Taste of Home Baking

by Reader's Digest    (Find this book)
Packed with over 780 home-tested recipes for every conceivable baked good, home bakers will never be at a loss for ideas with this voluminous collection on their shelf. Smartly organized in a three ring binder with tabbed sections and page protectors, readers in the mood for a particular sweet can find relevant sections quickly and easily. Once there, they'll find a litany of choices: 10 chocolate cakes, 17 cupcakes, 40 cheesecakes, and so on. Emphasizing practicality over novelty (all recipes are reader-submitted), the editors focus on breadth rather than depth (singular recipes for certain items instead of multiple variations), giving readers plenty of options. Those pressed for time or unsure of their abilities will appreciate the "Almost Homemade" section, with its jazzed-up cake, pudding, and brownie mixes as well as riffs on refrigerated cookie dough, and the brief but useful tips on everything from kneading yeast breads, filling cupcakes, and troubleshooting puff pastry will encourage experimentation while easing fears. Given the book's scope, this is one home bakers can grow with. (Sept.) Copyright 2011 Reed Business Information. -- Publishers Weekly

The Slow Cook Book

by Heather Whinney    (Find this book)

Whether you use an electric slow cooker or a more traditional oven or stovetop, slow cooking is a wonderful way to prepare wholesome, home-cooked food with the greatest of ease.
Celebrating slow cooking in all its forms, "The Slow Cook Book" includes 200 recipes ranging from typical slow-cook dishes-hearty, warming stews and pot roasts-to more surprising fare such as cakes.
Showing two methods of slow cooking for each recipe -- one using an electric crock pot and the other using a combination of traditional pots, pans, stovetop, and oven -- "The Slow Cook Book" demonstrates step-by-step techniques and provides everything you need to become a slow-cook expert.   --  Publisher Marketing

Everyday Raw Express: Recipes in 30 Minutes or Less

by Matthew Kenney    (Find this book)
Many people love the philosophy behind and benefits of eating raw, but often the recipes take hours or even a period of several days to prepare. Everyday Raw Express offers delicious soups and smoothies, pastas and wraps, entrees and desserts all prepared in 30 minutes or less.
Matthew Kenney is a chef, restaurateur, caterer, and food writer. He has appeared on the Today Show, the Food Network, and numerous morning and talk shows. Matthew splits his time between New York and Maine.
Raw food in 30 minutes or less!  -- Publisher Marketing

Top 100 Pasta Dishes: Easy Everyday Recipes That Children Will Love

by Annabel Karmel    (Find this book)
Who doesn't love pasta? For most kids--and their parents--pasta is the best food in the world. It's tasty and nutritious, it's easy, quick, and economical to cook--and, even better, it comes in lots of fun shapes! Here is Annabel's ultimate collection of one hundred pasta dishes, with a section for babies (it's a good way to introduce texture) and toddlers (it's great for fussy eaters), plus a huge variety of quick and easy recipes that older children will enjoy and that will become family favorites!
Filled with color photos, simple instructions, and clear notes on cooking and preparation times, plus symbols throughout to show which recipes are suitable for babies and younger children, and which recipes are suitable for freezing, this is the ultimate pasta cookbook for families everywhere. With Annabel's help, dinnertime can finally be fuss free!  -- Publisher Marketing

The Casserole Queens Cookbook: Put Some Lovin' in Your Oven with 100 Easy One-Dish Recipes

by Crystal Cook    (Find this book)
Crystal Cook and Sandy Pollock make a mean Chicken Pot Pie, elevating the classic recipe with white wine and fresh tarragon. Their recipe won them such a following in Texas that Bobby Flay took notice and challenged them to a Throwdown. It turns out that the Casserole Queens, as the duo is known, are much more than one-hit wonders of the one-dish dinner. They have built an entire business around revamping the ultimate quick-fix dinner for modern tastes.
In "The Casserole Queens Cookbook," they share their fresh, updated, from-scratch recipes for traditional dishes. Tuna Noodle is brought up a notch with a homemade cream sauce and a kick of cayenne pepper; Halibut Enchiladas with Salsa Verde are surprisingly light and vibrant; Mandarin Meatloaf has a sweet orange flavor that recharges a beloved weeknight staple. There are home-style desserts, like Gooey Apple Butter Cake, and great brunch dishes, such as Frenchy Toast Casserole. The Queens have thought of everything, providing advice on scaling and freezing casseroles so that anyone can stock the freezer with go-to dinners.
With 16 pages of color photographs, plenty of expert tips, and lots of style, "The Casserole Queens Cookbook" is the home cook's handbook for making tasty meals any night of the week. -- Publisher Marketing