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I love to EAT, TRAVEL,COOK, always searching for foods, restaurants, recipes, a LEVEL ABOVE ordinary fare - SATORI (Japanese word for AHA!) foods . Find my recipes and those I find, restaurants reviews from all over, posted travels, highlights from interesting TV shows (Travel Channel, Food Channel etc).
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Showing posts with label book review. Show all posts
Showing posts with label book review. Show all posts

Friday, February 13, 2009

Variety of recipes for couple: not to shabby


I bought this book in 1998. Somehow it has escaped detection in my massive collection. It has some great recipes, selected from ones that the couple/ authors have enjoyed throughout two decades. Simple to make recipes with easy to find ingredients, these recipes can provide an extra little spark to meals . dinners and perhaps more. The hors d'oevres, main entrees. side dishes and desserts are not in themselves are not that extraordinary. However included in this book, one can find some interesting romantic meals and that's the name of the game. Some of these include a variety of tasty and stimulating recipes that are fun and interesting. Examples are salmon in scallion broth, wasabi marinated strip steaks, spicy greens with garlic and ginger, mixed berry cobbler, acorn squash rings. I haven't tried them yet but I will.

Sunday, January 4, 2009

Time to try fondues

I have not made fondue for a long time but when I saw this recipe (see below) I thought it looked good and worth an attempt. It was not really all that difficult to make. Since it was only us two, I did half the recipe. I also did not have chipotle peppers so I put in about 4 tblspn of chipotle hot sauce to replace it which I thought might replace the 1.5 chipotles. We made cubed Italian bread, zucchini, green apple, sweet apple, red grapes. They were all very good with the cheese- chipotle fondue mixture. My wife liked it too.
While I know I can find more recipes on the internet, I will also use a cookbook that I have The New International Fondue Cookbook by Ed Callahan.
The introduction has two pages of very rudimentary advice and information concerning different types of fondues, equipment and entertaining. The rest of the book is the " star of the show"- the recipes. Most are easy to make and the ingredients are fairly easy to find. These fondue recipes span cheese, meat (like Mongolian hotpot), seafood but also include seafood, hot dips, baked , desserts, oriental , poultry, tempura and more. There is also the very different "rarebits"( a cheese fondue ) recipes. Each recipe also tells the ingredients, that can be dipped into the the fondues. I did try the creamy spinach (fondue) dip and it was very good (my rating 9.4/10). Some interesting ones that I have not tried as yet but will soon are: baked rice fondue, baked turkey fondue, pizza fondue and baked tuna fondue. If you have all the equipment and more information etc then this is a non pricey book and easy way to find some more recipes. If you need to find equipment, find out more about entertaining, then you might either need another book or use this book in conjunction with an appetizer or another book to round out your fondue adventures.


Fiery Fondue was e-mailed
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/neelys/fiery-fondue-recipe/index.html
review it as it has not been yet
Patrick and Gina Neely
Fiery Fondue

Ingredients

* 2 (8-ounce) packages white Cheddar, shredded
* 2 (8-ounce) packages Monterey Jack, shredded
* 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
* 12 ounces light beer
* 2 cloves garlic, smashed
* 3 chipotle chiles, minced
* Vegetables, for dipping
* Fruit, for dipping
* 1 loaf bread, cubed, for dipping

Directions

In a large bowl toss together cheeses and flour.

To a 4-quart saucepan, add the beer, smashed garlic and chipotle chiles and bring to a simmer for 10 minutes.

Whisk in cheese by the handful, making sure each addition melts before you add the next. Keep at a bare simmer. Transfer to a fondue pot and set over a low flame.

*Cook's Note: If sauce is too thick, add more beer. If it's too thin, add more cheese

Serve with fondue accompaniments of fruits, vegetables and bread.

chicken throwdown: Emeril Lagasse's Lemon-garlic recipe vs Spanish Lemon -garlic

I made this recipe from Emeril Lagasse's listing of recipes. A lot of people said it was awesome in their reviews on the Food Network web recipe area. So I tried it but using chicken wings instead and no pasta. I made a whole batch (probably about 35-40 wings) for a party that I was going to bring appetizers. It was a hit and everyone liked them. For me it was okay and I would rate 8.9/10. This recipe like many people said has a just enough garlic and lemon. To me, it was missing something and I could not" put my finger on it". I just felt it didn't take flavors "to another level". Then I remembered.
I had made a recipe from one of my Spanish cookbooks (Spanish:over 150 mouthwatering step-by-step recipes) by Pepitas Aris. His book (p. 184) Chicken with Lemon and Garlic was somewhat the same recipe but had that "extra kick". It included shallot ( I use red onions instead) and had paprika and parsley which is missing from the Lagasse recipe. I rated this one one 9.7/10 and my wife loved it . She said that this the Lagasse recipe was very good but not as good as this one. So there it is.

Monday, December 22, 2008

Al Forno's is one of my favorite restaurants for several reasons

Al Forno on UrbanspoonI grew up in Providence and went to URI. A number of years later when we went to live in Kansas, I came back (as I always do once or twice a year) to visit family and friends. One time we went to Al Forno (actually in its other part called Lucky's ?). It was nice and rustic place. I can't tell you what I had but it was not one of their wood fired pizzas for which they are known. All I remember is the fiery "harissa" orange sauce with a chicken dish I believe. It was amazing hot (even for me and I like hot foods). So while I hope to go back sometime soon, I wanted to bring some of the Al Forno dishes to Kansas without waiting.
I recently found out about the couples new book (their 2nd) while checking out a different food forum. It is named On Top of Spaghetti. The reviews were excellent and foodies in Providence said it was a must to have. So I thought I would take a chance and buy my first Italian cookbook (I have dozens of others), with many of their recipes, so I could try more. I sure am glad I did as it has literally changed the way I think about Italian cooking and making recipes.
This handsome book not only has recipes but has valuable insights into their cooking methods. I really enjoy reading recipes the introduction to each recipe and their thoughts, their travels throughout Italy man years ago that transformed their palates as this book is doing to mine. Their ideas transformed their eating habits, recipes, styles and their Italian cooking. The photos are nicely done but its what is inside that is the real deal.
Each recipe includes the background relating to when and how the couple came about obtaining each of the recipes. These are for the most part different from your "ordinary Italian fare". The recipes make even regular Italian fare a gastronomic delight. This is orchestrated through their methods, simple ingredients, different condiments that make an ordinary recipe exquisitely better and more.
The recipes themselves are not too time intensive and use for the most part, ingredients you can find in local groceries. There were so many I wanted to try. I chose the made from scratch roasted tomato sauce. It was truly amazing!! The roasting of the tomatoes makes every difference in the world and it was not that difficult to make. On to more difficult dishes.
I had very good Chicken Cacciatore while in Montreal. How would this recipe stack up? Wow even better.
Their recipe was so good, I gave it one of my highest rating ever, 9.9/10. And I tell everyone how good it is. There are so many more to try and I am slowly making my way through. So I have Al Forno type recipes now here in Kansas. Until I get back to Providence and Al Forno, I can subsist on their cooking by reading and using their superb recipes. Their recipes are "on top of Italian " in my book!

Monday, December 15, 2008

Eyewitness Travel Beijing & Shanghai


5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful, helpful, packed with information and light, December 15, 2008
DK Eyewitness Travel

Since my wife and I would be going to China in 2009 (to see the next total eclipse), I wanted to "get the lay of the land "so to speak and find out more specifically what the cities had for us and more. While we would be on a tour, I still wanted to know more for myself as well as being able to tell more on the videos, websites and presentations I would create. I looked at about 10 books that I thought were good and covered what I wanted. I wanted to find more about not only the sights and traveling (mostly we would be in and around Shanghai and Beijing before and after the eclipse and because of this would not need a book that would include other parts of China) but more about the sights, monuments, art, museums;architecture and more. The layout of the book is splendid. What I really got this book for was the nice color illustrations, photos, maps.It is light enough for me to take with us. The information does have text that is small but that is because the book packs so much useful information (much of what I wanted to know about) . The sections for hotel and restaurant information will help those who might be finding their own way. But since we already have our hotels and most of the places to eat already arranged on the tour, I was not too focused on these but the restaurant information would help when we were had to fend for ourselves. The " Where to Eat " section is quite good and includes what to focus upon in Beijing and Shanghai.I have been all around the world and have cooked and eaten all types of food and recipes but I still found this part well done and helpful.However unlike some other books, it was difficult for me to locate particular restaurants on the map, because the exact location were not noted via a red dot or something to fine particular restaurants, a more easier process (for this I would use another book). However there was an excellent legend key/ set of symbols that can help find restrooms, tourist information and more. There are nice sections on excursions, nightlife information and walking tour info. There is an excellent Beijing street finder map and subway map. There is even a nice little phrase section to learn about the language. So if you are going to Shanghai and/or Beijing find this book and look it over even if you have to use a magnifying glass! (I could still see the type very well). The book is packed with a lot of great information, is handsomely laid out and has much of the information I was looking for. It might be the one for you too.

Sunday, December 14, 2008

Rick Bayless recipes and Mexican Everyday book

My wife comes from Chicago originally. While I have been to Chicago, I have never been to one of Bayless's restaurant. I've known about his recipes and his battles with Iron Chef Bobby Flay (Bayless lost by 1). My cable can't get his shows so I started to search for his recipes and books. Recently on Emeril Live on Fine Living he talked about his book while doing a trout entree. His book was mentioned.
Mexican Everyday (Recipes Featured on Season 4 of the PBS-TV series "Mexico One Plate at a Time") (Hardcover)
by Rick Bayless (Author), Deann Groen Bayless (Author)
Whenever I search for books I start at Amazon.com. While I post my own book review there too, I also look for reviews by others concerning books I might be interested in purchasing. Their views are insightful and I learn more about whether I should buy the book and why. It is more convenient to start her until I check them out personally if I need to. Also I start at Amazon because there are excellent and better prices. There are even used and even new ones (check for the prices and the condition to meet your needs). Usually even with the postage (usually under $4) you save almost half the price! For the price of almost 1 recently, I ordered 3 books about China traveling etc as we are going to China in the summer 2009 to travel and see the total solar eclipse and I want to be prepared as I always am wether I have traveled to Arizona, Europe, and elsewhere.

I found a great review for this book at
http://www.amazon.com/review/R260IYV4SZ34NM/ref=cm_cr_pr_viewpnt#R260IYV4SZ34NM

but even before I (might) get the book I found some links to the recipes on this show including the sauce I was looking for
http://www.foodnetwork.com/emeril-live/mexican-mania-with-rick-bayless/index.html

Sopa de Lima (Yucatan Lime Soup)
Grilled Flank Steak Tacos with Roasted Poblano Chiles, Grilled Onions and Mexican Crema
Striped Bass Veracruz-Style
Traditional Mexican Flan Flavored with Orange and Lime
Lime Ice with Cucumber and Mint
Trout with Macadamias, Serrano and Green Beans (Trucha con Macadamias, Chile Serrano y Ejotes)
Here is one of the recipes
Grilled Flank Steak Tacos with Roasted Poblano Chiles, Grilled Onions and Mexican Crema
Recipe courtesy Emeril Lagasse, 2006
Show: Emeril LiveEpisode: Mexican Mania with Rick Bayless
RECIPECOMMENTS & REVIEWS(2)
Cook Time
18 min
Level
Intermediate
Yield
6 to 8 servings
Recipe Tools:
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Ingredients
1 cup heavy cream
2 tablespoons buttermilk
3/4 cup finely chopped onion
6 cloves garlic, minced
6 tablespoons vegetable or olive oil
1/4 cup lime juice
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon dried Mexican oregano, crumbled
2 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 3/4 pounds flank steak, trimmed of surface fat and silverskin
4 to 6 poblano chiles
2 large onions, cut crosswise into 1/2-inch thick slices
Toothpicks for securing onion slices on grill
12 to 16 corn tortillas
2 limes, cut into wedges, optional
Directions
The day before you plan to make the tacos, combine the heavy cream and buttermilk in a glass bowl or jar with a lid and stir or shake well to blend thoroughly. Allow to sit in a warm place, unrefrigerated, until cream is thickened and somewhat "set," up to 6 hours. Shake well and refrigerate overnight before using.

In a blender or in the bowl of a food processor, combine 1/2 cup of the onion, the garlic, 3 tablespoons of the vegetable oil, half of the lime juice, cumin, oregano and 1 teaspoon of the salt. Process until smooth. Place the flank steak in a shallow non-reactive dish and spoon the marinade over the meat. Turn the steak so that both sides of the meat are in contact with the marinade and cover with plastic wrap. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour and up to 4 hours, turning occasionally.

While the meat is marinating, prepare the poblanos: Place the poblanos over a direct flame and roast, turning occasionally with tongs, until the skin is charred and blistered all over. Transfer to a container with a tight-fitting lid, cover, and let sit for 20 minutes. Remove the poblanos and, when cool enough to handle, carefully remove the charred skin by rubbing with your fingers. Remove the stems and any seeds and, if necessary, rinse briefly under cool running water to remove any remaining skin. Slice the poblanos into thin strips and place in a small mixing bowl. Set aside at room temperature for up to 2 hours, until ready to serve the tacos. (Poblanos may be roasted 2 days in advance and kept refrigerated in an airtight container. Bring to room temperature before using.)

Preheat a grill to high.

Place the onion slices on a flat surface and insert 1 or 2 toothpicks into the concentric rings in order to hold the rings together on the grill. Brush the slices on both sides with 1 tablespoon of the remaining olive oil and place the onion slices on the grill. Grill, turning occasionally, until lightly charred on the edges and soft, 10 to 12 minutes. Remove the toothpicks from the onion slices and add the onions to the poblanos, separating the onion rings with your fingers. Toss to combine. The heat from the hot onion slices will warm the poblanos. Add the remaining 2 tablespoons of lime juice and season with 1/4 teaspoon of salt. Set aside until ready to serve the tacos.

Remove the meat from the marinade and shake or use a spoon to remove any excess. Rub the meat all over with the remaining 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil and season on both sides with the remaining teaspoon of salt. Grill the steak, turning once, to the desired degree of doneness; for medium rare, this should be 6 to 8 minutes per side. Transfer the steak to a cutting board and let rest for 10 minutes.

While the meat is resting, heat the corn tortillas as instructed on the package. Wrap in aluminum foil to keep warm.

When the meat has rested, slice against the grain into very thin strips and serve, with the warm tortillas, poblano-onion mixture and crema. Serve with lime wedges, if desired.

This one also looked good

Grilled Flank Steak Tacos with Roasted Poblano Chiles, Grilled Onions and Mexican Crema

Ingredients

• 1 cup heavy cream

• 2 tablespoons buttermilk

• 3/4 cup finely chopped onion

• 6 cloves garlic, minced

• 6 tablespoons vegetable or olive oil

• 1/4 cup lime juice

• 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin

• 1/2 teaspoon dried Mexican oregano, crumbled

• 2 1/2 teaspoons salt

• 1 3/4 pounds flank steak, trimmed of surface fat and silverskin

• 4 to 6 poblano chiles

• 2 large onions, cut crosswise into 1/2-inch thick slices

• Toothpicks for securing onion slices on grill

• 12 to 16 corn tortillas

• 2 limes, cut into wedges, optional

Directions

The day before you plan to make the tacos, combine the heavy cream and buttermilk in a glass bowl or jar with a lid and stir or shake well to blend thoroughly. Allow to sit in a warm place, unrefrigerated, until cream is thickened and somewhat "set," up to 6 hours. Shake well and refrigerate overnight before using.

In a blender or in the bowl of a food processor, combine 1/2 cup of the onion, the garlic, 3 tablespoons of the vegetable oil, half of the lime juice, cumin, oregano and 1 teaspoon of the salt. Process until smooth. Place the flank steak in a shallow non-reactive dish and spoon the marinade over the meat. Turn the steak so that both sides of the meat are in contact with the marinade and cover with plastic wrap. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour and up to 4 hours, turning occasionally.

While the meat is marinating, prepare the poblanos: Place the poblanos over a direct flame and roast, turning occasionally with tongs, until the skin is charred and blistered all over. Transfer to a container with a tight-fitting lid, cover, and let sit for 20 minutes. Remove the poblanos and, when cool enough to handle, carefully remove the charred skin by rubbing with your fingers. Remove the stems and any seeds and, if necessary, rinse briefly under cool running water to remove any remaining skin. Slice the poblanos into thin strips and place in a small mixing bowl. Set aside at room temperature for up to 2 hours, until ready to serve the tacos. (Poblanos may be roasted 2 days in advance and kept refrigerated in an airtight container. Bring to room temperature before using.)

Preheat a grill to high.

Place the onion slices on a flat surface and insert 1 or 2 toothpicks into the concentric rings in order to hold the rings together on the grill. Brush the slices on both sides with 1 tablespoon of the remaining olive oil and place the onion slices on the grill. Grill, turning occasionally, until lightly charred on the edges and soft, 10 to 12 minutes. Remove the toothpicks from the onion slices and add the onions to the poblanos, separating the onion rings with your fingers. Toss to combine. The heat from the hot onion slices will warm the poblanos. Add the remaining 2 tablespoons of lime juice and season with 1/4 teaspoon of salt. Set aside until ready to serve the tacos.

Remove the meat from the marinade and shake or use a spoon to remove any excess. Rub the meat all over with the remaining 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil and season on both sides with the remaining teaspoon of salt. Grill the steak, turning once, to the desired degree of doneness; for medium rare, this should be 6 to 8 minutes per side. Transfer the steak to a cutting board and let rest for 10 minutes.

While the meat is resting, heat the corn tortillas as instructed on the package. Wrap in aluminum foil to keep warm.

When the meat has rested, slice against the grain into very thin strips and serve, with the warm tortillas, poblano-onion mixture and crema. Serve with lime wedges, if desired.

also recently I had tried Emeril's Yucatan Lime Soup (see below) but it was not as good as I thought it was going to be . It was too limey or something needed to be with it to make the Lime better.

Sopa de Lima (Yucatan Lime Soup) was e-mailed
Emeril Lagasse
Sopa de Lima (Yucatan Lime Soup)

Recipe courtesy Emeril Lagasse, 2006

Show: Emeril LiveEpisode: Mexican Mania with Rick Bayless

Ingredients

* 8 corn tortillas
* 1/2 cup vegetable oil
* Salt
* 1 medium onion, chopped
* 1 celery rib, thinly sliced
* 1 carrot, thinly sliced
* 1 jalapeno or serrano pepper, stemmed, seeded and finely chopped
* 4 cloves garlic, minced
* 1 bay leaf
* 1/4 teaspoon dried Mexican oregano, crumbled
* 1 large tomato, peeled and chopped
* 8 cups chicken stock or canned low sodium chicken broth
* 1 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts
* 2 green onions, finely chopped
* 3 limes, juiced (about 1/3 cup)
* 1 large avocado, pee

Directions

Cut the tortillas into 1/4-inch strips. Heat the oil in a medium skillet and, when very hot, fry the tortilla strips, in small batches, until lightly golden and crisp, 30 seconds to 1 minute. Transfer to paper towel lined plate to drain. Season with salt, to taste. Repeat until all tortilla strips have been fried. Set fried tortilla strips aside and reserve the vegetable oil.

Transfer 1 tablespoon of the reserved cooking oil to a large saucepan and add the chopped onion, celery, carrot, and jalapeno pepper. Cook over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, until vegetables have softened, about 4 minutes. Add the garlic, bay leaf, and Mexican oregano and cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Add the tomato and season lightly with salt. Cook, stirring, until the tomato is softened and has released its liquid and the mixture is nearly dry, 4 to 5 minutes. Add the chicken stock and chicken breasts and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a slow simmer and cook until the chicken is just cooked through, 12 to 15 minutes. Remove chicken from the soup and set aside until cool enough to handle. Allow soup to continue simmering.

When the chicken has cooled a bit, shred into bite size pieces and return to the pot along with the green onions and lime juice. Cook for 5 minutes, or until the chicken is heated through and the soup is piping hot. Season the soup, to taste, with salt and ladle the soup into wide soup bowls, with a handful of tortilla strips added to each bowl. Garnish with the avocado and cilantro and serve immediately.

I found this one that was pretty similar
http://www.cooks.com/rec/view/0,1648,130176-249196,00.html

another recipe had a pinch of cloves in it and maybe that is what was missing in some of these soups. The Worcestershire sauce might be the missing "keep it up another level " that I was looking for. I will let you know when I try it. If you try it first let me know!

CHICKEN, LIME AND TORTILLA SOUP

1/2 lb. chicken breast, boneless and skinless
4 cups chicken stock
juice of 3 limes
1/2 cup tomato juice
1/2 cup chopped red bell pepper
1 tsp. chopped green chilies
1 jalapeno, chopped
1/4 cup cilantro, chopped
2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
3 green onions, chopped
1/4 cup rice
1/4 cup corn
1 avocado per each bowl (diced small)
1 cup mixed Mexican cheese (shredded)
1 tsp. minced garlic
1/2 tsp. ground black pepper
salt to taste
tortilla strips

Simmer chicken stock, tomato, Worcestershire, and lime juices with the jalapeno, cilantro for 45 minutes.
While simmering; grill the chicken until cooked all of the way through, then dice into small cubes or strips.

Strain soup and add green onion, chilies, red bell pepper, rice, corn, garlic and simmer for 20 minutes.

Place the tortilla strips, diced Avocado and shredded cheese on a side plate to be added by the guests as desired. (To make sure that your avocado doesn't turn brown toss it in some extra lime juice.)

Splendid Soups: Recipes and Master Techniques for Making the World's Best Soups

Saturday, December 6, 2008

Big Flavors of the Hot Sun : boo review

Reading this book is a great way to discover the foods from all around the "hot " equator areas. This duo has crafted a book with style, great recipes and interesting information. Helpful information about the recipes, the culinary background and easy to read recipes, lets you try many interesting recipes. There are also rubs, a spice chart and more.There are some nice photos too. Many I tried were hits: The hot spinach sesame condiment (9.4/10) ; jicama pineapple salsa (9.4/10). Ones I want to try are the spicy noodles, mango tomatillo salsa , malasian chicken and more.

1 Attached Images

Sunday, October 19, 2008

Recipes are a level above your ordinary Mexican fare

I not sure when I got this book (1989 date) but it is a handsome book with very different authentic Mexican recipes from all over Mexico. I just rediscovered it in my collection on the bottom of a shelf. I have tried a few of the recipes but now discovered and looking through the impressive versatile and different recipes I will try more soon.The grilled chicken with oregano (9.2/10) was good. I have not tried the exotic and different types of green, black and red and other varied mole recipes but I need to . The albigonas (meatball soup) looks interesting as well several other chicken, beef recipes. The corn pudding is one I will try , the BBQ fish and chipotlesauce looks different.The black beef stew and beef with chili are ones too. Most of the recipes have ingredients that you can find at grociers or latin/ mexican store. Most are easy to medium in length and won't take that long but several may be more time intensive (there is no time to make listed on each recipe). Nice index, listing of chiles and other ingredients and even where to find some stores around the country.Some black and white pics but they are small. But it is the detailed and above and beyond recipes from the ordinary that will have your guests/ family smiling.

Sunday, August 31, 2008

It's a jewish food trip around the world and I am still touring.

This Jewish Cooking in America (book )by Joan Nathan (from my hometown of Providence RI) is a handsomely written book which not only has great recipes but is intertwined with the Jewish people, cultures and history. This masterfully written book is one I bought many years ago and the book has everything including very interesting recipes. The recipes come from all over the world and are not just your ordinary set of recipes.

I have tried many and these were some of the best (but they were all good); The chicken, lime and tortilla soup (9.6/10) comes from Mexico ; spinach and cheese kugel (9.4/10) ; cholent (beef barley stew (9.6/10). The index is very nice and I am still searching for more. I will also want try some of the more unusual recipes like spinach rubarb soup Poland, stuffed grape leaves, meat pies , and more.

It's a jewish food trip around the world and I am still touring.

Tuesday, July 29, 2008

Like rubs and marinades? Run and buy this book as soon as you can as you are really missing out

Marinades: Dry Rubs, Pastes and Marinades for Poultry, Meat, Seafood, Cheese and Vegetables (Paperback)
Run and buy this book as soon as you can as you are really missing out. I bought it in the 1990's and always still making fanatastic recipes from this book.. There are all kinds of US and worldy marinades, rubs and more. The contents divide the book into 10 categories including about marinades , rubs and pastes, stocking the pantry, vinegars, all tyes of marindes, even for shellfish, vegetables, lamb, and even rabbit, game birds, venison. Several marinades and rubs can be used for different meat etc. Also has section on salsas, chutneys, The directions are clear and easy to read. The index is well done. The chart "Marinades at a glance, is another way to find what you are looking for. There is short set of pages where to find and purchase Indian spices, Asian staples and more (but you really should be able to find most of the ingredients locally).
I have tried so many all excellent. These included spicy tomato marinade for fish (9.8/10); Thai marinade (9.8/10); Thai cocont (9.8/10); pineapple jalapeno salsa (9.8/10). Many more I have tried are a great just a tad less in my rating but fantastic none the less.

http://www.amazon.com/Marinades-Pastes-Poultry-Seafood-Vegetables/dp/0895945312

Thursday, July 24, 2008

Book review: The Korean Kitchen


I have quite a few Asian and other cookbooks. I have been to several Korean restaurants, tried some and found recipes in these books I have and on the internet. My two kids gave me this book as a present (it is the older one from 1993). The author writes for many magazines but it seems like he is more a traveler then a chef. But still he must like the food enough to be able to write about it and post the 140 recipes in the book. The book does not have photos but that does not bother me. I can cook and I don't need the fancy photos. It is the ingredients and the instructions that are important. The ingredients are easy to find and use. American based measurements are used so you don't have to hunt. The Seng Sun bulgogi BBQ (spiced fish) was very good (9.7/10). I marinated the fish with the paste and put the fish on my gas grill. Fish came out great with a little kick to it and a level above average stuff which is what I look for. It was different. There is a good variety of recipes for kimchi (spiced cabbage), vegetables, soups, rice and noodles and meat and poultry.I've only gotten started but you can bet I will try more of the recipes. It's a good place to start with Korean recipes if you want to go beyond regular Chinese. (PS Don't be scared that the recipes might be too hot. They aren't but you can always scale the ingredients up or down a bit. So don't let Korean, Thai, Vietnamese or other Asian foods scare you away because you think it is too spicy (which is what I always hear). You don't know what you are missing if you don't go beyond Chinese.)