Cookbook

Dinner with the President: Food, Politics, and a History of Breaking Bread at the White House by Alex Prud'homme - Book Review

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Dinner with the President: Food, Politics, and a History of Breaking Bread at the White House By Alex Prud'homme Cover Image
$35.00
ISBN: 9781524732219
Availability: Click Title for IN STORE Location
Published: Knopf - February 7th, 2023

"Presidential meals say something about their eaters, their era, and what it means to be American". Thus Prud'Homme sums up his highly entertaining look at 26 of the most influential U.S. presidents from Washington to Biden; examining the meals, hospitality (or lack thereof), and entertainments of the day. We learn of food trends that made national and global headlines during their administrations, and decisions affecting the course of history that happened around the White House dining table. There are even a few recipes thrown in, such as Martha Washington's Preserved Cherries and FDR's Reverse Martini. What a fun way to "digest" history! ~ Reviewed by Lauren Singer


Raw Dog: The Naked Truth About Hot Dogs by Jamie Loftus - Book Review

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Raw Dog: The Naked Truth About Hot Dogs By Jamie Loftus Cover Image
$26.99
ISBN: 9781250847744
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Published: Forge Books - May 23rd, 2023

Food journalism has a brazen new voice in Jamie Loftus who spends the summer of 2021 with her cocker spaniel, cat and temporary boyfriend who drives, travelling those ribbons of highway that lead to the best and worst hot dogs in the land. And whether you damn or embrace them, this little memoir is a highly entertaining ride.
Raw Dog: The Naked Truth About Hot Dogs, provides a decent history, a clear view of the industry that produces these fleshy little tubes, ratings and locations, as well as a thankfully good depiction of all the characters one would expect to meet on such a venture.
Learn why the "hairy arm carry" was outlawed years back, the politics of competition eating, the no holds barred approach to marketing pickles and relish, as well as the continued phenomena of weiner mobiles and who is driving them. Yes - weiner mobiles are real.
Hilarious and compelling, and a genuine slice of Americana, Raw Dog will likely have you reconsidering that promise to never eat them again. And a final word of allure or caution - prudish readers beware. ~ Reviewed by Nancy Scheemaker


Franklin Smoke: Wood. Fire. Food. [A Cookbook] by Aaron Franklin - Book Review

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Franklin Smoke: Wood. Fire. Food. [A Cookbook] By Aaron Franklin, Jordan Mackay Cover Image
$35.00
ISBN: 9781984860484
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Published: Ten Speed Press - May 9th, 2023

The high priest of Central Texas BBQ returns stronger than ever after a fire burned down his restaurant and a pandemic transformed the industry. In copious detail, Franklin Smoke can train the novice (as his first book taught me) but also offers enough detail and perspective for the seasoned pitmaster–reminiscent of say, a baking cookbook. This might really be THE BBQ book to get from the packed category with roughly half the book on technique or theory and the other half a core group of thorough step-by-step recipes for more than just meat–I’ll be making the Fire-Kissed Brussels Sprouts soon. ~ Reviewed by Dafydd Wood


Bittman Bread: No-Knead Whole Grain Baking for Every Day: A Bread Recipe Cookbook by Mark Bittman - Book Review

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Bittman Bread: No-Knead Whole Grain Baking for Every Day: A Bread Recipe Cookbook By Mark Bittman, Kerri Conan Cover Image
$35.00
ISBN: 9780358539339
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Published: Harvest - November 16th, 2021

I'd never baked bread before and now I feel like a master after going through this book. Somewhat loosey-goosey and endearingly dogmatic, Bittman and Conan guide the reader through the process of beginning a homegrown sourdough starter and getting into an easy routine of baking 100% Whole Grain bread, using a low stress no-knead method and a 2-quart dutch oven. It took me a few tries and some experimentation, but now my bread is so incredible that a loaf won't last half a day in my household. An empowering and life altering cookbook. ~ Reviewed by Reilly Hadden


Half Baked Harvest Every Day: Recipes for Balanced, Flexible, Feel-Good Meals: A Cookbook by Tieghan Gerard - Book Review

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Half Baked Harvest Every Day: Recipes for Balanced, Flexible, Feel-Good Meals: A Cookbook By Tieghan Gerard Cover Image
$29.99
ISBN: 9780593232552
Availability: Click Title for IN STORE Location
Published: Clarkson Potter - March 29th, 2022

I love all of the Half Baked Harvest cookbooks and this newest one is no exception. Everything I’ve made from this book has been easy and delicious. Her recipes hit that sweet spot of yummy and healthy, often seeming more decadent than they are. You’ll want to cook everything in this book! ~ Reviewed by Debbie Warnock


Six Seasons: A New Way with Vegetables by Joshua McFadden - Book Review

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Six Seasons: A New Way with Vegetables By Joshua McFadden, Martha Holmberg (With) Cover Image
$40.00
ISBN: 9781579656317
Availability: Click Title for IN STORE Location
Published: Artisan - May 2nd, 2017

This is my favorite cookbook of all time - not hyperbole, just a fact! McFadden breaks down his recipes into six seasons, and the book highlights a variety of different vegetables at their peak ripeness. Most of the recipes require only a handful of ingredients, often the same ones, and yet somehow result in a near endless variety of flavors. This book has been my constant cooking companion ever since it appeared, and its much-smudged pages will undoubtedly adorn our family's kitchen forever. An essential cookbook for anyone interested in simple, outstanding food. ~ Reviewed by James Case


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