Archive for the ‘Books’ Category
Mother’s Day Delights: Bringing a Special Touch to the Holiday
Whether you are looking for a special gift for Mother’s Day or would like to dazzle your mother with a delicious meal, Mother’s Day Delights is the perfect choice. Packed with recipes, insightful poetry, and information about the holiday, this cookbook is a treasure trove of inspiration. Even mothers who don’t do much cooking are sure to enjoy this book, for the recipes are quick and easy with clear instructions, and the results are always fabulous. On the other hand, if your mother is a kitchen whiz, she will be impressed by the quality and variety of recipes that range from appetizers to desserts, jams and jellies to soups, main dishes to side dishes and everything in between. Amaze your mother with a breakfast of Swedish Pancakes and a souffle, or serve her Baked Beef Burgundy and a tantalizing Confetti Chopped Salad for dinner–no matter what meal you choose to honor her with, she will be delighted. Many of the recipes are easy enough that the kids can help Dad out in the kitchen to make a special breakfast in bed, and some are even suitable for older children to make on their own.
My family tried out the Buttermilk Cloverleaf Rolls, the Steak with Sweet Onions, the Baked Potatoes with Stuffing, and the Chocolate Velvet Cake. The rolls were both aesthetically impressive and delicious, very light and buttery. The steak was incredible, as flavorful and tender as any steak we would find at an expensive restaurant. My husband may insist that it become a Father’s Day dinner too! We were pleasantly surprised at the way our kids devoured the potatoes despite the tofu in the stuffing, and thought that it was a great way to add protein to this normally starchy side dish. The cake was best of all–and not just because I’m a chocoholic: it was very moist and rich, truly velvety. Karen Hood has come up with a unique way to add a special touch to the traditional chocolate cake recipe, and I continue to be impressed by her cooking experience and the quality of her Cookbook Delights series.
Order your copy of Mother’s Day Delights today!
Make this Spring unforgettable with Easter Delights
Easter Delights is a cookbook that is destined to become a well-loved classic, filled with over 240 delicious recipes that will make planning for this holiday a breeze. Even at a glance, it is clear that author Karen Hood has chosen recipes that reflect the freshness and vibrance of Spring, using seasonal ingredients that bring dazzling flavors to life. Cooks of all experience and skill will be thrilled with this book, for it offers both traditional dishes and inspiring new recipes that are laid out in a consistent format that is easy to understand and follow. Whether you want to create an elegant brunch or a satisfying dinner, this cookbook provides everything you need to make your Easter meal a success.
While the garden freshness of many of the other appetizers appealed strongly to me, I simply couldn’t resist trying out the Empress Chicken Wings. These Asian style wings were amazing, very flavorful without being overly hot and spicy like most recipes I have tried in the past. The selection of light, fruity beverages were so tempting that I had trouble picking just one. The Springtime Freezy Punch was easy to make and got high marks from my entire family, and I can easily imagine how well it will compliment an Easter brunch. For dinner, we had Roast Pork Tenderloin with Cherry Cranberry Glaze, Garlic Bacon Cheddar Mashed Potatoes, and Sweet & Nutty Holiday Peas. All of the food was outstanding, the pork tender and the glaze delightful, the mashed potatoes so packed with flavor that I don’t think we’ll ever be able to go back to eating them plain. The peas were downright amazing. I must confess that I have never liked peas and was actually a bit nervous about how this side dish would be received at the dinner table. No one complained, and there wasn’t a single pea left, not even on my plate.
There are so many enticing recipes in Easter Delights that I will be cooking up a storm for some time to come. I am very impressed with the variety, elegance, and quality of Hood’s recipes–she has transformed me from a shy and inexperienced housewife into a first-class hostess always excited for the next family gathering! My husband’s large (and rather daunting) extended family will be coming to Easter at our house for the first time this year, and with Easter Delights in hand I have no worries about making a good impression. There are recipes for everything I could want, from delicious desserts and sweet treats to fancy quiches and salad dressings. Traditional Easter foods like hot cross buns, deviled eggs, and the classic Easter ham are just the beginning: there is also Bourbon Pecan Roast Chicken, Spiced Cherry Salad, Greek Lemon Chicken Soup, and much more. Now the only trouble is deciding which amazing recipes will make up my holiday menu…
Valentine Delights: Culinary Romance
Valentine Delights is a wonderful new cookbook by prolific author and cook Karen Jean Matsko Hood. Packed with delicious recipes, poetry, and fun tidbits of folklore and history, it is sure to be treasured year-round. Designed to achieve a lovely aesthetic as well as thrill the tastebuds, the recipes in this book will add a sumptuous touch to any special or romantic occasion.
Valentine Delights is an invaluable help when planning a memorable evening for your loved one. Hood’s inspired recipes take the stress out of cooking a special meal, giving clear, simple instructions that create truly spectacular dishes. No matter what culinary taste you are trying to achieve, you are sure to find a menu to suit. The extras added to all Whispering Pine Press cookbooks make Valentine Delights stand out even more, providing inspiration for new ways to celebrate the holiday and show your love for the special person in your life.
My family tried out the Chicken Pepperoni, Potatoes Dauphinouise, and Cream Cheese Cookie Hearts. We were all very impressed with the Chicken Pepperoni, which is a fun and unexpected combination of pizza, chicken, and pasta–a good way to get picky eaters to try something new and healthier than Papa John’s or Pizza Hut. The Potatoes Daphinouise were delightfully creamy and cheesy, fancier than ordinary potatoes au gratin. I will be proud to take them as a side dish to family holiday gatherings, where in the past I have felt a bit outclassed by my sisters-in-law and their greater experience in the kitchen. My kids had alot of fun making the cookies, which are very simple and versatile. They are a bit like sugar cookies, but lighter and flakier, and the cream cheese gives them a really wonderful flavor. The cookies were gobbled up quickly, leaving everyone clamoring for more. They will definitely be a favorite at our house. I only wish that I had bought this cookbook in time for Valentine’s Day this year, but I am excited about the possibilities it gives me for creating special ‘date nights’ with my husband all year long, as well as wowing him on our anniversary and many Valentine’s Days to come.
Order your copy of Valentine Delights today!
Chocolate Delights: Decadence Beyond Dessert
Chocolate Delights Volume I may very well be the most incredible cookbook I have ever seen. Every single recipe is enticing and decadent, and many provide new ways to use chocolate or unique flavor combinations that are very exciting. My mother is a chocoholic and owned numerous chocolate cookbooks that I have perused extensively, but I have never seen anything like Karen Hood‘s Chocolate Delights. At over 300 pages, this collection of recipes covers far more than just desserts and sweet treats: there are also appetizers, main dishes, soups, even jams and jellies with chocolate in them–an idea that frankly knocked me off my feet–and much more.
As with other books in the Cookbook Delights series, recipes are laid out in a simple, consistent manner that is easy to understand, and there is a glossary of cooking terms and a measurement chart in the back to aid less experienced cooks. Added to this is a wealth of fascinating history, folklore, and helpful information. Find out the truth about white chocolate, learn about the chocolate festival celebrated by the ancient Mayans, and more. I found these sections very valuable, especially the information about the different types of chocolate. I was not aware how significant of an impact the different types have on the outcome of any recipe, both in taste and nutritional value. Now I have a good reference that will help me select the right kind of chocolate for any cooking situation.
All of the recipes that I read were clear and easy to follow, and the three recipes that I tried out with my family were alot of fun as well. We made the Mexican Coffee, Savory Chili with Pasta, and Orange Oatmeal Cookies. The chili was very quick and easy, and it was praised even by the picky eaters in my family. The cookies were our favorite recipe–simply amazing, crammed with delicious ingredients that I had never thought to put in oatmeal cookies before. The coffee was an excellent after-dinner treat for my husband and I, and we’ll definitely make it often. My entire family is really excited about trying out the rest of the recipes, and we are already eagerly anticipating the second volume of Chocolate Delights.
Order your copy of Chocolate Delights today!
| Bindings |
Christmas Delights: Delicious New Traditions Your Family will Love
Christmas Delights is not your average modern cookbook, a baker’s dozen recipes alongside full page photographs–pretty, but with little substance. No, this is your mother or grandmother’s cookbook, a weighty and serious volume with more than 200 scrumptious recipes divided into comprehensive sections that make it quick and easy to find exactly what you are looking for. The recipes are laid out in a clear and consistent manner, easy to follow and understand for even a kitchen novice. At the same time, more experienced cooks will not find themselves bored by the recipes, which offer many unique ideas and flavor combinations that are sure to tantalize the tastebuds.
Christmas Delights is packed with extras including the history of Christmas traditions around the world, the meaning of familiar Christmas symbols, even tips on how to care for your poinsettia. There are also several Christmas-themed poems by Karen Hood, and these have her usual simple yet elegant style, ensuring that this section of the book will be read and enjoyed time and time again. Further facts about Christmas are sprinkled throughout the cookbook, livening up the recipes with fun tidbits of trivia. There is also a US and Metric Measurement Chart in the back, an invaluable assistance for conversions and measuring ingredients; a glossary of cooking terms that will help even an inexperienced cook feel comfortable in the kitchen; and an alphabetized index of recipes.
Karen Jean Matsko Hood has a great deal of experience in the kitchen, and it definitely shows. I tried out several of the recipes: Ham Casserole Supreme, Artichoke Green Chile Dip, and Butternut Ball Cookies. The ham casserole made a wonderful dinner that my entire family loved, a very flavorful and unique twist on the old favorite macaroni and cheese. The dip was very quick and easy to make, and again provided an unexpected and delightful twist on the usual artichoke dip that I am familiar with. The cookies also made a big hit, and were alot of fun to make. I have looked through many of the other recipes in the book and am very excited about trying them out. There are many fun ideas that any parent or grandparent will love to make with their little ones. The Cookie Casserole in particular looks like it will be a blast for children, and every recipe I turn to sounds delicious. This is definitely a cookbook my family will enjoy not just at the holidays, but all year long.
Order your copy of Christmas Delights today!
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