Cookbook Reviews - Rainbo Reviews

Reviews of Great Cookbooks

Welcome to this month's cookbook reviews. Every month we find some outstanding new cookbooks to review for home cooks just like you. A great cookbook can inspire you to expand your repetiore of recipes. It's always satisfying to review new cookbooks, sharing with you what the great chefs and restaurants are doing, to guide you through new recipes, and introduce you to different cuisines, exotic ingredients or new combinations. When we review cookbooks, we look for tempting recipes that the home chef can prepare with excellent results that will please your whole family. If you're the chief cook and bottewasher in your house and need to break out of a menu rut, or if you just love to try different recipes, we bet you'll love our monthly cookbook reviews. So please come back often!

Olives and Oranges: Recipes and Flavor Secrets from Italy, Spain, Cyprus, and Beyond

by Sara Jenkins, Mindy Fox

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Hardcover
ISBN# 978-0-618-67764-1
Suggested Retail Price: $35.00 or as low as $19.70 from Amazon.com!

As the title implies, this ambitious cookbook by Sara Jenkins is filled with over 200 recipes that include either olives, olive oil, or citrus fruits. The recipes are based on Spanish and Italian cuisine, two parts of the world that are famous for their olive oils. The book has an extensive introductory section that explains the ingredients and how to find the best quality. While dripping with disdain for standard supermarket products, there is a good deal of helpful information here. The recipes start with appetizers, salads, and soups, and go on to entrees and deserts. Each section begins with Ms. Jenkin's philosophy in creating the recipes.

The recipes are all quite simple - usually no more than 10-12 total ingredients. There are recipes for starters like broths and breadcrumbs, but the main recipes all have something special to bring to your table. The starters and salads are simple, but delightful ideas that you can use to add something special to your everday meals. The entrees take things to a more exotic level. The pasta recipes include all sorts of ingredients that test your ambition - from duck to mackerel. If you want to expand your culinary horizons, this book can lead you to some amazing places.

More Cookbook Reviews

Be sure to visit us again next month when we'll offer more great cookbook reviews! Our cookbook reviews are written by our Editor, Richard L. Trethewey.

Rainbo Reviews' cookbook reviews are published monthly. Back issues of our reviews are available from the Rainbo Book Reviews Archive. We're proud to announce that the archive is now searchable so you can find cookbooks we've reviewed in the past.

There are many great places online dedicated to the home cook. Visit Food Geeks for great recipes and ingredient ideas. Also try Recipe Source for a great international online cookbook. And finally, see Oriental Food for great Asian recipes based on what ingredients you have handy. These are sites we visit frequently and always enjoy.