The Frog Commissary Cookbook Review

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(More customer reviews)I love this cookbook. I have been through three copies and given numerous copies to friends and family.
This book was out-of-print for years and I am very happy to see it reissued -- so I can give a copy to my son away in college!
This is where the French-Thai connection started as far as I can tell. The book is a marvel. The illustrations and comments in the margins are as valuable as the recipes and their text.
I have made just about every dish in this book and I have never been disappointed and neither have my guests.
My son grew up on the Thai Popcorn; I believe that the duck and chicken recipes are beyond reproach; the lentil salad is to die for (better have a heck of an extensive spice collection for that one....) and EVERYBODY loves the Carrot Cake.
A fine, fine example of American creativity in the culinary arts.

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A little storefront restaurant opened in a downtown neighborhood of Philadelphia in 1973. It was simply named Frog. Out of that little eatery grew a collection of some of America's most innovative and successful restaurants, including Frog, The Commissary, and a catering operation known as Frog/Commissary Catering. From their founding chef/restaurateur, Steven Poses, and his colleagues Anne Clark and Becky Roller, comes a sumptuous cookbook that brings together hundreds of kitchen-tested recipes, tips, and information about their personal approach to food preparation.Organized by meal course, the book contains a multitude of creative recipes, adapted for serving at home and reflecting a quixotic, multiethnic blend of foods and ingredients. Full of insider tips on food preparation and service and delightful anecdotes, this bountiful feast of information is also a lavish treat for the eyes, with Becky Roller's wonderful drawings and calligraphy gracing each page. The Frog/Commissary Cookbook is the perfect introduction to a very special culinary world--and the ideal addition to every cook's home library.

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Mad About Macarons: Make Macarons Like the French Review

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(More customer reviews)I've made at least 15 batches macarons from various recipes and none would turn out correctly. Once I tried Jill Colonna's method of just mix the hell out of the batter and then fold it towards the end to achieve the right consistency - my macarons came out perfect. I've made 8 batches of macarons using this method with great success each time. I won't be going back to the gently folding the batter until it looks like molten lava method. The flavor combinattions are great. There's a section just for chocolate! What I liked best is that at the end of the book Jill gives you an egg equivalent chart for any amount of leftover egg whites you have. This is a great resource. Her macarons are not as sweet as the other recipes also.
I highly recommend this book for anyone is starting to make macarons. It takes the frustration out of trying to make macarons. No more flubbed shells with this method!

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The best guide available for making Parisian macarons at home. Jill Colonna guides you simply yet precisely through each step in making perfect Parisian macarons every time. Stylish and fun, this colorful book contains 37 tried-and-tested macaron recipes plus well over a hundred mouth-watering photos. Classics contain rose or pistachio and also include a nut-free macaron. Be inspired with sticky toffee, chocolate-beetroot or pistachio-wasabi to giant coffee macarons with tiramisu cream. Stun your guests with mini Thai Green Curry Macarons, sensational either before or during dinner. Beverage pairings are suggested for each gluten-free macaron recipe, along with decorative ideas for weddings, children's parties, gifts plus many other tips.Note: Measurements are given in grams.

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James Beard's & Hors D'oeuvre And Canapes (James Beard Library of Great American Cooking, 1) Review

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(More customer reviews)I actually inherited this cookbook. Found it in my mom's bookcase She said it was my Dad's. She said he liked to entertain. It's the 1960's printing. It has a lot of cool old ways of preparing food. There's strange aspics and spreads. There's an interesting beef tartar appetizer. The beef tongue appetizers are something you don't see too much these days. There's basic drink recipes. It definitely has a vibe of old school cocktail parties with Bossa Nova playing in the background and the guests knocking back martinis. What's really cool is how Beard's personality comes through. He's hilarious with his criticism and kudos, like on the drink recipe for, I think, the Tom Collins he says he garnishes the drink with a single cherry rather than the 'fruit cocktail', meaning the skewers of fruit etc. that were starting become common back then. Grab this one if you like quirky old school eats.

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The first book written by the "Dean of American Gastronomy," James Beard's HORS D'OEUVRE AND CANAPES contains recipes and tips for all levels of entertainment-from simple cocktail parties to extravagant receptions. This premier kitchen reference features the most popular cocktails and drinks, as well as fabulous recipes for classic and innovative hors d'oeuvre such as Melon Melange, Anchovy Cheese Fingers, and Clam Croquettes.

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Vive le Vegan: Simple, Delectable Recipes for the Everyday Vegan Family Review

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(More customer reviews)...it is an informative book on healthy living. Besides numerous nutritious recipes for breakfast and brunch, baked goods, sauces, spreads, soups, main courses and other things, Burton provides advice for "Feeding Your Vegan Baby & Toddler" which is divided into age groups for 6-9 months, 9-12 months, 12-18 months, 18-24 months and 2+ years. In the section "Additional Notes for Feeding Baby" Burton discusses organic foods, prepackaged foods vs. home-made and food preparation tips.
Another helpful section that offers practical information is "Cooking Guides & Notes" where the author provides guides to cooking grains and beans and other "Cooking Notes." A comprehensive glossary is also useful.
Burton's support of hemp foods is a welcome addition to this recipe book and will hopefully encourage other cookbook authors to feature this nutritious food in their books. Not only does Burton include a section on "Hemp Foods," but she also mentions the importance of hemp in the Introduction.
"This is one of the few cookbooks you will see that features hemp products. Hemp seed nuts and nut butter provide complete protein and essential fatty acids that we can only get from our diet. Hemp seed oil is also rich in the essential fatty acids." (page 14)
Another interesting aspect of Burton's book involves the relatively small number of recipes that contain soy. Burton's reason for minimizing her use of soy is simple. "I suspect that many vegetarians and vegans rely a little too heavily on soy, and while I still include it in my family's diet, no one food should be consumed excessively." (page 14) Burton also includes numerous wheat-free recipes and recipes which feature a wheat-free option.
It's nice to see that vegan recipe books are becoming more popular. Vive le Vegan! is one of the better vegan cookbooks that I've seen as it not only offers a good selection of easy-to-make, nutritious meals and snacks, but it contains lots of other important information as well. Those who turned to vegetarianism due to a love of and respect for animals will want to get a copy of Burton's book and consider taking the next step to veganism. As Eric Marcus points out in the Foreword:
"Many people assume that concerns over cruelty can be addressed by becoming a lacto-ovo vegetarian, and buying free-range eggs and organic milk. Unfortunately, welfare standards for these foods are utterly lacking. And, just as troubling, these foods depend on slaughter every bit as much as their factory farmed counterparts. There is simply no such thing as animal agriculture without suffering and killing - the economics just don't allow it."
Vive le Vegan! will be of interest to everyone looking for interesting, nutritious, cruelty-free recipes.--N. Glenn Perrett

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Caribbean Vegan: Meat-Free, Egg-Free, Dairy-Free Authentic Island Cuisine for Every Occasion Review

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(More customer reviews)Caribbean Vegan is already one of my favorite cookbooks. In this day and age of finding recipes on the internet, I can't encourage you enough to own this book for yourself. It's full of rich, satisfying recipes, with easy to follow instructions. I was new to both eating and cooking Caribbean cuisine, and I learned some great cooking techniques along the way. Some of my favorite recipes include the rum cake, lentil patties, split pea soups, and of course the tofish. The book includes everything from the basic sauces to cocktails to breads to seitan ham, etc. Taymer has experience in the food industry and it shows. She creates complex flavors in an authentic way. No other vegan or vegetarian cookbooks have these recipes, and if you live in the U.S. you may not even have access to the homestyle recipes that Taymer revised.
You will love these foods, do not delay! (Did I mention the gorgeous photos?)

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Here is your passport to a world of distinctive, unforgettable food-125 delicious, authentic vegan recipes that showcase flavors and ingredients from across the Caribbean islands

If “Caribbean cuisine” makes you think of pineapples and coconuts, you’re missing out. The Caribbean islands are home to a rich cooking tradition that combines African, French, Spanish, British, Asian, and Indian influences, adds an unmistakable local flair . . . and tastes like paradise. A real secret is in the herbs and spices-with the right uncooked sauce, cooked sauce, or “wet seasoning” blend, you can transform everyday ingredients into Caribbean delights.

Caribbean Vegan will spice up your vegan diet like no other cookbook. Popular blogger Taymer Mason serves up 125 completely vegan recipes-for breakfast dishes, appetizers, entrées, sides, soups, desserts, and drinks that are anything but bland. Sample the local flavors of Barbados, Saint Lucia, Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, Grenada, and the French West Indies with:

Saint Lucian Bakes
Eggplant and Seaweed Accras
Bajan Soup with Dumplings
Rummy Rum and Raisin Ice Cream . . . and much more!

Enticing color photos and Island Tips explain the key ingredients, equipment, and techniques of Caribbean cuisine-so whatever your previous familiarity with Caribbean food, you’ll be cooking like an islander in no time.

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