Martha A. Cheves's Blog, page 61

The Speedy Gourmet Library - The Complete Dessert Cookbook

Dating 1987 this book is a must have priced at $2.50 plus shipping @ Books, Books & More - Adopt a Book

Desserts are easier than ever to make, thanks to modern technology, many excellent cookbooks and quick, ready mixes.  Food processors, blenders, and microwave and convection ovens make quick work of baking - a chore that once took hours.  And with the high cost of food, making your own mix is a great way to save money.  The recipes within this book have been gathered from everywhere with the intent of tempting you to create a culinary wonder with or for your loved ones.  There are old favorites as well as classics plus a bountiful selection of new ideas to tempt your palate.
This book contains hundreds of tempting desserts that are simply delicious.  Recipes consist of Cocoa Swirl Coffee Cake with Orange Glaze, Sherried Banana Cake, Bananas Royale, Microwaved, Mango Souffle, and Pear Pudding Pie, just to mention a few. 
Copyright 1987 this paperback measures 11 x 8 x 1/2 (approx.) and contains 224 pages.  On a scale of 1 - 10 with 10 being 'like new' I rate this copy an 8.  The cover has one back corner that has a bend but other than that it's in wonderful condition.

Better Homes & Gardens Jiffy Cooking 1967

Priced right at $2.75 + shipping @ Books, Books & More - Adopt a Book

In today's hurry-up world, a few extra minutes can be precious. When you're hoping to save time for fun and relaxation, hours become priceless. Whether you're a working woman, a busy homemaker, or a bachelor, the ideas assembled within this book will permit you to serve creative, attractive meals without chaining yourself to the kitchen. Included you'll find menu plans to help with the age-old problem of what to serve. Try substituting other recipes in the menus to suite your family's personal preferences, or use seasonal foods to best advantage. Try to dovetail food preparation activities to make minutes count. For example, cook vegetables in the oven along with a main dish that is baked. You'll find many preparation tips included to help you save time.

 Recipes in Jiffy Cooking conclude recipes such as Boston Beanwich and Grilled Cheese Italiano. For Dessert you'll find Java Angel Cake, which is made using only 4 ingredients and Orange-Nut Ring which consists of only 2 ingredients. And those are just a few of the delicious recipes that can be made in a short period of time using a short list of ingredients.

 Jiffy Cooking is a hardbound book that was copyright 1967. On a scale of 1 - 10 with 10 being 'like new' I rate this copy a 7. There is slight outside wear on the cover but the pages are in great condition.

Freezing tips

While roaming around the internet I ran across some freezer tips that I thought we all need to know so I thought I would share.  These are from a site called Eversave.

Use freezer safe containers, bags and foil. They should be both moisture and vapor proof.When sealing a package or container, try to remove as much air as possible. If freezing items is going to become a large part of your regular shopping, consider investing in a vacuum sealer to remove the most air from each container.Remember to leave a little extra room in containers for liquids, such as soups, because they will expand as they freeze.Wrap meats, cookies and other solids tightly in aluminum foil before placing in a freezer bag or container.Always allow hot food to cool before putting it in the freezer. Not only will hot food make the freezer work harder, the food may freeze unevenly, which increases the risk of bacteria growth.Write on the packaging of everything you freeze. Include the date frozen, contents and any special thawing instructions. For easier thawing in the future, freeze in single-serve portions.Use freezer tape to make sure food is sealed in snug. You can also use it to write the date and what is in the package.Be conscious of how much food you thaw at a time. Re-freezing is a big no-no. However, you can freeze a raw breast of chicken, for example, thaw it, cook it and then freeze it.Thawing in the refrigerator is always the best option. In a pinch, opt for the microwave’s defrost setting or a cold water bath. Baked goods and breads are the only foods that can safely defrost on the counter at room temperature.Freeze single items (think meatballs, cookies) in one layer on a baking sheet and then repack them once frozen so they don’t freeze together.

How to Buy Okra

Okra is the immature seed pod of the okra plant, grown and marketed locally in the southern states. 

When buying, look for tender pods (the tips will bend with very slight pressure) under 4 1/2 inches long.  They should have a bright green color and be free of blemishes.

Avoid tough, fibrous pods, indicated by tips which are stiff and resist bending, or by a very hard body of the pod or by pale, faded green color.

When left to dry, I've found that the mature seeds are very tasty in soups.

Carol Dare Cookbook - State Magazine

There are a variety of recipes in the two sections of this book titled Yesterday's Recipes and Today's Recipes. Some of Grandmother's or Great-Grandmother's food is now impractical to cook, but makes good reading. Some of the recipes dated during World War II reflect scarcities of the time - certain sugarless foods, for instance. Today's recipes you will recognize with boxed, frozen, dehydrated, reconstituted, ready-mixed and ready-made included. But hopefully you will find it all interesting and a lot of it that makes you want to get 'right in the kitchen.'

 In Carol Dare's Cookbook you'll find a section on 'cooking with herbs' but you will also find the traditional sections found in most cookbooks such as salads and dressings, Eggs, Cheese, Seafood and even game which includes recipes for Pot Roast of Bear, BBQ Rabbit, Cooked Goose and Squirrel and Dumplings. Each recipe not only lists the person who submitted but also the date.
Copyright in 1971 Carol Dare Cookbook measures 9 1/2 x 6 1/2 x 1 (approx.) and contains 313 pages. On a scale of 1 - 10 with 10 being 'like new' I rate this copy a 7+. It has a little shelf discoloration on the page edges but the cover and inside pages are in great condition.

Priced right at $2.75 plus shipping at
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The Art of Salad Making - Carol Truax

Salads are nature's gift to the menu maker. Every country has its special salads, but America is the salad bowl of the world. No other nation has so many types of greens available all the year round. The American chef has at hand the materials for creating an astounding variety of salads - and his creativity is bound only by the scope of his imagination. This marvelous abundance, and its many appetizing uses, is the subject of Carol Truax's book The Art of Salad Making.

 This book begins at the beginning, with directions for one of the most important steps in preparing a salad - the proper washing and drying of the greens. The author then explains the difference between them - at last the reader is told exactly what Bib Lettuce is, Leaf Lettuce and Curley Endive, to name only a few. This book is enhanced throughout with practical advice and with amusing anecdotes that lend emphasis to many of the author's directions.

 Then come the salads themselves. You have Fish Salads, Spanish Olive Anchovy Salad, Brazilian Avocado Salad, and of course the traditional Chef's Salads, just to name a few. Then you have the dressings and herbs and spices and on and on.

 The Art of Salad Making was copyright 1968. It measures 8 1/2 x 6 x 3/4 (approx.) and contains 210 pages. On a scale of 1 - 10 with 10 being 'like new' I rate the book an 8 and the dustcover a 7. This book is a steal for any cooks collection.  Priced perfectly at $2.75 plus shipping at Books, Books & More - Adopt a Book.

Stuffed Crescents

This is one of the easiest breads to make and change and it is oh so good.

1 tube of crescent rolls
cheese
seasonings

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Line a baking sheet with foil sprayed with non-stick spray.  Roll out the crescents keeping them in the rectangular shape (4 per package).  Sprinkle each with cheese of your choice and sprinkle with your choice of seasonings.  I like to use salt free seasoning blend.  Roll into logs.  Bake 10-12 minutes. 

You can make these with minced garlic and cheese; Italian herbs and cheese; just about any combination of herb and cheese you like. Just Think With Your Taste Buds when making your bread rolls.  They're so delicious that you might want to use 2 tubes instead of 1.  If you happen to have leftovers, they microwave nicely.

Southern Living The Dessert Cookbook

Southern homemakers know that desserts may be made in imaginative shapes and delectable flavors. There are delicious cakes with surprise fillings and melt-in-your mouth frostings...creamy smooth puddings...nutritious fresh fruit...the variety is endless. Desserts, in their infinite variety, offer the creative homemaker innumerable opportunities to finish their meals with a flourish.

The wonderfully varied world of dessert cookery is captured for you in Southern Living's Desserts Cookbook. Featuring favorite dessert recipes from hundreds of southern homemakers, this cookbook brings together in one volume the very best home-tested, family-approved dishes. Cakes, cookies, pies, puddings, frozen desserts, fruit desserts, sweet breads, they are all included.

The Dessert Cookbook was copyright 1976. This hardbound book measures 10 x 7 x 1/2 (approx.) and contains 192 pages. On a scale of 1 - 10 with 10 being 'like new' I rate this book an 8+. There is wear along the edges of the cover but the inside is almost like new. This is a great book to add to any cooks collection.  Buy now by going to Books, Books & More.  Priced at $2.75 plus postage.

Adopt a Book - Better Homes & Gardens Homemade Bread

There are several reasons why many homemakers make their own bread. Like generations of homemakers before them, some view this cooking skill as a means of self-expression. Others cite the satisfaction they feel when family or friends say, "That bread's great." Still others prefer the homemade because it is homemade and it tastes so good. Regardless of your reason for wanting to make homemade bread, the Homemade Bread Cook Book is just right for you. You say you've never baked bread before? Don't let that deter you. You will find simple-to-follow directions for all of the recipes in this book. And for those of you who have mastered the bread-baking skills, there are new and intriguing recipes for you, too.

 Copyright 1976 this hardcopy measures 10 x 8 x 1/4 (approx.) and contains 96 pages. On a scale of 1 - 10 with 10 being 'like new' I rate this copy an 8+. It's in great condition.  Priced at just $3.00 plus shipping at Books, Books & More

Another Great Review for Stir, Laugh, Repeat

Jeannie Walker

My review: 5 Stars
Cooking: It is something we all have to do from time to time. So why not find joy while playing around in the kitchen? I loved how Martha starts out her old-fashioned cook book with a recipe for banana puddin. This of my favorite desserts that brings back so many good memories. Scattered about this wonderful cook book are tips that will help anyone (especially a beginner) cook fabulous dishes. This is one book that you will use and want to pass on to your future generations. Reading this was a sweet way to end my day. Thanks Martha - I love your suggestions, tips and factual information that we all can use.