Customer Reviews

Martha Stewart's Quick Cook

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

 

 

I have been using this cookbook for over 10 years and I still always go to it when planning a dinner or luncheon. The menus are foolproof and the arrangement by season is brilliant for finding the freshest ingredients at the market. Friends always ask me for the recipes and that's the best test of any cookbook! In fact, I'm here to order one as a gift for a friend who just enjoyed the Salade Nicoise menu at my house.

I didn't know how to cook to save my life when I bought this book...this and the Silver Palate cookbook were the first I ever used. I found the recipes here easy, and have had great results...the only downsides are that some of the ingredients are expensive and hard-to-find if you don't live in a major city, and, even 10 years later, they still take longer than an hour to prepare.

But who cares? I'm a sucker for cookbooks with lots of glossy photographs, and I don't care what anyone thinks, I love Martha. If you do, too, then you will enjoy this book.

The photos in this book are really gorgeous and the recipes do work. However -- there is NO WAY one person could make any of the full menus in just an hour! I would say that each individual dish takes at least an hour -- doing a whole Martha menu is a major undertaking. Another problem -- many of the ingredients are hard to find (even in the sophisticated greater Boston area!) and she relies heavily on fresh herbs in practically every recipe, which is just not practical for me. Not only is fresh sorrel unavailable in any store I know of, but even sorrel SEEDS, so you can grow your own sorrel, are hard to find!

i purchased this book based on the on-site reviews. although it must have worked for some, not this cook. i enjoy the kitchen a lot and consider myself pretty good at it --- just a bit bored and restless with my current menus. this was just way too stuffy. or perhaps the new phrase is "way too martha". yick. the menus are dated and boring. oh well, i tried.

I know this is an old book (from the 80's) but it's still one of my favorites.
The recipes are quick and very good, just like you'd expect from Martha.
One recipe I use quite often is for leg of lamb and roasted potatoes - it sounds fancy, tastes delicious, but surprisingly simple.
And of course it's beautifully photographed.
I often give this book as a gift.

My husband does all the cooking--and is a great and innovative cook who has the ability to make splendid meals without a recipe! Then there is me... I enjoy great food but am not a very accomplished cook. Thank goodness for Martha Stewart's Quick Cook Menus.
I have had the hardbook version of this wonderful cookbook for almost 20 years and (before marriage) made MANY OUTSTANDING dinners from it! It is well-presented, easy to put a fabulous dinner together with the companion dishes, and it is not difficult to find most ingredients!! Now that I don't cook, I STILL browse this cookbook (I'm no dummy, though--if I started cooking from it, I would have to take over the kitchen...).
I just ordered two copies for gifts, one for my newly married niece (unfortunately, she didn't hold out for a chef!!) and the other for a good friend. I highly recommend this!!!

This is an excellent cookbook for the cook who wants to prepare quality meals, but has limited time. Most ingredients, including seasonings, are easily procured or already on the shelf. Photography is beautiful and adds to the appeal of the food. I could happily have done without Martha's tedious running commentary on her fast track personal life, and that of her now divorced husband. But that can be ignored. It's the recipes that matter. This is a cook book that gets pulled down from the shelf.

Great cookbook with well written instructions. Practical recipes for the most part.
I have found most of Martha Stewart's recipes do work and are delishous.
I wish "Collected Recipes for Every Day" had pictures like this one does.

If "jeffsdate" cannot finish these menues in an hour, he must not be used to multi-tasking.