Rating: 
Summary: Deserves To Become a Classic Wedding Present!
Review: A useful cooking manual and a feel-good read!I ran across this cookbook one rainy Saturday, and newlywed nostalgia and the beautiful format drew me in. After buying the book and reading it in two sittings, I've begun to cook my way through it. The recipes are considered and fresh, not complex or pretentious. I like the emphasis on seasonal ingredients, especially since this book provides a table of when various fruits and veggies can be expected to be at their peak. Rather than overwhelming you with recipes, the book offers a small, balanced selection to take you from appetizers to dessert. The culinary authors were caterers and their recipes seem likely to appeal to a wide range of palates. The overall message is that cooking isn't mysterious: with a little preparation it can be done well. For example, you're encouraged to caramelize a large batch of onions and then keep them on hand in the fridge--an easy but pleasingly sophisticated addition to weeknight dishes. Another thing I found to like about this book came unexpectedly. Less tangible than all the cooking help but equally gratifying is the revelation of the amazing bond between the book's twin sister authors, who have apparently been cooking together since they were kids. Their views on how food helps shape and define our relationships (fortunately, nothing preachy or pseudo-psychoanalytic) are a simple acknowldegement that food can be a chance to do something nice for other people. The book's modernity is really refreshing. There are sections on cooking with your mate and how to stock a pantry so that you can still eat in when you don't really feel like cooking. There's an overall sense of realism; the bride isn't cast as a Good Housekeeping-style kitchen slave, but the book is subtly geared toward the one partner with a greater interest in cooking, with hints about involving and empowering the less interested partner so that he or she can help with preparations or stocking the fridge and pantry. Other sections have been useful in surprising ways. Ironically, the tutorial on necessary kitchenware for the new kitchen gave me some insight on simplifying my existing, overstocked one. Most of the recipes can be described as new American classics and all have been good so far. I look forward to trying more recipes and am frighteningly addicted to the slightly decadent, easy-to-make herbed popcorn. I would recommend this book as a great gift for couples or singles, or for anyone willing to make a moderate time commitment for simple, stylish food.
Rating:
Summary: A must have!
Review: As a wedding present to myself this summer, I bought The Bride and Groom First and Forever Cookbook, and it is now my favorite cookbook! Having cooked and baked a lot growing up, I had a collection of recipes I liked, and I loved being in the kitchen. But, this cookbook has made cooking new and even more exciting for me! The recipes are not difficult- in fact, I'm trying recipes for things I was afraid to fix in the past (like fish). These recipes are easy to follow and understand. The authors give you helpful tips that you'd wish you'd known much earlier on (like adding grated onion to mashed potatoes!) And having never cooked a Thanksgiving turkey before, this year I followed their recipe and the turkey truly was the moistest, best turkey my family had ever eaten!
As newlyweds, meals shared are so much fun, and this cookbook has brought more joy to our table than I could have imagined. Every recipe I've tried so far has turned out delicious! Buy it for your engaged friends, for married couples on anniversaries, or even better-- buy it for yourself!
Rating:
Summary: My new favorite cookbook
Review: As a wedding present to myself this summer, I bought The Bride and Groom First and Forever Cookbook, and it is now my favorite cookbook! Having cooked and baked a lot growing up, I had a collection of recipes I liked, and I loved being in the kitchen. But, this cookbook has made cooking new and even more exciting for me! The recipes are not difficult- in fact, I'm trying recipes for things I was afraid to fix in the past (like fish). These recipes are easy to follow and understand. The authors give you helpful tips that you'd wish you'd known much earlier on (like adding grated onion to mashed potatoes!) And having never cooked a Thanksgiving turkey before, this year I followed their recipe and the turkey truly was the moistest, best turkey my family had ever eaten!
As newlyweds, meals shared are so much fun, and this cookbook has brought more joy to our table than I could have imagined. Every recipe I've tried so far has turned out delicious! Buy it for your engaged friends, for married couples on anniversaries, or even better-- buy it for yourself!
Rating:
Summary: The Bride & Groom First and Forever Cookbook
Review: Great cookbook for younger married couple just starting out. Given as a wedding gift. Gift wrapping was a joke and waste of money. It was more of an advertisement for Amazon.com than a real gift wrap. It came damaged in shipping and had to be discarded and wrapped appropriately for presentation. SAVE YOUR MONEY on the gift wrap. Not worth $4.49 for sure!!!
Rating: 
Summary: This is a great easy to follow book!
Review: Having just recently married and bought a house, this book has been my entertaining bible! The recipies are creative and delicious without being the least bit hard. I am loving this cookbook and am so excited to start giving it as gifts to other faithful chefs. It is fantastic!
Rating:
Summary: My Forever Cookbook!
Review: I adore this cookbook - so much that I had to write a review. I've had it for about a year and every recipe has been fantastic. I collect cookbooks for reading and cooking. This is one of those rare cookbooks that is beautiful AND useful. I love that there is a picture of most of the recipes. I recently made several of these recipes for my extended family on vacation. I already knew the recipes were great, but they raved about every one - a true crowd pleaser. Even my mother, who thought some recipes "sounded weird" was pleasantly surprised (it was "Couscous with Melted Leeks"). There are plenty of simple, delicious standards, along with some more "exotic" offerings. They are all wonderful.
Rating: 
Summary: Wish it were more realistic
Review: I am a newlywed who was given this book by my mother as a gift and to help us start off on the right foot. Neither myself nor my husband have much experience cooking. This book has wonderful pictures but the recipes are way to hard. If you are experienced, this book may work for you but if you really are a beginner, look for something more practical.
Rating:
Summary: Love This Cookbook!!
Review: I am an experienced cook & I love this cookbook. The recipes are easy to follow & very diversified. If you are a beginner, these recipes are definitely manageable.
Beautiful photographs & very concise directions. Although, this would make a lovely present for the bride & groom, it's really a cookbook for everyone.
Rating:
Summary: I LOVE THIS COOKBOOK
Review: I am what is known as a "cookbook junkie". I buy them to try the recipes, but mostly just to read. Let me tell you, I have tried almost every recipe in this book. They are easy to follow with good pictures and good suggestions for making it a meal. I turn to it on a harried evening when I don't feel like cooking and whenever I am going to have a dinner party. I am searching for more books by these ladies. Awesome.
Rating:
Summary: I LOVE THIS COOKBOOK
Review: I am what is known as a "cookbook junkie". I buy them to try the recipes, but mostly just to read. Let me tell you, I have tried almost every recipe in this book. They are easy to follow with good pictures and good suggestions for making it a meal. I turn to it on a harried evening when I don't feel like cooking and whenever I am going to have a dinner party. I am searching for more books by these ladies. Awesome.
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