Customer Reviews

Cooking in Oz: Kitchen Wizardry and a Century of Marvels from America's Favorite Tale

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2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

From its "Son of a Witch" section to Bill Cosby's Jello recipes, you'll be thoroughly entertained as this fascinating cookbook serves up delicious trivia. Metaphor now complete, the point's valid; Cox and Willingham have done an admirable job of identifying celebrity candidates from the saga of Oz, tracked them down (surely no easy task itself) and solicited recipes worth sharing.

But the recipes are just the beginning. This is really a book about Oz. A funny, clever, fascinating book that illustrates America's love affair with this marvelous story.

The Oz connections are explained in a direct style that will be a real eye opener for anyone unaware for the extent to which this classic fairy tale has penetrated our culture. The sidebars, photos, photo captions and text take you through a full 100 years of Oz history just as the turn-of-the-century fairytale marks its centennial year.

Background information is short enough to be an easy read, yet detailed enough to say something meaningful. For example, a quote from a vintage interview with the author's wife includes that she thought Baum, who didn't live to see the MGM film, would have regreted the portrayal of his book's rather comic character, the Wicked Witch of the West, as a scary witch. "Frank wouldn't have liked the witch part. He never wrote anything that might frighten children," she says.

The classic MGM film is just one of the stage/screen productions honored in this book. Talented cast and crew members behind animated Oz films, merchandise creators, recording artists, even stars from television series that included an Oz theme in an episode all get their share of attention. Whether it's Baum family recipes from the author's descendents, vintage manufacturer's recipes for the likes of Oz Peanut Spread, or Ice Box Pie paired off with a studio shot of seven Munchkins posing in a refrigerator, the writers did their research and have skillfully made all the pieces connect. You never know what to expect from the next page, but you learn pretty quickly that it will keep you reading.

The book's especially well designed -- you'll find black and white photos, cartoons, vintage ads, candid photos and studio portraits, graphics or side bars on virtually every spread. There's a handful of rare set shots from the 1939 MGM film in one section. An engaging forward by Munchkin Margaret Pellegrini, two indexes (one for recipes and one for Oz)and a family tree at the end to help keep straight the who's who of Baum family members who've contributed recipes, photos and rare clippings to the book.

And if you've ever wondered -- or doubted -- what Michael Feinstein, Mr. Rogers, Phyllis Diller, Oliver Hardy, Art Carney, Dick Van Dyke, Sid Ceasar, Nipsey Russell, Thomas Blackshear, and about 300 other celebrities have in common, the answer's here. Here's your answer. It's Oz.

My first thought about "Cooking in Oz" was, how could there possibly be another book related to the topic of Oz that hasn't covered everything out there? Well, there is!

This book is not 'about' Oz per se, but gives the reader insight into the personal home recipes of some of Hollywood and Ozdome's most enduring personalities ever to appear or be involved in an 'Oz' project.

This includes the 1939 film cast, their kids, International Wizard of Oz Club personalities, members of the Baum family, celebs that appeared in stage productions of 'Oz' you name it, they're here!

In addition to the oodles of recipes, this book includes extremely rare photos of the cast and crews of the above in Ozzy food scenarios and sitchy-ations, in addition to new insights of oft-overlooked Oz rarities like the Oz TV shows, photos of the MGM cast in other food related arenas (like Bert Lahr advertising for Frito-Lay), etc.

Elaine Willingham and Steve Cox have provided the reader with a plethora of fun recipe tips that have personally come from the homes (and kids homes) of the celebs who used them. All the recipes have 'Ozzy' names attached to them, like:

Winkie Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie, Wicked Witch's Mint Squares, (Margaret) Hamilton's Wilted Lettuce Salad, (Al) Hirschfeld's Caviar Appetizer, Lena Horne's Bitey Beans

I recommend this book to anyone with a love for Oz and a love for food. It's a wonderful combination creatively mixed and served up by the Oz personalities themselves.

You can't get any more personal than that!

I really enjoyed this book and plan to use some of these recipes myself.

It is a well orchestrated balance of interesting stories from the film as well as the book with recipes from many of the people connected to Oz and re-incarnations of Oz through film, stage, TV, music etc. To see so many celebrities, some well known for their Oz connection and some quite surprising is astonishing. It is easy to read and put together in an interesting way. You have no trouble going from stories and pictures to recipes. Recipes from the families of cast members and the Baum family are such a treasure to have.

How especially nice to see so much history of L. Frank Baum from members of his family as well as their family tree. How gracious of them to share treasured family recipes with the authors.

Add all that to a neat arrangement of never before seen pictures, some contributed by the Baum family, makes this truly an Oz book everyone should have. Steve Cox and Elaine Willingham did their research well and have designed a great book.

I loved this book. I have loved the movie The Wizard of Oz since I was a child and I stumbled upon this book in the cookbook aisle and grabbed it up in a heart beat. I never knew there was so much to the lasting legacy of Oz. I think this is beautifully presented cookbook and trivia book with some very nice comments from celebrities and Oz cast members inside. I especially loved the photographs of Margaret Hamilton with her son, appearing on Mr. Rogers show, and as she got older. Go Maggie! Luv that witch, and I love this book.

As a serious collector and lover of Oz this book keeps it interesting. It would just be another cookbook if it weren't for the whimsical and witty writing style of Steve Cox. Cox and Willingham have nicely rounded out the year with other Oz authors John Fricke, Bill Stillman and Jay Scarefone. Some have panned it, but I know for a fact that no other cookbook offers the added info and trivia that Cox and Willingham have contributed, not to mention the great photographs of the contributing stars, and the many never before seen, behind the scenes photos and set stills, from the MGM movie. The Stillman and Scarefone book was well done, but there are some great stills in this book that would have been the "icing on the cake" for theirs.

A must for every Oz library.

Just a voice out here in the Internet wilderness to let you folks know that the negative reviews posted here for "Cooking in Oz" must have been submitted by a couple of individuals whose taste buds have lost their kick, or by some of those wicked flying monkeys!

Just when you think that Oz had been covered from every conceivable angle, here comes along a refreshing, mouth-watering treat of tasty recipes and filling trivia. The authors tie everything and everyone together as if you were playing that Kevin Bacon game, or watching the end of a "Seinfeld" episode. Recommended as a first-rate cookbook, as well as a generous helping of "Oz" history.

I'm really not into cookbooks, but a friend gave me this for my birthday and I'm simply crazy about it. The best part of the book are the rare pictures in the center: photographs which, I believe, have never been seen, of the Wizard of Oz sets. Aunt Em and Uncle Henry's house without them in it! The book is full of trivia and things I never knew about Oz. This is a treasure, and it really is a memory book. If you have any doubts from the dubious reviews on this page, then go check out the book yourself. You'll be glad you did. Any self-respecting Oz collector should not be without this bonanza. It overflows with interesting material you will find in no other Oz book...and imagine, all in a clever cookbook like this. Was I surprised at what I found. The Foreword by a Munchkin from the movie was probably my favorite part. The recipes from L.Frank Baum's relatives and their personal recollections were a rare treat for me. I felt like I got to know them and I know I got to know Oz better from this book. Christmas is coming and my shopping is done. I'm ordering several for my friends. One suggestion, try the recipe called Jack Pumpkinhead's Cobbler. It's easy and it'll melt in your mouth. A Delicious recipe from a delicious book. A Plus!

I was pleasantly shocked when I stumbled upon this book. It is a complete representation of those people involved in "Oz," from every incarnation. It includes stunning photographs which I'd never seen (and I thought I'd seen them all!). The recipes are easy to follow too, but the recollections are by far the reason to get this book. Elaine and Steve have out done themselves. Big kudos.

If anyone doubted the power of OZ and how ingrained it is in our collective psyche (and now our tastebuds!), then just pick up this marvelous book!

Told with fantastic wit and charm, this book is a must-have for anyone interested in Oz trivia or new, creative recipes. The anecdotes and musings are sprinkled generously throughout, with ample portions of photos and I loved those vintage ads!

This is the perfect addition to this summer's cookout season. I've had more fun telling people where I got the recipe for Bitey Beans! Everyone wants to borrow my copy and try them out for themselves. It's quite a conversation starter at picnics.

Although I have to admit I ate almost half a Winkie Chocolate Peanut Butter pie in one sitting last weekend and was left moaning, "Oh what a world, what a world.." So pace yourself and your waistline!

Excellent Work. Lots of pictures and some of the recipes are very good. Lots of Great tidbits on Oz. I Enjoyed this book! If you like the Wizard of Oz or Cooking grab this one.