Fantastical Feature: 101 One-Dish Dinners

image via Netgalley

Synopsis:
One-dish is a winning formula for today's busy families. In 101 One-Dish Dinners, Andrea Chesman shows off the versatility of Dutch ovens, skillets, and casserole pans. Classic baked dishes like ham and potato gratin, chicken potpie, and vegetable lasagne go head-to-head with diverse stovetop suppers like jambalaya, seafood paella, and pad Thai. For those looking for something a little lighter but still filling, there are plenty of meal-in-a-bowl salads and timeless soups. Serve up a nourishing meal tonight with little fuss and fewer dishes! - via Netgalley

Thoughts:

There was no hesitation for me to request a copy of this cookbook on Netgalley. I was so happy when it was gifted my way. I love one pot/one dish/one skillet meals. Basically, any meal that is going to mean less dishes for me is going to be high up on my favorites list! I picked out 5 recipes to make from the book to incorporate in my already planned out monthly meal plan. I decided upon Beef Stew, Ham & Potato Gratin, Chicken Tetrazzini, Minestrone alla Genovese, and Sausage and Kale with Garlic Roasted Potatoes. There were a million other recipes I wanted to try, but these were the ones that really spoke to me. I love the format of this cookbook. It's super colorful and easy to read. What I really love is that the ingredients list is on the right and the directions are on the left. I never really realized that that was a format that was easier for me to read, but it is!

I got around to making all but the Ham & Potato Gratin (which I am so bummed about because it had gruyere in it!) Somehow the pictures of the Beef Stew did not make it, but I do have pictures of the other three recipes that were all keepers. The Beef Stew had the option for turnips or rutabagas which we have never tried, so we did turnips. I'm not sure how I felt about them, but the kids didn't seem to mind at all. It was still a fantastic, traditional-style beef stew.

The Chicken Tetrazzini was the first recipe up and I chose it because I have my mom-in-law's recipe and I literally butcher hers every single time. So I am basically on a quest to find something that even comes close to hers and this definitely was it. I really loved the addition of green beans in it. It will definitely be one we will make again.

Next up is the Sausage and Kale with Garlic Roasted Potatoes - literally no bad words in that title! This was my favorite of the 4 made and I have made it again two more times already (which is completely unheard of for me). Mason also really loved this one and mooched when I had leftovers for lunch - all three times :)

And last, the Minestrone alla Genovese which is Genoa's version of minestrone - what makes it stand apart? You add pesto at the very end! Another win for all of us. Plus it had kale, pasta, and more beans. I made a lot of kale and bean recipes!

101 One-Dish Dinners gets 4 Utensils from me! There is a great variety of recipes and they are all relatively easy to make and there is little clean up afterwards!

You can find 101 One-Dish Dinners on Amazon

 

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Fantastical Feature: Cast-Iron Cooking

 image via amazon

Synopsis:
Get the most from your cast-iron cookware with 40 fabulous recipes especially designed for cast iron, from a full English breakfast to chilaquiles, pan pizza, cheesy beer fondue, Korean fried chicken, vegetarian chili, mango curry, party nuts, two kinds of cornbread, baked apples, gingerbread — and the perfect grilled cheese sandwich! You’ll also learn how to buy the cast-iron pots and pans that are right for you and how to care for them successfully. - via amazon

Fantastical Feature: Taste of Home: Recipes Across America

via Amazon.

Any time that NetGalley has a Taste of Home cookbook available, I always request to get it. I adore Taste of Home cookbooks and have yet to have a bad recipe out of one of the cookbooks.

Recipes Across America is broken up into different sections of the United States. As always, there were amazing pictures and easy-to-follow directions for each recipe.

Fantastical Feature: Food Network Magazine #3

As part of my spring cleaning, I gathered up all my Food Network magazines and put them on one of our bookshelves with sticky note tabs placed on pages of recipes I want to make. Then I finally got around to making some of them over the last couple of months, so here are SOME of those that I highly recommend. I can't be completely positive, but I think that Food Network posts their magazine recipes online.

From The Light Issue, January/February 2012.

Penne with Turkey Ragu, p. 72.

This one was my first recipe with leeks. I have to say I really liked the texture and overall flavor of the dish. It was simple, but delicious.

Baked Buffalo Wings (with Blue Cheese-Yogurt Dip that I didn't make), p. 104.

I'm not a fan of blue cheese and that's why I didn't make the dip to go with these wings. I think they were made spicy purposefully because of the dip and so these were a little too much heat for the kids and me. I do think that for those who like blue cheese, it is a recipe to test out!

From The Chocolate Issue, March 2012.

Cocoa-Rubbed Steak (with Bacon-Whiskey Gravy that I didn't make), p. 106.

My first time using chocolate in a savory dish and I loved it!

From Let's Grill, June 2012.

Kids'-Menu Burger, p. 92.

After seeing this burger in the grill edition, my kids were excited about me making it. I loved the French fries on top of the burger itself.

Grilled Pork Tenderloin with Corn on the Cob, p. 148.

This was a grilled seasoned pork tenderloin with a yummy sauce over the top. I didn't think I would like it as much as I did, but wow! The flavors all worked together perfectly.

Fantastical Feature: The American Craft Beer Cookbook

Disclaimer: I received an e-galley copy of this cookbook from NetGalley and Storey Publishing for my honest opinion.

 image via

Expected publication: Aug 27, 2013

Synopsis: The pleasure of going to the local pub or craft brewery for a pint and a delicious meal can now be recreated at home with John Holl's collection of 150 recipes that all taste amazingly great with beer. From pub grub and barbecue to appetizers, main dishes, side dishes, breakfast fare, and desserts, many of these dishes use beer as an ingredient, and all of them can be paired with your favorite brews. The recipes were contributed by brew pubs, craft brewers, and other beer lovers across the United States. You'll love the new twists on traditional favorites, such as Slow-Cooked Dopple Bock BBQ Meatballs and American Wheat Beer Steamed Clams, as well as unexpected recipes like Crawfish Bordelaise, Chopped Reuben Salad, Beermosas, Beer Ice Cream Floats, and Chocolate Jefferson Stout Cupcakes. - via Amazon.com

My Thoughts: When I saw this cookbook on NetGalley, I immediately applied to receive it. If y'all recall, I did a beer/homebrewing week on Fantastical in March! My husband has spent the better part of the last year homebrewing as a hobby and I've been along for the ride learning from osmosis. Since he is deployed, a huge goal for me is to brew a successful batch myself. This cookbook was full of so much insanely interesting stuff about brewing and brews.  The format itself is absolutely amazing - each page has something to learn, create, or drool over, not to mention a little bit of information on different bars, pubs, and dives all over the United States. As a newly-converted homebrewing enthusiast, this cookbook honestly captured all of my attention and I wanted to make everything.

One of my favorite features of the book is that the recipes with beer in them suggest a list of beers to use in the recipe. I have to admit - my brain is a bit foggy when it comes to words like lager and ale - so having a list of beers that I can use not only tells me exactly what I need to know, but also gives me options for taste preference!

I made three recipes out of the book, although I made plans for 8 recipes - but preparing for a deployment had me crunching some nights and not really getting free time on the weekends for stuff like the Beermosas [not going to risk drinking and then getting in my car for errands] or the Bavarian Cheese Spread. But what I did make...was the best!

Gouda Fondue

 I got my husband hooked on gouda cheese in 2012 and anytime I mention gouda is going into a recipe, he flips his lid. He goes nuts! When I said we were having fondue, he got even more excited. Then when I told him I had picked crusty French bread, carrots, and Granny Smith apples for dipping. The kids thought this snack was the coolest thing ever! Now I need to invest in a fondue warmer to make it more often.

Asparagus Risotto

 I have always wanted to try risotto, both eating-wise and also cooking it. It was definitely on my mental cooking bucket list. We discovered a Williams-Sonoma in the mall back home in April and they were cooking a Parm-Regg risotto for taste-testing. It was one of the best things I have ever eaten - although I'm sure I say that about a lot of things. When I found out that this cookbook had a risotto recipe, I decided to just go for it. It was such a great decision on my part. You have to babysit risotto, but it turned out just fine and it was super tasty. I loved the asparagus in it!

Roasted Bell Pepper & Tomato Fettuccine Alfredo

This is easily my favorite recipe tried out of the cookbook. The bombalicious alfredo sauce is on the bottom and then it's topped with some ever-wonderful pasta and then comes the best part: the roasted bell pepper & tomato pureed sauce + some garlicky sauteed cherry tomatoes! I added tuna into the dish for a source of protein and also because my husband will whine if there's no meat. I ate seconds. The kids loved it and Nick loved it and we will definitely have this regularly.  

The American Craft Beer Cookbook gets...

I already have it preordered from Amazon and cannot wait to try the rest of the recipes and read more in depth about all the pubs, bars, and breweries. If you are a craft beer fan, definitely preorder yourself a copy - you will not be disappointed.

  

Fantastical Feature: Downtown Grill & Brewery

[first posted on my personal blog]

A while ago, my mom-in-law sent up a pint glass from this place in Knoxville, TN [where we're from] called Downtown Grill & Brewery. I've made it a new goal that each time we visit we find something new. Since we visited right before Nick deployed, I wanted to make sure we got a date in. We normally only go on dates when we're home and family watches the kids. Plus there is way more to do in Knoxville than up here at Fort Drum. So I wanted to do something extra special since it'll be a while before our next date - so we took a trip to the SawWorks Brewing Company Headquarters and then out to dinner. Since DG&B is near SawWorks, I decided we should go there too AND it also has to do with beer :)

I was honestly really disappointed with SW, so we only stayed for like 10 minutes and headed out for dinner. Downtown Knoxville can be really awesome, but I've never really had the chance to check out everything down there. We had no wait when we got to the restaurant even though it was very packed! It seems like such a popular joint!

The atmosphere in Downtown Grill & Brewery was very relaxing. It was one of those darker type of restaurants. Our server [wish I caught his name] was so friendly and incredibly awesome. He actually talked to us for a good bit each time he came to the table. The menu - WOW!! Nick and I have never sat for 20 minutes to try and figure out what we wanted to eat. Every single item on the menu looked like something amazing. Nick had a hard time picking what kind of craft brew he wanted to try too. Plus the whole menu was full of really funny descriptions and jokes :)

Nick tried the German Alt first - and while I'm not a beer drinker, it was very good. The second beer he tried was the ruby red New World Porter. Below is Nick showing me the color and talking about it. LOL We decided right before Nick gets back from deployment that I'm going to brew a batch of beer. He wants me to make up my own recipe and this beer right here was my inspiration. Instead of a crappy beer aftertaste, it literally tasted like you just bit off of a chocolate bar. It was the most delicious beer I've ever had. So I'm definitely going to try my hand a chocolatey porter like this one...with my own added touch.

For as long as I can remember, I've wanted to try an actual piece of tuna, not just the canned stuff. Nick is the same exact way. Neither of us are big on seafood though. Nick was the first of the two of us to grow a pair and try it out. He ordered the Blackened Ahi Ahi. He let me have the first bite, since he "accidentally" took the first bite of my food. The Ahi Ahi is one of the very best things I have ever eaten. Absolutely mouthwateringly GOOD.

I finally decided upon the steak fajitas it came with 5 tortillas and fixings [including fresh pico de gallo], refried beans, rice, and then I ordered a side of fries. Nick teased me because my food took up a good 2/3 of the table. I don't know what they did to the steak, but oh my good lord, *DROOL* - I just can't believe how good all of our food was. Not to mention the amount of food we got for their prices.

Overall, this is definitely a place we will be visiting every single time we go to town. The atmosphere, service, food, and price was outstanding. We had nothing but good things to say about it. If you are ever in Knoxville, CHECK IT OUT! Go there! :)

Fantastical Feature: 20-Dollar 20-Minute Meals*: *For Four People

Disclaimer: I received an e-galley copy of this cookbook from NetGalley and Workman Publishing Company for my honest opinion.

[image via Amazon]

Synopsis:  

Twenty-Dollar, Twenty-Minute Meals has it all: A bold and irresistible promise—make fresh, delicious meals for four for $20 or less, and that take twenty minutes or less to prepare. A dynamic young author with serious fans. And the singular point of view that pulls it all together, from the narrative recipe style to the author’s unerring sense of the ingredient-forward way people want to cook and eat today. 

Twenty-Dollar, Twenty- Minute Meals is for millennials on a budget and young moms and dads who want to make the kind of food they eat in restaurants or read about on blogs—for anyone who likes to cook and entertain but doesn’t always have a lot of time (or money). It’s quick and easy with a modern twist: Steak with Herb Sauce and Buttered Radishes. Seared Salmon with Orange Rosemary Lentils. Merguez Burger with Cucumber Dressing. Sage Pork Chops with Grilled Peaches and Onion. Orzo Risotto with Pancetta and Radicchio. And, of course, there’s dessert.

It’s the Wright way to cook: 20 minutes + $20 = a fabulous meal for 4.

My Thoughts:

I was incredibly excited about this cookbook when I saw it on Netgalley. What's not to love about a $20 meal that takes 20 minutes to make?? And it's for 4 people - my family is made up of 4 people.

This cookbook is really colorful and the pictures are just stunning. Some pages are full length pictures of the food, others are more in a graphic novel type form where you see just the food and dish. 

However, I'm not a huge fan of directions and ingredients muddled together. I like them to be separate because it's easier for me to make a grocery list if the ingredients list is right there. They do highlight the ingredients in the directions, but it's not the same.

I honestly had to scour to find recipes that I was sure my whole family would eat and items that I would be able to find. Unfortunately, we do not have as diverse a grocery store as I would like. We all love salads, but all of the salads in the cookbook contained things that not everyone (including myself) would find appealing. There's a lot of seafood as well. In a way, I'd say a hipster would really enjoy this...it just seemed for "city-like" - the author did say she lived in New York City. It's very apparent in the selection of foods present.

I did find recipes that I could try though and what we did try, we enjoyed.

What I Tried:

[page numbers are subject to change]

Smashed Cherries & Pistachio Sundae
from p. 183

I really loved this combination of fruit and nut together. It was a really quick dessert to make :)


Spaghetti with Ramps & Bread Crumbs
from p. 59

Not really sure what ramps are, but a substitution was suggested: scallions. We don't have those here either, so I just used green onions. I paired it with roasted asparagus and baked chicken.


Sweetened Whipped Cream with Smashed Strawberries and Crushed Shortbread
from p. 166

This was easily my favorite recipe that we tried. My strawberries didn't smash so well, but it was still a welcome dessert in my belly. I got to use some of my Trefoils that had somehow survived in my pantry.


Roasted Sausage Meatballs with Fennel & Tomatoes
from p. 120

This one was my second favorite recipe - the tomatoes were perfect with the meatballs and I loved the fennel too. I paired it with toasted partisan bread and a spinach salad.


Bourbon-Espresso Affogato Sundae
from p. 183

Not sure what Affogato means - I should probably google, but this was another tasty dessert. I fourth-ed the bourbon in the recipe and it was still a tad too much for my liking and also pouring the hot espresso over the ice cream made for a race to eat it before it got soupy. Again though, the flavors did compliment each other and it was delish.

20-Dollar 20-Minute Meals gets a 3-utensil rating from me.

The set up of the recipes and the choice of ingredients in the recipes made it a bit difficult for the every day kitchen-goer. Many of the recipes didn't appeal to me or my family.

Fantastical Feature: The Madhouse Cookbook

Source: amazon.com via Sarah E. {Fantastical Sharing} on Pinterest

Published 28 February 2013

Synopsis via Amazon:
Oh, how Jo Pratt's life has changed over the last few years! Gone are the days of spending a day or two preparing for elaborate dinner parties, using ingredients she hunted down in back-street markets and fancy deli shops. That was all pre-children - now things are very different. She's a busy mum who has to juggle work, children and all the associated chaos. She lives in a madhouse! Bestselling author Jo has devised a cookbook full of delicious and healthy food that addresses one of the most challenging problems experienced by busy parents: finding time to cook meals for their family. The recipes are simple, easy to shop for and quick to make, with shortcuts and prepare-ahead tips. But there's much more to the book than this - there are also Lifesaver mini-recipes that give you staples for your freezer and store cupboard, and Leftovers mini-recipes too, to show you how to be clever and get more value out of time spent in the kitchen. There are three chapters - 'Monday to Friday Survival', 'Busy Weekends' and 'Cling onto your Social Life'. These chapters feature recipes for every meal and eventuality, including weekday kids' teatime recipes that will go down a storm, dinners that will wow your friends, and Sunday lunches to make the most of those precious moments of relaxation with your family.

Fantastical Feature: Taste of Home: Best Loved Recipes

Published: Sept 13, 2012

Synopsis via Barnes & Noble:

Real recipes from real home cooks—they’re what make Taste of Home one of America’s most popular—and most trusted—names in home cooking. Over the years, we’ve featured tens of thousands of recipes in our magazines and websites. But what makes this book so special is that it features not just great recipes. Not just award-winning recipes. These are our best-loved recipes: The ones that conjure up heavenly aromas, that bring you back to Sunday dinner tables, summer picnics and holiday parties, that call vividly to mind the special cooks who made them. The ones that make you close your eyes, smile and say, “Mmmmm!”

They’re all here—cook-off winners and bake-sale favorites, must-have comfort foods and secret family recipes, regional specialties packed with flavor and style. This collection contains 1,485 of the most requested, most beloved dishes, all submitted by Taste of Home readers. Recipes for all occasions are included from Blueberry Cheesecake Flapjacks to Caramel Apple Bread Pudding, mouthwatering main dishes from Creamy Seafood-Stuffed Shells to Chicken with Rosemary Butter Sauce, and delicious dessert recipes from Magnolia Dream Cheesecake to Chocolate Ganache Tarts.

Here’s what else is included:

·        Top 100 favorites recipes

·        Prep/Cook Times

·        Recipe comments from our web community

·        Everyday ingredients

·        Easy-to-follow directions

·        How-to photos

·        Cooking tips

·        26 chapters

·        20 photo sections with 400 full-color photos

The most cherished magazine features are included: Mom Made it Best, Our Favorite Contributor’s Meals, Mealtime Express, Cooking for One or Two, Grand-Prize Winners and Potluck Picks. Besides special features, the remaining chapters cover everything from appetizers and beverages to entrees and sides and breads and desserts.

My Thoughts:

As you can see this is a very thorough cookbook. It covers just about everything you can think of. I quickly became a fan of Taste of Home when I reviewed one of the other cookbooks. This one was no different with over 200 pages of recipes! I finally narrowed it down to a few recipes I wanted to try immediately.

We tried...

Cinnamon Mocha Coffee from p. 84

I've been on a latte/frappuccino/homemade coffee kick lately, so I was really excited to try this recipe out. It was the perfect mixture of cinnamon, chocolate, and coffee. None of the flavors overpowered the other and it was perfect for a chilly morning.

Mini Corndogs from p. 11

My kids love corndogs, but I have always been a little weary to buy the ones from the store. I made a batch of these and packed them for my kindergartener's lunch. He loved them. They were simple to make and very cute.

Mom's Italian Bread from p. 94

I have been searching for a good bread recipe for months now. I've not been impressed by one that I've tried. When I made this one, I wasn't expecting to be blown out of the water like I was. It was the most perfect homemade bread. It was soft and the right amount of chewy. The flavor was amazing and the smell - even better. There is nothing more incredible than the smell of a loaf (or two) of bread baking in your house! I'm relieved that my search for a good bread recipe is over - I've found the best bread recipe!

Taste of Home Best Loved Recipes gets 5 utensils from me.

This cookbook is straight to the point - there are recipes everywhere. And there are so many it is very hard not to find one you'll love. It's not overly expensive like most cookbooks are that have a third of the recipes. So you are getting your delicious bang for your buck!

Thank you to Net Galley & Reader's Digest for letting me review this cookbook.

Purchase on: Amazon // Barnes & Noble

Fantastical Feature: Jacques Pepin: New Complete Techniques

Publish Date: 13 November 2012

Pages: 784

Synopsis via Barnes & Noble:

Jacques Pépin is universally hailed by professional chefs and home cooks as the grand master of cooking skills and methods. Now, his classic seminal work, Jacques Pépin’s Complete Techniques, is completely revised and updated with more than 1,000 color photographs and 30% new techniques.

Based on Pépin’s 1978 and 1979 archetypal works La Méthode and La Technique, Jacques Pépin's Complete Techniques has become a cookbook classic in its own right, selling more than 140,000 copies. Comprehensive and authoritative, New Complete Techniques includes more than 600 techniques and methods and 160 recipes that are demonstrated by Pépin in thousand of step-by-step photographs. It is a culinary course on every aspect of classic cooking, from the basics (how to sharpen a knit or peel an onion) and the practical (how to properly bone a chicken (to the whimsical (how to make decorative swans and flowers out of fruits and vegetables) and the complex (how to use an old refrigerator as a smoker for trout).

The time-tested recipes show everyone, from the greenest home cook to the seasoned professional, how to put techniques into practice. This completely revised edition includes thousands of color and black-and-white photographs throughout and is redesigned to make it even easier to follow the step-by-step techniques.

My Thoughts:

New Complete Techniques is a very thorough handbook for every basic technique you could think of in the kitchen. The design is simple and doesn't take away from what is important: the content. There are chapters for equipment, vegetables, eggs, fish and shellfish, poultry, meat, offal and charcuterie (organ meats and prepared meats like bacon, ham, pates, etc.), carving, bread and pasta, pastry and dessert, and presentation. Each chapter has a wide array of information on foods in the category. The equipment and presentation chapters are incredibly informative. Pepin drives home the point that learning the basics opens up so many different possibilities in the kitchen and is something that cannot be skipped in order to be successful. You can make a dish look pretty, but it's all about knowing how to make it that will keep people raving and coming back for more.

Thank you to NetGalley and Black Dog & Leventhal for letting me preview this amazing book.

Preorder on Amazon or Barnes & Noble.

Fantastical Feature: Weeknights with Giada

In July, I requested the galley of Weeknights with Giada on NetGalley. I am a Food Network junkie and I also love Italian food, so it seemed like the perfect cookbook for me. In August, I got really acquainted with Giada through watching the whole season of Next Food Network Star. I immediately started to DVR her show (reruns and new episodes alike). She even tweeted me!! Yes, sadly I have gone completely geeky and fangirl-ed! I bought a copy when I did my 2 year Blog-Birthday Bash and I love this cookbook.

Weeknights with Giada is a cookbook meant for under-an-hour main course cooking. It's perfect for making a great dinner after a long day. There is also a section for "Brinner" or breakfast for dinner. I absolutely adore this because it is one of my very favorite things to do. There are a lot of hearty meal recipes with fresh ingredients. The pictures are large, absolutely breathtaking, and droolworthy. The print is larger than most cookbooks which makes this one a keeper for easier reading - especially when you are taking quick peeks while cooking. I loved Giada's introduction as well. She talks about how important it is for her family to sit down together and enjoy the same meal. 

We made...

Mini Meatball Sandwiches on p.56

These were incredibly simple and full of flavor. We enjoyed our sandwiches for lunch in our front yard for a little picnic. Everyone gobbled them up!

Crispy Chicken with Rosemary-Lemon Salt on p.127

The salt alone made this dish. We saved our extra and I have been throwing it on everything from brusselsprouts to leftover pasta! The cornmeal made a nice light coating that stayed crispy, instead of getting soggy and heavy. I employed my husband to help me that night :)

Fried Smashed Potatoes with Lemon on p.191

Despite not cooking my potatoes as long as I should have, these were a tasty side dish to serve with the crispy chicken above. We also topped these with extra rosemary-lemon salt :)

Chocolate-Hazelnut Drop Cookies on p.224

This is actually my very first Nutella recipe. I have never made anything with Nutella. My oldest started school and so my daughter and I have been having girl time. We enjoyed making these cookies together - and enjoyed eating them, plus surprising my oldest when he came home from school with a tasty, melt-in-your-mouth cookie!

Weeknights gets a 4-utensil rating from me. It's such a great cookbook and there are lots of different, fast options for a delicious dinner, plus sides and desserts to go with it!

It can be purchased on Amazon and Barnes & Nobles.

Thank you to NetGalley & Crown Publishing Group!