Get Cooking!

Low FODMAP Recipes, Restricted Diets, Cookbook Reviews, Gluten Free Recipes...

You are here: Home / Archives for cookbook review

cookbook review

A Return to Ireland (Review of a Stunning New Cookbook!)

By

A Return to Ireland Cookbook by Judith McLoughlin

A Return to Ireland Cookbook by Judith McLoughlin (Amazon Affiliate Link)

I have been obsessed with all things Ireland since I first saw The Quiet Man years ago. Irish beauty Maureen O’Hara has always been one of my favorite actresses, which also helped draw me to the gorgeous and fascinating country. The iconic beauty also happens to star in The Quiet Man alongside John Wayne and Barry Fitzgerald).

After seeing the film, I read everything I could get my hands on about Ireland and became infatuated with its food, customs, colors, charisma, and people… especially its people – with its food close behind!

A Return to Ireland Cookbook by Judith McLoughlin (Amazon Affiliate Link) is the newest cookbook added to my cookbook collection and (as you’d imagine), I am overjoyed. TWO passions of mine – Cooking and Ireland – combined. It doesn’t get any better than this!

The first thing that struck me was the size and beauty of the book – it’s absolutely stunning, from the Irish font to the gorgeous photographs. As one would expect, there’s a lot of green and it’s an absolute joy to the eyes.

REVIEWS FROM THE BACK COVER

“Judith’s beautiful book deftly explores the Irish immigrant story—her own, that of her grandparents, and of the wider Irish-American community—through the medium of recipes passed down through the generations. These now make their way back across the Atlantic in A Return to Ireland.”
—Daniel Mulhall, Ambassador of Ireland to the United States of America“With A Return to Ireland, Irish cookery has come of age. Her recipes are steeped in our history and the future of Ireland. From nature to plate, with amazing stories of passion and love from the homeland.”
—Chef Noel McMeel, executive chef of the 5-Star Lough Erne Hotel and author of Irish Pantry“Judith’s continual passion for Ireland, Irish food and the Irish culture continues to be an inspiration to me and to everyone who meets her here in Georgia. Her zest for life, her stories and her Irish creations in the kitchen are superb and really fun. May the inspiration continue to call people to return to Ireland.”
—Chef Ford Fry, restauranteur and author of Tex-Mex Cookbook“McLoughlin’s new book is a truly intergenerational exploration of one Irish family’s emigrant journey from the rugged hills of Ireland to the shores of New England and the tastes of home they’ve savored ever since. Do yourself a favor and Return to Ireland without ever leaving your kitchen.”
—Nathan Mannion, Head of Exhibitions and Programmes at EPIC, the Irish Emigration Museum

“Judith’s inspirational food and storytelling is very much part of this phenomenon that is calling the Irish diaspora home to Ireland to follow in the footsteps of their ancestors.”
—Dr. Tim Campbell, director of the St. Patrick’s Center

About the Author

Judith McLoughlin is a professional Irish chef based in Georgia, an author, tour guide and owner of a gourmet food business called The Shamrock and Peach in 2009, specializing in Irish cuisine, in which she has created her own unique food fusion by blending the techniques of her homeland with the newfound flavors of the South. Over the past 10 years, Judith McLoughlin has become one of the most recognized Irish faces and brands in Atlanta, throughout the American South and abroad. Judith grew up in County Armagh in the heart of rural Northern Ireland. She is regularly asked to contribute to food columns in national newspapers and magazines on both sides of the Atlantic and also leads numerous discovery tours from the US to Ireland each year. She has worked with Whole Foods, Cooks Warehouse, Aprons Cooking School, Tourism Ireland, and Kerrygold. She has previously published a cookbook entitled The Shamrock and Peach.
(Review Continued Below…)

A Return to Ireland Cookbook by Judith McLoughlin

A Return to Ireland Cookbook by Judith McLoughlin (Amazon Affiliate Link)

Not only is the author an Irish chef, the photographer (Gary McLoughlin) is also Irish. The pair make an absolute dream team to present their beautiful home country to the rest of the world. It is in very, very capable hands!

RECIPES INCLUDE:

  • Irish Cured Ham & Cheddar Cheese Pillows
  • Crispy Kale Salad with Baked Irish Cheese (with a Lemon Vinaigrette)
  • Padraig’s Roasted Potato Cups (gorgeous!)
  • Nana’s Lemon Meringue Tart
  • Asparagus Salad with Sweet Peppers & Baby Arugula
  • Cullen Skink Seafood Bake
  • And many, many more extraordinary and exciting recipes you have to see to believe!

I love the beautiful photos in this stunning cookbook, I love the author’s wonderful writing, and I love the creative and delicious recipes. I also love learning so much about this gorgeous country and its warm, wonderful people – so full of charisma, charm, and personality. The Irish traditions shared, alongside the stunnignly beautiful photos and text make you feel like you’re there.

And THAT, is a wonderful thing, indeed.

A Return to Ireland Cookbook by Judith McLoughlin (Amazon Affiliate Link) would make a very thoughtful, beautiful gift for any cooks in your life, but you’ll absolutely want to grab a copy for yourself while you’re at it. I simply couldn’t recommend this book high enough.

A word about restricted diets (gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, Paleo, Keto, low FODMAP, etc…): Obviously this cookbook, like the majority of the cookbooks I review featured traditional, non-restricted recipes and ingredients. However, when you’ve been at the restricted diet game as long as I have, you learn to automatically “mentally replace” listed ingredients with ones that are safe for you. For example…

  • Traditional flour can easily and effortlessly be replaced with a gluten-free flour such as my personal favorite King Arthur Measure for Measure Gluten-Free Flour (Amazon Affiliate Link)
  • Vegan? Replace eggs with Egg Replacers (Amazon Affiliate Link) – there are so many on the market! I have to use egg replacers daily and you simply can’t tell the difference.
  • Etc!

A Return to Ireland Cookbook by Judith McLoughlin (Amazon Affiliate Link)

Review: Quesadillas by Donna Kelly (I LOVE this Cookbook to Distraction!)

By

Chicken Bacon and Ranch Quesadillas

Four-Layer Folded Ranch

I was recently sent a copy of a wonderful Quesadilla cookbook in exchange for telling you all about it and I KNOW you’ll love it as much as I do.  Quesadillas by Donna Kelly (Amazon link) is a dream come true for me for more reasons than one.

  1. When you have to eat gluten-free, you turn to gluten-free tortillas, like the AMAZING ones from Mission (Amazon link) often. Roll-ups, wraps, quesadillas, burritos, etc. Things you can’t put in pliable bread, you can most absolutely put in pliable gluten-free tortillas!
  2. I am obsessed… obsessed I tell you… with everything even remotely connected to Mexican or even Tex-Mex.
  3. Quesadillas are a meal that comes together really fast. Meal prep can all be done ahead of time, leaving you with only one task – put it all together and make the magic happen.
  4. This is a cookbook with easy to find (I’ve found that I usually have the ingredients on hand) recipes – ones you’ll use again and again and again.
  5. It’s a physical cookbook. Let me tell you why I find this to be a HUGE plus… I detest searching through my phone, files, and drawers for a recipe! Detest it like a shy 12 year old kid hates giving an oral book report in front of a roomful of other kids with every single eye staring a hole right through me… I mean her. Physical books mean the recipe is always right where you left it. Each and every time.

Book Description from Amazon:

Simply put, the quesadilla is a delightful package of melted cheesy goodness―all sandwiched inside crispy tortillas. But now these little gooey snacks we all used to make as kids have evolved into savory meals and scrumptious desserts that are bursting with flavor. Featuring all new photography, Quesadillas contains some of these delicious favorites, including Roasted Veggie and Goat Cheese, Thai Peanut, Parmesan-Crusted Italian, Chicken Caesar, Philly Cheesesteak, Peanut Butter Apple, Triple Chocolate Decadence, and Pecan-Crusted Pear.

The first recipe I made was the one titled Four-Layer Folded Ranch. It involves bacon, cream cheese, Ranch dressing mix, chicken, tortillas, pepper jack cheese… see why I chose it first?? It’s pictured at the top and was even more delicious than it looks.

Remember how I spoke of meal prep above? I am a firm believer and ardent follower of the meal plan attack for suppers. I have the JOY (one of the greatest blessing of my life if we’re keeping score) of watching my grandbabies (from around 8:00am to 4:00-5:00 pm) while their parents are at work. I have two (ages 4 and 2, both boys) every weekday and some days also have their cousin (18 months, also a boy!). My days are FULL of fun, dinosaurs, Hot Wheels, laughs, and immeasurable love.

They’re also deliciously busy – and, if you’re familiar with little people, you know that between 3-5 is the crazy zone. I mean, they kick it up a notch or 50 around then, don’t they?! That’s why I love meal prep and that’s why I turn to things like quesadillas so often.

For the quesadillas pictured at the top, I cooked the chicken and the bacon earlier and placed them in meal prep containers. Then I sliced the cheese and combined the other ingredients I’d need. When 5:00 came, all I had to do was heat up the gridle and throw everything in place.

Whether it’s adorable miniature humans or a not so adorable 9-5 job, meal prep may be your new best friend.

Other Recipes Include:

  • Crowd-Pleaser Sheet Pan (Giant Quesadilla!)
  • Old World Mexico (potatoes and chorizo)
  • S’Mores (a scrumptious looking dessert)
  • Peaches and Cream
  • Greek Isles (Feta, spinach, black olives…)
  • Black and Blue (spicy beans and several cheeses)
  • Four-Layer Folded Caprese (cream cheese, diced tomatoes, mozzarella, basil..)

There are International, Vegetarian, Meat-y, and dessert recipes as well as a section for salsas and sauces… they are amazing.

I can’t recommend this wonderful cookbook enough. I know you’ll love and use it as much as I do!

For more information, please see  Quesadillas by Donna Kelly (Amazon link).

Quesadillas by Donna Kelly

Quesadillas by Donna Kelly


Coconut Recipes: The Complete Coconut Cookbook

By


The Complete Coconut Cookbook (Coconut Recipes)

Outstanding Coconut Recipe Collection

The Complete Coconut Cookbook (Amazon link) may as well have been written with me in mine – I love coconut that much. My undying devotion to coconut extends outside of the kitchen with coconut-scented lotions, bath gel, conditioner, candles, etc… but it’s in the kitchen where the real magic happens.

When I was contacted about reviewing a cookbook devoted entirely to coconut recipes, you can imagine how quickly I jumped on the idea. There’s just something about the wonderful, unmistakable flavor of coconut – ESPECIALLY during the summer. Obviously, I eat and cook with coconut, coconut oil, coconut sugar, and coconut milk all year, but in the summer I think I love it even more.

After all, it tastes like summer and smells like summer.

The Complete Coconut Cookbook (Amazon link) is a beautiful paperback cookbook with 200 excellent, easy recipes and packed with gorgeous photos. I am honestly tempted to buy a copy for the photos alone. They’d be so beautiful framed and grouped on a wall.

I love that the recipes are gluten-free and grain-free and anyone with nut allergies will appreciate that they’re nut-free as well.

Book Description:

Coconut is a “hot” ingredient among foodies, primarily for its rediscovered healthy impact.

Always a delicious ingredient and often a decadent treat, coconut is now embraced with a new enthusiasm that borders on obsession. Its rich, smooth and creamy textures add to the compelling and considerable health and nutrition benefits of pure coconut products.

Despite the mounting evidence supporting the health benefits of coconut and the ever-increasing number of coconut products in supermarkets, comprehensive guidance on how to use such products lags behind. The Complete Coconut Cookbook offers home cooks the delicious, convenient coconut using its entire range of special ingredients.

Everyone, from hardcore health-foodies to recreational cooks and everyone in between, will enjoy these all-natural, high-energy, top-notch coconut recipes which can all be made with ease and flair. The 200 innovative recipes cover a broad spectrum of fresh flavors and textures and provide delicious and dependable results. Perhaps most importantly, there is a complete nutritional analysis for every recipe.

Camilla Saulsbury includes coconut recipes for virtually every occasion and every time of the day: Breakfast, Breads and Muffins, Beverages, Salads, Vegetable Sides, Soups and Stews, Main Dishes, Cookies and Cakes and Desserts.

For example a nutritious start is Coconut Waffles, a late afternoon snack is Coconut Flour Zucchini Bread, and a sit-down hearty dinner is Southwestern Sweet Potato and Poblano Soup.

An unusual feature is a comprehensive section on the science of coconut nutrition along with a survey of user-friendly nutrition information about each coconut ingredient and “how-to” data for each coconut product. ~ From Amazon (link to the cookbook on Amazon)

Some of the wonderful recipes in The Complete Coconut Cookbook Include:

    • Sunflower, Pepita and Chia Granola
    • Coconut Chia Breakfast Bowl
    • Cranberry Orange Muffins
    • Hot and Sour Coconut Soup
    • Green Chile Chili
    • Stuffed Portobellos
    • Japanese Ginger “Noodle” Bowls
    • Cauliflower “Rice”
    • Coconut “Bacon”
    • Crispy Coconut French Fries
    • Steamed Broccoli with Tahini Coconut Sauce
    • Sautéed Spinach
    • Coconut Shortbread
    • Mashed Sweet Potatoes
    • Coconut Butter
    • No-Bake Lemon Coconut Bars
    • Plus many, many more recipes (and did I mention the many gorgeous photos??!)

In addition to the wonderful recipes (they are certainly the main stars) and full-page gorgeous photos, I also love the wonderful section at the front of the book praising the health benefits of coconut and detailing the perfect “coconut pantry.” Great stuff.

Finally, I also love the extra health and nutritional information included about some of coconut’s co-stars:

  • Cranberries are loaded with disease-fighting antioxidants and are a good source of vitamin C as well.
  • Active compounds in ginger have anticancer properties and have actually been shown to DESTROY color, ovarian, and rectal cancer cells.
  • The active ingredient in turmeric is curcumin, an antioxidant that has been shown to fend off cancer growth.
  • Turmeric is also good for your heart’s health.
  • The book is filled with similar information… priceless information.

I whole-heartedly recommend adding  The Complete Coconut Cookbook (Amazon link) to your cookbook library. You’ll be so glad you did… and you’ll know what to do with all that coconut flour, coconut milk, and coconut oil you’ve stocked up on! (oh wait, that’s me)


The Duke’s Mayonnaise Cookbook: A Cookbook Deserving of the Name!

By

The Duke's Mayonnaise Cookbook

The Duke’s Mayonnaise Cookbook

My undying, unwavering passion for the following foods and drinks is legendary:

  • strawberry sundaes (okay, strawberry anything)
  • fried catfish
  • chocolate
  • coffee
  • tea
  • cauliflower
  • shrimp tacos
  • coconut… on anything, in anything
  • big, take-up-the-entire-plate salads

But there’s only one condiment I’m associated with – Duke’s Mayonnaise (Amazon). Why? Easy – I’m as loyal as loyal gets when it comes to my mayonnaise. If I had little packets of it, I’d keep them in my purse to use at restaurants.

Yes, it IS that much better than any other mayonnaise or (yikes!) salad dressing in the world.

When I was contacted about reviewing the new cookbook, The Duke’s Mayonnaise Cookbook (amazon link), I thought, “Little do they realize they just contacted an absolute fanatic.”  I kept my composure… played it cool. Instead of all-cap yelling, “YES! I’LL REVIEW IT! HOW SOON WILL IT GET HERE?? DO YOU NEED ME TO COME GET IT?!” – I simply said I would be delighted to review the cookbook.

Screaming banshee inside, calm adult on the outside. I’ve mastered the performance.

Amazon’s Description:

Celebrate the South’s favorite mayonnaise and learn how to cook with it in new delicious ways with this cookbook from food writer and Duke’s lover Ashley Freeman.
Mayonnaise is one of those polarizing culinary debates akin to putting pineapple on pizza. Those who do love mayonnaise know that no mayonnaise is more beloved than Duke’s, a Southern staple with a cult following that is expanding its reach north.
The Duke’s Mayonnaise Cookbook will show you how to make the most delicious chicken salad or deviled eggs — and introduce new approaches to everyday recipes. Think of what mayonnaise actually is: a beautiful emulsification of eggs, oil, and a touch of lemon for acidity, which are all elements vital to cooking and baking. Adding mayonnaise can help you make the flakiest pie crust, the fluffiest scrambled eggs, and the most delicious chocolate cake.
The Duke’s Mayonnaise Cookbook is a compilation of recipes inspired by author Ashley Freeman’s travels across the country. From classic favorites like Tomato Pie to unexpected dishes like Miso-Glazed Salmon or Sticky Toffee Puddings, you’ll discover how versatile the South’s favorite mayonnaise really is. And with stories and testimonials from beloved well-known chefs and food writers, The Duke’s Mayonnaise Cookbook is a must-have book for loyal fans and newcomers alike.
While Duke’s Mayonnaise is absolutely the only mayonnaise I use on wraps and sandwiches, it’s been my experience that it’s just as important when using it in recipes. Early in the global pandemic, my grocery store did an abysmal job of keeping it in stock. While it made me ecstatic that so many people in my community had such excellent taste in condiments, when I had to use another brand in my chicken salad, tuna fish salad, potato salad, pimento cheese, and deviled eggs, I realized what I knew all along – Duke’s isn’t just better… it’s unimaginably better. I have zero idea how and I have zero idea why….. it tasted better and it makes everything you use it in better as well.
When I finally found a store that had a healthy stock of Duke’s Mayonnaise, I stocked up. In fact, each time I’ve made my “pick up” order since, I throw in another jar just to make sure I don’t run out again. The workers are going to think I bathe in the stuff.
Hmmm….

While the thing I love most about this cookbook is the fact it is packed with easy, creative, recipes I will use over and over again, I also love all of the big, beautiful photos. I get a lot of cookbooks to review (I love my not-a-real-job job!) and many don’t have full-page gorgeous photos lately. I want pictures! Maybe it’s because I’m a visual person… or maybe it’s because I want to see the presentations… or maybe I simply love pretty things.. but whatever the reasons…

I. Want. Pictures!!!

This beauty is filled with gorgeous photos accompanying the recipes and I am here for it.

The Duke's Mayonnaise Cookbook Review

A Few of the Wonderful Recipes in The Duke’s Mayonnaise Cookbook:
  • Secret Ingredient Scrambled Eggs
  • Chicken Salad Sandwiches
  • Ultimate Grilled Cheese Sandwiches with Tomato Soup
  • Overnight Churro Waffles
  • Coconut-Crusted Chicken Tenders
  • Lemon Shallot Tartar Sauce (excellent!)
  • Corn and Basil Hush Puppies with Creamy Lemon Dipping Sauce
  • Maple Cupcakes with Candied Bacon (!!!)
  • Shrimp Tacos with  Firecracker Sauce and Cilantro-Lime Slaw
  • Twice-Baked Potatoes
  • And many, many more just as creative and delicious recipes…

While The Duke’s Mayonnaise Cookbook (Amazon link) is not a gluten-free cookbook, all of the recipes can certainly be used simply by replacing ingredients with gluten with ingredients without gluten – easy peasy. You really only run into this with a couple of the recipes – and those of us who have to eat gluten-free are pretty well experts at substituting. This is absolutely a cookbook you will love and use whether you have to eat gluten-free or not.

The Duke's Mayonnaise Cookbook Review
Another thing I love about The Duke’s Mayonnaise Cookbook is something I always look for in a cookbook but can be pretty rare, if we’re being honest…. it has personality. I love the illustrations, the creative chapter openings, and the “Tasty Tips” throughout the book. These always feel kind of like the author, Ashley Strickland Freeman,  pops into your kitchen and shares her personal experiences.

I love this cookbook and hope you’ll grab a copy for yourself.

Find The Duke’s Mayonnaise Cookbook on Amazon. I highly, highly recommend this one. You will use these recipes again and again.


The Muffin Tin Cookbook: Fun and Easy Meals Your Family Will Love (Plus a Fish Tacos Recipe)

By

The Muffin Tin Cookbook

A while back, I was sent a wonderful cookbook to review, The Muffin Tin Cookbook: 200 Fast, Delicious Mini-Pies, Pasta Cups, Gourmet Pockets, Veggie Cakes, and More!

Love it, love it, love it.

Cooking is more than just one of my favorite hobbies and pastimes – it’s a passion that I love greatly.  Even now, I’m sitting at my desk in my home office – working in a frenzy of  keyboard tapping and brainstorming, breaking only for much needed sips of coffee.  Yet all I can think about is what I’m going to cook for supper, what my next dessert will be, and wondering when I can try out a new stuffed chicken recipe I saw yesterday.

Cooking, baking, cooking, baking, cooking, baking… a peek inside my brain.

Given the fact that it’s something I love so much, I want others to get the same kind joy from cooking as I do. I think that’s one of the reasons I get so excited about fresh, fun, and creative new cookbooks like The Muffin Tin Cookbook.  Not only are new cookbooks a complete joy ride for me in my amusement park of a kitchen, I know that other foodies will get a huge kick out of them as well.

I also like to see cookbooks filled with recipes that people will actually make! Recipes that don’t call for you to visit a foreign country and bring back an extract you can only find there – then stir it into a broth using the feather of a virgin peahen… Please. Every single recipe in  The Muffin Tin Cookbook is one you’ll make and make again.

Another thing I like to see in a cookbook is plenty of recipes that are quick and easy.  A lot of people have to work outside of the home AND come home and cook supper. People who have a limited amount of time to work with don’t need fussy recipes. They need recipes that can be thrown together quickly, cooked in a flash, and don’t require a lot of cleaning up afterward. The Muffin Tin Cookbook is a dream come true for someone looking for such recipes.

Since the recipes on Get Cooking are gluten-free (as are all of the recipes I personally make and eat – health reasons), I will point out that this is NOT a “gluten-free cookbook.”  Many of the recipes call for flour and a host of other foods off limits to those of us why have to eat gluten-free. HOWEVER, as with most cookbooks in my collection and recipes I find in the wild, I simply make the necessary substitutions.

Book Description

Muffin Tins—They’re Not Just for Muffins Anymore

There’s nothing you can’t make in a muffin tin—and we’re not talking merely muffins. All you need is a muffin tin, paper liners, and this ingenious, one-of-a-kind cookbook, and you can whip up delicious dishes that are as easy to prepare and serve as they are good to eat.

From quick-serve appetizers and sides to gourmet entrees and desserts, you’ll find an amazing variety of mouthwatering options for your dining pleasure, including:

  • Shrimp Cakes with Cilantro Lime Dipping Sauce
  • Egg Crescent Pockets
  • Deep-Dish Pizza Cups
  • Cornmeal-Crusted Mustard Chicken with Sweet Potato Coins
  • Duchess Potatoes
  • Zucchini, Corn, and Tomato Cups
  • Mini Ice-Cream Cakes

The best part (besides the tasty goodness): It’s fast, easy, mess-free, and provides built-in portion control. Kids will love to help you make them—like cupcakes, only better for your family!—and leftovers are as easy as popping the muffin-meal into the microwave.It just doesn’t get any better than The Muffin Tin Cookbook . . . your next memorable meal is just a muffin tin away! – From Amazon

Fish Tacos Recipe

3 pieces tilapia, about 3-4 ounces each, cut in half
1/4 teaspoon chili powder
1/4 cup fresh chopped cilantro
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 tablespoons lime juice
Salt and Pepper
6 taco-size flour tortillas
Light sour cream, chopped green onion, chopped tomato, lettuce, and salsa for serving

  1. Place the tilapia, chili powder, cilantro, oil, lime juice, and salt and pepper in a bowl and allow to marinate 1/2 an hour, in the refrigerator.
  2. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F and prepare 6 jumbo muffin cups by spraying with cooking spray.
  3. Push one taco tortilla down into each cup and press any sections that bubble out against the sides.
  4. Place 1 piece of marinated tilapia in each cup and bake for 10 to 12 minutes, depending on thickness of fish, until cooked through.
  5. Serve with toppings.

Taco tortillas are smaller tortillas and are just the right size to line jumbo muffin cups. Lemon juice can be substituted for the lime juice.

Muffin Tin Recipes

There’s an entire chapter in The Muffin Tin Cookbook devoted to Breakfast – a time of the day when few of us have unlimited time. Recipes in the Breakfast chapter include:

  • Egg Crescent Pockets
  • French Bread French Toast
  • Grits Casserole
  • Cheese Danish Cups
  • Bagel Sausage Sandwiches
  • And More!

Other chapters include:

  • Appetizers and Snacks (Asian Dumplings with Dipping Sauce, Spiced Pecan Cups, Hot Pretzel Bites…)
  • Beef and Pork (Mexican Meatloaf, Sloppy Joe Cupcakes, Taco Mini Pies…)
  • Chicken and Turkey (Teriyaki Turkey Cups, Chicken Tortilla Pies, Italian Chicken…)
  • Seafood (Salmon Cakes, Deviled Crab Tarts, Shrimp with Polenta…)
  • Potatoes, Rice, Pizza, and Pasta (Candied Yams, White Pizzas, Stuffed Gnocchi…)
  • Vegetables ( French Onion Pie, Edamame in Rice Paper Cups, Cherry Tomato Cups…)
  • Muffins and Breads (Corn Muffins, Monkey Bread, Peanut Butter & Jelly Muffins…)
  • Desserts  (Hot Chocolate Muffins, Lemon Pound Cake, Apple Cupcakes..)

Each recipe indicates the size of muffin tin needed.  As the author says on page 8, “Keep in mind that you can make your dishes any size you like, but you will need to adjust cooking time up or down accordingly (if you make a bigger cup than the recipe suggests, baking time will be longer; if you make a smaller cup baking time will be shortened).”

Please see The Muffin Tin Cookbook  for more information.  When giving cookbook reviews, I like to suggest the sort of cook that the cookbook in question is “ideal” for.   Although this cookbook is PERFECT for busy cooks, it’s just as fun and enjoyable for those of us who are simply busy cooking!  It would make an excellent gift idea for someone who’s new to the world of cooking – maybe even in a bag with a brand-spanking new muffin tin.

150 Best Grilled Cheese Sandwiches Cookbook

By

Is anyone even half as ready for autumn and winter as I am? Don’t get me wrong, I love a lot of things about summer – baseball, fresh produce, songbirds at my bird feeders that aren’t there in cold weather, grilling out, and so on. Summer’s awesome in every way… but, having said that, autumn and winter are super special.

As a foodie, the cooler months make me think of soup, stew, chili, casseroles, chai tea lattes, and (of course) Halloween goodies, Thanksgiving dishes, and Christmas baking… how could a foodie NOT love this time of year???

I may be one of the biggest soup fanatics in the world, which is one of the reasons I’m excited about a new cookbook I was sent to review: 150 Best Grilled Cheese Sandwiches.

Naturally, grilled cheese sandwiches are perfect all year. We certainly eat them year-round in our house. In fact, we’ve been known to enjoy grilled cheese sandwiches at all times of the day and night.  Talk about a delicious comfort food.  Cheesy deliciousness that comes together pretty darn fast – sign me up.

150 Best Grilled Cheese Sandwiches is a perfect guide to getting extra creative with this wonderful comfort food.  Although the modern version of the grilled cheese sandwich dates back to 1920 (when it became popular during the great depression, for obvious reasons), these delicious and inexpensive delicacies are currently a popular trend in cooking.  I think one of the reasons is the fact that they aren’t expensive to pull together.  I think the popularity of food trucks has also helped revive this wonderful sandwich.

Some people are even calling the grilled cheese sandwich the “new burger.”  The fact that so many people are eating less meat is another reason these sandwiches are so wildly popular.

From the Back Cover: A grilled cheese sandwich is classic comfort food and it’s enjoying an incredible resurgence in popularity. These fabulous recipes all begin with the grilled cheese we all know and love, and then from there, creative twists showcase just how incredibly versatile this sandwich can be.  The recipes reflect an almost endless and delicious variety of choices that include simple and timeless as well as gourmet and artisanal. From breakfast to dessert, there’s something for everyone in this book.

Another reason grilled cheese sandwiches are so popular is, let’s face it, they’re fast and easy to make.  You can have a warm, delicious, and comforting meal in a matter of minutes. This is one of the reasons they’re so popular with bachelors, college students, and beginner cooks.

Whether you enjoy your grilled cheese sandwiches with soup (one of my favorite meals), chips, or alone, nothing beats a great grilled cheese sandwich.

As I’ve probably mentioned on the food blog, when I had to totally give up wheat and gluten a number of years ago (health reasons), it threw my cooking persona into a tailspin. Imagine everything you are accustomed to cooking and baking for your family and yourself thrown out the door. Then finding yourself having to start over, pretty much, and discover a whole new way of both cooking and eating.

Stressful… and yet kind of mentally stimulating!

It’s a hideous predicament for anyone but for an avid cook and food blogger who was extra keen on homemade breads, cornbread, cakes from scratch, pies, etc.. it knocked me on my backside for a bit. However, I (honestly) found out that many aspects of gluten-free food are actually as good as their gluten-y counterparts and some are even better in many ways.

For example, for whatever reasons, gluten-free fried catfish is actually better.  Don’t ask me why (please), but the combo of rice flour and yellow cornmeal makes the best fried catfish in the world. Trust me, this is a personal favorite and something I’ve been cooking since I was allowed to touch the stove.

Grilled cheese sandwiches have been another pleasant surprise (along with French Toast, for that matter). Gluten-Free bread, in my opinion, makes them even better. I think it’s because they’re denser and, sometimes, thicker, than regular bread. Then again, Texas Toast is a great way to go with grilled cheese sandwiches.

150 Best Grilled Cheese Sandwiches includes so many creative, fun, and delicious recipes you won’t stop until you’ve made them all.  The cheese combinations, along with the additions of complimentary ingredients will boggle your mind.  I cook every single day (and have for years) and consider myself to be really creative in the kitchen, but even I found myself saying, “Ooooh, I would’ve never thought of that...”  One of the combinations that was wildly new to me was the one given in the recipe below.  I wouldn’t have ever invited Muenster Cheese to a grilled cheese party, but this recipe has me slapping myself for the oversight.

The recipe below is from the cookbook and is outstanding. I love it alongside tomato soup or chili and have been known to have it simply with a large dill pickle and Funyons.

I know how to live, after all.

Classic Grilled Two Cheese

Author: Alison Lewis
Serves 4

8 slices white or whole-grain bread (1/2 inch/1 cm thick slices)
2 TBS butter or margarine, softened
4 oz Muenster cheese, thinly sliced
4 oz Cheddar cheese, thinly sliced

Instructions

  1. Brush one side of each bread slice with butter.
  2. Place on a work surface, buttered side down.
  3. Top 4 bread slices equally with Muenster and Cheddar cheeses.
  4. Cover with remaining bread slices, buttered side up, and press gently.
  5. Place sandwiches on preheated panini grill or in a large skillet over medium heat and cook, turning once if using a skillet, for 3 to 4 minutes or until golden brown and cheese is melted.
  6. Serve immediately.

When it comes to grilled cheese sandwiches, you have to really be careful with cheese combinations. Make the wrong move and the result will be thisclose to gross. You also have to be careful with what fillings you add and how you treat the bread. Again, the wrong move can leave your taste buds borderline depressed.  In this wonderful and fun cookbook, Alison Lewis has done all of the hard work for us and taken all of the guess work out of our hands.  We’re left with a ton of delicious recipes and combinations that’ll make us the Queen or King of Grilled Cheese.  Whether you use a Panini or Sandwich Press or a favorite skillet, you WILL use these recipes again and again and again.

Below are just some of the recipes included in 150 Best Grilled Cheese Sandwiches:

  • Roast Beef with Asiago and Watercress
  • Grilled Steak and Blue Cheese
  • Italian Tomato-Basil Bread
  • Hot Bacon Swiss Crostini
  • Havarti and Cucumber Sandwich
  • Grilled Spinach, Pepper Jack, and Bacon
  • Warm Peanut Butter Power Wrap
  • Italian Salami Panini
  • Sweet Pepper Relish
  • Hummus
  • The Pilgrim
  • And many, many, many more.

See 150 Best Grilled Cheese Sandwiches for more information and to order your copy today… just in time for soup season!


Review: Eat a Little Better by Sam Kass

By

Eat a Little Better by Sam Kass

Eat a Little Better: Great Flavor, Good Health, Better World (Amazon Link) by Sam Kass

As I’ve mentioned on the food blog a number of times, I collect cookbooks and have since I was a teenager. I have candy cookbooks, vegetarian cookbooks, meat lovers cookbooks, Paleo cookbooks, Keto cookbooks, cookie cookbooks, Indian cuisine cookbooks…. okay, I have just about every conceivable kind of cookbook you can imagine.

You’re looking at the newest member of the cookbook family above: Eat a Little Better by Sam Kass. 3-4 years ago, I had to give up all gluten and wheat. Around that time, a close family member had to have a stint put in and these back-to-back health upheavals shook up my world as well as my kitchen. The fact that the way we eat directly effects the way we live hit home and I totally changed the way I looked at food.

I hope to never see another person I love in recovery of a cardiac hospital and I am determined to do my part to keep it from happening again. I’m also committed to stay as healthy as I possibly can because, if we’re being honest, this crazy family of mine needs me more than they realize!

For this reason, the majority of my cookbooks now focus on eating healthy. NOT counting calories, NOT depriving yourself of delicious food, and NOT obsessing to the point of making people want to throw an entire cheesecake at you…. but simply eating healthier food and making smarter choices at the store as well as in the kitchen.  You know, things that’ll help keep you playing horseshoes in the yard with your family as opposed to having them visit you in the hospital.

Books like Eat a Little Better make it easier because the food is DELICIOUS and… this is something we all appreciate… the recipes are completely doable, with ingredients we’ve heard of, can easily find, and very often already have on hand.

Grilled Vegetables Recipes in Eat a Little Better

Did you know that fried potato consumption (hello, French fries) beats out even soft drinks as an indicator for obesity?

From the Back Cover: As a chef, and then as a senior food policy advisor to President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama, Sam Kass became an expert on the ins and outs of deliciousness, nutrition, and sustainability.

Recipes in Eat a Little Better Include…

  • Whipped Sweet Potatoes  with Maple-Cider Vinegar
  • Slow-Roasted Salmon
  • Barbecued Chicken
  • Roasted Chicken Stir-Fry
  • Dirty Brown Rice
  • White Bean Hummus
  • Canned Salad (fascinating!)
  • Mustard Green Salad
  • Celery-Radish Salad
  • Charred Zucchini
  • Grilled Cauliflower Steaks
  • Pork Chops with Tomato Corn Relish
  • Rigatoni with Pork Ragu
  • And many, many more…

While I do have to eat gluten-free and most of the recipes on Get Cooking are gluten-free…. this is not a gluten-free cookbook. However, as I always point out in all of my non-gluten-free cookbook reviews, all recipes are easy enough to tweak and twist in order to make them gluten-free. Simply substitute gluten-free options for the gluteny ones listed! For example, in the Rigatoni with Pork Ragu, it’s a cinch to substitute gluten-free pasta for the traditional rigatoni.

Sam Kass, former chef to the Obamas and White House food policy advisor, makes it easier to do a little better for your diet–and the environment–every day, through smart ways to think about shopping, setting up your kitchen so the healthy stuff comes to hand most naturally, and through 90 delicious, simple recipes.

This book lays out Kass’s plan to eat a little better. Knowing that sustainability and healthfulness come most, well, sustainably when new habits and choices seem appealing rather than drastic and punitive, Kass shares his philosophy and methods to help make it easy to choose, cook, and eat delicious foods without depriving yourself of agency or pleasure. He knows that going organic, local, and so forth all the time is just not realistic for most people, and that’s ok–it’s all about choosing and doing a little better, and how those choices add up to big change. It’s the philosophy he helped the Obamas instill in their home, both in Chicago and that big white one in Washington.  – Amazon

Recipe from Eat a Little Better

 

I love everything about this beautiful cookbook. I love that it’s hardback (so much more durable!), I love the big gorgeous photographs, I love the creativity and the simplicity of the recipes (a rare combo), and I love the fact that the focus is on eating healthier.

But there’s something else I love… I love the peak we get inside President and Michelle Obama’s family – as in their efforts to eat healthier. This focus on health, of course, led Sam Kass and the First Lady to implement healthier meals in our public schools. Their efforts were incredibly commendable and I hope their hard work continues.

One thing that stands out the most from reading this book actually has to do with children. It’s up to us to provide them with better diets than French fries, soft drinks, and hamburgers. Arming yourself with wonderful recipes is the single best way to provide healthier meals for your children, grandchildren, spouse… and, of course, yourself!

You will love Eat a Little Better – click through and read more about it (there’s even a recipe on the Amazon page for “Lucky Pasta!”).

Eat a Little Better 

 

Note: I received this book from the Blogging for Books program in exchange for this review. The opinions are entirely my own.

The Keto Reset Diet by Mark Sisson (Review)

By

The Keto Reset Diet by Mark Sisson

The Keto Reset Diet

Earlier my husband and I were talking about New Years Resolutions and how they relate to making powerful decisions about healthy eating.  These diet resolutions get a really bad rap simply because most people don’t stick with them. I think one of the THREE reasons is they’re looking for a quick fix rather than a lasting plan.

Big difference.

The second reason, in my opinion, people don’t stick with a lasting plan is they don’t choose one that allows for delicious food. Let’s face it, many of us are bona fide foodies (I’m raising my hand, here, and it has a fork in it) and we simply will NOT go down a road that doesn’t include good food. Period.

Third reason? This one may not seem as obvious, but I believe it’s because we don’t have a why. The how can be easy enough…. Cut out chips (How? don’t buy them.) Cut out sugar (How? Stop eating living your life like your Cookie Monster’s cousin.) Cut out diet soft drinks. (How? Put down the Diet Dr. Pepper and walk away.)

The Keto Reset Diet by Mark Sisson

We know the hows. We’ve memorized the hows! What we need to know is WHY.

  • WHY should we turn our kitchen upside down?
  • WHY should we make a change that will not only effect us but most of the people in our family?
  • WHY should we change our eating out habits and, ultimately, leave places we’ve eaten at for over half our life by the wayside?
  • WHY should we go totally against the grain… against the familiar… against what feels comfortable?

The Keto Reset Diet by Mark Sisson

The Ketogenic (Keto) Diet

You have, undoubtedly, heard of the Keto Diet. I recently published an article on Get Cooking titled, “What is the Ketogenic Diet and How Do You Get Started On It?” After reading this book review, you might want to check out this particular article for more information.

One of the most-trusted sources, online and off, for all things “Keto” is Mark Sisson.  His blog (Mark’s Daily Apple) is as popular as it is informative. Fortunately he has written a wonderful book, The Keto Reset Diet: Reboot Your Metabolism in 21 Days and Burn Fat Forever, meaning you can have access to the information and recipes at any given time. More importantly… you’ll have access to what you need most of all – they WHY.

Mark Sisson—author of the mega-bestseller The Primal Blueprint—unveils his groundbreaking ketogenic diet plan that resets your metabolism in 21 days so you can burn fat forever.

Mounting scientific research is confirming that eating a ketogenic diet could represent one of the greatest nutritional breakthroughs of our time—and that it might be the healthiest and most effective weight loss strategy ever. Going “keto” by eating high fat, low-to-moderate protein and low-carb foods enables you to break free from the disastrous effects of carbohydrate dependency by resetting your metabolism and promoting metabolic flexibility—where your body learns to burns fat instead of sugar for energy, even when you go off plan.

Unlike many other ketogenic programs that require challenging restrictions and deprivation or offer misinformation, Mark Sisson, bestselling author of The Primal Blueprint and publisher of the #1 paleo blog MarksDailyApple.com, presents a unique two-step, scientifically validated approach for going keto the right way.  He first reveals the real secret to rapid and sustained weight loss, which is in becoming “fat-adapted” before entering full nutritional ketosis. This process allows your body to learn to burn fat more efficiently, resulting in increased and sustained weight loss over the long-term.  It takes as little as 21-days to reprogram your metabolism to burn fat for fuel, by ditching processed grains, sugars, and refined vegetable oils in favor of nutrient-dense, high fat, primal/paleo foods–and you’ll see immediate results. Next, you’ll fine-tune with Intermittent Fasting and then foray into full ketogenic eating for a further weight loss boost and improved health.

With The Keto Reset Diet, you can eat to total satisfaction by enjoying rich, high-satiety foods, and even weather occasional slip-ups. You’ll use keto as a lifelong tool to stay trim, healthy, energetic, and free from the disastrous health conditions caused by the typical American diet. With step-by-step guidance, daily meal plans and a recipe section with over 100 delicious keto-friendly recipes, this is the definitive guide to help the keto-beginner or the experienced health enthusiast understand the what, why, and how to succeed with ketogenic eating. Read More….

 

The Keto Reset Diet by Mark Sisson

As we were looking at above, in order to make a healthy change to our eating, we need…

  1. A lasting plan rather than a quick fix.
  2. Food and meals our taste buds will approve of as much as our brain does.
  3. The all-important WHY.

In The Keto Reset Diet, Mark Sisson doesn’t just address each of these bullet points, he courts them and proposes – and you’re the one with the happily ever after!

Key Chapters and Sections of the Book

Chapter 1 “The Keto Diet 101 – What, WHY, and How”

Chapter 3 “The Health, Performance, and Disease Protection Benefits of Keto”

Chapter 5 “Ditch Toxic Foods and Replace with Nutrient-Dense Foods”

Chapter 7 “Live a Keto-Friendly Lifestyle”

Going Keto: Strategies and Recipes

Recipes Include…

  • Pizza Bites
  • Sweet Pepper Nacho Bites
  • Marinated Eggs
  • Turmeric Balls
  • Vanilla Protein Fudge
  • Parmesan Crisps
  • Lime Bars
  • Creamed Spinach
  • Next Level Baked Avocados
  • Caesar Salad with Anchovies and Pancetta
  • And many more delicious and healthy recipes.

If you are looking to improve your health (whether you want to lose weight or not), the Keto Diet is a fascinating road to take. The popularity of the diet, itself, lets us know that MANY people are having great success with it.

In full disclosure, I do not adhere strictly to the Keto Diet or any diet, for that matter. Rather, I incorporate the following diets together:

  • Mediterranean Diet
  • Paleo Diet
  • Ketogenic Diet
  • Bulletproof Diet

By researching and exploring each of these four diets, I’ve found a healthier way of eating and living and, quite frankly, I feel better than I ever have. I buy each book that addresses these diets and am constantly learning and arming myself with information.

I couldn’t recommend strongly enough that you do the same. We’re only as healthy as we eat – I hope that 2018 will be the year you don’t just read or believe these words but will fully live them out.

The Keto Reset Diet is an excellent addition to your own healthy-eating arsenal.

The Keto Reset Diet by Mark Sisson The Keto Reset Diet

Note: I received this book from the Blogging for Books program in exchange for this review. The opinions are entirely my own.

Food52 Mighty Salads: 60 Ways to Turn Salad Into Dinner

By

Food52 Mighty Salads Cookbook
I think I’ve finally figured out why I’m such a salad fanatic and the it turns out it isn’t much of a mystery at all… I’m all about vegetables. And, oddly enough, it doesn’t have anything to do with their nutritional value. That’s just a bonus. I love the taste, the crunch, and the visual appeal of vegetables and a salad is sort of a masterpiece where they all come together.

Okay, so that’s a little flowery, but you get the idea.

Food 52 Mighty Salads: 60 Ways to Turn Salad Into Dinner is, understandably, my latest cookbook obsession. Here’s the thing about cookbooks – you can (and should) try out the recipes, as instructed… only substituting where necessary – like for allergies or intolerances or for ingredients you either can’t find or have zero intention of paying for (I’m looking at you $saffron). However, you can (and most definitely SHOULD) also use recipes in cookbooks as “guides” and “inspiration.” Mighty Salads is a beautiful example of the latter, in particular.

Granted, when it comes to salads, I am a pro. If salad making were a sport, I’d be LeBron James, Serena Williams, Peyton Manning, and Albert Pujols rolled into one. Sorry, I just don’t have time for modesty today. However, even I found innumerable ideas and creative inspirations in Mighty Salads. There were techniques I’d never thought of and even ingredients I’d never considered.

While salads are beautiful and delicious, they can also be next level nutritious, especially when you can add a variety of vegetables or fruits to your creation. So, a cookbook that gives you countless ideas for doing so is… in my opinion… priceless.

From the Inside Cover:

A collection of 60 recipes for turning ordinary salads into one-dish worthy meals.

Does anybody need a recipe to make a salad? Of course not. But if you want your salad to hold strong in your lunch bag or carry the day as a one-bowl dinner, dressing on lettuce isn’t going to cut it.

Make way for Mighty Salads, in which the editors of Food52 present sixty salads hefty with vegetables, meats, grains, beans, fish, seafood, pasta, and bread. Think shrimp and radicchio tossed in a bacon vinaigrette, a make-ahead jumble of white beans with charred lemon and fennel, slow-roasted duck and apples scattered across spicy greens. It’s comforting food made captivating by simply charring one ingredient or marinating another—shaving some, or roasting a bunch.

But because we don’t always follow recipes, there are also loose formulas for confident off-roading, as well as back-pocket tips and genius tricks for improving any old salad. Because once you know how to fix too-salty dressing, wash greens once and for all, keep an avocado from browning, and even sprout your own grains, the humble salad starts looking a lot more interesting—and a whole lot more like dinner.

Salad recipes, tips, and ideas cover lettuce-based salads, pasta salads, and potato salads. While this is not a “gluten-free” cookbook, each recipe can be easily adapted to fit those of us who have to or choose to eat gluten-free.  Also, while there are a lot of recipes that call for meat, vegetarians will find them equally easy to tweak. In fact, I think this cookbook is IDEAL for vegetarians (as well as anyone looking for ways to add more vegetables to their diet.

I just can’t tell you how many innovative ideas and creative tips are included in this one very handsome cookbook. It’s packed with them!

{Continued Below….}

Food52 Mighty Salads Cookbook
Recipes Include:

  • Fresh Corn Cakes With Crab-Tomato Salad
  • Roasted Potato Salad with Mustard-Walnut Vinaigrette
  • Wilted Escarole with Feta and Honey
  • Grilled Bread, Broccoli Rabe & Summer Squash Salad
  • Lemony Greek Pasta Salad
  • Thai Pork Salad with Crisped Rice
  • Charred Broccoli & Lentil Salad
  • Shaved Brussels Sprouts, Endive & Apple Salad
  • And many, many more great salad recipes and ideas.

“While Emily’s and the other recipes in this book are mighty, they are just the beginning. Even if you never make a single recipe in the book to completion but instead create a mash-up you like better or that serves as a happy home for your leftover vegetables, we’ve done our job.” – From the Introduction

Food52 Mighty Salads Cookbook and Salad!

Food52 Mighty Salads: 60 New Ways to Turn Salad into Dinner
When doing cookbook reviews, I detest the idea of giving away any of the recipes or tips the author(s) work so hard to compile. However, sometimes a “tease” helps give the reader an idea of what they can expect – as well as a hint as to why I’m so excited about the book. One of the coolest ideas I take away from this book of beautiful and innovative recipes is the idea of “shaving” unexpected vegetables into salads. Brussels Sprouts, asparagus, and beets to name a few. The “shaving” technique makes them easier to incorporate into a salad, easier to eat, and… let’s face it… beautiful to behold (and photograph, if you’re a food blogger and/or foodie).

I also (as an experienced salad pro… still zero hint of modesty) found myself saying, “I agree!” or “Preach on!” again and again. For example, when making your salad’s dressing, they tout the importance of taste-testing the dressing, not on a spoon or finger, but on one of the salad’s stars. A great dressing is meant to be a co-star – it isn’t meant to be the star attraction. It should compliment the diva of the salad and the best way to see if it’s worthy of sharing the spotlight is to test it on a cast member.

I completely and whole-heartedly recommend Food52 Mighty Salads: 60 New Ways to Turn Salad into Dinner. It’s a great-looking cookbook that’ll make your kitchen healthier, more colorful, more creative, and (perhaps most importantly) more delicious. If you click through any of the links above, you’ll find a recipe from the book: Cobb Salad with Hard-Boiled Egg Dressing!


Note: I received this book from the Blogging for Books program in exchange for this review. The opinions are entirely my own.

300 Best Potato Recipes: Cookbook Review from a Potato Fanatic….

By

300 Best Potato Recipes Cookbook
300 Best Potato Recipes
This cookbook may as well have been written specifically for me. I love potatoes THAT much.  Fortunately for me (and other potato fanatics out there), potatoes have a lot going for them. They aren’t just delicious, they’re also economical, versatile, and healthy.

Health Benefits of Potatoes

  • No fat, sodium or cholesterol.
  • Excellent source of Vitamin C -one potato gives you nearly half of your daily requirement of this all-important vitamin.
  • One potato has more potassium than a banana.
  • Potatoes are  good sources of vitamin B6.
  • Potatoes also provide you with fiber, magnesium and healthy antioxidants.
  • I’ve often read potatoes mentioned in beauty magazines as being a great vegetable to add to your regular rotation.  Apparently they’re great for both skin and hair when it comes to anti-aging. For one thing, collagen requires Vitamin C to protect our skin from the aging effects of the sun. It also promotes collagen’s ability to smooth wrinkles and improve overall skin texture. Boom!

Read more health benefits of potatoes.

I was sent a copy of 300 Best Potato Recipes in exchange for telling you about the book and, given my history with potatoes, I’m only too happy to do so. This beautiful cookbook is packed with recipes you’ll use again and again. The author takes potatoes in a fun and sometimes even funky new direction and her creativity is nothing short of a joy ride.

The humble potato is a culinary powerhouse and inspires adventurous and tantalizing fare.

These are just some of the delicious possibilities that the humble potato offers in this wide and varied assortment of recipes:

  • Classic mash de luxe
  • Garlic roasties with rosemary
  • Real English chips
  • Gnocchi-roni and cheese
  • Saffron potato cakes
  • All-American potato pancakes
  • Sweet potato-crusted shrimp
  • East Coast chowder
  • Creole potato salad
  • French potato galette
  • Fennel, potato and white bean stew
  • Potato lasagna
  • Oyster pie with top mash
  • Sweet potato gnocchi
  • Mennonite country potato doughnuts
  • Potato fudge.

Appetizers and snacks, soups and salads, side dishes, main courses, hearty vegetarian main dishes, baked goods and desserts make up this vast and colorful collection of recipes. The author also includes a complete history and origins of potatoes as well as a comprehensive chapter that covers hundreds of potato varieties.

This is a wonderful cookbook and a must have for fellow potato lovers everywhere. See 300 Best Potato Recipes (Amazon link) for ordering information.

300 Best Potato Recipes Cookbook Pictures