| Title | : | Fine Cooking Comfort Food: 200 Delicious Recipes for Soul-Warming Meals |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 1600854087 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9781600854088 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Paperback |
| Number of Pages | : | 256 |
| Publication | : | First published November 8, 2011 |
Fine Cooking Comfort Food: 200 Delicious Recipes for Soul-Warming Meals Reviews
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I do believe I’ve just found a new “go-to” cookbook!
Being someone who loves to cook and try new things, but has no specialized training, I appreciate cookbooks that not only provide the recipes, but also give us tips and tricks for making the dishes turn out as tasty and beautiful as those you find in restaurants. The recipes collected in Fine Cooking Comfort Food: 200 Recipes for Soups, Stews, Casseroles & More are for the home cook who wants to bring something special to the table without having to take lessons or spend a lot of time fussing over procedures and techniques. Most of the ingredients are readily available in your grocery store and along with the easy to follow instructions and the absolutely mouthwatering pictures, you’re sure to create dishes that will impress your family and friends without making you a wreck before you even get them to the table.
With basics like Tomato Soup and French Farmer’s Soup to the more exotic recipes like Thai Hot and Sour Shrimp Soup, I was pleased with the number and wide variety of soup recipes offered. I absolutely love the cooler Fall and Winter months, and even early Spring when there’s still a chill in the air. With the house closed up and a pot of my favorite soup simmering on the stove, nothing says “home” better. The recipes are all so delicious sounding that the only problem I can foresee is deciding which ones to make!
Then I got to the pasta section… Being the starch addict that I am, I had to stop and pay homage to the traditional Baked Macaroni and Cheese recipe on page eighty-one, which I promptly decided to make this week. I had a mental grocery list all made up and was ready to head to the market but then I discovered the Pulled-Pork Macaroni and Cheese with Caramelized Onions and Four Cheeses recipe, and well… Just tell me that doesn’t sound to-die-for!
And the Breakfast and Brunch section? Who doesn’t love starting their day with a hot, fluffy omelet or waffles drenched in syrup? What a wonderful assortment of easy to make, sure to become favorites recipes.
Well, I could go on and on, but if you’re not convinced by now, there’s just no hope for you. So just go on with your silly self and head to McDonald’s where they’ve got a piece of deep fried cardboard on a stale bun with your name on it. The rest of us will be planning our meals around the recipes found in this book. Soups, stews, casseroles, sandwiches and much, much more – yes, like I said, I do believe I’ve found a new “go-to” cookbook!
This ebook was provided to me by netgalley.com in behalf of Taunton Press. This had no influence on my rating or review. -
As someone who is not a great lover of cooking but who likes good food, 'Fine Cooking Comfort Food' is an absolute must. It offers a great range of exciting meals which wouldn't be out of place in a good restaurant. The recipes are easy to follow and simple to prepare.
The book offers a wide selection of recipes which are colourful and tasty. I feel it would even be suitable for vegetarians as there are quite a number of meat-free dishes. I also love the hints and tips dotted throughout the book which are very useful. Thankfully for my husband, it is likely to turn me into a good cook.
This is quickly becoming my main cookbook. I have also recommended it to my friend who is an excellent cook to help extend her repertoire. -
The editors of Fine Cooking magazine have come out with a cookbook featuring comfort food recipes that are a bit like a cross between Paula Deen and Martha Stewart. Comfort Food will be a great asset to many kitchens but it may leave other cooks wanting more.
The cookbook features two hundred recipes for soups, stews, casseroles and more. Many of the recipes feature full-color photographs and the recipes are fairly easy to follow even when they are more elaborate dishes.
This is gourmet food, but generally accessible gourmet food. Home cooks won't need a cooking degree to make dishes like classic vichyssoise, brisket and bean chili, wild mushroom risotto, pulled pork macaroni and cheese with caramelized onions and four cheeses, turkey bolognese, and other common and uncommon comfort food dishes.
Some recipes are well-known classics that everyone will recognize, such as buttermilk pancakes, mashed potatoes, classic fried chicken and blueberry muffins. Others are decidedly upscale, such as braised duck legs with figs, star anise, and winter squash.
Fine Cooking does a good job of explaining the steps for techniques that may be new to cooks. The reader gets great information on how to make perfect mashed potatoes, how to carve meats, how to section and orange and other cooking techniques. They also have sidebars to give more information about less usual ingredients in some dishes, such as porchetta, garam masala, capers, parmigiano-reggiano cheese, copocollo, pasilla powder, masa harina and oncho chile powder.
Comfort Food would be a great cookbook for:
~ Intermediate cooks who would like to learn more advanced cooking techniques and improve their cooking.
~ Cooks looking for indulgent dishes to serve for company or special occasions.
~ Cooks who take great pleasure in serving over-the-top meals with the best ingredients.
Comfort Food may not be a good fit for:
~ People with allergies or on gluten free or grain restricting diets. The recipes rely heavily on wheat and dairy ingredients.
~ Vegetarians or vegans. Almost every recipe uses animal products, especially chicken stock, butter, cream and cheese. Meat or meat broth is added to almost every dish other than desserts and a few breakfast items. Vegetarians can often make easy substitutes such as switching vegetable stock for chicken stock, but it can be frustrating to have to figure out substitutions and omissions for even dishes like cornbread (which contains bacon).
~ People with health issues or who are watching their weight. Most recipes are high in fat and calories. The recipes use lots of cream, cheese, pasta, butter and meat. Vegetables are decidedly underused.
~ Frugal cooks. The ingredients used in the cookbook are the best quality and may make many of these dishes out of financial reach for everyday cooking.
~ Cooks without a lot of time for cooking. Very few of these recipes are good choices for last minute meals or scrambling to get dinner on the table after work.
~ Cooks in more rural areas. It can be hard in Southern Minnesota to find ingredients like wild lime leaves (though they are optional), saffron threads or grana padano.
People following popular "traditional" diets like paleo diets or Nourishing Traditions diets will probably find the cookbook hit or miss, too. On the plus side, you won't find any artificial ingredients, preservatives or packaged foods used in these recipes. These are often recipes your great grandma might have made (as long as she was fairly rich and had a lot of time on her hands). There are some classic recipes that might be quite helpful, such as best-ever roast chicken (using only kosher salt, pepper and olive oil). However, the copious use of dairy products, wine, chocolate and other restricted foods makes many recipes off-limits for true paleo dieters and the heavy use of wheat and other grains will also cancel out a lot of recipes.
Comfort Food is a good read to round out your cooking skills, especially if you're a beginner cook. It's also great for those elaborate special occasion dishes where you really want to impress.
I would definitely recommend purchasing the book if you were opening an upscale bed and breakfast, if you hosted your own fine cooking blog or were really serious about cooking and your family did not have any special dietary concerns. For others, it may be a good book to peruse at the library. -
This is yet another winner from the 'Fine Cooking...' range of books which was supplied in e-format and that I am definately going to buy in print to add to my ever growing cookery book collection.
It has what it says on the cover and that is a book full of mouth watering recipes for everyday comfort foods. It contains recipes for breakfasts & brunch, sandwiches, soups & chowders, stews & chilis, pasta & grains, casseroles and desserts. It even has recipes for side dishes to accompany the mains.
Each recipe has clear and easy to follow steps which help you to produce the perfect meal everytime. Nutritional information is also given so you know how many calories, fats etc that is in each serving. All the ingredients are easily recognised and obtained without having to search out specialist retailers.
This will definately be a fine addition to MY kitchen!
ARC provided by Taunton Press via Netgalley.
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For the halal recipes only! :p
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Easy to follow and simple to prepare recipes that make you feel like you're dining at a very fine restaurant and a great range of tasty meals (from breakfast, to soups, stews, pastas, side dishes and more). The steps and the techniques are very well explained, and that makes it easy to follow even to people who are not familiar with those dishes or not that great at cooking, lol.
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Often it feels that nearly all food is, in fact, comfort food. After all, it invariably makes us feel happy until. perhaps, we stand on the weighing scales!
In any case here is an interesting book that promises a couple of hundred recipes that should help "prop up the spirits" and act as a comfort. Perhaps of particular use within the colder, more inclement times of the year but many of the recipes can also be of interest year-round.
Split into several sections - soups & chowders, stews & chills, pasta & grains, one-pot meals, casseroles & more, breakfasts & brunch, sandwiches, sides and deserts, the reader is able to flip through the book with ease and find something of inspiration. A sub-index may be found at the start of each section.
Each recipe is simply laid out and accompanied by a nice picture of the finished dish to help you get an idea of how it should look and, perhaps, provide an additional means of inspiration during times of indecision. The cooking instructions are factual and to the point and do not labour any point through flowery or overly-complex text. This is a good thing.
For those who care about this sort of thing, each recipe includes nutritional and calorific information for every serving.
It was pleasing to note that the book is full of additional tips, hints and guides that are not specific to the recipe to which they accompany. The reader who just picks this book up and skips through it might miss a lot of otherwise useful information. The selection of recipes seems to be quite broad so that one should not tire of a particular style of food easily. The quality of the recipes can be applauded as well. One could describe this as a good balanced book for family meals as the preparation and cooking of individual recipes is not particularly onerous or advanced as to be off-putting for those with a busy lifestyle.
At the end of the book there is said to be a table showing metric equivalencies, details about contributors and an index. However an opinion cannot be formed on these (some indices can be good, some dire) since the version of this book provided for review did not have these! So if you value the ability to learn and read more about contributors or place a lot of reliance on an index, you should check this book out at a bookstore first.
In conclusion. A good little book from what we could see. It may, or may not, be enhanced by the index and further information provided, however.
Fine Cooking Comfort Food, written by Fine Cooking Magazine and published by The Taunton Press. ISBN 9781600854088, 256 pages. Typical price: GBP13. YYYY.
// This review appeared in YUM.fi and is reproduced here in full with permission of YUM.fi. YUM.fi celebrates the worldwide diversity of food and drink, as presented through the humble book. Whether you call it a cookery book, cook book, recipe book or something else (in the language of your choice) YUM will provide you with news and reviews of the latest books on the marketplace. // -
For all you cooking enthusiasts out there, I bring you to you *ta-da* 'Fine cooking comfort food'. Ok, don't think too much about the title, I don't like it too. But the book, that's another story.
This book is your one-stop shop for all the goodies you plan to cook in your kitchen. First off, it's not at all boring. It's so colorful and beautiful that I can't get my eyes off the pictures.
Ya, ya, you want me to talk about what's cooking. Well, lots, 200 to be precise. You heard it right. This book contains 200 recipes that include soups, stews, pastas, casseroles, breakfast/ brunch, sandwiches, sides and desserts. What in the world are you going to cook that this book does not have?
Alright, a warning, it contains both vegetarian and non-vegetarian recipes. I know most of you are cool with that but I just wanted to let you know.
So what's different, you ask? There are too many cookbooks out there. Hmm..
For one, it is a very neat book. The ingredients and recipes are lined side by side, making it easier for you to glance back and forth instead of turning the pages while cooking and putting your dirty hands on this book.
And then, if you are calorie conscious or healthfreakenthusiast, after each recipe, the number of calories, fat, protein, carb and all other mineral quantities are noted.
Now since I have this big sweet tooth, I automatically flipped the pages until desserts arrived. One look at the picture of 'Classic carrot cake with vanilla cream cheese frosting' and ah, I went to heaven. Ok, ok, I'm coming back!
And wow, it even teaches you how to ice a cake. I know most of you will be looking at me with your eyebrows shot, but I'm sorry, I'm really bad at icing. It's not like I can't boil water, it's icing, and one needs to be perfect. Ahem, ahem, *shifts collar*.
The step by step account, easy and enough pictures todie forguide you, this book is a gem for all of you out there. It has basic recipes to some difficult ones too. So, there is always something for everyone to cook.
And I love the cute little boxes, that have great tips, from dressing, to making dough without a food processor to how to get brownies out of the pan. Marvellous!
Oh my God, I just had a look at the "Real Chocolate Mousse" and I'm out of here and into the kitchen. -
Fine Cooking Comfort Food in Need of a Bit of Comfort
Since I have not had the opportunity to review many cookbooks, I must warn readers that I fully intend to treat each, and every, book that I review the same, i.e. reviewing on its literary merit, format, and presentation. That said, this work has both good and not-so-good points. Some of the shortcomings come in the way of formatting.
The illustrations within this work are clear and well-done photos, although some of the chosen illustrations could be a bit larger to aid the full affect each dish. There is no set format size of the photos at all. Where other cookbooks might choose one of two sizes for a collection’s illustrations, such a rule is not followed within this text. The fact is, many of the internal photos would have been more appetizing looking than the one chosen for the cover of the collection.
The text itself is too small for either digital or print formats in many cases and fairly good in others. Some recipes maintain a devoted page, and others share with another recipe. However, parts of the collection cover half a page and are set alone. Again, such formatting issues show a lack of attention on the creators’ part and just as little on the publishers’ part for not catching such problems. Such a lack of attention to a work tells readers that the project was either a last-minute project or a try at an idea that was not felt to warrant much attention.
The sad fact is that with a name like “Fine Cooking Comfort Food,” and brag of “200 delicious recipes” the book fails to produce the welcoming presentation, which every cook knows is of high importance. Frankly, it looks as if it is a conglomeration of recipes pulled from the magazine and not even reformatted to fit the larger publication needs. The other problem is the “200 delicious recipes”. The truth is that many of the recipes are just variations on one recipe, such as meatloaf or macaroni-n-cheese. It is a real same the work was not given the “comfort” it deserved and needs. This could easily have been a kitchen must. -
If you enjoy trying new things in the kitchen, are looking for that spectacular 'date night' recipe sure to impress, have a social function to cater, or just want to step up from the standard home-cooked comfort food kind of menu, this is the cookbook for you.
Overall, I found the recipes included here to be very interesting and intriguing and plan to try several myself. The ingredients lists, generally speaking, were not too 'exclusive,' meaning you shouldn't have difficulty in finding most of the items in your local grocery store or farmer's market/produce stand.
The organization of content was well-done, but the index was not included in my copy, so I can not speak to whether it was too heavy, all inclusive, etc.
There were many good tips, and related to the recipe info scattered throughout, inset in text boxes to set them apart so that they catch the eye amongst all the other content on the page, but I would have liked to see all of that also added in as an appendix to the rest for easy reference. Beautiful color photos showcase the dishes as well.
I would call the skill level required for these recipes to be 'intermediate.' Most of them require some work and processing of ingredient to make, but there were few truly difficult inclusions, plus there were several that seemed very simple.
Many of the recipes found here are new spins on old classics, but there are some things here that are new to me, and i would agree with the title, that these are bigtime 'comfort foods' covering the full range of categories from appetizers to desserts, but with somthing of a gourmet twist.
While probably a lil fancified to try putting on my table except for special occassions, I would give it a solid four out of five. -
Read entire review on my blog (
http://midlifermusings.blogspot.com/2...)
Fine Cooking Comfort Food by Fine Cooking Magazine is a book that has an abundance of classic comfort good recipes (Beef Stew with Root Vegetables, pg. 48; Turkey Noodle Casserole, pg. 91; and Classic Scalloped Potatoes, pg. 208), basic cooking tips & secrets (How to Make the Perfect Omelet, pg. 163; How to Ice a Cake, pg. 231), as well as twists on the "standards" (Apple Crisp with Pecans and Orange, pg. 233; Turkey Soup with Dill, Parsley and Chive Dumplings; and Braised Beef Short Ribs with Salsa Verde and Feta, pg. 120).
When I thought of the perfect comfort pasta dish, I turned to the first page of the section and what did I find...Baked Macaroni & Cheese! I made it, shared it and it's was a hit so I'll be making again and again! Then, the next 4 recipes consist of variations on the classic - Pulled-Pork Macaroni & Cheese with Caramelized Onions and Four Cheeses, pg. 78; Tex-Mex Macaroni & Cheese with Green Chiles, pg. 79; Quick Skillet Mac and Cheese, pg. 80; and Shells with Gorgonzola, pg. 81).
Even in an electronic format, the bounty of pictures portrayed the simple, colorful, crisp elegance of comfort food - making your mouth water and your tummy growl.
I think this is a great first cookbook! I'm looking forward to making a purchase and giving it as a housewarming gift for the next friend's kid or one of my cousins who moves into their first "grown-up" pad.
Even though it's April and I live in SoCal, it's still a little chilly at night, so I'll be making "Classic Grilled Cheese" (pg. 186), and paring it with, what else, but "Classic Tomato Soup" (pg. 4)! -
What a lovely, lovely book with non-intimidating recipes that make the most of the clever combinations of ingredients. From simple to sensational, each dish is clearly defined in preparation techniques. Additional cooking tips and beautiful color photos are generously offered throughout the book. "Fine Cooking Comfort Food: 200 Delicious Recipes for Soups, Stews, Casseroles & More" is a fantastic offering from "Fine Cooking" magazine. If you are a well-seasoned cook, or a kitchen beginner wanting to expand your culinary repertoire, you will love this book! The soups and stews are sensational: "Root Vegetable & Barley Soup with Bacon"; "Thai Hot & Sour Shrimp Soup"; "Spicy Sausage, Escarole, & White Bean Stew", to name a few. There are three knockout meatloaf versions, including: "Bacon-Wrapped Meatloaf with Mushroom Gravy". You will also find a tempting array of pasta dishes, sides, and veggies. Then there are the desserts, like "Coffee-Toffee Pecan Pie"--oh, my! If you seek comfort and sustenance from well-flavored foods with moderate ease of preparation, and a range from savory to sweet, then you will be well-comforted indeed!
Review Copy Gratis The Taunton Press -
This is a mouthwatering cookbook....sooo many good recipes with a lot of variations and plenty of "tips and tricks" to help along the way. This is going to be one of my "go to" cookbooks cause hey, you can never go wrong with comfort food!
This book was provided by the Publisher through NetGalley for an honest review -
This is a great book to help people get into the world of fine cooking. It has tips and tricks that can help you become a better cook. And a lot of the recipes that sound great and would be a great by for anyone. There are recipes for any occasion in this books.from soups, chill, stew,pasta ,and much more.
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This book made me hungry. The pictures made the book lose 1 star because they didn't do justice to the recipes. I now have a few recipes to try and some that I've made. The best part of the book isn't the recipes though, but the cooking and baking tips. I just wish there was an e-book available for purchase on Amazon. I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
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Even though most of the recipes probably would not be to my family's taste, this is a beautiful cookbook. Plenty of great photos (a must for a cookbook, in my opinion) and directions that are to the point and don't look to difficult.
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There are some fantastic recipes that are so tasty in this book. I hate it when you buy a cookbook and only use 1 recipe. Well with this one you will find more than one you'll want to try.
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Book provided by the publisher.
A great go-to cook book, filled with lots of yummy recipes
