MARTHA’S AMERICAN FOOD by Martha Stewart

MARTHA’S AMERICAN FOOD: A Celebration of Our Nation’s Most Treasured Dishes, from Coast to Coast by Martha Stewart

I must admit up front that I am not a big Martha fan, but I was looking for a new cookbook that included stories. I see this as a newish trend in cookbooks. Recipes aren’t enough anymore, a story about the recipe’s origin or inspiration or, in this case, geography, is included.

This cookbook also features another trend in cookbooks, recipes are arranged geographically rather than by item type (i.e. appetizers, desserts, or even meat, vegetables, etc.) I like this split better than that other trend that drives me crazy, sorting recipes by season which just confuses me (hey, I live in season-less south Florida!)

What I love about this cookbook are the pictures – every recipe has an accompanying gorgeous photograph. This is a collection of Martha’s mostly simpler recipes so it would make a good cookbook for beginners, but has some more challenging recipes for the experienced cook as well.

It is a beautiful book with interesting recipes, from the simple like Meatloaf, Cobb Salad and Blueberry Pancakes (awesome!) to more complex like Pomegranate Guacamole, Lemon Sabayon and Fig Pizza. But it is the back stories to these geographic recipes, like Hangtown Fry, Blackeyed Peas and Shrimp and Grits, that set this cookbook above so many others. Another keeper.

7/12 Stacy Alesi

MARTHA’S AMERICAN FOOD by Martha Stewart. Clarkson Potter (April 24, 2012). ISBN 978-0307405081. 432p.

This entry was posted on Monday, December 23rd, 2013 at 2:31 PM and is filed under Book Reviews, Cookbook, Nonfiction. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

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