Grill it ALL!

How to Grill Everything
Author: Mark Bittman

Pages: 567
Format: Hardcover

Review
Prolific author.  Cooks everything, everywhere and writes about it.  Tons of recipes.  Many easy and I sort of went Duh!  However, I kept the book for multiple weeks from the library debating what recipes I liked or didn't.  And he puts 2-3 variations on every recipe - very cool.  So good read!

Recipes

Pizza Bianco
Hot smoked fish
Basil Ginger Shrimp burger
Savory applesauce on the grill
Thai style coleslaw
Grilled Corn pudding
Spatchcocked Chicken with Garlic,Parsley and Orange
Chicken Negimaki bites

Verdict: Good ideas, borrow it first and decide how often you will need it.  Not a classic.  Borrow it.

Long time no post!

I still love cookbooks and read a few every month!  I need to post more.  I will try!

Cookbooks rule!!

Julia and Jacques Cooking at Home
Author: Julia Child and Jacques Pepin

Pages: 430
Format: Hardcover

Review
2 bastions of the cooking world collaborate on a cookbook, again.  Neat concept - they each give their own rendition or take on the on a classic and the differences are compelling and interesting reading.  But most of these are old classics and not much new in the kitchen.  So check it out...from the library.

Cheese List

Chicken Wing Lollipops
Standing Rib Roast of Beef and Yorkshire Pudding
Julie's Quick Gravlax
Jacques' INstant Gravlax
Salmon in Potato Case

Verdict: Good team but read it from the library and copy your own classics.

The Cheese Chronicles

Author: Liz Thorpe
Pages: 375
Format: Softcover

Review
I was captivated by the story of Liz, hung over, visiting the cheese making operation of David Major of Vermont Shepherd, smelling the milk, feeling the greasy curds, throwing up in the parkinglot. So the book is a facinating read and her descriptions of cheeses are real and mae me want to taste the cheese. But to me a list of cheese to search for and to buy needs to be in my wallet so I remember what to ask for and why. I made a list to carry with me. I learned alot bout cheese making in America and would recommend this book. But from the library.

Cheese List

13 cheese makers noted for me to try, here are just a few-

Calabro Cheese company - Old Fashioned Flor di Latte Mozzarella

Consider Bardwell Farm - Dorset - better than Teleggio - like cheese and spanish ham together

River's Edge - Up in Smoke - chevre, smoked, wrapped in maple leaf, smoked and soaked in bourbon

Verdict: Great book but read it from the library and make your own wallet list.

Holiday Food

Author: Mario Batali
Pages: 144
Format: Hardcover

Review
Tis the season of the green and... orange? That would be Mario on the cover in his trademark orange clogs with green sox (at least on the cover of my book) for the holidays. There is a great photo of a teen/20 something Mario on page 12! Holidays means Xmas and New Years Eve and Day. A little book packed with really good recipes. Not a fluff piece, this one is worth it.

Recipes
Shrimp in "crazy water" - the addition of fennel gives this almost bouillabaisse some nuance

Cannoli

Baked crepes stuffed with cheese - ricotta, mozzarella, cacio and sopressata

Pickled Vegetable salad

Spaghetti with a hole, sheep's cheese and eggs

Cookie box

Mythic Pasta Dome

Linguine with Walnut Sauce

Verdict: It's cheap. Buy it!!

Chef Paul Prudhomme's Louisiana Kitchen

Author: Paul Prudhomme
Pages: 351
Format: Hardcover
Review:
It may seem old hat now but this was a groundbreaking cookbook. A regional, local restaurateur making a national and international impact. Now if it happens all the time from Mario to Nobu from Ferran to Ducasse. Paul and his eponymous restaurant K-Pauls was one of the first. His was the original 'bam' seasoning. There are multiple seasoning mixes utilizing garlic and onion powder, dried herbs and salt and many kinds of pepper. There pictures on how to really blacken food - this is before Red Lobster and everyone else did it. There are roux's from white to black, stews from gumbo to jambalaya and baked goods from jalapeno biscuits to pecan pie. Add butter, lots of it, add spices, lots of it and eat lots of it!

Recipes
Recipes copied - too many to list - but here's a few.
Barbequed Shrimp
Red Beans and Rice with Ham Hocks and Andouille Smoked Sausage
Dirty Rice
Chicken and Seafood Jambalaya
Shrimp, Okra and Andouille Smoked Sausage Gumbo
Seven Steak and Okra Gumbo (I add shrimp, too)
Strawberry Pie
Pecan Pralines

Verdict:

This is the real deal. Buy it for the history and the recipes!