Customer Reviews

Keepsake Recipes and Fascinating Food Facts

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I' m not a great cook, but I love finding a resource that gives me the never-fail basics. This is it. The book even details how to boil and egg just right! As I read the book, I felt as if I were right in the kitchen with the author -- her experienced eye watched me and guided me as I worked through the recipes. I agree with one of the other reviewers who said this would make a great wedding gift.

This book is super for a shower or wedding gift. Actually, for anyone who is just starting out learning how to cook. It not only has good basic recipes with good directions...but, it also tells the reason things are done a certain way. I've been cooking for a long time and this book taught me a lot.

Would you believe a never-fail pie crust? It's true. I have made at least 25 pie crusts using Mother's recipe. Never a failure. Well, so I am the author's daughter. Whether you are just starting out or have been cooking a long time, you will find this a delightful source of recipes to try out and experiment with yourself. Mother believes in the cook adding him or her self to the process. The tidbits of information are fascinating. It is a fun book to read. I think you will agree that the book is appropriately titled.

I actually purchased this because I knew the author, who passed away in 2009, at just short of 100 years old. This recipe book would be great for the first-time cook, because it has lots of those little hints that experienced cooks learn over time. It is also full of classic recipes, although it's a bit out-of-date in that it uses hydrogenated vegetable oil for many of them (eg, crisco and margarine) when we know now that HVO is unhealthy. Just substitute butter, plam oil shortening, or good old lard where appropriate, and the recipes will be back to their original ingredients when our great-grandmothers were preparing them before 1950!

I have recently purchased a copy of "Keepsake Recipes and Fascinating Food Facts". I have thoroughly enjoyed the book and its' unique approach to cooking. The recipes are hard-to-find traditionl varities that are easy to prepare and remind me of "mom's cooking".

With a few chosen food facts, and a very concise manual of recipes, I'm finding the same pleasure in the kitchen that I used to find in the garage. I'm enjoying the craft of cooking as I would contruction. This book spells it out clearly and concisely, and got me startd in the kitchen. A few new tools, but an easy transition. It's easy to start cooking when you get some help understanding the basics, and are provided with some practical, time honored recipes. I don't even have to learn French. It could be labeled "Cooking for Dummies", or "If I had only knew these things sooner, I would have started cooking years ago".

Not long ago, a group of teenage boys were rummaging though our kitchen complaining that we "had no food, only ingredients." As for myself, I'm still more comfortable with a skill saw than a skillet and not one to view cook books as literature. However, I picked up my wife's copy of Irene Buckman's book recently and found it to be a true page turner, full of warmth, wisdom, and recipes that will make your taste buds stand up on their tippy toes and scream for more. It might even get some boys to `create' something more sophisticated than toast. Buy extra copies for gifts, I did.

I'm sure enjoying this book. As an off and on cook, I haven't built up a stock pile of knowledge that helps out when ever I put on a cooking apron. Irene Buckman's book Keepsake Recipes and Fascinating Food Facts fills that slot. As time goes by and I get the urge to cook to try and impress that certain someone, a no nonsense book like this helps make it a lot easier. I have read the entire book and gotten a fair education on the kitchen as well. The recipes I have tried have all turned out splendidly and not only satisfied my need to wow my guests, but filled the belly and delighted the palate. A particular favorite has been the stuffed cabbage leaves with ground turkey, it's a real winner! Breakfast, lunch, dinner and desert can all be easily referenced and prepared from this helpful book. It's brief bits of background and hints are nice for even a light bit of evening reading. In all, this has been my "go to" book for preparing healthy and hearty meals on those occasions that I want to spend time eating at home instead of out.

What a delightful surprise to discover Irene Buckman's cookbook "Keepsake Recipes." It's a wonderful combination of basic knowledge and little known facts which enhance anyone's repertoire of cooking and baking expertise. No need to spend precious time hunting for that certain favorite recipe or wonder about the best way to serve food on hand - Irene Buckman has done all the research for you. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys eating and loves to see smiles of appreciation on the faces of dinner guests. Bon Appetit!

or a mother, aunt, guardian angel to teach them the basics. You can buy one for the price of this sweet and practical cookbook. Lots of great information here, simply and clearly stated. The muffin recipes I've tried are yummy, and the titles irresistible, e.g. "Biscuits Supreme (Exceptionally tender)", "Delicate Powdered Sugar Cookies," and "Elsie Glow's Chocolate Kisses." I love the fact that most recipes use kitchen staples rather than anything exotic.