; Mangalore fried shrimp; and Tandoori prawns
Appetizers & Snacks include: Spinach, onion & potato pakoras; Puff
pastry samosas w/ green peas; Ann's cheese toasts; Chickpea salad; Warm bread
salad w/ mustard, cumin & tomatoes; and Papadum
Raitas (cold yogurt salads) include: Cucumber; Mint & onion; Pineapple;
Eggplant; Grape; and Zucchini pachadi
The recipe chapters continue w/ Flatbreads & Crackers; Pickles &
Chutneys; Sweets (a wonderful sounding Orange Flan); and Drinks.
Unless I was an avid fan of Indian food, which I am not, I would
not pay the $32.50 for this book...... But if you are, and you are
interested in this book, I'd first borrow it from the Library.
Cooking the Korean Way, Okwha Chun
★ ★ ★ ★
I gave this 4 stars,
not so much for quantity of content but for the easiness of the
recipes, which include all of the Korean basics.....
Contents: Introduction (background of Korea); Before you begin;
A Korean table; Korean basics; 4 sections of recipes; & Index.
Korean Basics: Egg pancake; Kimchi (wow so
easy to make, I am on it); White rice; Noodles; Toasted sesame seeds; &
Dipping sauce
Salads & Soups: bean sprout salad;
Spinach salad (I ♥ this); Cold cucumber soup; and Potato soup
Chicken, Fish & Vegetarian Dishes: Mixed
vegetables w/ (yam) noodles (another favorite); Glazed chicken wings; Fish
patties; and Soy-sesame tofu
Beef Dishes: Barbecue beef (Bulkogi ♥); Simmered beef
short ribs (Kalbi ♥); and Korean dumplings (Mandu ♥)
Holiday & Festival Food: New Year's beef
rice cake soup; Grilled beef & vegetable skewers; Five grain dish; Seaweed
rice rolls; and Zucchini pancakes
Steamy Kitchen's healthy asian
favorites, Jaden Hair
★ ★ ★ ★
I like this book... it is a paperback format with very attractive photographs.
Most of the 100 recipes have less than six (6) ingredients which makes
for fast & easy preparation.
Contents include: Foreword; Introduction; 9 chapters of recipes; Ingredients;
Acknowledgements; about the author; Measurement conversions; and Index
Soups: Mom's chicken stock; seafood stock; miso soup; dashi; Thai tom yum;
Healing ginger chicken soup; & Tofu mushroom miso soup
Pickles & Sauces: Shrimp & cucumber sunomono; Gari; Vietnamese
carrot & daikon pickle; Quick kimchi; Andrew's secret sauce;
Scallion dipping sauce; Dumpling dipping sauce; Sweet plum dipping sauce;
and My sriracha sauce
Salads & Dressings: Simple citrus dressing; Orange sesame dressing;
Lemon soy dressing; Peanut dressing & dipping sauce; Asian slaw w/
wasabi soy dressing; Edamame noodle salad; Big salmon salad; Quinoa salad w/
avocado & pears; and Seared scallop salad w/ sesame ginger vinaigrette
Little Bites: Korean beef bites; Crispy rice patties; Seared ahi tuna; Thai
chicken larb; Vietnamese style shrimp cocktail; & Shrimp &
spinach dumplings
Share: Vietnamese summer rolls (2 kinds); Chinese hot pot party; Sushi temaki
party; vegetarian Korean bbq; and Japanese hot pot
Vegetables, Tofu & Eggs (I liked this chapter): Steamed asparagus w/
miso ginger butter; Roasted kabocha squash; Baby bok choy w/ garlic &
ginger; Cauliflower steaks w/ ginger soy sauce; Eggs w/ oyster sauce; Ten
minute Thai vegetable curry; Roasted carrots w/ ginger honey mustard; and Spicy
garlicky tofu & broccoli
Meat & Seafood: Stuffed miso eggplant; Thai squid w/ basil sweet/sour
sauce; Cantonese style poached fish; Kung pao chicken; Lemon chicken; sake
steamed mussels; Salmon honey teriyaki; and Sweet & sour pork
Noodles & Rice: Pineapple crab fried rice; Seafood fried rice;
Vietnamese vermicelli bowl; Singapore rice noodles; Seafood curry noodle soup;
& Japanese soba noodles
Sweets & Libations: Coconut green tea; Sweet goji tea; Mom's preserved
kumquat & honey; Lemongrass, ginger, & Kaffir lime herbal
infusion; Kiwi sorbet; Passionfruit mimosa; Stevia simple syrup; mango brulee;
Cucumber mint water; orange mango smoothie; and Sparkling Vietnamese limeade
What a lovely book!
Brunch Louise Pickford
★ ★ ★ ★
Such a sweet simple little book of 64 pages. Lovely colored photos, delightful
recipes, printed on a white smooth paper. The main titles are large the
"with: in in small bold print; the ingredients are in small but
easily read font as are the instructions. The only hard to read item is the
paragraph/sentence under the title with points out ingredient options.
Contents: Introduction; 5 chapters of
recipes; and Index
Late Breakfast: Soft egg w/ asparagus;
Cinnamon-soaked granola; Omelet w/ fine herbs; Panettone French toast w/ coco
nut milk (YUM); and Fresh figs w/ ricotta & honeycomb
Classic Brunch: Bagles, lox & wasabi sour
cream; Eggs Benedict; Mushrooms on toast; and Kedgeree
Early Lunch: Crab Caesar; BLT tortilla
panini; Mushroom burgers; Frazzled eggs w/ smoked bacon; and Charred asparagus
frittata
Sweet Things: Warm compote; Baby custard
tarts w/ cardamon coffee; Pecan & chocolate muffins; and Sweet bruschetta
w/ quince glazed figs
Drinks: Iced Bloody Mary; Iced coffee; Mocha
affogato; 3 types of Champagne cocktails; and 2
types of smoothies.
Taverna: the Best of Casual Mediterranean Cooking Joyce Goldstein
★ ★ ★ ★
As this is an older book "1996",
I'm not going to whine about the photos not being as I like them..... The pages
are glossy and the print for the is easy to read.....
Contents include: Introduction; Basic
recipes; 5 chapters of non-basic recipes; Glossary; and Index
Basic Recipes: Garlic-potato sauce;
Yogurt-cucumber sauce; Tomato-nut sauce; Chili pepper sauce; and marinated
olives
Appetizers: Garlic shrimp; Stuffed grape
leaves; Fried cheese; Fried mussels in nut sauce; Lamb pizza; and Cheese filled
pastries
Soups and Vegetables: Bread soup w/ cilantro,
garlic & poached eggs; "Green" soup w/ kale & potatoes;
Meatball soup w/ egg & lemon; City style braised artichokes; and Spinach w/
raisins & pine nuts
Fish & Shellfish: Stewed clams w/
sausage, ham & tomatoes; shrimp w/ tomatoes, oregano, & feta; Gratin of
sea cod & potatoes; and Stuffed squid
Poultry & Meat: Grilled chicken kebabs; Roast
chicken w/ oregano & lemon; Sausage & green pepper ragout; braised pork
w/ quinces; Lamb stew w/ artichokes; and Pork ragout w/ sweet red peppers &
lemon
Desserts: Cream filled apricots; Rice
pudding; Sweet cheese tarts from Santorini; Figs stuffed w/ chocolate &
almonds; Baklava; and Caramelized orange custard
Wonderful food...... not so easy recipes but
I'm sure worth the effort
Blissful Brownies, Love Food Book
★ ★ ★ ★
If you really like brownies, then this might
be the book for you...... I do not particularly care for brownies, so it is not
for me..... It is a pretty book with wonderful mouth watering photos, easy to
read print, and rather easy to follow instructions.
Contents include: Introduction (Baking
Basics); 4 sections of recipes; & Index
The Classics: Chocolate brownies (w/ a
frosting squiggle); Chocolate fudge brownies; Pecan brownies; white chocolate
brownies; & Chocolate chip brownies w/ pistachios (yes!)
New Twists: Sour cream brownies; Walnut &
cinnamon blondies; Upside-down toffee apple brownies; Rocky road brownies; rich
apricot blondies; & Marbled choc cheesecake brownies
Made to Impress: Mint julep brownie cake;
Black Russian brownies; Blonde brownie hearts w/ raspberry sauce; & Rich
ginger brownies w/ port cream
Cookie sheet treats: Chocolate peanut butter
bars; Almond bars; Chocolate marshmallow fingers (really gross looking);
Macadamia nut caramel bars; & Fruity (oat) bars
Give or take 82 recipes in total...... Which
gives a person who loves brownies many options. Most likely there is something
for everyone.
I gave this 4 stars because whether I like
brownies or not, this is a good cookbook.
THREE
STARS ★ ★ ★
Hosting Wedding Parties
★ ★ ★
There were 6 shower ideas w/ decor, favors,
and menus:
Luau Reception: Some type of
"refreshing" punch; Kalua pork kabobs; Chicken long rice; Lomi lomi
salmon; Coconut sweet potatoes; and Coconut lime wedding cake
Bridesmaids' Tea Party: Green beans w/ thyme
vermouth butter; Herbed chicken; Strawberry orange poppyseeds salad; and Mystic
petit fours
Playful Rehearsal Dinner: Fondu; 6 dipping
sauces; THE Original Toblerone fondue; and White chocolate raspberry fondue
Gourmet Dinner Shower: Portabella pita
appetizers; grilled garlic steaks; Orange fennel salad; and
Bittersweet chocolate pumpkin cake
Garden Shower: Artichoke Tortellini salad;
Glazed berry cheesecake tart; Garden Gazpacho; and Old fashioned lemonade
Engagement Party: Goat cheese squares;
Poached shrimp w/ olive oil & lemon juice; Turkey chili tortillas; and
Mini mocha tarts
So there is a party-planning timetable;
papers, decorations, ribbons, envelopes, folding napkins... etc.
Marianne meets Alireza in college and they marry..... Not knowing that he would be called into service of Prince Faisal & the King of Saudi Arabia. Thus begins the story of Marianne as she becomes a member of the Harem that is the center of the Alireza family.