Comments on: At Home with Magnolia: Classic American Recipes from the Owner of Magnolia Bakery

By: Seashore

Seashore — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 18:38:44 +0000

The NYT ran an article in Nov. about how Americans as a culture seem to have forgotten what it means to prepare a meal and enjoy a relaxing dining experience with family and friends. Allysa Torey’s new book, At Home with Magnolia, provides a practical and fun answer to this dilemma by featuring classic American “comfort food” recipes along with a few simple yet flavorfully innovative dishes and beautiful photographs. The text is well-organized and easy to follow. It’s obvious after testing several of these recipes that they are Allysa’s tried and true meals to serve at home — basic, lovely, and delicious. If you’re hoping to host more intimate gatherings at home by incorporating the aromas of fresh and delicious “made from scratch” meals without having to spend hours in the kitchen, this book is a perfect place to start.
Rating: 5 / 5

By: Catherine A. Forrest

Catherine A. Forrest — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 18:34:31 +0000

What a pleasure to read and see. This cook book has simple, fresh ideas for casual lunches or get togethers and the photos evoke a easy summer day.

I have alot of cookbooks and this is on the top of my favorites list.
Rating: 5 / 5

By: MarieCW

MarieCW — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 16:14:26 +0000

This book is a disappointment. By purchasing this book by an owner of Magnolia Bakery, I was, of course, looking for baking recipes – cupcakes, cakes, etc. This is just an average, scattered topic cookbook. Having the name Magnolia Bakery in the title (along with cupcakes featured on the cover), while certainly truthful, is very misleading. Sure, all that information is in the review, but I assume a lot of us purchase books by an author known to (and liked by) us, and expect something similar. Imagine purchasing a third book by a mystery writer, and winding up with a romance novel! I would consider Allysa Torey a baking expert; I would not look to her for a lasagna recipe.
Rating: 1 / 5

By: Betty Parr

Betty Parr — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 13:44:44 +0000

This is a good book, and I am a reader of cookbooks, marking some pages to try recipes at a later date. A great way to relax after a super fast paced day at the office. But this is a good book, not as many good recipes as the first one, but a good book.
Rating: 4 / 5

By: Serious Work

Serious Work — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 11:57:40 +0000

In the haste to buy last minute Christmas gifts I should have taken the time to find out this was not a ‘how to make cupcakes’ book as I understand it has only one cupcake recipe in the whole book. It’s more of a meal planning cookbook with a wide variety of recipes. Nicely illustrated too. I guess I assumed it was a cupcake book and was wrong.
Rating: 2 / 5