Customer Reviews

The Martha Stewart Living Cookbook: The New Classics

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

As others have noted, the index in this book contains entries for both this book, in black ink, and for The Martha Stewart Living Cookbook: The Original Classics in blue. Well, since this book has a blue cover, you would (as least I did, and continue to) think the blue ink entries are for the blue-covered book. Not so. The index is pretty good; much better than my old stand-by, the New Cook Book (Better Homes & Gardens New Cookbooks). Many index entries have useful "see also" entries.

There are a few (often just a few per section) helpful black and white photos, and some gorgeous color photos of some recipes. Like other reviews, I've noted some easy and some quite difficult recipes. The print on the pages extends into the gutter (the margin in the binding of the book) too much; when the book is open on the kitchen counter, part of the print is curved down into the binding a bit, making it a little less easy to read.

This cookbook is extremely useful, as long as you know how to use it. The index is straightforward and helpful, whether you have one or both of the snazzy new cookbooks. The recipes are fabulous, but just keep in mind that some are for casual everyday meals, while others are much more complicated and require a bit more experience to make. I think the book works well, giving less adept cooks new things to try out, while also giving challenges to more advanced and adventurous cooks.
The cooking "necessities" lists in the front are helpful and presented well, and the layout of the book makes it easy to locate the recipes you need and their accompaniments.

This is by far one of the best cookbooks I have used. My husband who only cooks one day a week will only use this book. Great recieps that are easy to prepare.

there are two volumes for this book...hence some people's confusion regarding the index...it seems clear to me, some are in blue and some in black(those recipes are found in the orange volume)

this is hands down the best cookbook i have ever used. normally i'll buy a cookbook and it will be filled with recipes i would never even think of making with ingredients that are hard to find. but this cookbook has so many amazing recipes that all i want to do now is cook!!!! i can't wait til christmas so i can try a bunch of them....especially the babka recipe. directions are easy to follow and the array of recipes in each category is plentiful. love it!!

I purchased this book as a wedding present. When it arrived, I had to take time to look through it before passing it on to the young bride. I have been cooking since I was seven years old, even had my own catering business and taken a few lessons at the Geenbrier Resort. I am sixty-eight years old and am now retired with time to devote to cooking. I no longer want to "wing" it. This marvelous book has given me the impetus needed to enhance my food preparation skills. It is never to late to learn!

I have never owned a Martha Stewart cookbook before. For some reason I was under the impression that they were "snob" cook books full of unrealistic recipes. Was I ever mistaken! There are some more sophisticated recipes in this book but there are also some simple ones. All I have tried have been good!

As many reviewers have noted, the index is confusing because it is an index to this book AND the older "classics" book. The type for this book with the blue cover is black; the type for the older edition with the orange (?) cover is blue--just the opposite of what you would think. It is rather interesting to notice the difference in the types recipes by looking at the index. For example, when I looked for "fried chicken", I found that there are no pan fried recipes in the new version, but there are some in the old. The newer version tends to be more modern and "healthy" in its cooking approach than the old. However, I just ordered the old one because I like both types of recipes and want to make the choice myself.

This is rapidly becoming one of my favorite cookbooks. Glad I gave Martha a chance!

Thank goodness I read the other reviews just now, and I can see I'm not the only one who's suffered over the ridiculous Index in this book. Martha, why would you include recipes from another book in the Index for this one? It's horribly confusing. The recipes do look delicious though - when I can actually find them!!

Martha does it again. A great collection of recipes and advice to allow readers to create great food. Worth the small price many times over!

The Martha Stweart cook book is great! I've already tried some receipes ... they are easy to follow and delicious!