Posted in Book Reviews

Mediterranean Instant Pot: Easy, Inspired Meals for Eating Well

Bringing together the diet and the most popular kitchen appliance, this Instant Pot-authorized cookbook makes it more convenient than ever to cook the Mediterranean way, incorporating more vegetables, grains, beans, and seafood into your diet, and exploring the healthful, authentic flavors of cuisines ranging from Turkish to North African in everyday one-pot meals.

Made in the Instant Pot, succulent meals such as Chicken Tagine, Lamb Meatballs with Couscous, Pickled Onions, and Tahini, Shrimp and Asparagus Risotto, and Gigante Bean Soup with Celery and Olives become hands-off affairs for the busy cook. The Instant Pot also takes the waiting game out of cooking dried beans and sturdy grains so it’s easy to enjoy them more often. And vegetables get star billing, both as main dishes (Braised Whole Cauliflower with North African Spices), and sides (Marinated Artichokes and Baba Ghanoush). Recipes embrace the tenets of the Mediterranean Diet Pyramid, translating its less-meat-and-more-vegetables approach into vibrant, healthy one-dish meals that take the guesswork out of balancing portions and multiple dishes. Most recipes are ready in under an hour. And full nutritional information is provided.

Rating: 2 out of 5.

J&J
TOP 500 REVIEWER VINE VOICE
5.0 out of 5 stars Top 5 Cookbook
Reviewed in the United States on December 19, 2019 Vine Customer Review of Free ProductWhat's this? )
I am virtually speechless... at how Amazing this book is, for All.
I mean, it's America's Test Kitchen, which if you don't know,
has made a living out of literally testing everything, in a kitchen, from appliances to recipes to store bought items.
If you want to know the best store bought chili mix to the best butter to bake with, ATK has tried it out.
They have a show on PBS around 8pm if you want to hunt it down.

So when they make a cookbook, and there is a new edition every year, you can trust it's right.
And this Instant Pot version is. Oh so right.
I dare say, it qualifies as a "Desert Island" cookbook.
One of only 5 you'd need for the rest of your life & the rare good for gifting cookbook.

Too many details to cover so, I'll highlight my faves.
One, adding a hand towel under the cover after you quick release your grains, like rice or quinoa,
and resealing while it sits, makes professional quality fluffy rice move from side dish to main course.

Two, it's not just Instant Pot items.
Simple recipes, like salsa verde, pesto, tzatziki, and of course spices but,
for those you need grinder/ food processor.

The cooking times are spot on.
Including the beginning pages with a cheat sheet for grains, beans, vegs & proteins.
Even a trouble shooting guide if you're new to, Instant Pot or, just cooking in general.
Ps, the foil sling for the salmon was The Best salmon ever,
including my addiction to Costco's pesto salmon. As easy to clean up as well.

As a no meat eater, in a meat loving household (yes, I do seafood but that's it),
the recipes with chicken broth translated so easy by subbing veggie broth.
Yes, there is a recipe to make your own but, Walmart's brand of Organic Veg Broth is the best I tried.
Obviously, I tried a lot. It's the only one with a rich veggie flavor, not salt, pepper or carrots.
So for under $3 @ quart, that's my staple, not making my own.

This is a book rich with winter comfort foods, light summer fare and a wonderful variety of flavor.
But the best part, and No, it's not the quick ease of the Instant Pot, is
with America's Test Kitchen attention to detail, you can be confident, even as a novice,
your recipe will come out right the first time.
JnJ love
4.0 out of 5 stars America's Test Kitchen is the best
Reviewed in the United States on December 7, 2020Verified Purchase
I like how they explain why a recipe works and now I can use my instant pot more. the only problem I have with their recipes is some ingredients are hard to find or you might only use a small amount and be lefty with the rest and not use it. So I just omit some of those and it is fine.

Ladyfingers
5.0 out of 5 stars Best Of Both Worlds--Greek/Turkish/North African Cooking Made Easy In An Instant Pot
Reviewed in the United States on December 13, 2019Vine Customer Review of Free ProductWhat's this? )
I couldn't wait for America's Test Kitchen to combine one of my favorite ways of cooking with some of our family's favorite foods. Mediterranean Instant Pot is chock-full of one pot meals, and the ingredient range is diverse enough to satisfy anyone's palate. We love lamb--this cookbook allows me to experiment with different cuts. The first recipe we tried was perfect for our cold Michigan winter day--Moroccan lamb and lentil soup. The addition of harissa makes it wonderfully spicy, and no need to head out to the store to purchase. The recipe for this condiment is also included, as are many others like hummus, baba ghanoush, basil pesto and tzatziki.

One unique feature common to all America's Test Kitchen cookbooks is format--every recipe is fully explained, starting with an introductory paragraph explaining why it works and where to get ingredients, to ending with detailed recipe directions and beautiful photo accompaniments to assure mistake-free end results. I'm a seasoned cook--the recipes found in this book are as suitable for me as they are for beginners. Besides great Mediterranean meals, the beginning of the book is loaded with helpful tips about instant pots as well as successful rice, bean, vegetable and protein cooking methods.

I couldn't be more pleased with these Mediterranean recipes, and using an instant pot makes them almost effortless.
The extravagant one
5.0 out of 5 stars A beautiful book with some superb looking recipes, but....
Reviewed in Canada on May 9, 2020Verified Purchase
Every single one of them seemed to include beans - which I intensely dislike - pasta or potatoes.
The latter I like but my husband and I are both diabetic, so guess what I am careful with and am trying - after nearly 20 years - to get him to cut back on: beans - which he loves - pasta and potatoes!
One person found this helpful
Posted in Book Reviews

The Complete Cooking for Two Cookbook

650 Recipes for Everything You’ll Ever Want to Make

Because smaller families shouldn’t have to rely on recipes built for four or six, America’s Test Kitchen has reengineered 650 of our best recipes to serve just two. Over the years we’ve discovered that scaling down a recipe isn’t as simple as cutting the ingredients in half—cooking times, temperatures, and equipment need to be adapted as well. This comprehensive cookbook takes the guesswork out of cooking for two so you can be sure that anything you want to make—from Classic Beef Stew to Lasagna to a mini batch of Fudgy Brownies or a Fluffy Yellow Layer Cake—will come out right (and perfectly proportioned) every time. We’ll also give you options when you’re short on time. 150 recipes, including Chicken Saltimbocca and Pan-Seared Rib-Eye Steaks with Sweet-Tart Red Wine Sauce, can be on the table in 30 minutes or less. For those times when you want healthier fare, we’ve provided more than 100 recipes labeled “Light” such as Provencal Vegetable Soup and Poached Shrimp Salad with Avocado and Grapefruit, each with nutritional information listed in an easy-to-read chart in the back of the book. And we include chapters on for-two slow cooking, grilling, and baking pies, quick breads, cakes, and cookies. A 25-page manual teaches the basics of cooking for two, including clever shopping strategies to reduce waste, smart storage tricks help extend freshness of key ingredients, and our picks for the most useful kitchen equipment for any two-person household.

Joe Gee
5.0 out of 5 stars Great explanations as to why the recipe works!
Reviewed in the United States on December 14, 2020 Verified Purchase
Great pictures, easy instructions, and really great recipes.

P. Warner
5.0 out of 5 stars Big Beautiful Book!
Reviewed in the United States on December 4, 2020 Verified Purchase
Lots of yummy recipes structured for one and two servings. Beautifully illustrated. Great for a gift so buy two...you will want to keep one.
Scott Barnard
5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome cookbook, every kitchen should have one.
Reviewed in the United States on December 3, 2020 Verified Purchase
A cook book that weighs 4 pounds, 450 pages, 650 recipes and information on everything from preparing food, the deferance between canned tomatos, how to cut meat and everything and anything that deals with cooking in between. If I could give it a 10 score I would. Funny thing is I have not made one recipes yet. By the recipes I've look at in this book, I will be making a lot of these recipes. And before I read a review of a reviewer that is complaining they have to send this book back because " it's to big, "there's no pictures", "to bulkie". I have this to say, stop your whining and do some COOKING!!!! This cook book uses common ingredients and common sense to make theses recipes. Yes it has common information that a beginning cook can use. And deeper information that over time a beginner can use. But the best part of this cook book is this. COOKING FOR TWO PEOPLE !!!!
Katie likes books
5.0 out of 5 stars Well thought out and informative
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 26, 2020Verified Purchase
Plenty of recipes and additional information regarding all aspects of food and cooking. Its complete in itself for 2 people wanting to stop waste.
Posted in Book Reviews

The Complete Autumn and Winter Cookbook

Celebrate the season with this treasure trove of cozy cooking and baking recipes, from soul-warming soups and simple dinners to showstoppers and weekend projects.

As the air grows chillier and nights longer, these dishes draw us to the table and the warmth of an active kitchen: Slow-simmered dishes like Cider-Braised Pork Roast, cheesy weeknight pasta like Unstuffed Shells with Butternut Squash, or a crusty bread like Fig and Fennel Bread.

When the flavors of summer fade, autumn and winter fruits and vegetables can be just as bold and bountiful. Find recipe inspiration from the season’s first ripe figs and plump brussels sprouts to roasty sides featuring celery root, kohlrabi, and kabocha squash, or a cranberry curd tart to brighten a winter’s night.

Themed chapters showcase all the reasons to love autumn and winter cooking:

  • Find new celeberation favorites with a chapter of centerpiece dishes like Turkey and Gravy for a Crowd or Swiss Chard Pie to wow your guests.
  • Picked apples on an autumnal adventure? All Things Apple covers both sweet and savory recipes like French Apple Cake and Celery Root, Fennel, and Apple Chowder to help you use them up.
  • Create the ultimate party spread with chapters devoted to Appetizers, Festive Drinks, and Brunch: Try fried Korean fried chicken wings, latkes with beet-horseradish applesauce, or Everything Straws.
  • Obsessed with pumpkin? So are we! In the Everyone Loves Pumpkin chapter you’ll find everything from Creamy Pumpkin-Chai Soup to Rum Pumpkin Chiffon Pie.
  • Bake to your heart’s content with chapters covering breads, cookies, cakes, pies, puddings, and more.
  • Give the gift of food with recipes for Rocky Road Bark and Fruits of the Forest Liqueur.

America’s Test Kitchen’s tips and tricks guarantee every meal is a success. Flip to the introduction for menus and entertaining tips. Plus, we’ve added seasonally themed spreads throughout so you can decorate the perfect holiday cookies or plan a charcuterie board with last-second appetizers.

Posted in Book Reviews

Meat Illustrated

MEAT EATERS, REJOICE: Increase your meat counter confidence with this award-winning meat cookbook that shows you how to cook 72 cuts of meat in 300+ kitchen-tested recipes!

With chapters organized by animal and its primal cuts, Meat Illustrated is the meat eater’s go-to meat cookbook and handbook! Discover essential information and techniques that will empower you to make steakhouse-worthy meals and explore everything your butcher shop has to offer. Inside you’ll find:
 
• 300+ recipes covering 72 cuts of meat—including beef, pork, lamb, and veal
• Cut-specific guidance on buying, prepping, storing, cooking, and more
• Step-by-step photos, break-out tutorials, and hundreds of hand-drawn illustrations
• Need-to-know techniques, from smoking and grilling to braising and curing
 
Learn the best methods for center-of-the-plate meats like Butter-Basted Rib Steaks (spooning hot butter cooks the steaks from both sides so they come to temperature as they acquire a deep crust), and meltingly tender Chinese Barbecued Roast Pork Shoulder (cook for 6 hours so the collagen melts to lubricate the meat). And get ideas on how to complete your meals with delicious sides like Fried Brown Rice with Pork and Shrimp or Libyan-style chickpea and orzo soup!
 
So, don’t just go to the butcher—become the butcher. Full of comprehensive, hands-on guidance, this ultimate meat cookbook takes the mystery out of buying and cooking meat like a pro.

Posted in #Recipes, Equipment Reviews

Multicooker Perfection

Multicookers such as the GoWISE USA and Instant Pot Duo are hugely popular; however, most recipes are unreliable or are designed to work in only one model of multicooker–and most often, they use only the pressure-cook setting. Enter Multicooker Perfection, a collection of foolproof recipes tested and developed to work in any multicooker and conform to your schedule. Make each recipe “fast” using the pressure-cook setting or let dinner cook while you’re out by preparing it “slow” on the slow-cook setting.

These crowd-pleasing recipes are perfectly suited for cooking at the touch of a button, from soups and stews like Easy Beef and Barley Soup and Chipotle Pork and Hominy Stew; to weeknight-friendly meals like Braised Chicken Breasts with Tomatoes and Capers, Ziti with Sausage Ragu, and Thai Braised Eggplant; to company-worthy dishes like Tamarind Braised Beef Short Ribs and Osso Buco with Sweet and Spicy Peperonata. Plus, you’ll find a chapter of unexpected recipes like Boston Brown Bread, Buffalo Chicken Wings, and even a perfectly creamy Cheesecake. Make cooking easier and better with this must-have cookbook for any multicooker owner.

Rating: 5 out of 5.

I swear, my favorite new appliance in the kitchen is my Instant pot. I wasn’t sure just exactly what I could make in it other than soups and stews. Well this cookbook changed my opinion of that! The incredible range of recipes really surprised me. Cheesecake, really?

One of the reasons that I grab America’s Test Kitchen cookbooks is the way they explain everything. And I do mean everything! If there is something that you need to do different, they not only tell you “how” to do, they explain “why” you need to do. It makes following their recipes so much easier.

So if you’ve got an Instant Pot, grab this book. No, they didn’t rate the Instant Pot the highest, but every one of these recipes is doable if you follow the instructions. One of take away’s that I got from it is that anything you can do in a Slow Cooker, you can do in an Instant Pot!

Carrie 4.0 out of 5 stars 
America's Test Kitchen's Recipes Are Worth Trying

Reviewed in the United States on April 23, 2018
Verified Purchase
Having actually used a jiggle-top pressure cooker, and learning that early electric models were hardly reliable, I waited a long time before trusting the wave of acceptance as serious. It appeared to have a learning curve, so I reviewed several multicooker cookbooks. And then I saw America's Test Kitchen MP handbook. I have ATK's Food Processor Perfection and now use my machine regularly. When MP arrived I devoured it from cover-to-cover. It was a disappointment to learn that my machine didn't even come in second in the rating tests, but affected recipes did recommend how to adapt for the shortcoming of the brand due to temperature issues. I'd only tried hard-boiled eggs in my new cooker, so now turned to serious cooking using the North Carolina-Styled Pulled Pork recipe and was delighted with the result. (I also realized why one should order additional silicone gaskets when the results remained so fragrantly evident, even after careful washing.) Yesterday I made Macaroni and Cheese - YUM!
I like the "why this recipe works" lead-in, the occasional suggestions for variations, adjustments for cooker size differences. and the photos that accompany nearly every recipe. This book makes clear that, as long as the user follows the basic multicooker user's manual, it's difficult to make a mistake in the kitchen so feel free to adjust seasonings, etc. (I often include Pimenton de la Vera DOP by El Rey in savory recipes because of its lovely smokey flavor.) I definitely recommend ATK's Multicooker Perfection, even if its recipes are primarily based on a discontinued machine. They actually work on all multicookers.
Della M.
5.0 out of 5 stars Great Cookbook for Experienced Cooks
Reviewed in the United States on October 19, 2022
Verified Purchase
Get this for the professional amateur cook in your life! The one who should use Dewey decimal system for their spice collection.

I love the directions include steps for slow cooking or pressure cooker (…ahem, instant pot) for every recipe. Also photos for every dish. The recipes are delicious, which is to be expected, it’s americas test kitchen after all!!

I’m passionate about food and cooking, and I don’t mind investing 2+ hours in the kitchen on a weeknight. I am not everyone…

Objectively - this and most ATK cookbooks are NOT for people who want quick, simple meals, new to pressure cooking, or novice chefs. (fellow ATK fans are nodding their heads, admiring the gleam of their All-Clad).

While their recipes are fantastic, the ingredient list and steps can be daunting. Most recipes are not “throw it in the pot, stir, and forget it”. Recipe instructions occasionally require finesse or sheer grit that comes with experience. Such as coring 2 lbs of plum tomatoes for fresh tomato sauce, (pg 93). Not rocket science, but certainly not as easy as popping open a can of Cento San Marzano tomatoes.