Customer Reviews

Paula Deen's The Deen Family Cookbook

5 star:		(36)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Omygosh...a cookbook that's a good read. What a concept. Paula makes cooking fun and just a little naughty...I mean...real butter, bacon, sugar and just the right amount of sauce. Thank goodness there are still cooks who create real food. Lots of great recipes...if I had to pick a favorite I guess it would be Michael's sinful twice baked potato...it's a meal unto itself. With the fabulous photography and easy instructions you can't miss...and believe me, I am no cook...but I can wow my guests with these recipes.

I had become tired of buying cookbooks sight unseen, and then being disappointed by the recipes once the book arrived. This had become especially true of some the the "celebrity" chef books of late. So, I decided to check this book out of my local library first and what a pleasant surprise I found. This is a GREAT cookbook with a nice variety of recipes provided not just by Paula and her sons, but also her extended family. And each recipe is accompanied by a story about the person or the recipe and it was a really great read on top of adding some superb recipes to my collection. The recipes are easy to follow and make, and there aren't too many obscure ingredients that you would have to go in search of, and many are made with staples that you probably keep on hand. It covers everything from appetizers to desserts, and I can not wait to make the coconut bread pudding. YUM! I am so pleased with the cookbook, I plan on buying my own copy. You will thoroughly enjoy the book!

Update: I have made two recipes from this book and they were great. The first one was Jamie's Mexican Chicken and Tortilla Casserole. My eight year old son loved it--said it was a "keeper" and I should definitely make it again. The other was Corrie's Christmas Granola Waffles with Buttered Pecan Syrup. We did not use the granola--however, we did make the waffles and they are out of this world. I have made homemade buttermilk pancakes once a week for the past 8 years as either a Saturday or Sunday morning breakfast for my family, and this recipe has replaced that ritual. Both of my kids LOVE them, and they ask for them whenever I am taking breakfast requests. You will not be disappointed!

I love love loved this book! It was so much fun reading all the little family stories that go along with the recipes - Paula's family is just as hilarious as she is (no surprise there, I guess)! The recipes all seem pretty easy to make and they're so creative. My #1 favorite is Aunt Peggy's meatloaf (no boring old meatloaf here!), and I can't wait to try all of the sweets recipes. Her cousin's recipe for whoopee pies looks amazing. And it's even got a healthy family recipe chapter - who would have thought? Looks delicious!

I love and have all of the Paula Deen cookbooks. This one does not let you down, if you like down home country cookin', the kind you can take to potlucks or family get togethers, then you can find plenty to cook in this cookbook. I just wish there had been more dessert recipe's .

I just checked this book out from the Library and realized that I had page marked over half the book, I decided to buy it instead. This is truly a breath of fresh air that I had been waiting for, been stuck in a Paula Deen rut over the past year. I love how there is a story to most recipes and that you actually see the people who submitted the recipes, little comments on most of the recipes. I also thought the Jamie saving Brooke's fork story was just heart warming. I honestly had no idea Michael could actually cook too!

So far I have made the Smoky Tomato Bacon Pasta which was super easy and tasty. Corrie's Granola Waffles were out of this world and will be my standard recipe now! The Pasta salad was the best I ever had as well. I made the Turkey Spinach Cornbread casserole, last week and that too turned out good.

I truly recommend this book to all Paula Fan's, its a must have!

Once again, Paula Deen has given us a great cookbook with easy to put together recipes from the South!

As always, Paula has a great book with some more of her great recipes. You will not regret buying this book. The recipes are easy and tastes fabulous!

For all of the cookbooks I have reviewed, you would think me to be a gourmet or "foodie." Well, no and no. As I have mentioned in other places, I am no one's idea of a great cook, and I don't know chutney from chives. But I like to think I know good recipies when I see them, and I also like to think that I can also see a B.S. "celebrity chef" cookbook that serves up impossible recipies no reasonable person in command of his senses would even attempt. I am pleased to report that I checked this book out, tried a couple of the easier offerings, and became hooked. The "Beer and Onion Biscuits" will spell my death.

Deen's book is a fun read, and the recipies are really not all that difficult. And the food, while sometimes dressy, is hearty food, filling and satisfying. And I like the fact that Deen and her editors give "credit where credit is due" for these recipies, some of which were probably jealously guarded family secrets once upon a time. The book's overall construction is also user-friendly, although not accident-proof.

I will warn anyone, though, that Deen deserves her reputation as "The Queen of Butter." If you want heart-healthy fare, you had best pass this one by. And I really don't see where most of the recipies would remain undiminished by substitution. So, this is not the book for the diet-restricted, to say the least.

Excellent book, serviceable and delicious recipies. Enjoy!

Recommended.

This a great cookbook, whether you are experienced or a new cook. The recipe's are down to earth and doable for anyone. My family has really enjoyed the home cooked meals I have created from this book.

My cousin is a big Paula Deen fan so I gave her this cookbook for Christmas. She was very pleased with it and I am very pleased that Amazon is willing to gift-wrap, put in a note, and deliver it so quickly, without a hitch. This really saved me a lot of time and hassle because I don't have easy access to a post office and I didn't want to pay a zillion dollars for pickup and I didn't have decent wrapping paper on hand and time was growing short etc. etc. So I appreciate Amazon's service.