Cookbook Project, Books #77 and 78
Jul. 26th, 2009 04:52 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ladyspriteThese are the last two glossy checkout lane booklets for a little while, at least, I promise. I've just got a huge stack of them to work through, and a whole bunch of them fall into the category of 'summer food' - so it's easiest to get them out of the way now - and the ones that aren't summer-specific tend to have quick, easy recipes that I can put together even when I'm working ten hours and going to dance class. In fact, I think that's exactly the trait they're sold on. Anyway...
"Chicken & Fish: New Easy Recipes," Pillsbury Classic Cookbooks
This one was another hand-me-down from![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
umbran's mom. I'm noticing a pattern here - his mother tended to give us Pillsbury booklets, my mom gave us antique Better Homes & Gardens teaching cookbooks. Both are equally... interesting, though for all that his mother is older, my mom's cookbooks are more vintage. I wonder what that says about their cooking practices.
Either way, this was another one that I snagged before they threw it away, then never looked through. On a first glance-through, it's full of recipes that seem, well, harmless. Nothing particularly daring, but nothing deadly either. We decided to make Light Lemon Chicken, on the grounds that it sounded like a nice flavor profile for summer.
It was not bad. The flavor was a little mild; on the other hand I realized after the fact that I had forgotten to add the lemon zest, so the majority of the flavor came only from the juice. I don't know if it was awesome enough to justify making it again the technically correct way, though. It was a decent enough dinner, just not world-changing.
"On The Grill!" Betty Crocker
I have no idea where this booklet came from. I don't remember buying it - grilling isn't my favorite way to cook - but it doesn't match with the rest of the ones we got from my mother-in-law - it's newer, if nothing else. But it's here, on my shelf, and that means I have to use it.
The grilling recipes inside, alas, aren't that appealing. On the other hand, there was a recipe for No-Bake Peanut Butter Squares that looked safe enough, and I'm always on the lookout for summer desserts that won't head up the house.
These? Were world-changing. Oh dear god, they were delicious. Crumbly and peanut buttery and chocolatey and perfect. I never expected to find a treasure like this recipe in one of these little booklets, but this is a keeper, 100%. I can't wait for a picnic or party that I can bring them to, because they need to be shared.
And now that my crazy work run has finished, hopefully I'll have more time to cook....
"Chicken & Fish: New Easy Recipes," Pillsbury Classic Cookbooks
This one was another hand-me-down from
umbran's mom. I'm noticing a pattern here - his mother tended to give us Pillsbury booklets, my mom gave us antique Better Homes & Gardens teaching cookbooks. Both are equally... interesting, though for all that his mother is older, my mom's cookbooks are more vintage. I wonder what that says about their cooking practices.Either way, this was another one that I snagged before they threw it away, then never looked through. On a first glance-through, it's full of recipes that seem, well, harmless. Nothing particularly daring, but nothing deadly either. We decided to make Light Lemon Chicken, on the grounds that it sounded like a nice flavor profile for summer.
It was not bad. The flavor was a little mild; on the other hand I realized after the fact that I had forgotten to add the lemon zest, so the majority of the flavor came only from the juice. I don't know if it was awesome enough to justify making it again the technically correct way, though. It was a decent enough dinner, just not world-changing.
"On The Grill!" Betty Crocker
I have no idea where this booklet came from. I don't remember buying it - grilling isn't my favorite way to cook - but it doesn't match with the rest of the ones we got from my mother-in-law - it's newer, if nothing else. But it's here, on my shelf, and that means I have to use it.
The grilling recipes inside, alas, aren't that appealing. On the other hand, there was a recipe for No-Bake Peanut Butter Squares that looked safe enough, and I'm always on the lookout for summer desserts that won't head up the house.
These? Were world-changing. Oh dear god, they were delicious. Crumbly and peanut buttery and chocolatey and perfect. I never expected to find a treasure like this recipe in one of these little booklets, but this is a keeper, 100%. I can't wait for a picnic or party that I can bring them to, because they need to be shared.
And now that my crazy work run has finished, hopefully I'll have more time to cook....
