Rating: 
Summary: so far a definite keeper!
Review: I received this book as a wedding present and so far have made many of the dishes and been pleased with all. i acutally read it while riding in the car on the way to one of our honeymoon destinations and picked up so really great tips instantly (in the panty/set up intro section). did you know that all you need to do to have your own high quality vanilla extract is buy bulk beans and put them in vodka? and that the beans will last indefinately? little gems like this are worth having the book for in and of themselves.i made the pork tenderloin with mango salsa and blueberry syrup for dinner guests and them loved it. it was SO pretty! i'm a practiced entertainment cook, but presentation has always been a weaker spot for me. however, this recipe just insists on being pretty! complimented perfectly by the twins decadent coconut rice recipe and some roasted aspargus (what veggie doused in salt and oil and roasted isn't wonderful?). yesterday's menu was the texas chili and the ultrarich and nutty peanut butter pie. all of these winners. i also made 2 of the drinks from the beverage section (fresh strawberry daquiris and mojitos) and the shrimp with cherry tomatos and pesto. even though they suggest homemade everything, they also tell you when store bought subs can be used, and this is much of the time. i used store bought pesto that was in the fridge and the shrimp pasta was still great-- and quick! while many of the meals are special occasion fare (and presented as such to be fair), some of the things are easy enough to be weekday dinners, and much can be prepared ahead and frozen/reheated. i look forward to trying their quick throw together menus and their cooking side by side sections. i've only been married 2 months and really have gotten lots of use out of this book. it's been reliable enough to make something once and serve it to people. the instructions are clear and precise, most cooks could use this book if they have patience and desire.
Rating:
Summary: A wonderful addition to the kitchen
Review: I received this cookbook at my bridal shower this spring, and what a wonderful delight it has been! The book itself is gorgeous, with huge color photos of the fully prepared dishes. But what is best about this cookbook is that the meals that you create are beautiful and delicious. I am not an expert cook (still learning, but hey - I just got married so the family expectations are still low!) and I find this cookbook neither too easy nor too challenging. The breakfast strata, red grape and feta salad, and prosciutto and mushroom chicken are my particular favorites. I highly recommend this book.
Rating: 
Summary: Maybe in a few years
Review: I wish I could recommend this book a little higher because it is very beautiful. And I wish that I could make more of the recipes in this book because the pictures of the finished dishes look beautiful as well. But I'm not a chef and I'm not a caterer, I'm a beginning cook and while I do have patience and desire to learn to cook, I don't have hours each evening to prepare dinner. I'm hoping to use this book in the future when I have a little more experience under my belt. I think it's a little misleading because it represents itself as a cookbook to help you learn how to cook. If I had received this as a gift, I may not have been so disappointed but this was quite an investment for a cookbook.
Rating: 
Summary: This book's cookin'!
Review: Much like my favorite chicken recipe from "Bride & Groom," this book is "divine"! I have quite the collection of cookbooks, but none gets more use than this one. And, it's managed to do what no other has: gotten my husband to help out! We received this as a wedding present, but it's been a gift in more ways than one! It should be shared by EVERYONE, not just husbands and wives.
Rating:
Summary: This book's cookin'!
Review: Much like my favorite chicken recipe from "Bride & Groom," this book is "divine"! I have quite the collection of cookbooks, but none gets more use than this one. And, it's managed to do what no other has: gotten my husband to help out! We received this as a wedding present, but it's been a gift in more ways than one! It should be shared by EVERYONE, not just husbands and wives.
Rating: 
Summary: Too complicated! I'm a beginning cook and...
Review: My mom bought The First and Forever Cookbook for us to start us off right, but the recipes are way to complicated for beginning cooks. The photos are beautiful - they look a lot like a Martha Stewart magazine - but out of the recipes we thought sounded like something we would like and could make in an evening after work took much too long. We weren't eating before 8:30 pm! I might give the holidays section a try later when I learn how to make the basics, but for now I'll keep it on the shelf.
Rating:
Summary: A must have!
Review: My mother gave this book to me as a wedding gift recently and it truly is a MUST HAVE! Both my husband and I have used it since being married and I can honestly say that every recipe we have tried thus far has been a great success. My mother ended up buying herself a copy recently and also loves it, and I just had one shipped to my sister in law as well. This cookbook is a must have for all couples, not just newlyweds!
Rating:
Summary: Luscious book, combo of useful & heavy for beginners
Review: The Bride & Groom First and Forever Cookbook Wrapped inside this sumptuously presented cookbook are gems of solid kitchen basics plus a range of recipes from Chicken Soup Stock to Glazed Tuna with Soy-Ginger Glaze and Pickled Cucumbers. Written by sisters who share a lifelong love affair with cooking, the book is written in a chatty, we're-all-in-the-kitchen-together tone. Its title implies that it makes the ideal first cookbook for a couple, but that couple will do best who are already reasonably at home in the kitchen. However, novice cooks will find useful and reasonably practical information and seasoned cooks will find inspiration and new ideas. Particularly useful to those establishing a kitchen are the first chapters on the tools of the trade. While the authors include as 'essentials' such things as rice steamers, citrus reamers, a coffee bean grinder, etc., they also focus on the usefulness of a few good quality pans, knives, etc. Many of us have flourished on far fewer than their list of essentials, but since wedding guests will ask about your preference of gifts, why not ask for useful, enjoyable (and long-lasting) kitchen items? This book gives you a good list from which to work. Of particular interest is the divided interest between making a great meal from what's in the cupboard, leisurely time spent cooking, and 'dinners in a dash'. The range of food ideas presented is large and includes fresh foods widely. The recipes are clearly presented and quite straightforward to follow. Is the book worth the hefty retail of $35.00? As a lovely and useful gift book, yes. To the experienced cook? Probably not. Greater variety and more in-depth information are available in other resources. Is it a pleasure to read? Absolutely. Enjoy!
Rating:
Summary: Luscious book, combo of useful & heavy for beginners
Review: The Bride & Groom First and Forever Cookbook Wrapped inside this sumptuously presented cookbook are gems of solid kitchen basics plus a range of recipes from Chicken Soup Stock to Glazed Tuna with Soy-Ginger Glaze and Pickled Cucumbers. Written by sisters who share a lifelong love affair with cooking, the book is written in a chatty, we're-all-in-the-kitchen-together tone. Its title implies that it makes the ideal first cookbook for a couple, but that couple will do best who are already reasonably at home in the kitchen. However, novice cooks will find useful and reasonably practical information and seasoned cooks will find inspiration and new ideas. Particularly useful to those establishing a kitchen are the first chapters on the tools of the trade. While the authors include as 'essentials' such things as rice steamers, citrus reamers, a coffee bean grinder, etc., they also focus on the usefulness of a few good quality pans, knives, etc. Many of us have flourished on far fewer than their list of essentials, but since wedding guests will ask about your preference of gifts, why not ask for useful, enjoyable (and long-lasting) kitchen items? This book gives you a good list from which to work. Of particular interest is the divided interest between making a great meal from what's in the cupboard, leisurely time spent cooking, and 'dinners in a dash'. The range of food ideas presented is large and includes fresh foods widely. The recipes are clearly presented and quite straightforward to follow. Is the book worth the hefty retail of $35.00? As a lovely and useful gift book, yes. To the experienced cook? Probably not. Greater variety and more in-depth information are available in other resources. Is it a pleasure to read? Absolutely. Enjoy!
Rating:
Summary: I thought it was okay
Review: The pictures are great - I mean the book is really beautiful! The dishes are a little on the gourmet side to me. Like if I were staying at the little bed and breakfast down the street, they might serve a lot of this stuff. Which is great, but I was hoping to have more everyday type stuff. It's really pretty though :)
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