Cookwise: The Secrets of Cooking Revealed | Shirley O. Corriher

Cookwise: The Secrets of Cooking Revealed | Shirley O. Corriher | My #1 Kitchen Resource!

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Cookwise: The Secr...

	Cookwise: The Secrets of Cooking Revealed Shirley O. Corriher William Morrow Cookbooks, 1997 - 544 pages average customer review:based on 119 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

The most helpful cooking book I can imagine

The day I receive this cookbook was the day my life was changed forever. I read the book cover to cover in wonder and amazement as all basic ingredients were explained in a very easy to comprehend way. This cookbook doesn't have very many recipes (although the recipes that are included are very tasty), but the wonderful thing about it is that it teaches an amature cook how to make their other recipes actually work. With the information I got from this book I can take my Grandmother's recipes, my Betty Crocker recipes, etc... and make them turn out how I want them to turn out. Work in the kitchen has become so much less stressful and so much more predictable than ever before.

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My #1 Kitchen Resource!

I read through quite a few of the reviews and thought I'd add my own comments to the batch. I have to admit that I am not a professional cook nor much of a literary sort; that said, I will say that for ME, a person who loves to cook and likes the idea of understanding WHY methods and techniques work or don't in cooking and baking, this is a wonderful source! I use it as a reference book more than a 'read', so I hardly noticed the 'poor layout'! I did notice that many related items where tucked in various sundry places and did have to be sought out. However, I have gotten some of my best recipes and great knowledge from this book and continue to use it and experiment with the various recipes. True, there are ingredients in some recipes that are difficult to find, but I'm an adventurer and basically 'know' how to cook, so I have no problem figuring out substitutes. I am so "out of the loop" on what's 'in' and 'not' amongst "foodies", that I wasn't aware of the book's reputation-all I know is that I enjoy referencing this book and have found great recipes within. Definitely the first book that I reach for for inspiration or understanding!

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A "must-have" for serious cooks and lovers of cooking

Second only to the classic "On Food and Cooking" by Corriher's good friend Harold McGhee, Cookwise is a pragmatically focused book on the science of cooking applied to actually doing it. I've read other reviews here that complain they don't like the recipes (Corriher's baking, for example "is too sweet") - this isn't a recipe book gang. Its a book that helps you apply the science of cooking. Corriher's recipes are illustrative of the physics, chemistry and process she's discussing (and frankly, most are wonderful). They're Southern in their approach, so there's a regional bias - its fine.

Want to know how to make cakier, thicker cookies... or to make them flatter and more buttery? Shirley lays it on you. Flour, corn starch or arrowroot as a thickner? What does adding eggs due to the custard base of ice cream and why? What does it mean to have your proteins clump? Learn which applications beg what ingredient. This is a great learning book and almost as much fun to just sit and read for enjoyment as McGhee's classic.

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I Love this Book!

In my opinion this is one of the best books in its class. The way things are compared and contrasted in the organization of the book really make sense! This is an excellent resource for anyone who loves to cook and wants to understand why the techniques learned by chefs through the passing on of "tribal knowledge" work.

AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is the best cookbook I have ever bought, it is worth every penny! I have underlined and highlighted so much of this book. This book gave me confidence to try new things. I have learned so much from her, i wish she would write more books because I would be the first one in line to buy them. She teaches you in simple English the hows and whys of cooking. If I could only have one cookbook I would choose this one. It teaches you how to cook rather than just how to follow a recipe. AMAZING BOOK! God bless you Shirley!

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