Customer Reviews

Kitchen Solutions: Substitutions, Basic Formulas and Essential References

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

 

 

I was so looking forward to receiving this book as it appeared it would be full of wonderful information and helpful hints, however, I found it to be insulting to one's intellegence. Most everything in it is merly common sense. I believe even a second grader would be bored. Also, the content of the book certainly does not justify the cost. I felt taken advantage of as it is neither helpful or informative, and the size of the book is so small for the price. Not a good investment, and I am very pleased that Amazon.com allows a 30 day return if not satisfied. Thumbs down to this one.

After reading the other reviews for this book I was cautious about buying it but went ahead anyway. I'm glad I did! I've used the book 4 times in the past week. While none of the information is necessarily new and you probably already have the information in your general cookbook, what make this book great is that it is well organized and easy to use. I bought it primarily for the substitution section. Last night I ran out of sour cream for a baking recipe and I referred to it for a substitution (sour milk). I also used it to find out how many teaspoons equal a tablespoon so I could accurately add half a tablespoon (1 1/2 teaspoons). It also has instructions to make seasame oil, which I could have used a couple of weeks ago. I find this to be a handy cooking book that I expect to referred to again and again.

Despite the insulting and demeaning reviews of some others, I like this book and am glad I got it. This is perfect for the novice cook or the person who is trying to learn to cook. I would remind the harsher critics that not all of us have been taught to cook by our parents or school or whatever. For someone who doesn't like to cook, is brand new to cooking, or the young bride or bachelor who is trying to learn to cook, this is a great reference with very helpful, handy tips. For instance, one of the tips is if you don't have lentils, use split peas. I would never have thought of that. I don't like to cook and only do so out of necessity. So using peas instead of lentils wouldn't even occur to me. Common sense? I don't think so. Not to me anyway. And I'll bet not to others like me who also don't like to cook or experiment in the kitchen. I have no knack for knowing what would be a good substitute for certain ingredients and this book is an invaluable resource for what is a good substitution. Everything I have learned about cooking is from books and this one is one of my favorites. If you are a cooking snob, don't buy it. But if you are a novice or like me and only cook a little from necessity, you won't go wrong.

I have been cooking for nearly 50 years, so I know a thing about the need for substitutions, etc, that goes along with that experience. Yes, you can probably find each of the "kitchen solutions" in one of your other cookbooks but who wants to spend the time doing that? Everything anyone, novice or experienced cook, will ever need is here in this well organized, hardcover, spiral bound, easily cleaned book of everyday cooking solutions. A bonus is the extra material for those with allergies or special dietary considerations. As for the price, there are many cookbooks on the market that cost much more, deliver much less and aren't nearly as user friendly. This is a great book for my collection and it makes an especially nice gift for newlyweds or those just setting up housekeeping.

I liked this book so much that I shared it with several friends and coworkers. They were also impressed by the formulas and shortcuts. I made the barbque sauce recipe and intend to copy the spice mixtures. The substitutions would be especially helpful for someone with food allergies, health problems, or wanting a creative substitution in a pinch. It is a little pricey but the spiral binding and hard cover make it an easy book to use because it lays flat while you are using it.

I received this book as a gift several years ago. I don't do a lot of cooking but have found the substitution section very helpful on numerous occasions. When I want to make a recipe and find I don't have one ingredient, I look in this book first. Over the years I have also added other substitution lists I have found on the internet or newspaper, because I always check this source first before going to the regular cookbooks on my shelf. I think it makes a nice gift for a bride or actually anyone who cooks.

Is she kidding? Ms. Newens should specialize in writing for infants and toddlers, rather than cookbooks for adults. It does have one use: Your children will enjoy coloring all over its pages.