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Rating: Summary: Intriguing and delicious recipes... Review: ...both modern and historic, and from nearly every region in the world. The various recipes included in the book are, with a few exceptions, rare and creative. So far, most of the recipes I've tried have been great successes, with the rest becoming very palatable with the addition of simple ingredients like salt, pepper and/or lemon juice. The best part was that most recipes were easy to follow, though heavy on spices both rare and common, even for a beginner like myself. I recommend the Rosemary Sorbet, the simple apple pie and "Marian's Stuffed Salmon."Since I'm not a culinary historian, I cannot comment on the authenticity of some of the "historic" recipes (including the aforementioned sorbet allegedly from 16th century England). Nonetheless, they all taste wonderful and makie interesting additions to the common repertoire. The only problem I found was that the author seemed undecided whether her audience were experienced cooks or green beginners and was inconsistent on the specificity of her directions in her recipes (e.g. cooking times, salt & pepper spicing, etc.)
Rating: Summary: Another great title for Patricia Telesco! Review: As a member of the Wiccan Pagan Press Alliance and the Universal Federation of Pagans, Trish Telesco is one of those authors who lives the life she writes about. This book is a must read, as much for the recipes as for the tidbits of folklore and cooking traditions that accompany each one. There is an extensive appendices section with lists of kitchen gods and goddesses, magical correlations of ingredients, and celebrations from around the world. The unusual treats in the "Divine Desserts" section will keep your mouth watering -- it's definitely my favorite chapter! You can use these recipes for every-day cooking or serve them at your next gathering. You won't be disappointed with this one!
Rating: Summary: Food good, magic not so good. Review: Geez, what a mess. Ms. Telesco is capable of writing a passable recipe, provided that the cook is capable of making judgement calls about cooking time, spicing, and other details she occasionally omits. There's a nice variety of flavors in this cookbook. As a book of recipes it is serviceable, if not stellar. However, if you're hoping for a reference to aid you in actual magical cooking LOOK SOMEWHERE ELSE. I'm quite sure the author meant well but the magic in this book is a train wreck. Rather than provide a handy list of ingredients and their magical affinities, Ms. Telesco provides the recipe and blithely decides what the combination is supposed to do. In the paragraph of banter accompanying each recipe, if one is lucky she'll mention one or two of the ingredients and divulge what she's using them for in that recipe, but have a care--the sympathies of a single ingredient seem to vary widely from recipe to recipe. And again, one is basically left to rely on her interpretation. She also tosses in some ill-explained numerology (five is apparently the number for vision, but according to who? And what are the other numbers supposed to mean?). Related holidays and god/desses are also listed with the recipes. This was a nice touch, but it seems like Ms. Telesco has made the mistake of seeing 'witch' as a synonym for anything non-Christian. A dizzying index of holidays is in the back, including Buddhist, Shinto, African, and a few Mexican Catholic that apparently made the cut because they were fun. Witching has enough of its own holidays--cribbing them willy-nilly from other faiths seemed just a little cheap and tacky to me. In short, I suspect Ms. Telesco of making up the magic bits as she went along. But some of the food she makes is tasty. Buy this one used.
Rating: Summary: Great for Novice to Expert Cooks and Wiccans Review: I had to give it 5 stars. This was the FIRST wiccan cookbook I got. Now, I'm NOT the best cook in the world, or even in my house, so the easy to follow directions are WONDERFUL. I was actually able to cook things without realizing halfway through I shoulda cooked the noodles first... LOL. And my top pick from the book... Herb and Cheese Bread! If you only try one recipe, let it be THAT ONE! Mmmm... Yummy!
Rating: Summary: Yummy Yummy! Review: I love the diversity of her recipes. I tried many of them and most of the I really liked. Some of the recipes are quite simple and quick to make. Her Pineapple tofu is a must for vegan vegatarians. She has recipes for meat eaters and veggatarians alike. This book is good also if you are interested in kitchen witchery. I brought the book mainly for the recipes. But sometimes its fun to add some magic to your dishes.
Rating: Summary: Kitchen Witch's Cookbook Review: I thought this was a really fun book! For each recipe there is alist for which Holiday, feelings, etc. that the dish works best for. I think everyone will enjoy this book.
Rating: Summary: Food for the Soul Review: If Trish Telesco is to be remembered for one book, it should be this book. If you wanted to add one Trish Telesco book to your library, again, it should be this book. This is a wonderful collection of recipes that will warm the heart and comfort the soul. Trish adds the "magic touch" to her recipes by connecting the recipe with either a piece of history, or a magical attribute or an herb that adds a special "witch's touch" to the dish. There is a lot of reference material also included that gives you God/Goddess associations to either your kitchen or your food, herb magical associations and days to celebrate with your new found culinary delights. There is a lot more here than just a cookbook. It is a well balanced collection of what is commonly called "kitchen witchery". A good reference book, a wonderful cook book, and a primer for anyone wanting to explore the kitchen in a new and delightful way. This book is another staple on my bookshelf.
Rating: Summary: Food for the Soul Review: If Trish Telesco is to be remembered for one book, it should be this book. If you wanted to add one Trish Telesco book to your library, again, it should be this book. This is a wonderful collection of recipes that will warm the heart and comfort the soul. Trish adds the "magic touch" to her recipes by connecting the recipe with either a piece of history, or a magical attribute or an herb that adds a special "witch's touch" to the dish. There is a lot of reference material also included that gives you God/Goddess associations to either your kitchen or your food, herb magical associations and days to celebrate with your new found culinary delights. There is a lot more here than just a cookbook. It is a well balanced collection of what is commonly called "kitchen witchery". A good reference book, a wonderful cook book, and a primer for anyone wanting to explore the kitchen in a new and delightful way. This book is another staple on my bookshelf.
Rating: Summary: Much More than a Cookbook Review: Telesco's wonderful writing style is informative and informal. She has applied it to this book beautifully. The Kitchen Witch's Cookbook is a fabulous reference when you want to make something extra special that has a bit more meaning than just food. The recipe sections are a bit too cutely titled for me ("Visionary Vegetables"), but my preference does not change the fact that the recipes are both exotic and homey, and full of magic. Each recipe lists its magical attributes, so you can be sure that you're choosing the perfect menu. She also suggests celebrations for each one, so if you're feeling frazzled at Yule, she has done the work for you - just flip to the index, and pick your dishes with no fuss at all. Her appendices are terrific, and the bibliography and index are thorough. Whether you're making scones, broom wine, Turkish eggplant or rosemary sherbet, you're sure to find just the right recipe for your next special meal.
Rating: Summary: A great cookbook Review: With a very good vegetarian section and lots of fun trivia. Recipies range from extravagant to simple enough for a bachelor like myself.
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