Cooking
A friend once told me the best way to sell a book is to put "secret" in the title. He's probably right, I have two cookbooks with secret in the titles and they are both terrific. One is Michael Bauer's Secrets of Success Cookbook: Signature Recipes and Insider Tips from San Francisco's Best Restaurants. This book is a gem, based on a long-running newspaper feature. You not only get great recipes from wonderful restaurants, but you also get tips from top chefs, bound to make you a better cook. While you may not find this book in your local bookstore, it is easy to find inexpensive copies on Amazon.
The latest cookbook which promises secrets, really delivers. In the vein of telling stories out of school, it's Cooking School Secrets for Real World Cooks. And who better to share those secrets than author Linda Carucci, the winner of the IACP cooking teacher of the year award.
Here is a sampling of "secrets" I gleaned from the book:
* Why Diamond Crystal Kosher salt is superior to other brands and actually keeps lettuce from wilting.
* How to correctly salt and season meat before cooking to make it more flavorful.
* Which raspberries make the best raspberry sauce--hint it's not fresh ones!
* That a camomile tea bag added to vegetable stock acts as a flavor enhancer.
* How to fancy up a boring, brown dessert like bread pudding with whipped cream, kahlua and a few strawberries.
* Which fruits and vegetables are most likely to contain pesticide residue--strawberries, raspberries and apples top the list.
Even though I've only cooked one recipe from this book I've already learned a lot from it. The recipes are mostly solid ones, not the show stopper variety, but if you are looking for some great Italian American favorites like pesto, meatballs, risotto primavera or manicotti, this book is full of them. I think this book is best for the novice cook or someone lacking culinary confidence. It would be perfect for newlyweds or someone moving into a new house.
- Jewish Cookbooks 2015
Are you suffering from an overload of everything Christmas? Shabbat Shalom! Here are a few books worth taking a look at, whether you are Jewish or not. The Seasonal Jewish Kitchen is the book that could make anyone fall in love with Jewish food....
- Sara Foster's Casual Cooking: Cookbook
When it comes to food, I don't believe in secrets. Secret restaurants, secret menu items, or secret recipes are all bad ideas. Food should be enjoyed and keeping it secret just gets in the way of that. I used to work with a Southern gal who told...
- Pizza: Cookbook Review
The Bay Area is not really known for pizza but maybe it should be. After all we are the home of pizza throwing champion Tony Gemignani. No one is more passionate or knowledgeable about pizza than Tony. Perhaps you've seen him on TV doing tricks...
- Organic Trend Or Fad?
You probably already know Atkins Nutritionals Inc. maker of products for low-carb diets, has filed for bankruptcy. We all saw this coming, right? It was a fad, not a trend. But how about eating organic? Think it's a fad too? Think again. Research...
- Caramelized Onion Waffles With Smoked Salmon:recipe
Sometimes what inspires me most is a cookbook. I read cookbooks like some people read magazines. Browsing, skimming the index, picking and choosing a recipe here, a recipe there. Like many cooks, I don't necessarily follow recipes to the letter,...
Cooking
Cooking School Secrets: Book Review
A friend once told me the best way to sell a book is to put "secret" in the title. He's probably right, I have two cookbooks with secret in the titles and they are both terrific. One is Michael Bauer's Secrets of Success Cookbook: Signature Recipes and Insider Tips from San Francisco's Best Restaurants. This book is a gem, based on a long-running newspaper feature. You not only get great recipes from wonderful restaurants, but you also get tips from top chefs, bound to make you a better cook. While you may not find this book in your local bookstore, it is easy to find inexpensive copies on Amazon.
The latest cookbook which promises secrets, really delivers. In the vein of telling stories out of school, it's Cooking School Secrets for Real World Cooks. And who better to share those secrets than author Linda Carucci, the winner of the IACP cooking teacher of the year award.
Here is a sampling of "secrets" I gleaned from the book:
* Why Diamond Crystal Kosher salt is superior to other brands and actually keeps lettuce from wilting.
* How to correctly salt and season meat before cooking to make it more flavorful.
* Which raspberries make the best raspberry sauce--hint it's not fresh ones!
* That a camomile tea bag added to vegetable stock acts as a flavor enhancer.
* How to fancy up a boring, brown dessert like bread pudding with whipped cream, kahlua and a few strawberries.
* Which fruits and vegetables are most likely to contain pesticide residue--strawberries, raspberries and apples top the list.
Even though I've only cooked one recipe from this book I've already learned a lot from it. The recipes are mostly solid ones, not the show stopper variety, but if you are looking for some great Italian American favorites like pesto, meatballs, risotto primavera or manicotti, this book is full of them. I think this book is best for the novice cook or someone lacking culinary confidence. It would be perfect for newlyweds or someone moving into a new house.
- Jewish Cookbooks 2015
Are you suffering from an overload of everything Christmas? Shabbat Shalom! Here are a few books worth taking a look at, whether you are Jewish or not. The Seasonal Jewish Kitchen is the book that could make anyone fall in love with Jewish food....
- Sara Foster's Casual Cooking: Cookbook
When it comes to food, I don't believe in secrets. Secret restaurants, secret menu items, or secret recipes are all bad ideas. Food should be enjoyed and keeping it secret just gets in the way of that. I used to work with a Southern gal who told...
- Pizza: Cookbook Review
The Bay Area is not really known for pizza but maybe it should be. After all we are the home of pizza throwing champion Tony Gemignani. No one is more passionate or knowledgeable about pizza than Tony. Perhaps you've seen him on TV doing tricks...
- Organic Trend Or Fad?
You probably already know Atkins Nutritionals Inc. maker of products for low-carb diets, has filed for bankruptcy. We all saw this coming, right? It was a fad, not a trend. But how about eating organic? Think it's a fad too? Think again. Research...
- Caramelized Onion Waffles With Smoked Salmon:recipe
Sometimes what inspires me most is a cookbook. I read cookbooks like some people read magazines. Browsing, skimming the index, picking and choosing a recipe here, a recipe there. Like many cooks, I don't necessarily follow recipes to the letter,...