Friday, February 26, 2010

Updated! Martha Stewart's New Everyday Food: Fresh Flavor Fast Cookbook - Review


It's hard to believe that it's been three years ago that Martha Stewart had her first Everyday Food: Great Food Fast cookbook come out.  I purchased that first cookbook on a pre-order back then and I'm a current subscriber to the magazine Everyday Food and enjoy it also. Since I tend to rarely follow any recipe verbatim, but instead get inspired by recipes and then develop my own, I have found tons of inspiration in all of Martha's work and this one is no exception.  Filled with simple, everyday recipes you'll be happy to prepare any day of the week, book one was a true winner. {yes, I have a massive cookbook collection so much so that I worry over when the time comes for me to pass on from this earth, what deserving person I will bequeath it all to... but I digress...}

The second and newest cookbook Everyday Food: Fresh Flavor Fast, just came out yesterday, and I happen to record The Martha Stewart Show (of which I am also a fan) every day.  Late last night, I caught up on them on Tivo, and Tuesday's show was featuring the new cookbook. I decided to go ahead and order it. Yes, despite having a southern food blog, we do like to eat some lighter fare and some dishes that are just everyday food, fresh and full of flavor on occasion. It ain't always about fried food and bacon fat y'all!

I love Martha's books because they are always so well done and beautiful, which is why I never hesitate to add a new release to my collection. They always include well set up photography, and while I am fond of my community style cookbooks that just include recipes with no photos, I really love a good cookbook that showcases the recipe with beautiful photography. Martha never fails to deliver that with her books.

The focus of this cookbook is toward stretching meals and using leftovers, using inexpensive ingredients, and making healthier versions of favorite comfort foods. Sold!  The first book was divided by season. This newest edition to the family is divided by meal type categories, with 250 recipes, including recipes like this:

Breakfast: Jam-Filled French Toast
Sandwiches and Pizzas: Eggplant and Mozzarella Melt
Appetizers: Goat Cheese Crostini
Salads: BLT Salad with Buttermilk Dressing
Soups and Stews: Minestrone
Pastas: Spaghetti Puttanesca
Main Courses: Meatballs with Rosemary
Vegetarian: Mushroom and Parmesan Risotto
Side Dishes: Roasted Sweet Potato Fries
Desserts: Gingered Blackberry and Plum Shortcakes

Check out these Grilled Chili Lime Drumsticks that I adapted from this cookbook!

After flipping through Martha's new cookbook I have to say, if you loved the first one, you are going to also love this one. It is fresh. It is appetizing. It is appealing. And, it's so very Martha. I love it!!! Click on a pic to enlarge view.

Stuffed Poblanos and Stuffed Artichokes.


Boston Baked Beans and Ice Cream Sundaes.


Spinach Stuffed Flank Steaks and Peanut Crusted Chicken Breasts.


Pasta with Sausage and Pine Nuts and BLT Salad with Buttermilk Dressing.


Hot Spinach Dip and Eggplant and Mozzarella Melts.


I forgot to mention that this cookbook includes a few tips, techniques and basics in a section in the back of the book - the kinds of tips I have up at Deep South Dish - things like how to chop onions, using fresh herbs, how to chop and avocado, basic pizza dough, how to toast nuts, using dried beans. Also, like it's predecessor, nutritional information for each recipe is located in an index in the back.

If you like fresh, flavorful recipes that use common foods we mostly have on hand anyway (or can easily have from the market), go to your bookstore and grab a copy of Everyday Food: Fresh Flavor Fast.  I know you'll love it. Or, if you like, click here to purchase and help support Deep South Dish, My New 30 and, well... my own cookbook obsession collection!

Martha books I know and love {in case you want to jockey for a position on my will}

Martha Stewart Entertaining {an oldie but a goodie}
Martha Stewart Homekeeping Handbook
Martha Stewart Cooking School
Martha Stewart Baking Handbook
Everyday Food: Great Food Fast
Everyday Food: Fresh Flavor Fast
Martha Stewart Cupcakes


Enjoy!

5 comments:

  1. The first Everyday Food cookbook is one of my favorites. I've been seeing mentions of this new one pop up here and there. I think I need to shove my books over and make room for one more!

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  2. I will have to give this one a try. I too have a massive cookbook collection. Most of the books you mentioned I have, but not this one.

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  3. I love cook books too. Checked out some of the recipes on Martha's site. This is one I'd appreciate having one day. Thanks for sharing the links.

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  4. Best review ever! What a wonderful job.. I really have a sense of her book with your post... she does a heck of a job and her recipes are easy to personalize. Nice to find your blog!

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  5. I'm so getting this cookbook. THANK you.

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