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Title: The Gourmet Slow Cooker: Volume II, Regional Comfort-Food Classics
ISBN: 1580087329
Author:
Lynn Alley
Publicate Date: 2006-08
Publish: 2006-08
List Price: $18.95
Average Customer Rating: 4.0
Format: Paperback
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Amazon Lowest New Price: $5.95
Amazon Lowest Used Price: $2.83
Amazon Merchant Price: $12.89
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| Customer Review: |
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1: low Cooking Gems
Although I have used only a few recipes from both of these volumes, the narrative, simplicity and a variety of hints and suggestions for future dishes, make these dual books more than routine, limited, "how-to" cook-books. The entire approach of the author, opened my eyes to a variety of new culinary adventures which will elevate slow cookers to vital appliances that promote versatility and economy of effort. A microwave oven, a slow cooker together with a well appointed wine cellar is all one needs to once again experience an unhurried joy of cooking. Bon Appetit as Junia Childs would have intoned.
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2: Slow food fast
I use my slow cooker frequently; it gets me very good food with little effort when I work fairly long hours. I owned Lynn Alley's first book and thought I would like Volume II. So far I've made one recipe, the Adobo Chicken, which met with favor from my husband--distinctive flavors and easy to do; vinegar, soy sauce, ginger, brown sugar, and chicken basically. Oh and of course garlic! I like the other recipes and intend to try them in the near future; particularly a slow-cooked pork roast for barbecued pork sandwiches. And a green chile/hominy posole' style soup. There's even a fruit preserve recipe that sounds interesting. The format of the books is clear, the recipes are easy to follow, the book's design and photographs are attractive, and there's enough variety to keep it interesting. And nary a can of cream of mushroom soup!
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3: Not what I expected
This book is not what I expected. Only a few receipes I will be using.
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4: Inspiring!
Using the recipes in this book has inspired me to get back into cooking. We especially love the Posole recipe, which updates a traditional recipe with new touches. The New England Brown Bread recipe is so good that it beats my grandmother's Down East Yankee recipe... and that's saying a lot! My enthusiasm for cooking in general has been invigorated by the creative and fresh approach in the recipes in this book.
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5: Definitely worth the price
I purchased this book because I LOVE Alley's first volume of recipes for the slow cooker. I am very happy with this book, however it is really very different than the first (which makes them a great set).
While flavor is certainly not compromised, the foods in this cookbook are more like peasant-food than gourmet dishes. With a hungry husband and 3 growing boys in my house, comfort foods are always well-received here, and I've had no complaints from them!
The ingredients in this volume are easier to manage (no grinding of spices as in the first volume).
My only disappointment with the book is that it seems many of the recipes, while tasty, don't seem to benefit much from the slow-cooking...some of the soups, for example, are just about as easily made on the stovetop.
For my family, the slow cooker has primarily been a great way to prepare flavorful and tender meats, and this cookbook has offered us some new options (Korean style ribs, chicken adobo, italian style pork chops, for example). I have made some of the non-meat recipes (i.e. several soups/chowders), and I find that they are just as easy to make on the stove.
This is my one bit of advice to the new owner of a slow-cooker: Don't try to make it something it isn't...fix recipes which lend themselves well to the type of cooking, and fix your veggies on the stovetop or in the oven.
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