The Frugal Gourmet Cooks American [Mass Market Paperback]

J Smith (Author), Jeff Smith (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 1, 1990

The Frugal Gourmet presents a fabulous feastAmerican heritage.

Jeff Smith, the immensely popular star of his own television cooking show, The Frugal Gourmet, and author of four New York Times bestselling cookbooks, celebrates the delights of truly American cooking with such favorites as corn, turkey, tomatoes, squash, pumpkins, sweet berries and other ingredients that stir up fond memories of home and homecooking. Added to this list are some very special dishes from America's traditional cuisines-fascinating favorites from every part of the country, including:

Regional specialties from native American IndiansTime-honored recipes from the colonists, including those handed down from George Washington and Thomas Jefferson, as well as early settlers from Pennsylvania and New EnglandDown-home cooking at its best, exemplifying both Southern hospitality and the heart of soul foodFrom the heartlands of America comes everything from 19-Alarm Chili to barbecued spareribs and sweet potato pieAnd there's much more ...

In all, this handy companion to the 39-part national television series provides over 350 exciting recipes, served up with a pinch or two of humor, a delicious sprinkling of American lore, and a healthy touch of American history.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 529 pages
• Publisher: Avon (July 1, 1990)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0380706725
• ISBN-13: 978-0380706723
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.1 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,576,557 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A history lesson for your stomach, October 31, 2008

By 

S. Perry "Padre" (MA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Frugal Gourmet Cooks American (Hardcover)

It's unfortunate that when talking about Jeff Smith, there's always the issue of what did or didn't happen in his personal life, but for those of us who were fans of the show we will always remember him for what he was, one of the top voices in food television long before anyone ever even thought of the Food Network. He had intelligence, humor, and a warmth of personality that only a handful of people could ever communicate through cathode rays, and those same traits are to be found here in these pages.
The Frugal Gourmet Cooks American is hands down my favorite of his cookbooks, and one of my absolute favorite cookbooks ever. It's a wonderful lesson in American cuisine and full of wonderful recipes. I frequently find it sitting on my coffee table, and it gets read, even when I'm not looking to cook anything.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The "backbone" of my kitchen, January 16, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: The Frugal Gourmet Cooks American (Mass Market Paperback)

This is a great book, not only in the recipies (which are all wonderful), but in the stories BEHIND the recipies: where it all came from. I used this book quite a bit in the States, and now that I live in Germany I don't know what I would do without it. Our friends are always asking me for TRUE American dishes (not just the hamburgers everyone associates with the States.)

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars CLASSIC COOKING AND A HISTORY LESSON FROM "THE FRUGS", June 2, 2008

By 

! MR. KNOW IT ALL ;-b "DR SHOCK" (TRI STATE AREA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: The Frugal Gourmet Cooks American (Mass Market Paperback)

The Frugal Gourmet' Jeff Smith shows us some great American standards with interesting historic information to boot with this authentic American cook book! This is an excellent cook book for everyone. Jeff Smith has another winner here! It's full of great recipes and stories by a very talented cook and writer. This one focuses on American cooking. I have used many of these recipes and found them to be very good. Being a home grown cook myself and having a mother who is a fantastic cook, I found this book to be very helpful in expanding my culinary taste buds.

Jeff Smith entertained us for years on his PBS program 'The Frugal Gourmet'. Not only did he teach us many savory dishes, he also educated us. Not satisfied with just cooking delicious meals for his viewers, he would give detailed history lessons about the origins of the dish and made it all a lot of fun!

This may be Mr. Smiths best cook book and it is a worthy edition to everyone's cook book library. I own and have read many, if not all of his cook books, not only for the man's knowledge of cooking, but his incredible wit! This guy was funny and I would have loved to have hung out and throw a few beers down with him.

Unfortunately, this man had some very seriously bad press released about his personal life and well..... I am not one to spread rumors.....he seemed like a great guy and sadly he died before he was able to clear his name.

R.I.P. Frugs!