Published by: Taste of Home/ Reader’s Digest

Reiman Media Group

Editors: Janet Briggs, Beth Wittlinger

ISBN 0-89821-497-1

Cozy dishes from real home cooks, and the accuracy and results of a professionally-tested recipe – the best of both worlds are combined in this colorful, 1, 125-recipe cookbook.

Published by the popular magazine of the same name, The Taste of Home Cookbook is a comprehensive collection of the best, carefully selected recipes submitted by home cooks across the country, along with a range of informative tips, techniques, and definitions.

The book first stands out for its presentation: the level of quality put into the production is evident in the five-ring binder cover, glossy paper, high-quality photography, and a number of thoughtful touches such as clear plastic splash guards for page protection, tab dividers, pocketed pages, and blank recipe section and cards.  It also scores high on reference material: a full section is dedicated to detailed, step-by-step descriptions of basic kitchen tools and techniques, and another features an extensive ingredient glossary, measuring charts, and storage guidelines.  With notes on everything from food safety to menu planning, and even table settings, the informative guides is helpful to have on hand, making the book an excellent  resource for beginner cooks.

The home kitchen origins of the book’s recipes are evident in the nature of the fairly uncomplicated, heavily American-style dishes. Divided into categories by dish or main ingredient, such as Seafood, Soups and Sandwiches, Eggs and Cheese, and Light and Tasty, to name a few, the majority of the recipes are ideal for busy families, as well as novice cooks and anyone looking for easy, quick, and simple meal ideas.

Serious foodies, however, will likely be disappointed: with ingredients such as condensed canned soup and instant pudding mix, many of the recipes are a far cry from the trendy slow food movement that highlights fresh, seasonal ingredients – but neither does it pretend to be following the trends. Some sections are better than others: the baking recipes are classic and varied, and the Fruit and Vegetables sections open up surprisingly diverse possibilities for eating those greens, from Kohlarbi with Honey Butter to Kiwi Ice.

Other dishes, however, are somewhat disappointing in their emphasis on time savings and ease of preparation over quality and taste, such as the Mocha Mousse Brownie Trifle, based fully on ready-made ingredients such as prepared brownies and instant mocha mousse mix.

In spite of the drawbacks of a few recipes, however, the book nevertheless hits the mark. With a wealth of useful cooking knowledge and a diversity of dishes, it appeals to a wide audience and is perfect for families, newbie cooks, and moms looking to answer to the daily question of what’s for dinner. True to its name, The Taste of Home Cookbook provides readers with a rich and varied taste of what real home cooking is all about.

The above review was contributed by: Kate Andronov, Communications Student. T0 read more of Kate's Reviews  CLICK HERE