Errant Dreams Reviews
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Posts Tagged ‘cooking’

Last-Minute Mother’s Day Recommendations

Tuesday, May 5th, 2009

I wanted to chime in with a couple of last-minute recommendations for Mother’s Day. Thanks to quick shipping, it isn’t too late if these look good to you!

For cat lover moms: Purry Logic by Jane Seabrook.

It’s a little gift-book filled with charming cat art, each piece accompanied by the perfect cat-spirational saying. What struck me the most as I read through this book was the utter perfection of the expressions on these cats faces and their poses, and how hilariously true to life they were.

For witty moms: Give the Bitch Her Chocolate by Polish & Wotz.

Polish and Wotz pair together vulgar, offensive, sarcastic witticisms (yes, pretty much everyone can find something to be offended by in here) with darling vintage illustrations of housewives, families, and husbands. Those illustrations take on delightful new meaning when paired with such sayings as “should I be expected to stay sober all morning?”

For vegetarian moms with a sweet tooth: Mollie Katzen’s Recipes: Desserts.

…from date-nut cake to iced carob brownies, lemon mousse to chocolate crepes, baked custard to whole wheat poppy seed cookies. Notes often guide the reader as to acceptable substitution of soy milk and similar ingredients. These aren’t low-fat low-sugar recipes, but they do make good use of plenty of fruits, nuts, and fresh ingredients of all kinds.

For baking moms: the Calphalon 2 qt ceramic baker.

My favorite features of the ceramic baker are its versatility and the ease of cleaning. A two quart volume is just about perfect for most uses, and it’s nice to have another piece of cookware that’s safe for both the oven and the microwave, and can be used to put leftovers straight into the fridge or freezer.

For moms who are Nora Roberts fans: Vision in White.

I’m not a “perfect wedding” daydreamer. I had a very small and simple wedding and loved it that way. But Nora Roberts makes the business of weddings so funny, poignant, and engaging that I absolutely loved reading about it.

I won’t say what I’m getting for my mother, since her package might not have reached her yet. But I will say it can be found on this list!

Cuisipro measuring spoons

Friday, October 31st, 2008

Pros: Handy odd sizes; balance well on counters; dishwasher-safe; sturdy
Cons: None
Rating: 5 out of 5

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“The Big Book of Backyard Cooking,” Betty Rosbottom

Saturday, October 18th, 2008

Pros: Delicious!
Cons: A few photos might be nice
Rating: 5 out of 5

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“One Bite at a Time,” Rebecca Katz

Monday, September 8th, 2008

Pros: Incredibly delicious & healthy recipes; wonderful tips regarding flavor; fantastic empathy for cancer patients
Cons: None
Rating: 5 out of 5

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“Spices & Herbs” (CIG) Leslie Bilderback, CMB

Monday, June 16th, 2008

Pros: Great info for exploratory and adventuresome cooks; plenty of uses for herbs & spices; delicious recipes; handy sources
Cons: Most of the spice mixes are on a very large scale; a handful of typesetting and editing snafus that can confuse slightly; no suggested substitutions
Rating: 4 out of 5

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“Slow Cooker Cooking” 2d ed (CIG) Ellen Brown

Thursday, June 5th, 2008

Pros: Handy information; versatile recipes; wide variety of recipes; helpful tips
Cons: No recipe photos; one or two missing details; not the approach that some folks will be looking for
Rating: 4.5 out of 5

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“Baking with Agave Nectar,” Ania Catalano

Monday, May 19th, 2008

Pros: Delicious & so much healthier!
Cons: Occasional mild structural problems
Rating: 5 out of 5

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“The Superfood Cookbook” (CIG) James & McIndoo

Thursday, May 1st, 2008

Pros: Fascinating information; wonderfully delicious recipes (easy, too!)
Cons: No recipe photos
Rating: 5 out of 5

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“Gluten-Free Eating” (CIG) Adamson & Thompson

Tuesday, April 29th, 2008

Pros: A wealth of useful information & encouragement; good recipes
Cons: No recipe photos
Rating: 5 out of 5

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“Sticky, Chewy, Messy, Gooey,” Jill O’Connor

Monday, April 28th, 2008

Pros: Gorgeous photos; tempting recipes; wonderful flavors; sugar levels that could kill you!
Cons: Some flavors aren’t as expected; O the excess pounds!
Rating: 4.5 out of 5

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