Customer Reviews

Cinagro Farm, Family Favorites from the Farm and beyond...

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Cinagro Farm is a beautiful cookbook. It has a durable cardstock cover with a lovely picture of a barn on a Midwest farm. The lovely colors of periwinkle, forest green, bright orange make the landscape striking; and there's a cute red barn. It is secured by a green comb binding, which allows the book to rest open easily.

There are approximately 500 recipes on 250 pages. This recipe book in its first edition was released this year, but the author has been working on it 20 years. The book honors the ancestors of the author and her husband. It includes some heirloom recipes from the family's Norwegian, Dutch, German, Czechoslovakian and Italian backgrounds.

It has some yummy stuff in it, including Cranberry Bread, Swedish Meatballs, Corn Chowder, Italian Wedding Soup, Pesto, Garlic & Oil Pasta, Beef Brisket, Leg of Lamb, Chocolate Pecan Pie. Just thumbing through it will cause the digestive juices to flow.

This is a really neat cookbook. I hope that someday Carol will write a book in which she includes stories behind her recipes. She is a very articulate writer.

Although the heading of this review says the Cinagro Farm cookbook is unavailable, it is available through the seller. Check on upper right-hand side of the page.

Highly recommended!

I review a lot of cookbooks and I really liked this one, (and there are some which I haven't liked very much as you can see by perusing my numerous reviews!)

Here we have essentially a family cookbook where author Carol Engan Borrelli has extracted recipes from the European roots of her family ancestry. Not all the recipes are European, many have been Americanized to facilitate convenience; but others seemed to have been added (Mexican, for example) to round out the text. The subtitle is "Recipes to Honor Our Norwegian, Dutch, German, Czechoslovakian and Italian Ancestors" -- and the bulk of the dishes chiefly lean in that direction.

You get a whopping 500 recipes, 1-3 recipes per page, over the course of 258 pages, not counting the supplemental information (conversion charts, etc.) in the back. This 2008 text is enclosed in a sturdy and attractive (artwork by Sharon France) softcover GBC binding which allows the book to lie nicely open and flat when in use. I would gauge these dishes in a range from "easy" to "medium" in terms of their difficulty to prepare. While the work is not illustrated with photographs, I did not find this to be particularly thorny since the ingredient lists and directions are clearly conveyed.

Taking on the truly ethnically-rooted European recipes first, some of the ones I liked right away included Czechoslovakian Cabbage Soup (p. 59), Cod Stortingsgrata (a Norwegian fish casserole, p. 141), Kielbasa Kraut Supreme (p. 155), and Makkaroni Mit Vier Käsen (four-cheese macaroni, p. 165). I'm familiar with such dishes having spent a good deal of time in Cleveland and Lorain, Ohio, both of which are notably ethno-European (American) cities where I frequently got invited into some great old dining rooms by families who still spoke with native Polish, Czech, Italian, and German accents. And it didn't take much urging to learn to love these hearty dishes.

But this cookbook also contains a large number of what I would term as either "farm" or "standby" recipes. These recipes take in dishes such as Pancake Mix Recipe (your own bulk mix is always freshest and best, p. 16), Banana Bread (p. 23), Piccalilli (which I love to home-can, p. 85), Chicken and Dumplings (p. 135), Blueberry Crisp (p. 202), and Carol's Seasoned Salt (p. 253). I've already made the Blueberry Crisp (YUM!) and I also made the Meatloaf (p. 168) which was great and which also told me that all these recipes are probably first-rate. That's my test of a general cookbook -- I always check to see if the meatloaf recipe is solid and if it features any new ingredients which benefit it. This one did (pesto sauce), and the flavor was definitely improved with the infusion of that unique ingredient.

A few fusion recipes squeaked in here (e.g., Angloasian Rum Punch, p. 33; East Meets West Cookies, p. 213) and I was also surprised to find a Cream of Fiddlehead Soup recipe (p. 57). I've been using Christmas fern fiddleheads for years in camper salads but this seems a better application for the tender morsels.

Just a few of the recipes sport lengthy ingredient lists, not always desirable in our fast-paced society; but I personally savor such intricate treasures as I'm constantly in search of "the very best" and I don't care about the effort it takes to achieve this. One such recipe is the Rustic Dry Meat Rub (p. 89) with a total of 17 ingredients.

This is a very nice little general cookbook to supplement more basic and comprehensive texts such as Joy of Cooking: 75th Anniversary Edition - 2006. It's always the smaller cookbooks wherein one finds the real recipe treasures and Carol Engan Borrelli has cached a number of such treats here. The author operates a farm where she grows and sells herbs and appurtenant items and thus perhaps it's relevant to know that "Cinagro" [Farm] is "Organic" spelled backwards!

Highly recommended.

I added this one to my collection. It's a neat cookbook with a whole lot of things I have never cooked before.

This cookbook is filled with a nice variety of very good recipes! Some examples are: Lamb Barley Soup, Lobster Bisque, Best Western Beans in the West, Tomato Pie, Sweet Potato Casserole, Imperial Crab, Turkey Tetrazzini, Down South Pecan Pie, Midnight Sun Cheesecake...

This is a wonderful cookbook, and it is quickly becoming one of my all time favorites. The four recipes I've tried since receiving this cookbook have been met with enthusiastic response from my family of picky eaters! A very nice variety of authentic German and Norweigian cuisine along with my favorite "American" standards. The illustrations are also beautiful. Enjoy!

Author Carol Engan Borrelli calls this little gem her "heirloom cookbook," and I can see why. It's a lovely work of art ... from the peaceful farm scene on the cover to other farm scenes dividing each section. The scenes are original acrylic paintings by well-known artist Sharon France; they complement the book to perfection, as do the graphically-enhanced "list pages" described below.

Cinagro Farm, Family Favorites from the Farm and beyond... is one of the best organized cookbooks I've ever seen. Borrelli not only has a Table of Contents and sections for various categories of food, she also has a Helpful Hints page at the beginning of each section, and there are several pages throughout where the cook/chef can make notes. Not only that, there's also useful lists at the back of the book: Pantry Basics, Herbs and Spices, Baking Breads, Baking Desserts, Cooking and Drying Time Tables for Vegetables and Fruits (including tips on buying them), Napkin Folding, Measurements and Substitutions, Equivalency Chart, Counting Calories, Food Quantities, Quick Fixes and Cooking Terms. In other words, everything a good, conscientious cook needs to know.

But if the "proof of the pudding is in the eating," then the proof of this book is in the recipes and how your family enjoys them. WOW--what delicious recipes! There's something for everyone in the family ... for every taste palate. Marching across the pages are "yummies" from appetizers to decadent desserts, and ending with a Miscellaneous and Unusual section. Many traditional American recipes are included, as well as recipes honoring the author's Norwegian, Dutch, German, Czechoslovakian and Italian ancestry.

There's even a recipe for Maine Ketchup, but when I stumbled across Cream of Fiddlehead Soup, I was puzzled. What's a fiddlehead? I thought, but the author had anticipated that not everyone would know, so had placed a note of explanation. Can you guess, or did you seasoned cooks already know that it's the bud of an immature fern. I haven't tried this yet (will I ever get brave enough?), but the author states it's "one of the most wonderful gifts from the wild."

And she should know since she's a former food inspector for the U.S. Department of Agriculture and now owns a small, home-based business, Cinagro Farm--Organic spelled backwards--specializing in fresh-cut, organically grown herbs, infused olive oil, vinegar and signature baked breads. The recipe for the bread is included in this book.

In addition to the aesthetics of the book, it's a quality product, printed on excellent paper with a spiral binding, allowing the pages to lay flat so the cook can refer to the recipes easily. Other helpful features are that the recipes are alphabetized within each section and there's an Index of Recipes in the back.

Cinagro Farm, Family Favorites from the Farm and beyond... is a must for every serious cook or chef; an awesome addition to your collection.

Now if only I could get someone to prepare some of these fine meals for me, I'd be a happy diner!

Reviewed by: Betty Dravis, October 2008
Author of: Millennium Babe: The Prophecy

From the lovely rustic cover to the end, this cookbook is guaranteed to elicit warm nostalgic feelings of home. Ms. Engan-Borelli has done an exquisite job of collaborating a variety of cultural dishes from her Czechoslavakian, Dutch, German and Italian family heritage. Many of the recipes aptly bear the name of the beloved family members who have so generously shared their wonderful creations for this book. You will find appetizers, side dishes, breads, soups and salads, main courses and desserts, all created straight from the heart. Did I mention that the recipes are also mouth watering and delicious? I also enjoyed the tranquil paintings that were "peppered" throughout the book. The last part of the book contains a variety of helpful indexes and tables from how to stock your pantry to quick fixes for those uh-oh moments in the kitchen (that's for me) and so much more. I would recommend this book for anyone who enjoys cooking. It is a welcome addition to any cookbook collection. Makes a great holiday gift.

What a pleasure it is to sit down with a great new recipe book in your hands. Good cookbooks are like an invitation to sit in someone's kitchen and share their vision about food and life.

Carol Engan Borrelli's delightful Cinagro Farm, Family Favorites from the Farm and beyond... is that kind of invitation. Carol draws on the cooking traditions of her family heritage, with Norwegian, Dutch, German, Czechoslovakian and Italian recipes taking pride of place. Knowing that Carol lived for some years in my own state of Maine, I was happy to find some recipes that are dear to this area too. It's an eclectic and modern collection; there is something here for everyone and I'm keen to try the anadama bread, Makkaroni Mit Vier Kasen (baked four cheese macaroni), some of the lobster dishes, and the strawberry pie. There are company dishes like the Ritz Carlton's Carrot Cake, and simple family main dishes such as the Labrador Pie. Naming these few choices feels inadequate because I could eat out of this book all year!

Carol's ideas about food are clearly stated in these words: "My philosophy is simple: use fresh, preferably organic, foods. Do not eat out of a box ... Regardless, keep an open mind and go back to your roots." She walks this path in her own life as the proprietor of a business producing organic herbs. The book has a few recipes that use processed ingredients, which Carol always explains by referencing family tradition and the need for the occasional super-easy meal. Carol, never apologize, never explain! Of course we want to cook fresh and organic, but thanks for letting us know that sometimes you just need that easy comfort food and it's OK.

CINAGRO FARMS FAMILY FAVORITES is beautifully presented, with a plastic spiral binding for convenience and a clear consistent recipe layout. Artwork by Sharon France is a perfect fit for the theme of the book. Carol has included a fantastic section on pantry basics, hints, terms, substitutions, etc. Each section of recipes has a page for notes and favorites, which I really appreciate. All my recipe books are full of notes and I love having blank space for that purpose.

Five stars for presentation, principle, charm and content. I'll be reading and using this book for years to come. If you enjoy cookbooks, you really should try this one!

Linda Bulger, 2008

This is my new favorite cookbook! I received it as a gift, it has fabulous recipes, hearty, healthy and everything in between! It is a great compilation of friend and family favorites and I have found books like these to be the best available. It's a great tribute to heritage and loved ones, a real treasure! Great soup recipes too.

This is my wife's cookbook. Since we married four years ago, I've had near every meal in this book. The fact I've gained 20 lbs since we married tells you that I can't get enough of her cooking. Every man thinks his mom is the greatest cook. Sorry mom, Carol has my stomach now.

Carol worked on this book a long time. When it was published I enjoyed reading her stories that came with the book. My oversized hamburgers did make the cookbook. She called them "Rockin Burgers". We call them "Earth Burgers" because the first time I made them for her, I dropped them on floor of the patio on the way into the house. Thus, came the name. She neglected to add that "story" to the notes on the recipe.

It's not often you read every recipe of a cookbook, but you can't help it with her book. The stories that she tells are very amusing. My office copy often brings laughter to those who read it.

It doesn't matter what style of food you like, Carol has it covered in her cook book. My father's Italian recipes have been handed down thru the ages and are great. (I can't believe my mother gave them up). I lived in Germany 6 years and I can tell you her German recipes are authentic.

Folks, this book is great! She should be a Food Network star!