Betty Crocker Basics: How to Cook and Entertain with Confidence (Betty Crocker Books) Review

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(More customer reviews)I love to cook, and the Betty Crocker Cookbook: Everything You Need to Know to Cook Today, 10th Edition is my cooking bible. My roommate has never really learned to cook and wanted a cookbook to start with, so I gave her Betty Crocker Basics. It has turned out to be perfect! Just like its "big sister," this book is filled with recipes for normal yummy food that most people would actually cook and eat. Perhaps even more valuable than the recipes themselves are the excellent instructions for how to prepare almost anything. Tables and photos explain things like the best cooking methods for different cuts of meat, cooking times and temperatures, and how to tell if it's done. Don't know the difference between mince and dice? Blend, whip, stir, and cream? Saute, brown, and fry? You do now. Also covers things like measuring, shopping for ingredients, making substitutions, how to figure out how much food you'll need to feed a group, what spices and flavors go well with what, how to store and re-heat food, and how to make food look nice. This book is comprehensive without being overwhelming, very clear and user-friendly.

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Betty Crocker's Cookbook: Everything You Need to Know to Cook Today (Betty Crocker's Cookbook, 9th ed) Review

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(More customer reviews)I have always had a Betty Crocker cookbook around. It was the first cookbook I took with me when I moved away from home, and it still remains the first book I grab for if I have *any* questions about a recipe I'm making.
The book is great for cooks of all levels. It has a lot of great introductory information - how do you boil an egg? What are the different cuts of meat? It provides a lot of easy recipes that taste delicious and are nutritious as well.
In addition, the book also eases you into many advanced recipes. Looking to cook a Thanksgiving dinner for the relatives? Trying to make a birthday dinner really special? This cookbook has the recipes for you, all easy to understand and with gorgeous photos.
This version is definitely an improvement on previous versions as well. There is information on grilling and vegetarian meals, something lacking in the last versions. They've also added in a number of ethnic dishes that are quite tasty.
If this book isn't on your kitchen shelf, be sure to buy a copy!

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The best just keeps getting better -- with this completely updated 50th Anniversary Edition
For 50 years Betty Crocker has reigned supreme in America's kitchens, her trusted advice and easy-to-follow recipes helping cooks of all levels become confident in the kitchen. Now updated for the new millennium, the cookbook, nicknamed ìBig Red,î has been completely revised and updated to reflect the cooking trends and tastes of today. Stumped by chayote squash? Want to make a perfect apple pie or find new recipes for the bread machine? It's all right here in this handy book:
More than 950 recipes, from appetizers to desserts, to cover every cooking need ñ pot roast, pasta, pumpkin bread, and more
Step-by-step line art and photographs with specific ìhow-toî instructions to guide you through new techniques
Beautiful food photography that shows the finished results; i.d. photos of such foods as mushrooms and exotic fruits to help you shop with confidence
Easy meat-roasting charts, numbered recipe steps, and preparation times with each recipe that keep cooking simple and relaxing
With its fresh new design for 2000, Betty Crocker's Cookbook will be everyone's favorite kitchen companion, from new cooks to experienced home chefs looking for new ideas.
What's New in the 9th Edition:
30-Minute Recipes and Reduced-Fat/Low-Calorie Recipes tagged so they can be found in a flash
Individual chapters on grilling and vegetarian meals
Expanded information on fruits and vegetables
Crockpot recipes
Information on organic food
Learn with Betty photographs that guide you through cooking techniques
Dietary Exchanges in each recipe's nutrition analysis

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Betty Crocker Whole Grains: Easy Everyday Recipes Review

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(More customer reviews)I was curious to see what a cookbook aimed at everyday cooking with whole grains by normal folks who don't necessarily think of themselves as cooks would provide. Most of the books I've tried before now have definitely been for more adventurous cooks.
Many recipes in the Betty Crocker book use convenience products to make things easy on the cook who doesn't know whole wheat from cracked wheat. For example, the 'nutty silver dollar pancakes' use Wheaties cereal and Bisquick. However, other recipes do give you the chance to try out those whole grains you do manage to find in your travels through the grocery store aisles.
My one reservation here, however, is how the book's authors choose to define 'healthy.' For example, one of the reasons whole grains are better for us than processed grains is that they break down into sugars more slowly, resulting in more even blood sugar levels. So adding an entire jar of marshmallow creme to some popcorn and Chex cereal to make a snack would seem to obviate that healthful aspect of whole grains---yet the tip below the recipe lauds this snack specifically for its healthful nature. That seems a tad contradictory, and there are quite a few other recipes in this book that rely on relatively high sugar content to add flavor. On the other hand, at least they have moderated the saturated fat content.
I do have to hand it to them, though---the flavors of these recipes are consistently delightful. There's a gingered chicken over rice recipe that's just wonderful, and I'm not a big chicken fan. I've really enjoyed a sausage and vegetable skillet dish from here, and a slow cooker rice-and-veggies dish. So while some of these recipes do compromise a little on the sugar content, they definitely deliver on the flavor end of things. If you're having trouble convincing yourself to make the switch to whole grains, that might be a worthwhile tradeoff for you.

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With this cookbook, the experts at Betty Crocker make it easy for you to include the goodness of whole grains in your family's favorite meals. You'll discover 140 delicious whole grain recipes for every meal of the day—including on-the-go snacks, convenient slow-cooker recipes, and super-fast 30-minute dishes—plus cooking tips and information on the different kinds of whole grains available, authoritative advice on the health benefits of whole grains, and 50 beautiful color photos.

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Betty Crocker Celebrate: A Year-Round Guide to Holiday Food and Fun Review

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(More customer reviews)I looked at both Celebrate by Sheila Lukins and the BC Celebrate book and I chose the Betty Crocker. It has more family type of recipes that would be appealing to both adults and children. The Lukins book is good for adults only. It had many, many recipes there's no way you'd get a kid to eat. I also like the BC one better because it had decoration suggestions, table settings, etc that were more doable and cost effective. I like both books but if you have kids you have to go with the Betty Crocker Celebrate book.

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Betty Crocker Christmas Cookbook Review

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(More customer reviews)Everyone knows Betty Crocker has been up to cooking great things in the kitchen for years. This book lives up to their standards. The book is laid out well, and has pictures with most recipes. The book gives you great ideas into turning standard things into special Holiday treats. So many of the ideas are so versitile you can use them all year around.
The book has several sections with party foods, main dishes, side dishes, baked good, and a great section full of Children's recipes that you are bound to enjoy.

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Betty Crocker's spectacular all-in-one Christmas cooking, decorating and entertaining book helps you get in the spirit: Get everything done Involve the kids Have a little fun Do things ahead Bake special treats Host the party Prepare the feast Give gifts from your kitchen Enjoy old and new traditions Deck the halls Enjoy it all!

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