101 Essential Tips: Cooking With Spices (101 Essential Tips) (Paperback)

by Jill Norman (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review
This demure little book packs a world of spice know-how into it's 69 pages--with not a real life Spice Girl in sight! Profiling an aromatic array of spices: paprika, cinnamon, cumin, anise, and some which the tongue has a hard time even negotiating such as asafetida and fenugreek--Cooking with Spices is a flavorsome treat. Handy hints are given for the selection, drying, and storing of spices, as well as pointers for freezing and grinding. Full color photographs profile the varieties and conditions of a spice--ginger has four types: preserved, dried, fresh, and ground. This spice is recommended for curry powder, meat and fish dishes, and of course cookies! The book even manages to squeeze in 42 recipes that will heat up the kitchen! From the Far East we have Thai Shrimp Soup with Lemongrass, a succulent dish with a zesty balance of lemongrass, chilies, scallion, cilantro, and the shrimp. From the Middle East comes a terrific recipe for faithful Falafel--plan in advance for this one, as chickpeas must be soaked for 36 hours. It's worth the effort though; this is a thoroughly delicious dish, perfect for dipping at parties!

Flavorings deserve their own cookbook--and Cooking with Spices is a great place to go for the basics. --Naomi Gesinger

Product Description
Know--how in a nutshell. The step--by--step series that brings expert advice at an affordable price. Breaks down using culinary spices into 101 easy--to--grasp tips. Gives quick answers to all questions. Each point can be absorbed in an instant.

Product Details

• Paperback: 72 pages
• Publisher: DK ADULT (March 15, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0789427788
• ISBN-13: 978-0789427786
• Product Dimensions: 7 x 4.9 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,056,091 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is Spicy Baby, October 28, 2001

By	Rebecca Johnson "SeasonedwithLove.com" (Washington State) - See all my reviews (TOP 10 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)    (COMMUNITY FORUM 04)

My grandmother taught me how to use herbs and spices and I also read up on how to use them as a kind of hobby. This is one of the cutest little books and it is just packed with information.

If there was just information on spices, it would not be as interesting. Here, they include wonderful recipes. First you get a "Spice Know-How" lesson to help you figure out what spices really are, how to dry-roast them and the best ways to store them.

The Spice Profiles section shows you say how to use saffron to bring out the most flavor or how to make chili oil. They also have info on paprika, cassia, cinnamon, turmeric, lemongrass (divine!) and cardamom.

Then for the recipes! You will find Far East, Indian, North African, Middle Eastern, European, American and Caribbean treats!

I have totally been looking for a Thai Shrimp Soup with Lemongrass recipe! No lies. There is was, just waiting for me to discover it. I have to mail order the lemon grass and it keeps very well in the freezer. The scent of lemongrass is so lovely.

Other recipes you might enjoy:

Beef Curry - always a favorite
Chicken Satay with Peanut dipping sauce
Mixed Vegetable Curry
Moroccan Spicy Chicken
Venison with Green Peppercorns
Bolivia Corn Pie
Jerked Chicken

I was quite surprised with the variety of recipes and the gourmet pictures. If you have not yet discovered the joys of a mortar & pestle, this it the time to buy one! So, if the only time you get interested in spices is during Thanksgiving and Christmas...

Baby, are you missing out! Spices and Herbs will make your cooking rock!

Naomi Gesinger's review cracks me up! I didn't see any
Spice Girls in this book either.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Easy to use booklet, January 6, 2008

By	Cynthia Yount "retiredcatlady" (La Verne, CA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Exceptional, just what I was looking for. My mother was the best cook and used spices. I have inherited all her spice (now that she's gone). I love to eat spicy foods and well seasoned foods, but lately my cooking seems blah. I'm on a special diet to eliminate food allergies such as sugar & flour, so thought 'I'd better learn how to season my food. This book takes you through each spice, some I've never heard of, and tells you what each spice can be used for and how to prepare the spice and in what forms each spice can be purchased, such as whole, ground, etc. If you're looking for something simple, this is the book.