Better Homes And Gardens New Cook Book (2003) - Plot & Excerpts
I love cooking and everything, but I always end up trying only about 2-3 recipes per cookbook. (Am I alone here?) With this cookbook, I only tried dessert recipes being I wanted to sell at school and bake a cake for my mother's bday.Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting (page 154)This recipe was insanely easy. That type of easy you experience when you realize things are going TOO well, so there must be something wrong. I actually used Philadelphia cheesecake filling as the base instead of regular cream cheese. I have no regrets in making that switch. The icing was pretty good, not superb, but tasty enough. Two problems: there was an extremely large amount of confectioners sugar and it hardly tasted like lemon -(it's "Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting"for Pete's sake!)- The sugar was basically the prominent taste, it overpowered the lemon and dairy. Tongue says: nope, no lemon. Nope, no cream cheese. Ahhh, what's that?? Semi-liquefied sugar. Yep, that's what it is. I mean there was 4 cups of sugar compared to only 6 ounces (3/4 cups) of cream cheese. I guess the measurements may be justified once spread over a cupcake because it would dilute the flavor. Overall: * */* * * * *Chocolate Cake (page 155)As far as I remember, this one turned out well. It was tasty, not too thick and not too moist. I added in 2 mashed bananas to give it a good twist. It made for an attractive texture.Overall: * * */* * * * *Banana Cake (page 161)The cake was just too dense and thick but I have to say it was not the recipe's fault. I, being the savvy person I am, used regular wheat flour because that's what I had on hand (the recipe requires all-purpose). I believe all-purpose is proccessed with yeast or some sort of rising-agent. So that's what I've concluded in reference to the reasoning of the cake being thick and bread-like. Overall: * * */* * * * *So those are all the recipes I've tried thus far. I'm moving on from desserts now! Soon, I hope to try out:Oriental Cashew Asparagus (page 512)Ratatouille (page 518)Easy Roasted Potatoes (page 524)
Absolutely, hands down, my favorite and most used cookbook. This particular edition was a redesign to support the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation and features a 32-page section that promotes breast cancer awareness, survivor recipe favorites and healthful eating.That just adds to my enjoyment of the book. This, as well as the original edition, is a comprehensive must-have for every kitchen. It is also an excellent gift for a fledgling cook or anyone who wishes to expand their skills. The first section (after the pink pages) covers kitchen equipment, food safety, food storage (and make-ahead cooking), ingredients, meal planning, measuring, nutrition, seasonings, and techniques. But that isn't all. There is also a helpful section on menu planning, setting tables, etc. etc. etc. And I haven't even gotten to the recipes yet! This book presents a vast array of recipes covering several types of cuisine. You'll find classic favorites as well as recipes featuring ingredients that have become American kitchen standards. Though there are recipes in this book that have become family musts, I have confidence in using any new recipe when it catches my eye. BHG has never let me down by making an error in instruction, measurement or technique. It is also a practical cookbook in that it doesn't have me dashing off to the store for some exotic ingredient someone featured on a cooking show and we-all-must-try (and probably cannot find in our local stores). Know what I mean?If you have only one cookbook in your kitchen it should be this one!
What do You think about Better Homes And Gardens New Cook Book (2003)?
Of all my cookbooks - and I LOVE cookbooks!! - I would have thought this would be one of my favorites. Not even close. There are very few recipes in this book that I have made more than once. For example, don't even bother with the banana muffins. They tasted like a big lump of baking soda. Way too salty and no flavor at all. I won't bother making them again. All in all, I don't recommend this one, particularly to beginner cooks. You'll never want to learn to cook if you try these crappy recipes first. I actually would rather give this only 1/2 a star but there isn't that option.
—Shar Hoff
Hands down, my most-used cookbook. It was the first cookbook I bought when I got my first apartment. I was poor and opted for the mass-market paperback version and over the past 30 years it has disintegrated. I recently decided to replace it with a fancy, shiny new spiral bound copy. It looks pretty and it's okay but in my opinion, it's not as good as my old one. Many of my favorite recipes are missing so it sits on the shelf. I take down my battered old faithful, held together with packing tape and a rubber band, and find the recipe I need. A classic!
—Jackie
I think My Mom gave me this one as a graduation present. It's not quite as good as having her in the kitchen with me, but the recipes remind me of childhood: 3-bean salad, cowboy coffee cake, corn chowder, snickerdoodles, spanish rice and all the candy and canning recipes My Mom has a knack for and I usually don't have the guts to try on my own. I love how they keep coming out with new versions of the "New Cookbook" and this version is extra special because of the section with "All-Time Favorites". It's like looking through some of My Mom's old editions.The thing about the book is that all the things it's really good to know are in there from how many teaspoons are in a tablespoon (3) to what to substitute if your recipe calls for baking powder and you happen to be out. The recipes are tried-and-true "American Food" and if you make one for a potluck it will get eaten. Especially "Black Beans and Corn with Salsa Dressing."
—Amanda
