Customer Reviews

Martha Stewart's Dinner at Home: 52 Quick Meals to Cook for Family and Friends

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

The first Martha Stewart cookbook that I purchased was her "The Martha Stewart Cookbook." Awfully good, but not for the everyday cook in his/her kitchen. The second of her cookbooks that I acquired, "Martha Stewart's Cooking School," was more accessible (at least to me). I have enjoyed a number of recipes from this book. My third acquisition, "Martha Stewart's Dinner at Home," has an interesting twist--(Page 9): "Arranged seasonally to take advantage of what's in the market, these meals are accessible, but they also satisfy our desire for an even broader range of foodstuffs."

For each season, there is a set of meals (52 in all, one for each week).

Spring: Here is an example (and one that I aim to try out in the near future--except for the rhubarb!). Baby lamb chops with lemon strips; asparagus with aioli; Quinoa, pea, and mint salad; vanilla-poached rhubarb. The lamb chops are very simply made. The asparagus dish is also quite doable. I have never used quinoa before, but have seen a number of recipes that use it, so this dish intrigues me (again, looks pretty straightforward to make). The rhubarb? I'll let that go, since I'm not a fan!

Summer: "The markets are overflowing with local fruits and vegetables at their peak, yet the long, sunny days cut short any thoughts of spending hours in the kitchen (Page 73)." One example. Avocado and lemon on toasted rustic bread; Seared tuna in tomato-basil sauce; green beans with lemon butter; Peaches in honey syrup. The tuna dish uses readily available ingredients, so would be pretty easy to make for the home cook.

Fall: As Stewart puts it, a season with plentiful produce lending itself to heartier preparations. The example? Pork chops with sautéed apples and onion (I have made a similar dish, but this recipe promises to be more delicious still); Shaved fennel-celery salad; mustard mashed potatoes; maple custards.

Winter: Here is the example that I especially like. Roast chicken breasts in creamy tarragon sauce (I haven't used tarragon as much as I should have over time, given that it adds an interesting taste to dishes); warm lentils with spinach; caramelized endive; poached pears with chocolate sauce.

All in all, a fun, accessible set of recipes. I look at this as a fine addition to my kitchen library.

Short review: Great book; makes menu planning a breeze; I'd highly recommend it.

Long review: One of the problems in preparing meals is what to make and how to pair things; what goes with what; how do you keep things fresh and not boring. This latest book from Martha and crew pretty much takes care of all those questions. Her dedication page was short, simple, and perfect, "To all homemakers in America, pressed for time yet caring for their families" and that summed up the purpose of this latest Martha offering.

The book is large, has excellent print on quality paper, is beautifully photographed and gives you the details, explanations, and sidebars for each meal along with the preparation schedule. And each and every dish has a close-up, detailed, delicious and accompanying photograph. The menu's are showcased according to season which helps to break down what would be easy to find in the markets at those times. For example, on page 121, there is an exquisite photograph of a fresh, ripe peach in honey syrup; while that would be great to serve anytime, the "summer" menu is perfect for it, while you would be more apt to find, enjoy and impress with blood oranges and pomegranates in winter.

At the same time, these aren't your standard all-American recipes of meatloaf and mashed potatoes. They are a bit beyond the normal fare and are fresh and different; but not so much that they seem foreign.

The ingredients are simple and easy to find; the food not too fussy, and the prep fairly easy even for busy folks with busy schedules. And with 52 menu suggestions, you can pick and choose what makes life easier for you regardless of the season, as well as mixing and matching those recipes your taste buds gravitate towards. Some samples of the seasonal menu's are:

SPRING MENU
Spring Salad with Fresh Mozzarella
Turkey and Pancetta Meatballs
Pasta with Mint Pesto and Fava
Coffee Ice Cream Affogato (liqueur-flavored hot expresso poured over ice cream)

Asparagus-Parmesan Tart
Shrimp in Saffron Broth
Coucous with Golden Raisins
Apricot-Almond Ice Cream Sandwiches

Fontina and Herb Flatbread
Prosciutto-Wrapped Pork Cutlets
Wilted Escarole
Amaretti-Ricotta Sandwiches


SUMMER MENU
Cantaloupe Wedges with Feta Cheese
Honey-Glazed Chicken Skewers
Summer Squash and Olive Phyllo Tart
Espresso Cream Crunch

Herbed Turkey Burgers
Mixed Tomato Salad
Cream Corn
Blackberry Shortbread Squares

Pork Kabobs with Thyme and Orange
Fennel, Red Onion, and Parsley Salad
Toasted Bulgur with Almonds
Cantaloupe Granita


FALL MENU
Skillet Rib-Eye Steaks
Broiled Peppers with Melted Cheese
Broccoli with Garlic and Anchovies
Molten Chocolate-Espresso Cakes

Pork Chops with Sauteed Apples and Onion
Shaved Fennel-Celery Salad
Mustard Mashed Potatoes
Maple Custards

Warm Swiss Chard and Bacon Dip (this was a great meal; perfect for October)
Braised Chicken Marsala
Sage Polenta
Sauteed Pears in Honey Syrup


WINTER MENU
Tart Apple Bistro Salad
Hanger Steak with Caramelized Shallots
Oven-Baked Shoestring Fries
Caramel Pudding

Roast Chicken Breasts in Creamy Tarragon Sauce
Warm Lentils with Spinach
Caramelized Endive
Poached Pears with Chocolate Sauce

Spice-Rubbed Beef Filets (my next menu)
Port-Glazed Pearl Onions
Golden Potato Puree
Chocolate Truffles

At the back of the book, you get "Basics" which have soup stock recipes and hints on certain steps of cleaning and prepartion of some of the foods. Then the menu's seasons are broken down into categories such as "Starters", "Mains", "Sides" and "Desserts".

"Its a good thing".

This cookbook is amazing! I have prepared several of the recipes and they have all been fantastic! The soups are superb, rich and satisfying yet not heavy at all! (watercress/cauliflower, roasted pumpkin) Thank you so much, Martha for the wonderful collection of meals that have blown our family away!

This is yet another gorgeous Martha cookbook with thick pages and beautiful, inspiring pictures. It's also very well organized into seasons and full appetizer to dessert menus, with pictures illustrating each course. The book is only slightly flawed in that the recipes are supposed to come from ingredients found in your local market. Not so much -- Mirin, Miso, Quail, Black Cod, Medjool Dates, Pepitas, Course Italian Polenta (not instant), to name a few. Not found in my local conventional market. I will have to make a trip to Whole Foods for much of this stuff. But that's ok. Just know that going in. I have made one recipe from this book (the Chicken Marsala with Sage Polenta) and it was fabulous. I can't but help give this book 5 stars because Martha will inspire you to cook and give you great ideas when you want to put together a thoughtful meal for your family and guests.

I turn to Martha Stewart's web site for delicious, quick and easy meals. I subscribe her to her monthly 'Food' magazine. I have most of her cookbooks, so when her new cookbook came out I was first in line. What a beauty!

Martha has given us a cookbook that not only looks good but is set up to be easy to use and and easy to read. The result is many menus of meals- 52 meals (dinners) and two hundred recipes to be exact. This is a cookbook for any style of cook from the newbie to the more advanced cook. The recipes are fresh but tried and true. The ingredients for every season. The cookbook is actually set up for different seasons of the year. Each menu selection has an appetizer, a main course, side dishes and dessert. And, each meal is set to be made in a short period of time to be ready for dinner. There are 13 menus for each season. Many of us come home after work, tired and worn wondering what will we have for dinner. Now, the decisions are easy and we can shop once or twice a week for the essentials we will need for each meal. The point is to get these delicious meals on the table in less than an hour.

There are so many meal plans listed. The chicken marsala really interests me. I am a lover of chicken and any new recipe sings to me. I would start with an asparagus-parmesan tart,
move on to braised chicken marsala and finish with peaches in sauteed honey syrup. The cookbook also includes a helpful Basics section that covers how-to instructions for stocks, bread crumbs, toasting nuts and more. Many lovely pictures throughout the cookbook.

As a Martha Stewart fan I would recommend this cookbook for anyone. The 'how-to' section is really very helpful and the menus sound so delicious! A good gift if you are thinking ahead!

Highly Recommended. prisrob 11-02-09

Martha Stewart's Encyclopedia of Crafts: An A-to-Z Guide with Detailed Instructions and Endless Inspiration

Martha Stewart's Cooking School: Lessons and Recipes for the Home Cook

Martha Stewart's Dinner at Home: 52 Quick Meals to Cook for Family and Friends is Martha at her best. You'll find 52 menus (appetizer/starter, main course, side and dessert) that can be prepared in less than an hour with each menu accompanied by mouthwatering color photographs!

The menus are organized by season and each menu contains sidebars, tips, and more to make sure the presentation is perfect and the food fit for your family and/or guests.

If you enjoy Stewart's cookbooks, this one will definitely please. One thing that sets her cookbooks apart from the crowded market of cookbooks is the attention Stewart pays to detail. It is rare to embark on a recipe or menu and find details omitted or unclear steps.

There is a wonderful recipe for chickpea-olive crostini--three of my favorite foods combined together. Yum. And speaking of yum, save room for dessert. The desserts appear to be easy to prepare from the dark chocolate pudding to a cherry custard pie.

If you don't like to cook, the beautiful colored photographs of the food will certainly change your mind! I must go now--to the kitchen and try out one of the desserts. Yep, by pass the main course and go straight to one of the sumptious desserts--what could be more divine!

I think "quick" means something different to Martha Stewart than to me. While there are quick dishes in Martha Stewart's Dinner at Home, lots of the recipes are labor intensive and take quite a while to prepare. That being said, they are delicious and great for days when I am not in a rush to get dinner on the table.

The cookbook is just great. My wife dug into it the first night she had it. So far six meals and all were perfect. I've enjoyed each and every one and unlike some cookbooks that I bought for her, this one is quick and easy. Just real good food the easy way. Three cheers.

I had read several glowing reviews on this book, but found so many recipies called for somewhat exotic ingredients. Not that I couldn't find them, but you had to go specialty stores or ethnic markets, something not so easy to do if you're working & looking to put dinner on the table. I am not likely to try vey much in this book, altho I'm sure most things are quite tasty.

My family has loved everything I have made out of here so far. I love the variety of different meals. Although there is not a single meal in here that can be made in 1 hour or less.