California Home Cooking or Celebrities and Their Culinary Creations

California Home Cooking: American Cooking in the California Style

Author: Michele Anna Jordan

An infinite bounty ... from land and sea, farm and garden, orchard and vineyard, field and stream. Fresh ingredients express themselves boldly and honestly in the California style of cooking, in the rustic dishes of farmhouses and ranchos, in time-tested recipes brought by waves of immigrants, and in light and casual contemporary fare. These 400 recipes will inspire any cook, anywhere, to celebrate the pleasures of the table in the glorious, delectable ways that Californians do.

Publishers Weekly

Jordan's (Polenta) collection of 400 recipes glorifying Golden State cuisine will leave unfortunate outsiders pining for that state's vegetables, seafood and wines. Happily, a resources list names nearly 70 purveyors of California foodstuffs from abalone to zinfandel. Accompanying the recipes are dozens of sidebars on such localisms as the fabled Chasen's Chili, the key to marijuana brownies and a young Marilyn Monroe as Castroville's 1947 Artichoke Queen. The recipes demonstrate ethnic diversity: Thai Lamb in Romaine Leaves, Jook (Chinese Rice Porridge), Channa Dal with Yogurt and Chutney from India, Solvang Roast Pork with Prunes and Apples from Denmark and Morcilla de Cabrito (Goat's Blood Pudding) from Mexico, which is anchored by a quart of kid's blood. There are plenty of dishes that confirm the Californian urge to exalt culinary creativity. Avocadoes show up in mashed potatoes; Blueberry Coleslaw calls for blueberry mayonnaise, blueberry vinegar and fresh blueberries. More traditonally minded cooks will find their own temptations: Beef and Barley Soup gets a boost from juniper berries; Trout-Fennel Salad offers a potent taste combination; desserts encompass Ginger Chevre Tart and Lavender Ice Cream. While a little organizationally slack (one Chapter offers Main Courses with Vegetables, another Vegetable Side Dishes), Jordan's omnibus is as wide-ranging as the state itself. Illustrations not seen by PW. (Dec.)

Library Journal

Jordan, a food writer and prolific cookbook author, has written about California cooking before, in A Cook's Tour of Sonoma (Addison-Wesley, 1990). Her latest book includes 400 recipes for the casual but often elegant food she likes to cook for herself and guests: Monterey Artichoke Risotto, Chicken with 100 Garlic Cloves (40 aren't enough in California?), Bing Cherry Compote. Alice Waters, the "doyenne" of California cooking, and M.F.K. Fisher are influences, and they, along with Jordan's fellow Californians Betty Fussell and James Beard, are mentioned often in the readable headnotes and informative sidebars. Occasionally, California's abundant produce seems to have gone to Jordan's head -- do we really need Blueberry Coleslaw or Chicken and Raspberry Sandwiches? -- but most of the recipes sound delicious.

Interesting textbook: Cat Herbal or Reiki for Life

Celebrities and Their Culinary Creations: Autographed Photos, Biographies, Trivia, & Recipes

Author: Thea Waldo

Get a taste of what it's like to be famous with recipes from your favorite film and television stars. Whet your appetite with Renйe Taylor's (The Nanny) "Aphrodisiac Appetizers." Dance the night away with John Travolta's (Saturday Night Fever, Pulp Fiction) "Tuna Tar Tare Won Ton Crisps." Kick it up a notch with Jackie Chan's (Rush Hour, Shanghai Noon) dangerous "Beef Fillet with Season Vegetables."

Still hungry?

Come back for second helpings of James Earl Jones' (The Hunt for the Red October, Field of Dreams) "Chilean Sea Bass" and have a laugh with a friend over some of Chevy Chase's (Caddy Shack, National Lampoon's Vacation) "Barbequed Chicken." Don't forget to save room for dessert. Anthony Hopkins' (The Silence of the Lambs, Howards End) "Bara Birth" and Jamie Lee Curtis' (Trading Places, True Lies) "Key Lime Pie" are to die for.

Filled with autographed photos, biographies, and fun facts, Celebrities and Their Culinary Creations is perfect for anyone who loves film or food and would make a great addition to any fan's collection.

Best of all, 50% of all profits of this book will be donated to Childrens Hospital Los Angeles Foundation.