The Taste of Home Cookbook by Taste of Home Editors
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Book Reviews of The Taste of Home Cookbook
Book Review: Great for novice cooks
Summary: 5 Stars
If you're looking for a great gift for a first time cook, this is it. The recipes are reliable, making the chances for success much higher--thus, the cooking experience more satisfying for a novice. While accomplished cooks may find the illustrated, step-by-step basics a little tedious, for people just starting out in the kitchen these sections provide a fantastic approach to lessen fears and boost confidence. The photos help reinforce the plain language text descriptions, providing workable approaches for people who are visual or verbal learners.
Yes, the binder is cumbersome (one reason I was put off from purchasing a copy sooner) and the paper stock is thin, but this design facilitates easy access to recipes by allowing the book to lay open flat and the pages (in what would otherwise be a very thick and heavy bound book) to be removed for use and then be replaced without having to wrestle with the entire volume. Hint: To keep the pages clean, simply slip them into a clear poly photo page during use.
I particularly like the binder dividers which categorize recipes in typical groupings--poultry, pork, seafood--but also provide an index for each section so search time for a recipe is reduced. For purists, indeed, a good share of recipes in this binder appear in other Taste of Home publications but from my perspective, the editors have chosen well, selecting some of the most reliable recipes I've found across nearly a dozen of their annual and special issue cookbooks.
I like having the nutritional information included for each recipe. For experienced cooks, the nutritional information helps in figuring out ways to reduce fat and sodium content. For a new cook, the nutrition facts will help raise awareness of preparing balanced meals. Information detailing a variety of vegetables, safe cooking, serving, and storage methods is another great feature the book offers. This book also includes the basics on how to set a table and information about entertaining including, among other things, what variety of and how many appetizers to plan for each guest and how much food to plan on preparing per person for a dinner party.
The Taste of Home Cookbook is very well thought out and executed and the editors are to be congratulated. It certainly holds its own against the Betty Crocker and Better Homes and Gardens cookbooks and, as far as I'm concerned, deserves a place next to The Joy of Cooking as an approachable, user-friendly, instructional cookbook with a low learning curve.
Book Review: If You're Young and In Love, this is the Cookbook for You
Summary: 5 Stars
I don't know why I've never used this cookbook. I'm a collector of everything cooking, cookbooks especially, and I've seen this book in numerous bookstores, but I've always picked up something else. Silly me, because I have this book now, have cooked up quite a few things in it and have been more than satisfied every lickin', stickin' time.
This ring bound beauty is crammed with so many mouth watering delights that I can see where a novice might want this to be her only book. This book not only gives good recipes, but it educates as well and it never, ever talks down to you. So if you're young and in love and have no cookbooks at home, this could very well be the book for you. Please his tummy and you've got him hooked.
As usual, I cannot write about a book without actually trying some of the recipes. I've made and loved the Dublin Dumpling Stew and my hubby Dub has pronounced it a winner. Dumplings, eemmm, eemmm, I've always loved them. My aunt was good at dumplings, this book will make you good at them, too. I've also done the Pasta with White Clam Sauce and it was delicious.
But as Dub would say, what's a meal without dessert and this book really shines in that regard. The Caramel Banana Dessert is really out of this world as is the Simple Bananas Foster on the following page. There are in the fruit section simply oodles of recipes you can use as a dessert, featuring kumquats, mangoes, kiwis, melons, peaches, nectarines and oh so much more.
I found this book a while back, while touristing off in beautiful Laguna Beach in sunny Southern California. I spotted a sign for an estate sale. Hubby Dub never likes to go to these, he hates garage sales too, likewise thrift stores, but I poked him in the arm, he made a U turn and I discovered a soul who really liked to cook, sadly she'd passed away before I got to meet her. She had dozens and dozens of cookbooks, many of which I already had, but I discovered some gems. I made a lot of meals from them and, as usual, I took notes, which usually consists of me writing in the margins by the the recipes. I love cooking. Hubby Dub loves eating, I do, too. I hope you do as well and I hope you enjoy my reviews here.
Book Review: Need a Basic Cookbook? Right Here!
Summary: 5 Stars
This is a very good general cooking cookbook. It is well organized with sections on the usual chicken, pork and beef, but includes tabs for grilling, pasta and sauce, quick breads and even lower calories. There is even an easy-to-reference listing of ingredient substitutions on the back inside cover as well as cooking times for various things in well-located places. Lots of updated recipes, plenty of currently popular ones such as chimichangas.
These are recipes from readers of Taste of Home magazine. They are tested and taste great. The focus is on what folks like to eat NOW verses 20 years ago. What you should know is that this book assumes that you have basic cooking knowledge although an interested beginner would have little problem cooking from it. There is a great glossary at the FRONT of the book--exactly where a beginning cook needs it! But it is primarily recipes. While there are a few offerings, if you are into gourmet food, this is not the book for you. If you want family friendly meals or meals that fit your budget, then this is certainly a good book for the shelf. I've tried 5 recipes so far and they were tasty.
My only caveat with this book is the 5 ring binder. As much as I like it, my first book arrived, factory wrapped, but with rings that wouldn't match. Turning the pages was impossible. Amazon replaced my book immediately, but 5 years from now, if I drop the book and bend the rings, I might be out of luck since the holes don't fit a standard 3 ring. My point is, if things tend to fall around your house (I have helpers), the format is not the best. Still worth it to me, however. I actually prefer this book to the Betty Crocker one, which was my old standby.
Note: this review was originally placed under the wrong cookbook title.
Book Review: A great cookbook
Summary: 5 Stars
I must say that I really enjoy the Taste of Home magazines. They have quality recipes, that turn out well, which is something many cooking magazines can not manage. This book is well crafted with many terrific recipes inside. I have already received compliments with many of the recipes I have used in this book.
Usually when you buy these types of binder cookbooks you are left to essemble them yourself. Finally, comes one binder cookbook that I did not have to put together. I found that a nice treat. I like the way this book is organized into many different categories. I also like that there are many photos of most of the recipes.
I have found this book to be very handy as whenever I have wanted a particular recipe, it is in this book. What I like most about this book is that it is a collection of tried and true recipes, some cookbooks just put together recipes, without much care if the recipes even work or not. These recipes are easy to read, and easy to make. Another feature that I really like about this book is that it reminds me of community cookbook, but the community is really large.
I can honestly say I have received compliments, and been asked for the recipes that I have used from this book. This book recently got me through a holiday season. Maybe like you, I feel like I should bring something original and tasty to every holiday party. This book did not let me down. I would highly recommend adding this book to your collection.
Book Review: My customers Love this cookbook!
Summary: 5 Stars
As any Taste of Home fan will tell you, The recipes are always easy, simple, organized and for the most part utilize ingredients that you already have in the pantry. And this cookbook continues the tradition. Many of my customers from Taste of Home Entertaining tell me that they usually save all of the magazines from their subscription throughout the year, but now they are going to toss them and get this instead. Plus it looks great and lies flat on our best selling cookbook holder!
The Taste of Home cookbook had 652 jam-packed pages with more than 1,200 recipes and 1,300 photos in a ring binder style book. The cover and pages are all coated for those messy cooks in the house. It is tabbed and organized based on meal type eg. over 300 mian courses, desserts, appetizers, breads, side dishes, salads and the "little extras" like practicle tips and how to's to bring out the great chef in you. And because of the 5 ring binder style, you can always punch a hole in a printed recipe and add it to your book. (my favorite part) I hope you enjoy this book as much as my customers and I do.