Cooking with Mary Berry

Review by Booklist Review

Berry, who has won hearts as the friendly judge on the BBC import Great British Baking Show, and its American spin-off, Great Holiday Baking Show, published Baking with Mary Berry last year. Here, after a brief, general, photographic how-to introduction, Berry gathers well over 100 of her test-kitchen-approved recipes for all meals of the day, each one fulfilling her required criteria: they must look good, taste good, and be practical to make. No single-use spices or hand-wringing techniques here! All including calorie counts and many accompanied by photos, recipes skip introductions and include clearly numbered steps, for the oft-interrupted chef. Among globe-spanning main dishes (Hungarian goulash; Tex-Mex chicken; boeuf bourguignonne; Thai red curry; and kedgeree, a traditional English breakfast dish, just to name a few), Berry includes many vegetarian options, sides, and, of course, breads, baked goods, and desserts. Variations and preparation tips (how to chop specific vegetables, how to make a simple mayonnaise, etc.) pop up on some pages, too. This is a basic, go-to volume, with the flair that Berry's growing U.S. fan base will expect.--Bostrom, Annie Copyright 2016 Booklist

From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.

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Review by Publisher's Weekly Review

British baking grand dame Berry (Mary Berry's Baking Bible), beloved judge of The Great British Bake Off, compiles a delightful array of new family recipes that "look good, taste good [and are] practical to make." Simple recipes, all using a limited number of widely available ingredients, are divided into stages, with any unusual instructions mapped out step by step. Berry includes an informative section on cooking methods for eggs, meat, fish and shellfish, veggies, and desserts. Breakfast and brunch options include an appetizing strata with cheese and pesto, zucchini and prosciutto frittata, and kedgeree, a British favorite made with rice, smoked haddock, and hard-boiled eggs. Vibrant full-color photos accompany many recipes, none more appetizing than her mouthwatering butternut squash soup and rustic pizza tartlets. Her Provençal-style roast chicken, coq au vin, and beef pot roast with winter vegetables are hearty, flavorful dishes with a minimal amount of fuss. She also suggests tasty alternatives to traditional stuffings, using spinach, onions, and mushrooms in place of a starch to accompany pork chops and stuffing a beautiful broiled trout with sautéed cucumbers. Pad thai with shrimp, veal schnitzel, fettucine primavera, and couscous with roasted bell peppers bring an international flair to the collection. Berry also includes numerous side dishes and scrumptious breads and desserts that are sure to please. Home cooks will treasure this superb collection. (Nov.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved

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Review by Library Journal Review

Anyone saddened by Berry's departure from The Great British Baking Show can still enjoy her many cookbooks, including this new collection of everyday favorites. Simple, mostly savory recipes such as turkey and lemon stir fry, scallops with spicy cashew sauce, spinach gnocchi with tomato sauce, and fragrant chicken curry will have novice cooks exploring an array of global flavors. Each recipe includes calorie counts and clear step-by-step instructions. Essential techniques, such as how to scramble eggs, appear in an introductory chapter. Unlike many celebrity chef cookbooks, this practical title steers clear of memoir and autobiography. VERDICT A straightforward collection from a beloved chef and TV host. © Copyright 2016. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

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