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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Still Relevant Today-A Classic for the Gardner & Cook, April 29, 2009
Garden Way's Joy of Gardening Cookbook by Janet Ballantyne is a classic that deserves space in any cookbook collection. I actually keep one at work too so I can grab and read up on a particular fruit, vegetable, or technique when the mood hits me! I, too, have collected cookbooks for 40+ years, and can't understand how anyone could NOT profit from this one! The color photos (there are hundreds) help understand equipment, technique, step by step instructions, and what the finished dish should look like. The information on prep and use hasn't changed. With more people planting gardens or buying from markets close to home, this is an invaluable guide to using produce. Some of my favorite recipes include: Pickled Beets & Purple Eggs (my grandpa used to fix these), Cabbage au Gratin, Strawberry Cheese Strudels, all of the herb recipes, such as Boursin Cheese, Cottage Cheese Herb Spread, Sour Cream Dill Dip, Herb Cheese Soup, Pesto, Italian Seasoning Mix; Thai Chicken in Lettuce Leaves, Garlic Cream Sauce for Pasta, Onion Spiral Bread, Hay & Straw (noodles, julienned ham, fresh peas, fresh parmesan, butter, and a bit of heavy cream), Fried Rice, Chiles Rellenos, Roasted/Marinated Peppers, the 6 potato salad variations, Smoked Pork Chops on a Potato Apple Bed, Sweet Potatoes in Ginger Honey Sauce, Pumpkin Orange Cheesecake, Creamed Spinach with Garlic, Zucchini Chocolate Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting, Squash Apple Nut Bread, and the techniques for tomatoes-I make my own pizza sauce from my homegrown tomatoes, and use it to make a gigantic pizza that's fantastic. There's even a chapter on "Oddball" vegetables, and a shopping list chapter for ingredients you may want to keep on hand. While this book is light on fruits, it's heavy on ideas. Janet tells you what to do with the early harvests, the older (tougher, woodier) vegetables, and the best way to preserve each for storing. I really can't imagine any one not getting their money's worth from this book. In fact, I'm getting ready to order one for a gift now. Check this out, you'll be so glad you did. Janet also did a book on tomatoes, and Garden Way did a book called "Zucchini Cookbook and Other Squash" if you're interested. While out of print, they're worth tracking down. Enjoy!
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