Rating: 
Summary: A huge pleasure to read and cook from
Review: For those of us who like to lie in bed and read cookbooks like other people read novels, Ann Hodgman's superb "Beat This!" is a surefire winner. You will find yourself nudging your bed partner to read aloud the funny parts--which is most of the book (I can't think of any other cookbooks you'd want to read aloud from, with the exception of Hodgman's wonderful sequel, aptly entitled "Beat That!"). Hodgman has been launched from the late lamented SPY magazine to writing cookbooks and although her trajectory might seem a little strange, I think she has landed exactly where she should. I love this woman AND her cookbooks! The title of the book refers to Hodgman's challenge to readers to come up with better recipes than she provides herein. It's a real challenge, believe me--everything I've tried from both this cookbook AND the sequel has been wonderful. I can't finish this review without quoting at least briefly from Hodgman. The woman is a hoot: [On Mom-Style Chocolate Cake] "This cake is straight out of a Norman Rockwell painting, but it tastes even better than . . . uh . . . paint and canvas, I guess. Even for a nice traditional cake, the best mixing method can be found in Rose Levy Beranbaum's 'Cake Bible,' which is such a good book that I think the Gideons should put it in hotel rooms instead of the regular Bible." [on Perfect Fudge, if You're Lucky] "My problem has always been that 50% of the fudge I make turns out creamy and delicious, and 50% turns out like chips of flint." [On The Best Regular (Or I Guess I Should Say Classic) Apple Pie] "Remind me why people like apple pie so much? Well, partly because of the cinnamon, or at least that's why I like it. It took a McDonald's apple pie, of all things, to make me realize how important cinnamon is. (I'm saying 'of all things' to make it sound as though I never eat at McDonald's.)" Buy this book and cook and laugh--what a great combination!
Rating:
Summary: A huge pleasure to read and cook from
Review: For those of us who like to lie in bed and read cookbooks like other people read novels, Ann Hodgman's superb "Beat This!" is a surefire winner. You will find yourself nudging your bed partner to read aloud the funny parts--which is most of the book (I can't think of any other cookbooks you'd want to read aloud from, with the exception of Hodgman's wonderful sequel, aptly entitled "Beat That!"). Hodgman has been launched from the late lamented SPY magazine to writing cookbooks and although her trajectory might seem a little strange, I think she has landed exactly where she should. I love this woman AND her cookbooks! The title of the book refers to Hodgman's challenge to readers to come up with better recipes than she provides herein. It's a real challenge, believe me--everything I've tried from both this cookbook AND the sequel has been wonderful. I can't finish this review without quoting at least briefly from Hodgman. The woman is a hoot: [On Mom-Style Chocolate Cake] "This cake is straight out of a Norman Rockwell painting, but it tastes even better than . . . uh . . . paint and canvas, I guess. Even for a nice traditional cake, the best mixing method can be found in Rose Levy Beranbaum's 'Cake Bible,' which is such a good book that I think the Gideons should put it in hotel rooms instead of the regular Bible." [on Perfect Fudge, if You're Lucky] "My problem has always been that 50% of the fudge I make turns out creamy and delicious, and 50% turns out like chips of flint." [On The Best Regular (Or I Guess I Should Say Classic) Apple Pie] "Remind me why people like apple pie so much? Well, partly because of the cinnamon, or at least that's why I like it. It took a McDonald's apple pie, of all things, to make me realize how important cinnamon is. (I'm saying 'of all things' to make it sound as though I never eat at McDonald's.)" Buy this book and cook and laugh--what a great combination!
Rating:
Summary: Beat This!
Review: I am so, so pleased to find that Beat This! is back in print - and, even better news - that it now has a sibling - Beat That!. Beat This! might be the only cookbook I've ever read purely for pleasure. Ann Hodgman is the honest "voice of mom" you've always wanted to hear, and her sprightly commentary on family traditions ("My new husband actually played a record on Christmas night. A record! When (according to my family's traditions) you're supposed to pretend electricity doesn't exist at Christmastime! And he wanted lights on the tree...."), candy thermometers and all sorts of other things actually make me laugh out loud. And the recipes are superb. So wonderful, in some cases, that I've found myself passing them off to guests as old family secrets rather than reveal my source. (Of course, I always told myself I was saving my guests the pain of finding out that this book was out of print...) Included are staples such as chocolate cake, fried chicken, and meat loaf, but there are other fun surprises, too. Did you even know you wanted the best Kimchi recepe? Or the best Artichoke and Mushroom Salad? How about the best Presto Torta? But trust me - you do and you will, once you buy this book, wonder how you ever did without them.
Rating:
Summary: Beat This!
Review: I am so, so pleased to find that Beat This! is back in print - and, even better news - that it now has a sibling - Beat That!. Beat This! might be the only cookbook I've ever read purely for pleasure. Ann Hodgman is the honest "voice of mom" you've always wanted to hear, and her sprightly commentary on family traditions ("My new husband actually played a record on Christmas night. A record! When (according to my family's traditions) you're supposed to pretend electricity doesn't exist at Christmastime! And he wanted lights on the tree...."), candy thermometers and all sorts of other things actually make me laugh out loud. And the recipes are superb. So wonderful, in some cases, that I've found myself passing them off to guests as old family secrets rather than reveal my source. (Of course, I always told myself I was saving my guests the pain of finding out that this book was out of print...) Included are staples such as chocolate cake, fried chicken, and meat loaf, but there are other fun surprises, too. Did you even know you wanted the best Kimchi recepe? Or the best Artichoke and Mushroom Salad? How about the best Presto Torta? But trust me - you do and you will, once you buy this book, wonder how you ever did without them.
Rating: 
Summary: One strike and it's out!
Review: I couldn't find my favorite recipe for gingerbread this holiday season, so I tried the one from this book. It was truly awful. I think there must be an ingredient missing, perhaps some baking powder.
Rating:
Summary: It's so good, it's become a cult
Review: I have a "Trillion" cookbooks, and this one and her other cookbook, "Beat That", are my fabulous favorites. The recipes are sooooo good, and I have fun making her recipes to see if my family and friends agree. I had stumbled on, "Beat This", at our local library, and loved it. I wanted my own copy, but they must have been out of print. The library wouldn't let me buy it, so I accidently lost it, OOPS!! Then I got my wish, and bought it. A few months later, it came back in with fabulous new covers. I will be ordering these to give as Christmas gifts . These are alot of fun - buy them - and enjoy!
Rating:
Summary: Simply the best!!
Review: I have to admit that when I bought this book years ago, I was disaponted because it has no pictures. (And I love pictures). But...something cought my eye: Ann Hodgman says in her book "My feeling is that every main dish is better if you add some bacon" and actually another million funny coments, but that is why I kept reading and reading.
First recipe I tried was the "Best Banana Bread", page 23 (my book opens at that page all by it self)"FANTASTIC".
Carrot Cake, page 47: OUT OF THIS WORLD (and I don't even like carrot cake).
I seriously belive that by the time I finished trying all this recipes I would be able to say that they are "all" magnificent.
Thank you Ann Hodgman for you great palate and your incredible sence of humor!
Rating:
Summary: Simply the best!!
Review: I have to admit that when I bought this book years ago, I was disaponted because it has no pictures. (And I love pictures). But...something cought my eye: Ann Hodgman says in her book "My feeling is that every main dish is better if you add some bacon" and actually another million funny coments, but that is why I kept reading and reading.
First recipe I tried was the "Best Banana Bread", page 23 (my book opens at that page all by it self)"FANTASTIC".
Carrot Cake, page 47: OUT OF THIS WORLD (and I don't even like carrot cake).
I seriously belive that by the time I finished trying all this recipes I would be able to say that they are "all" magnificent.
Thank you Ann Hodgman for you great palate and your incredible sence of humor!
Rating:
Summary: A cookbook that fills all the senses
Review: Love all the other 5-star-rating-reviews out there, for me, same same! This and Beat That are two cookbooks that you will want to read right through (and try every recipe) Hodgman is not only super funny, but she also seems to pipe up at exactly the right time during a recipe. You know, when you are asking yourself, "Hmmm, is it supposed to look like *that*??!!" Ann typically has a comment such as, "it's supposed to look like this..." Many of the techniques that she suggests in her recipes are ones that I have used again and again in my cooking without a book experiences. She just know how to tell it so right. Some of the recipes are pretty involved, and she always says so up front, so at least you will know what you're getting yourself into. Run, to buy this book and get cookin' I tell ya! Then you will just have to have Beat That! as well.
Rating: 
Summary: Words Worth Eating
Review: There are very few cookbooks that are actually amusing to read straight through, but Beat This! is definitely one. An entertaining book to supplement any collection, the recipes for baking powder biscuits and almond triangles are yummy. The lentil soup is also very good if you add about a tbsp of curry, a pinch of cayenne, and a half tsp of cinnamon. The recipes are straightforward enough for a beginning cook, and are good, basic recipes for anyone looking for comfort foods. My mom and I fight over our copy.
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