Pestos!: Cooking With Herb Pastes [Paperback]

Dorothy Rankin (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Pesto, the Italian concoction of basil, olive oil, cheese, garlic and nuts, has become a summertime mainstay in America. Rankin has made pesto, named for the pestle in which it was traditionally prepared, into a genre. First come 30 recipes for pesto variations using fresh mint, tarragon, savory, sage, cilantro, oregano, sorrel, rosemary, thyme, even fennel seeds and garlic chives. There are also winter pestos that call for dried herbs. In these modern versions, a food processor is essential and, for the winter recipes, a blender is recommended. Rankin then applies her sauces to pasta and pizza, salads, stews, grilled fish and meats. It's an inventive and tasteful collection, and it makes the possibilities of herb pastes so enticing one wonders why such a book hasn't appeared before now. PESTOS! is one of two debut titles in Crossing Press's specialty cookbook series. SALSAS! by Andrea Chesman ($16.95 ISBN 0-89594-179-1 ; paper $6.95 ISBN 0-89594-178-3 ) is an equally sparkling treatment on a more famiiar subjecthot sauces and dishes. November 20
Copyright 1985 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Paperback: 150 pages
• Publisher: Crossing Press; Presumed First edition (September 1, 1985)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0895941805
• ISBN-13: 978-0895941800
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.4 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #831,428 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Nuts for Pestos, July 27, 2000

By 

Myra South (Webster Groves, MO USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Pestos!: Cooking With Herb Pastes (Paperback)

Pestos! by Dorothy Rankin is THE essential book in my herb filled house . Late July provides a wonderful abundance of basil and other leafy herbal delights just begging to be processed. This book gives every detail in direction and proportions to insure perfect pestos.

And the variety is enough to keep even the most avid herbalist busy with new ideas for using herbal pastes.

It's not just for pasta. And basil is not the only paeto herb. Although the Classic Basil Pesto is good enough to eat spread on crusty bread or even right out of a spoon.

The combinations like Cilantro Pesto and Sage Pesto are wonderful ways to use herbs in ways that capture the fresh-picked flavor for a long time.

And the recipes like Shrimp with Cold Cilantro Sauce and Pesto Stuffed Mushrooms are delicious and practical.

My well-worn copy of this book is my best summer reading. My family and friends are the happy diners who motivate me to use this book each season.

Although I've committed many of the recipes to memory after so many years of use, I'd be lost without my copy of Pestos! Easy tasty pestos bring summer garden freshness into more dishes than I'd ever imagined. This book is a must-have for the dedicated or simply curious herb enthusiast.

Warnig! Do not loan this book out. You'll never get it back! Get enough copies for sharing. Once they've seen it, everyone wants this book.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars If you grow herbs, this book is essential., November 27, 1998

By 

Ann Smith ([e-mail]) (Canberra, Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Pestos!: Cooking With Herb Pastes (Paperback)

"Pestos! Cooking with herb pastes" by Dorothy Rankin will ensure that you have an endless supply of the most tasty sauces for meatless or meaty diets, because pestos really take only moments to make in your blender. It's also got recipes which show you how to use your newly created culinary delights.

I borrowed a friend's copy of the first edition of this book more years ago than I can remember, then placed a special order for the next edition ten years ago. Now I'm ordering extra copies for friends.

If you grow herbs, this book is the essential companion for end-of-season and pruning gluts. If you only have access to bunches of herbs at your local market, get it anyhow.

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book, June 9, 2010

By 

Susan P. Petro (New York USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Pestos!: Cooking With Herb Pastes (Paperback)

I lost my original copy of the book while preparing to give a lecture on Herb Gardening. I wanted to pass this book around to the participants as the best book I've read on preparing and using various herb pestos. I immediately went on line and ordered a replacement copy as it was out of print.