Fans of Martha Stewart Living Magazine will enjoy The Martha Stewart Living Cookbook: The Original Classics. This book is not just for Stewart's current fans, however. This thorough, comprehensive collection of recipes and techniques could be a valuable kitchen asset to any home cook. Different from many other cookbooks out there due to the volume of recipes included and the lack of concern for flashy formatting and styling, this simple and straightforward cookbook is a real wealth of culinary information.
Cookbook Contents and Features
In addition to the 1,000 plus recipes compiled in this cookbook, the book's features also include information on preparing to cook. For instance, there is a section about how to stock the pantry, which provides lists of pantry staples, baking needs, refrigerated goods, and specialty items. Equipment lists are also included, discussing small appliances, pots and pans, tools and gadgets and baking equipment.
Seasonal menu suggestions are also given, with numerous options for Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter. Menu samples include:
- A Sunday Brunch with Friends for a Spring meal
- Dinner on the Beach for a Summer menu
- A Pumpkin Carving Party for the Fall
- An Ice Skating Party for the Winter
Each menu lists several dishes to include from within the recipes of the cookbook.
Martha Stewart Living: Recipes
Recipe chapters included in this book consist of: "Starters," "Soups and Stews," "Salads," "Sandwiches and Savory Pies," "Pasta, Rice, and Grains," "Meat," "Poultry," "Fish and Shellfish," "Meatless Main Dishes," "Side Dishes," "Breads," "Breakfast and Brunch," "Drinks," "Salsas, Sauces, Dips, and More," "Basics," and several chapters on various desserts and baking dishes including "Fruit Desserts," "Frozen Desserts," "Cakes," and "Cookies and Candy," to name a few.
One drawback to having so many recipes in one book, is that the book is very large. It can be difficult to carry around. Likewise, due to the number of recipes, it is not practical to include a color photo for each dish. Therefore, there are only a few pages of color photos included at the beginning of the book. While the photos are beautiful, there are no photos included for most of the dishes within the book.
Recipe Chapters
The chapters "Starters," "Soups and Stews," and "Salads" provide numerous recipe options. Starters include deviled eggs, shrimp potstickers, hush puppies, and over 70 others. "Soups and Stews" feature recipes like creamy tomato soup, New England clam chowder, and black bean and tomato chili. There are plenty of salad recipes to choose from in the "Salads" chapter, which covers starter salads, side salads, main course salads, and salad dressings.
Other chapters, like "Sandwiches and Savory Pies," provide recipes for classic dishes like burgers and pizzas. The "Pasta, Rice, and Grains" chapter has a wide variety of dishes, like macaroni and four cheeses, pad Thai, and wild mushroom risotto. Meat recipes feature beef, lamb, pork, veal, and game dishes; the "Poultry" chapter contains recipes like chicken potpie, deep-fried turkey, and roast goose with dressing 101. Hundreds of dessert recipes can be found in chapters like "Pies and Tarts" and "Pastries."
Cooking Basics and Cooking Tips
Dispersed throughout the recipe chapters are useful suggestions, tips, and how-tos. Learn techniques like how to prepare a prime rib roast, how to make fried chicken, and how to make pizza dough. Helpful suggestions are given, too, like "what to put on your burger" and "meat loaf tips." These sections are included within most of the chapters, and they can help the reader personalize the dish or avoid common cooking mistakes.
The book also provides a "Basics" chapter, which is useful for inexperienced cooks. Here, find recipes for simple stocks, sauces, and pastries, for example. Use the easy-to-follow instructions for how to toast nuts, caramelize onions, peel and pit a mango, and much more, as well. This chapter may not be necessary for more experienced cooks, but it is a valuable tool for many home cooks.
Overall, The Martha Stewart Living Cookbook: The Original Classics is a definite asset to just about anyone's kitchen. It is full of recipes ranging from the basic to the impressive, and all of them are clear and easy to follow. The additional features of the book are very handy, as well.
Publication Information:
The Martha Stewart Living Cookbook: The Original Classics, Revised and Updated
New York: Clarkson Potter, 2000, 2007.
Retail Price: $35.00
ISBN: 978-0-307-39382-1
Jeris Swanhorst - After earning a Bachelor's degree in English, Literature from Minnesota State University, Mankato in 2005, Jeris Swanhorst went on to earn ...
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