5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
So good it made me mad, May 19, 2008
This review is from: The Complete Idiot's Guide to Spices and Herbs (Mass Market Paperback)
There is a fantastic amount of information in the book, but unless you are already familiar with a vast percentage of culinary herbs and spices then you will feel lost and much like an 'idiot'. A complete guide to anything should have at least one page of pictures showing you what they are describing. Buy this book in conjunction with an encyclopedia or don't buy it at all. A complete guide should be complete from every angle and not skimp because pictures cost money to produce and publish.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Tantalizing!, June 17, 2008
This review is from: The Complete Idiot's Guide to Spices and Herbs (Mass Market Paperback)
This book is aimed primarily at folks who want to explore the wide world of flavors available out there and figure out how to use all those spices & herbs in their own cooking. It provides suggestions for where to find the unusual ones, and gives the reader many starting points for exploration.
It does leave out one detail I was hoping for---substitution suggestions for times when you can't find the particular spice you're looking for. That said, there are so many notes on what these items taste like and the elements of flavor that the book will, in many cases, still help you to properly flavor dishes when you don't have all the 'right' ingredients.
I'm particularly impressed with the wide array of information on using these ingredients outside of kitchen recipes. Gardening information is included to help you start your own herb garden, and instructions are included for properly drying or freezing fresh herbs for later. There are also instructions for creating your own flavored oils, vinegars, and compound butters, as well as potpourris, sachets, and so on.
There's a surprisingly long selection of spice blend recipes, but many of them are in amounts that aren't geared toward the home cook. Many of them use spices in anywhere from 1/4 cup to 1 cup amounts, and produce several cups of mix. If you're opening a restaurant or experimenting on a large scale (if, for example, you're studying to become a professional chef) you might find these amounts useful, I imagine.
There aren't many recipes in this book---just a few to show you some of the ways in which ingredients can be used. For example, we made a coffee-braised roast from this book, which was falling-apart tender and incredibly flavorful & delicious.
There are no photos in this book, but I don't believe it needs them. After all, you're going to be buying spice jars in stores---most of which look the same---not going out into the wilds to identify plants.
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5.0 out of 5 stars
Fun and Informative, February 14, 2009
This review is from: The Complete Idiot's Guide to Spices and Herbs (Mass Market Paperback)
I have several books on spices and herbs, but I enjoy the simple and fun format of Spices & Herbs. Since it is an easy to understand reference, I find I select this book when I want to experiment with seasonings and recipes. I especially like the sidebars (Chefspeak, Hot Stuff, etc.) and the large selection of blend recipes.
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