'Everyday Food: Great Food Fast' From the Kitchens of Martha Stewart Living Clarkson Potter -- 2007 Buy it on Amazon
Launched in 2003, "Everyday Food" was designed for home cooks who didn't have a lot of time on their hands to make elaborate weeknight dinners but did have a desire to make high-quality, satisfying meals.
The diminutive magazine, which was put out by Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, gained a devoted following thanks to its practical recipes, approachable ingredient lists and low-fuss food that yielded great flavor.
"Everyday Food," the cookbook, offers these same qualities, with 250 recipes that put both the seasons of the year and multiple variations on favorite foods front and center.
See what we tested and whether the book's worth buying after the jump.
'Mix Shake Stir' Recipes from Danny Meyer's Acclaimed New York City Restaurants Photos by Jo Franco Little, Brown and Company -- 2009 Buy it on Amazon
A great cocktail can transform any gathering; menus can even be formed around them. Danny Meyer, one of the country's most outstanding restaurateurs, has finally released the recipes to his restaurants' most infamous cocktails. According to one of his bartenders from Blue Smoke, "a really great cocktail doesn't need a lot of ingredients, just a combination of tastes that balances the drinks." By the time readers are done flipping through this book, they will be inspired to pick up a shaker and create something they will truly be proud of.
Along with uncomplicated cocktail recipes, Meyer also includes recipes for bar fare such as Dried Cherry, Bacon and Pecan Mix, Thai Trail Mix and Blue Smoke Deviled Eggs; tips for rimming a glass with salt and sugar; and instructions for how to create an elegant garnish.
Cocktails are broken down into several sections: Favorite Classics, New Classics, Inspired Flavors, Elegant Sips and Casual Libations. While the cocktails in these sections are laid out clearly, it might have been easier to separate them by restaurant; fans of Meyer's restaurants would be able to find their favorites a lot more easily.
See what we tested and whether the book's worth buying after the jump.
'The Beach House Cookbook' Recipes by Barbara Scott-Goodman Photos by Rita Maas Chronicle Books -- 2005 Buy it on Amazon
Summer is a time for relaxing. It's also -- for those lucky enough to live on the beach or near enough one to be within arm's reach of it -- an opportunity to cook up some fresh seafood. But what to do with it once you have it?
Barbara Scott-Goodman has made a substantial mark in the flooded market of seafood cookbooks with her show-stopping "Beach House Cookbook," packed with delectable sounding recipes like Tomato-Basil Soup with Mussels, Lobster Rolls and Cornmeal-Crusted Soft-Shell Crabs. Using fruits and vegetables at peak freshness, Scott-Goodman offers up simple yet flavor-packed meals well-suited to the seaside. What we tested and whether the book's worth buying after the jump.
'Lee Bailey's Southern Food & Plantation Houses' Recipes by Lee Bailey and the Pilgrimage Garden Club Photographs by Tom Eckerle Clarkson Potter -- 1989 Buy it at Amazon
Lee Bailey is a Louisiana native, home-furnishings store owner and the author of several books on food and entertaining. So he comes to this, his seventh book, quite naturally: both a compendium of Southern recipes and tour of the plantations in and around Natchez, Miss., it's part "Antiques Roadshow," part Southern Foodways Alliance, part National Lawn & Garden Show.
It's elegant, faintly -- and winningly -- eccentric, and imbued with unaggressive charm. Reading it is like taking a courtly stroll through a vast garden, bottomless mint julep in hand. You can almost smell the clematis -- and the gumbo.
Takeaway Tips: This is as much a celebration of Natchez as its food: the book begins with a self-explanatory section entitled "Natchez Bouquets" (remember, the tome was co-written by the town's Garden Pilgrimage Club) and recipes are organized into menus that are paired with particular plantations. "Informal Dinner at Stanton Hall," for example, provides readers with a brief history of the towering antebellum estate.
See what we tested and whether it's worth buying after the jump.
'The Farm Chicks in the Kitchen' Recipes by Teri Edwards and Serena Thompson Hearst Books -- 2009 Buy it on Amazon
Teri Edwards and Serena Thompson, a pair of stay-at-home moms who are also contributing editors to Country Living Magazine (with whom this book was co-produced) have been sharing simple, good food with their families and friends for years. With the release of their first book, comprised of 80 percent recipes, 10 percent family stories and 10 percent kitchen crafts, readers get an open door into the lives of these two women.
Both residents of the state of Washington, these gals aren't milking cows and herding sheep, they're "farming" for antiques, which are many times found in old barns. They quickly became famous for their finds and homemade goods and now hold yearly antique shows.
Filled with recipes like Apple Puff Pancakes, Sour Cream and Onion Zucchini Cakes, Savory Sweet Potato Soup and Butterscotch Pie, the book will make you feel at home with classics that won't keep you slaving over a hot stove.
What we tested and whether the book's worth buying after the jump.
'Craig Claiborne's Southern Cooking' Craig Claiborne with foreword by John T. Edge and Georgeanna Milam University of Georgia Press -- 2007 (originally published in 1987 by Clamshell Productions, Ltd.) Buy it on Amazon
"It is not a question of chauvinism, but I have always averred that Southern cooking is by far the vastest and most varied of all traditional regional cooking in this country," wrote Craig Claiborne in the foreword to this pan-Southern paean to the cuisine of his childhood.
While Claiborne fled the physical South -- and his legendarily smothering mother, Miss Kathleen -- in favor of a stint in the Navy, hotel school in Switzerland and a multi-decade tenure as food editor of the New York Times, his palate remained staunchly attuned to the servant-cooked colloquial fare he'd enjoyed at his mother's boardinghouse.
What we tested and whether the book's worth buying after the jump.
'The Soul of a New Cuisine: A Discovery of the Foods and Flavors of Africa' By Marcus Samuelsson Photos by Gediyon Kifle Wiley -- 2006 Buy it on Amazon
Known for his inventive Swedish creations at Aquavit, Marcus Samuelsson tackles the food of his birth continent in "Soul of a New Cuisine." (Born in Ethiopia in 1970, Samuelsson and his sister were orphaned and adopted by a Swedish couple.)
While this is a cookbook, "Soul of a New Cuisine" acts more like a coffee table centerpiece with lush photos of markets and Samuelsson on his adventures to discover African cuisines.
Samuelsson writes, "from the start [I] had a clear idea that this book would not be a definitive encyclopedia of African cooking. Rather, this cookbook is a reflection of the Africa I've seen, experienced and appreciated."
What we tested and whether its worth buying after the jump.
'Burger Bar: Build Your Own Ultimate Burgers' Recipes by Hubert Keller with Penelope Wisner Photos by Bill Milne Wiley -- 2009 Buy it on Amazon
Chef Hubert Keller, owner of the Burger Bar restaurants in Las Vegas and St. Louis, is known for turning an ordinary burger into an extraordinary culinary affair. The "build your own" phenomenon has taken off across the country and within his book is a collection of burgers organized by type of meat, poultry, fish, vegetable and even sweets. Keller also shows how "DIY" burgers can easily be disassembled and reassembled to suit individual tastes.
Filled with recipes like Burger au Poivre, Mustard Seed Chicken Burger, BLT Turkey Club Burger, homemade sauces and ultra thick milkshakes, this book will have you craving a burger 'round the clock.
What we tested and whether the book's worth buying after the jump.
'Vegetables Every Day' Recipes by Jack Bishop HarperCollins -- 2001 Buy it on Amazon
Part cookbook, part reference book, 'Vegetables Every Day' is an A to Z guide to produce that includes everything from familiar favorites like carrots, mushrooms and onions to more exotic selections like malanga, cardoons and kohlrabi. The book's 350 recipes are geared proudly towards the home cook: They're practical, down-to-earth and ideal for a busy weeknight. The only lavishness is found in the flavors that author Jack Bishop coaxes from simply yet lovingly prepared vegetables.
Takeaway Tips: Bishop organizes his vegetables alphabetically, with a few recipes for each utilizing different cooking methods. The okra section, for example, includes Grilled Okra, Sautéed Okra with Garlic and Hot Red Pepper Flakes, Stewed Okra and Tomatoes and Cornmeal-Crusted Okra. Each veg comes with an introduction that covers its history, common names, seasonal availability, best cooking methods and tips for selection, storage and basic preparation. See what we tested and whether the book's worth buying after the jump.
'Pure Simple Cooking' Recipes by Diana Henry Photos by Jonathan Lovekin Ten Speed Press -- 2008 Buy it on Amazon
Simple food done right can be delicious and memorable. Author Diana Henry decided that "quick" cooking was no longer the answer, and wanted "effortless" cooking done well.
Filled with recipes like Chicken and Chorizo, Smothered Pork Chops with Mustard and Thyme Butter and Roast Cod with Smoked Bacon, "Pure Simple Cooking" can help even the busiest person create a meal that is tasty and unique despite being unadorned.
Takeaway tips: While many of the recipes require only 15 minutes of prep time, all of the cooking is done from scratch (no pre-cut vegetables or prepared-food mix-ins), which would make Michael Pollan happy. The chapters are broken down by ingredient (chicken, chops, pasta, etc.), then seasonal for fruits and vegetables, with a final tidbit of a section on the basics of rice, couscous and bulgur wheat.
What we tested and whether the book's worth buying after the jump.
'Jam It, Pickle It, Cure It - And Other Cooking Projects' By Karen Solomon Photography by Jennifer Martine Ten Speed Press -- 2009 Buy it on Amazon
Recession? Schmecession! No matter the country's economic straits, Karen Solomon's guide to DIY kitchen staples and handmade gourmet gifts is a must for crafters, armchair chemists, budget-conscious chefs, curious kids (and their parents) and anyone who's ever popped open a jar of processed preserves, a tub of watery ricotta or a plastic tube of sausage and thought, "I could do better."
The book is jam-packed with simple, flawless instructions for making marshmallows, bacon, cheese, pickles, lard, smoked fish, ketchup, olives and several dozen other edible treasures, entirely worth the effort and for a fraction of the cost of their store-bought counterparts.
See what we tested and whether the book's worth buying after the jump.
'Martha Stewart's Cupcakes' Recipes from the editors of Martha Stewart Living Photographs by Con Poulos and others Clarkson Potter -- 2009 Buy it on Amazon
If there's one thing in the food blogosphere that provokes as strong a reaction as the words "Martha Stewart," it's "cupcake." So when we heard that Martha was busting out a brand-new book containing 175 of the suckers, we knew we had to get behind the scenes.
Martha's test kitchen cooks are both notoriously talented and fussy about their recipes, so we went straight to the top of the editorial food chain to find out which of the tome's 352 pages contained the best palm-sized cakes. (If you just can't wait, it's after the jump).
As with "Martha Stewart's Cookies," this is a thorough, imaginative and utterly vibrant paean to a beloved member of the baked goods family. The title truly does say it all: there's nothing but cupcakes as far as the eye can see. There's cupcake frosting, cupcake decorations, cupcakes for every season and occasion -- there's even a recipe for "Creepcakes" for, yes, Halloween. It's a candy-colored rebuke to the cupcake haters, those who view the craze as an infantile indulgence or see the diminutive desserts as the cloying, edible equivalent of those tiny dogs who travel around in handbags. Cupcakes, as done by Martha and her team, are a force to be reckoned with. The cover photo says it all: Cupcakes are here and they're not going anywhere, except maybe to your mouth.
See what we tested, what a top test-kitchen toque recommends and find out whether the book's worth buying after the jump.
"Rustic Fruit Desserts: Crumbles, Buckles, Cobblers, Pandowdies and More" By Cory Schreiber and Julie Richardson Photography by Sara Remington Ten Speed Press -- 2009 Buy it on Amazon
James Beard Award-winning chef Cory Schreiber and Julie Richardson of Baker & Spice in Portland, Ore., team up for this delicious ode to seasonal fruit baking.
Divided into the seasons, "Rustic Fruit Desserts" offers a juicy array of cobblers, grunts ("similar to a cobbler but ... cooked on top of the stove"), crisps, betties, pandowdies and other delights. And the stars of the fruit world are all here: rhubarb, cherries, apples, pears, raspberries, nectarines, apricots and even relative newcomers like pluots.
See what we tested and whether the book's worth buying after the jump.
'Simply Mexican' Recipes by Lourdes Castro Photos by Lucy Schaeffer Ten Speed Press -- 2009 Buy it on Amazon
A back to basics cookbook for South of the Border fare, "Simple Mexican" demystifies Mexican meals and recipes so anyone, especially new cooks, can make them at home. Delicious recipes like Chile-Glazed Pork Chops with Fresh Tomatillo Sauce, Red Mole Chicken with Chorizo and Rice Pudding call for ingredients that are widely used throughout the entire book and commonly found in grocery stores. Takeaway tips: Mexican food isn't just refried beans, rice and heavy cheesy dishes. Castro showcases genuine recipes that aren't difficult to prepare and don't have readers searching for rare ingredients. For each recipe, there are "Cooking Notes" that break down ingredients, serving suggestions, techniques and, when necessary, advanced preparation.
See what we tested and find out whether the book's worth buying after the jump.
'Carmine's Family-Style Cookbook: More Than 100 Classic Italian Dishes to Make at Home' Recipes by Michael Ronis with Mary Goodbody Photographs by Alex Martinez St. Martin's Press -- 2008 Buy it on Amazon
In the increasingly refined and innovative world of New York Italian restaurants, Carmine's remains proudly devoted to its red-sauce roots. It's a loud place with large portions and a complete lack of pretension: you'd just as soon find a foam or amuse bouche on its menu as you would a loaf of Irish soda bread or bowl of borscht. The focus is on Southern Italian food like grandma used to make -- think meatballs the size of a baby's head, shrimp scampi and garlic bread, not bruschetta.
It follows that the restaurant's laid-back, welcoming style would translate to its companion cookbook: "We hope," the introduction states, that the book's pages "will soon be stained with red sauce, dribbles of olive oil and sticky fingerprints, all happy accidents as you discover our recipes."
This is a cookbook meant for weeknight family dinners and large gatherings, or any event, really, that calls for large helpings of comfort food. Flipping through it is a bit like visiting the Italian American Culinary Hall of Fame: Look, it's Meatball Heroes! And over there, Penne Alla Vodka! Long time, no see, Shrimp Fra Diavolo! They're all here, and they're all eager to please.
See what we tested and whether the book's worth buying after the jump.
'Mix Shake Stir'
'The Beach House Cookbook'
'The Farm Chicks in the Kitchen'
'Burger Bar: Build Your Own Ultimate Burgers'
'Vegetables Every Day'
'Pure Simple Cooking'
"Rustic Fruit Desserts: Crumbles, Buckles, Cobblers, Pandowdies and More"
'Simply Mexican'
'Carmine's Family-Style Cookbook: More Than 100 Classic Italian Dishes to Make at Home'
Second Helping of Slashfood - June 19
Competitive-Eating Contest to Pit Humans Against Elephants
The Backyard Boom - The Hungry Bride
