Antoinette's Page

Vol. 1,  No. 12, August 29th, 2010

TITLE: I AGREE WITH TOM BROKAW – MY PARENT’S GENERATION IS THE GREATEST!*

S & R*N Vol. 1, No.1, August 29th,  2010

SAVE & READ* S & R* NEWS*

Dear Readers,

Greetings from Cyberspace.

With this post, I have reached the 12th edition  (three months plus milestone). I am told and am proud to report that our unique reader and hits stats are cascading: doubling, trebling, and more over this period. We had a dream. I thought that this site was a good idea. I intensely want this Internet address to stand for high quality and fair dealing. It must because my name is front and center. Your approval by virtue of your visits means that I am on the right track. I humbly say thank you. But rest assured that I will not sit on my laurels. We are continually making additions and improvements.  In this space, I will henceforth report what’s new.

This week, I am pleased to announce that we have our first audio-video component – look for it on the Save and Read* Home Page at the left under the buttons in the square, asking: “What is Save and Read*”- press the button and off you go. As well, Save and Read* has its very own Hall of Fame*- look for it on the Save and Read* Home Page at the left, the third to last button bearing the inscription, “Hall of Fame”, press it and you may view the Save and Read* Top 5 selections from prior months. Also, I will upload tomorrow, the second edition of my travel blog. At present, it can be accessed by pressing the “Blog” button -it is the second to last button on the left, then press the button at the top, the first after home, bearing the inscription, “Travel (mis-) Adventures”; and please do join me on my travels. In addition, I will upload tomorrow the second edition of my cooking blog. At present, it can be accessed by pressing the “Blog” button -it is the second to last button on the left, then press the button at the top, the second after home, bearing the inscription, “Antoinette’s Kitchen”; and please do join me on my food escapades. If you have a comment about these blogs – I ask that you kindly use the ‘contact us’ button, the last on the left hand side of the Home Page.

That’s all for now.

Have a great week.

Yours truly,
Antoinette

P.S. I am very appreciative to those of you who have communicated with me via ‘the contact us’ page or post comment. Friends, thank you …thank you…. thank you… It is important for me to get the feedback. I then can move onward and upwards. It is also important when you advise of technical problems with the site. We then can make modifications so it could be better and easier to use. I truly want Save And Read* to be the best that it can be.*

MY LIFE & TIMES*

“The Greatest Generation” by Tom Brokaw is my book for this week. It got me thinking about my parents.

My folks were toddlers when the depression in the 30s hit. Life was hard then. They did not have any luxuries…they were lucky if they could get a good meal every day. They were both very young when in Italy, they had to face the horrors of World War II. However still old enough, they had vivid memories. Growing up, I heard tragic stories of their war time experiences. My parents suffered hunger, pain and fear. From one day to another, they did not know where they would get food and if they would live to see the sun rise the next day. I have often said that it’s hard for me to imagine how they got through it!

Once the war was over, my parents got married. In post war Italy, my father could not find work. Therefore, they decided to emigrate to Canada, the land of opportunity. Once here, they worked VERY hard and achieved much success. Although feeling loyalty to the land of their birth, they loved Canada –  they made it their permanent home. When I was very young, my parents became Canadian citizens – I remember how so proud they were that day.  Although highly proud of their rich Italian culture and heritage, my folks embraced Canada in its richness as well. Like the gum commercial, they were two (both Italian and Canadian) in one!

My parents are my all-time heros. My father was the best. He awakened very early and worked all day supporting his family, intent on giving us the chances that he did not have. Yet, on returning home each night, he assisted my mother; and more still, he was patient and loving with his children, who were jumping to get his attention. He was kind, gentle and also instructive. With my father, my mother had a real love affair of a marriage. She was my SUPERWOMAN – she worked SOOOOO hard. She did everything WELLLLLl She made the time to do everything.  She worked outside the home and brought home a pay check. She ran an efficient household of a husband and four children. The home was meticulous. The meals were well- cooked and tasty. She was VERY watchful of the kids- she made sure that we were on the straight and narrow.  She did it all; today, middle aged, I wonder: “How did she do it?” I get tired just thinking about it.

This said, due to author Tom Brokaw, I turned my thoughts to my parent’s generation overall. Here is some of what occurred during their lifespan. (I think that you should sit down, … it might take a while.)

(Stock market) Crash of 1929 (also known as THE GREAT CRASH and also Black Tuesday)

The Wall Street (United States) Crash of (October 29) 1929) was terrible. People were wiped out financially. Investors jumped out of windows to their death. It was the implosion, causing a chain reaction of world-wide proportions.  It began a 10-year global depression.

Great Depression

It was launched after the Crash of 1929. It impacted onto the entire world and had severe effects, as for example, whether working or middle class or higher, personal incomes collapsed dramatically. Countries saw a major drop in profits and prices and also much lower tax revenue. International trade fell by one half. Unemployment in the U.S. sky-rocketed upwards to a lofty 25%, and in some countries, to the awful high of 33%. Businesses closed. Construction was very slow. Farming and rural areas suffered as crop prices sunk like a stone by 60%+-. Farms were lost. Homes were abandoned. People migrated to the over-crowded cities. Urban areas were hard hit, especially where heavy industry was situate. Soup kitchens became the common place for the hungry. It was bad…really bad.

It was the longest- 10 years, most widespread, and deepest depression of the 20th century. Now in the 21st century, economists point to it to show how bad things could get.

World War II

It was a worldwide military conflict, in which, all of the GREAT POWERS were involved. Churchill in the U.K. (and King in Canada ) and Roosevelt in the U.S. led the Allied countries. The Allies included the U.K. (inclusive of Canada, Australia, etc.), who fought early, suffered much, but never gave up. They were heroic as for example, during the siege in the Far East (Hong Kong, etc.), the Dunkirk escape, the Dieppe raid, the Battle of Britain, the North Atlantic (U-Boat) War, etc. , to name a few.  France fought and was occupied and the hearty Free French and the brave underground kept fighting and along with the allies liberated their homeland. The Poles, Czechs, Italians, etc. sustained unimaginable horrors.  The Soviet Union was invaded, and there was much devastation on their soil. The U.S.S.R. sided with the western democracies. The Yanks from the United States led by Eisenhauer, Bradley, Patton, Nimitz, MacArthur, etc. fought courageously alongside the U.K. troops led by Montgomery, etc., in North Africa, Middle East, Europe: D-Day on the Normandy beaches, Holland, Battle of the Bulge, Sicily with the brave Italian partisans, the Pacific: Midway, etc. The other side was the Axis, comprising rogue regimes: the Nazis in Germany, the Fascists in Italy plus the pre-war militarists of Japan, etc.

Never before in history was war so BIG, this with over 100 million military personnel mobilised. Countries put their total economic wherewithall in support of the total war effort. The Axis made civilians open season. The Holacaust happened and must NEVER be forgotten. This conflict was DEADLY! Lives lost are estimated to have been between 50 and 70 million.  This was a NASTY time for all!

Korean war

The Korean War (1950–1953) followed the second world war and the surrender of Japan and after the division of the peninsula with the U.S. troops in the south and the Communists in the North.

Cold war

Churchill coined the expression, “Iron Curtain”. As the second world war was winding down, the U.S.S.R. was becoming dominant in the vacuum that was Eastern Europe. The  Cold War is the conflict between the Communist nations led by the Soviet Union and the democratic nations led by the United States. The U.S. had the atomic bomb. The U.S.S.R. got it later. Missiles were built as delivery systems for the atomic bomb. It was a scary time. Dr. Strangelove was a movie that poked fun at a very unfunny situation. It was conceivable that a super power would start a conflict that could spell the end of the world.

Great Emigration (Post W.W. II)

From 1941 to 1950, 1,035,000 people emigrated to the U.S., including 226,000 from Germany, 139,000 from the U.K., 171,000 from Canada, 60,000 from Mexico and 57,000 from Italy. The (U.S.) Displaced Persons (DP) Act of 1948 finally allowed displaced people of World War II to start emigrating to America. Canada was another major destination. Palestine, now Israel was another. Lives were re-launched at this time.

Soviet 1956 Hungarian invasion

The Hungarian Revolution of 1956 was spontaneous. After an announcement by the ruling council to negotiate a withdrawal of Soviet forces, it changed its mind and moved to crush the revolt. On November 4th, a large Soviet force invaded Budapest and other regions of the country. These Soviet actions increased U.S.S.R. domination and fear all over Europe.

Vietnam war

The U.S. fought a war supporting the Southern regime as against the Communist North. The U.S. was afraid that other countries would fall into the Communist fold. It fought hard – but peaceniks objected. The U.S. did not win the war and casualties were 50,000 plus.

The U.S., nevertheless, declared a peace treaty and departed leaving Vietnam to the Communists. The U.S. and the world was deeply fragmented as a result.

Cuban missile crisis

This is also known as The October Crisis in Cuba. It was a stand-off between the nuclear super power of the U.S.S.R. as against the nuclear super power of the U.S. The U.S.S.R. was building missile sites in Cuba, just a mere miles from the U.S. homeland. The U.S. led by President J.F. Kennedy said NO! After a blockade and days when the entire world was at the precipice of the abyss, the U.S.S.R. by Nikita Kruschev ordered the removal of the weapons to which the U.S. objected.

THE AUTHOR

Tom Brokaw, born in South Dakota on Feb. 6, 1940, graduated from the University of South Dakota, earning a degree in Political Science. He started his career as an American television journalist. He hosted major NBC News programs: The Today Show, NBC Nightly News and Meet the Press.  He has won awards. He is respected by colleagues and the public. In a few words, he is one of the best that TV has given us.

SERIES/COLLECTION

This thoughtful man, who has lived history, is an able author. His books include the following: (a) 1998 The Greatest Generation; (b) 1999 The Greatest Generation Speaks ; (c)  2001 An Album of Memories ;  (d) 2002 A Long Way from Home: Growing Up in the American Heartland ; (e)  2006 Galen Rowell: A Retrospective – Foreword by Tom Brokaw; (f) 2007 Boom!: Voices of the Sixties Personal Reflections on the ’60s and Today .

THE BOOK: “The Greatest Generation” by Tom Brokaw

The book is about Americans who matured during the Great Depression and fought World War II. “The Greatest Generation” is a term coined by Tom Brokaw. Their achievement was growing up in the U.S., doing without at the time of the Great Depression, and then fighting the good fight in World War II and also building America, and its increasing productivity and growing GNP output on the home front. It is a book, an everlasting testament to the sacrifice and achievement of a generation, of which my parents were and are a part. Read this suberbly written book; and learn about their times, real lives lived and the great things done because: they had to be done and someone had to do it. You will also want to pay tribute to these remarkable people. Indeed, Franklin Delano Roosevelt said: “This generation of Americans has a rendezvous with destiny.”

CONCLUSION

Get ready world – I have a conclusion;
Get set – you might not like my message; and
Go – Listen up – it’s important!

My personal comments

This GREAT generation had too much to bear during their lifetimes. And yet they overcame all and they did it all!

The point

We owe our parent’s generation respect and homage. As they age, it is our duty to see that their well-being is assured. We, the Baby Boomers are the sandwich generation. I am now walking in those shoes.

I exhort my generation mates to extend respect and solace to the GREATEST GENERATION. The time is now – they are aging as I write. They need your attention NOW! I am not telling you to do as I do, to the extent as I do. All I am saying is “DO!”. Make time to visit and/or call on the phone. Also, make sure that they have food, shelter and personal care. If they are not self-sufficient, step up to the plate. If you are without funds, give of your time liberally …after work hours if need be. Do not pass the buck to another sibling, organize the care as needed. If able financially, write a cheque and further cheques as needed.

“Why?” I answer: “First, because they deserve it. Second, because you will feel better for it now and especially after they are gone. Third, your children are watching – what you do now will pay dividends or give you cause for regret later when you are at the stage of life of receiving aid due to your old age.”

Finally, I say DO IT because it is the right thing to do!

Take it out for a spin and tell me if you agree.

And that’s my thought of the week on books, what’s yours? *

ALP

CREDITS

-Web Tech:  richmediasound.com

The above is a new media production of Valente under its “United Author*”
program.

*TM/© 2010 Practitioners’ Press Inc. – All Rights Reserved.

Vol. 1,  No. 11, August 22, 2010

TITLE: MEN CHEAT ON WOMEN EARNING MORE: I am mad – I HATE cheaters!*

MY LIFE AND TIMES*

Just between us, I was brought up in a wonderful home, great parents and three brothers, who you know, are brothers. I was the only girl. My mother was strict. I was taught the difference between right and wrong. I was also taught what was proper and what was not. I grew up. As a mother, I taught my girls good family values. I guess I am an old-fashioned girl at heart.

This week, the water-cooler conversation in many workplaces is about the statistics on infidelity as regards the revenue earned by the spouses.  Why? I would say – it’s a controversial subject.

News flash: “Report: Men unfaithful to women who earn more”

I was struck by the story by journalist Belinda Luscombe about a recent study.

RESEARCH STUDY

Christin Munsch, a sociology Ph.D. candidate at Cornell University, made a presentation at the annual meeting of the American Sociological Association. The subject study examined young adults, aged 18 – 28, living together or married for more than a year. Findings included the following:

* That  many women under age 30, living in the city and working in industries  requiring a college education, earn more than their male counterparts;

* That men earning less their female spouses are more likely to cheat;

* That men,  fully dependent on the incomes of their  wives,  were five times more likely to cheat than those who contributed to the household, an equal amount;

* That  men with incomes far exceeding that of their wives were also more inclined to cheat;

* That men with nil revenue cheat because they are unhappy;

* That men with revenue far greater than that of their wives  cheat because they could do so. Indeed, Christin Munsch stated: “Men who make a lot more money than their partners may be in jobs that offer more opportunities for cheating like long work hours, travel, and higher incomes that make cheating easier to conceal.” (Source: Luscombe, Belinda,  “Report: Men unfaithful to women who earn more”,  Time Magazine, Saturday, Aug. 21, 2010)

You need more figures, well here are some…

* 41% of spouses admit to infidelity; In this regard, I add:

– That given the secretive nature of infidelity, it’s hard to compile accurate statistics.

– That men are more likely to cheat than women. (However, this is changing as  independence is making women act more like men.)

– That the highest rate of divorces is in the medical field mainly with psychiatrists and marriage-counselors.

* 53% of marriages end in divorce;

* 3% divorce rate exists in arranged marriages;

* 2-3% of all children are unknowingly not raised by their biological fathers.

This was my starting point when I considered my subject book of today: Heart of the Matter by Emily Giffin.

THE AUTHOR

Emily Fisk Giffin was born on March 20, 1972. At three, her interest in writing first emerged. At six, she wrote, “The Funny Pandas and the Messy Room”.  She went to law school, became a lawyer and worked at a major Manhattan law firm. Disliking  the practice and ultimately quitting, she turned to writing as a career.  She is married and has three young children, two are twins. She lived in Atlanta, Georgia.

SERIES/COLLECTION

Other books include: “Love the One You’re With”, “Baby Proof”, “Something Blue” and “Something Borrowed”. She writes about infidelity in her books.

THE BOOK: “Heart of the Matter” by Emily Giffin

About the book

In “Heart of the Matter”, there are two leading role women. BUT HOUSTON- WE HAVE A PROBLEM! One is married to a doctor – a mother’s dream. To her, a cheating mate means the woman should blame herself  for the mate’s infidelity and her need to forgive regardless.  The other lead lady is a lawyer and single Mom and disappointed in the past, she does NOT expect much romance-wise. Houston – watch out, it then gets intertwined!

CONCLUSION

My personal comments

This book gave me the opportunity to think about infidelity.  I assert:

1. That one of our commandments is “You shall not commit adultery”.

2. That there is not much difference between men (57%) and women (54%) when it comes to admitting to infidelity.

3. That cheating is very destructive in a marriage.

In my view, cheating is an extreme violation of any relationship. It all comes down to how moral a person is. Infidelity can be either physical or emotional. As Dr. Phil has said on his show, “If he’s doing it with you, he’ll do it to you.” Only one in five couples having an affair will end up in marriage. Women are more likely than men to forgive a spouse who had a physical affair.

The point

Let us be clear – if I have something to say…I say it…. plain talk straight from the hip. I am mad – I HATE cheaters! To this, I add:

– Don’t cheat – if you want out….leave!

–  Women listen up! Expect fidelity. If your mate cheats…it’s NOT your fault – it’s his weakness and his repsonsibility.

– Finally, to achieve one’s aim of a strong relationship, both spouses should embrace fidelity. Indeed, honesty and trust spell happiness!

Take it out for a spin and tell me if you agree.

And that’s my thought of the week on books, what’s yours? *

ALP

CREDITS

-Web Tech:  richmediasound.com

The above is a new media production of Valente under its “United Author*” program.

*TM/© 2010 Practitioners’ Press Inc. – All Rights Reserved.

Vol. 1,  No. 10, August 16, 2010

 

TITLE: Women spend an average of 2 1/2 years of adult lives cooking*: Hence, I am a BREAKFAST EXPERT!*

 

MY LIFE & TIMES*

 

News flash: “Researchers have found that women spend an average of two-and-a-half years of their adult lives cooking.”  (This contrasts with the average man who cooks for 1.4 years of his life.) Findings included the following:

• 75%  of family meals are prepared by women;
• After work, more than eight out of 10 women spend one hour or more preparing food for themselves and their family over this period – the time doubles on weekends;
• Weekly, this is roughly nine hours of home cooking throughout  an adult life  from the age 18 to 65 – such totalling  2.51 years. (N.B. This is according to the UK survey of cooking habits by kitchen appliance manufacturers Breville.)

Ouch, like many women, I know a lot about being in the kitchen cooking. Furthermore, like most mothers, I know a lot about breakfast. I crunched the numbers. I have made at minimum, 14, 600 breakfasts before my two adult daughters reached the age of 20. (365 x 20 (years)= 7300 x 2 (children)). And this does not include the breakfast meals that I made for them once they were 20.  In addition, it does not include the first meal of the day that I made for myself in later years. I think you’ll agree with me that, along with many other women out there, I am a BREAKFAST EXPERT! Accordingly, I believe:

1. That it is important to provide nourishment.  People need fuel! (It is especially true for children in the morning before they leave for school.) Of course, hungry does not spell learning. It is equally true for adults. Hungry does not usually result in good works and success.

2. That it is also important to take into account food groups, proper nutrition and good calories.

Oh, by the way, did you ever notice that the word “diet” means the totality of a person’s food consumption and also a regime of reduced food intake? It is interesting, don’t you think?

This was my starting point when I considered my subject book of today.

 

THE AUTHOR

Daniela Jakubowicz, MD, is a specialist in endocrinology and metabolic disease. Originally from Venezuela, she worked at Hospital de Clinicas, Caracas. She has been using this diet, with successful results, for more than 15 years. She is the author of “The Big Breakfast Diet: Eat Big Before 9 A.M. and lose Big for Life”.

Research study

Jakubowicz et als studied the effects of the big breakfast diet on 94 women, all obese and physically inactive. Half the women were placed on a strictly monitored low-carb diet and the other half were assigned the big breakfast diet. If I understood correctly, overweight women lost nearly five times more weight on a large breakfast diet than the control group did on a low-carb diet.

Findings of this study were presented at the 90th annual meeting of The Endocrine Society in San Francisco on June 17 (Source: The Endocrine Society). Thismaterial was published in The New England Journal of Medicine and The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.

SERIES/COLLECTION

An earlier version of Jakubowicz’s  book, “¡Ni Una Dieta Mas!” (Not Another Diet!) was published In Venezuela. It made big waves in South America. It sold 300,000 copies.

 

THE BOOK

 

My first reaction was from the cover. It had bright colors. There was a VERY slim woman figured prominently. She looks happy amongst many extremely high-in- calorie foods. Most if us desire these dishes. The package was thus appealing – perhaps too appealing, such maybe camouflaging a false message. Now, let us look at this message.

The diet

Jakubowicz gives prospective dieters, in effect, a blank cheque to eat, more-or-less, whatever they wanted for a before 9:00 A.M. meal. This big breakfast diet is BIGGGGGGGGG! it provides about one half of a  day’s calories. Foods are high in carbohydrates, fiber, and protein. The key is eating much whole-grain, complex carbohydrates and lean proteins, (e.g., fat-free milk, yogurt, and eggs). The idea is that one will be sated until lunch without desire for sugared snacks and between-meal carbs. Lunch and supper will be low-fat, high-protein and next-to-nothing carbohydrates. Mounds of fruits and vegetables at all meals are OK.

CONCLUSION

My personal comments

I got Dr. Jakubowicz’s diet message….but…

According to her, as long as you eat whatever you want before 9:00 a.m., you don’t have to feel guilty about overeating.  This is a 28-day plan.  With plain language – straight speak,  I don’t support anyone, probably women feeling guilty about diet. I also say: “I have doubts about the basic proposition: Eat whatever you want in the morning. To me, this just doesn’t feel right. In contrast, I believe that one should still eat selectively – the right foods at any time of  the day.  But I do think that Dr. Daniela Jakubowicz has a point…eating a good breakfast -read the proper foods in a proper quantity will lead to reasonable food intake the rest of the day. It will also provide the necessary fuel for people at all ages to achieve much.

 

The point

I am of the opinion that breakfast is the most important meal to properly start one’s day.  Along with a few cups of coffee, it gives you a boost.

My personal poll has established that the favorite big breakfast in the western world is a meal comprising: eggs, bacon , sausage or ham with potatoes, fruit, toast and coffee. In my view, for the working woman, this is difficult to prepare in the morning.

If you have a busy schedule, as I do, breakfast cereal is a good option; and it is much quicker. ( The word cereal originates from Ceres the name of the Roman goddess of harvest and agriculture.) Unfortunately, many cereals are loaded with sugar, but there are some, which are much lower in such.  The key is to select amongst these brands, one. which is high-fiber and fortified with vitamins.

In closing, I also urge a substantial breakfast in the A.M, but such, taking into account food groups, proper nutrition and good calories. This will provide the base, along with a fair portion/low-calorie lunch and supper, to keep food in the right context.  I also believe that cardio work -outs and weight -training compliment a proper life style choice.

Take it out for a spin and tell me if you agree.

And that’s my thought of the week on books, what’s yours? *

ALP

 

CREDITS

-Web Tech:  richmediasound.com

The above is a new media production of Valente under its “United Author*” program.

*TM/© 2010 Practitioners’ Press Inc. – All Rights Reserved.

Vol. 1, No. 9, August 9th, 2010

TITLE: I HAVE A SECRET: My VERY best cookbook*

MY LIFE & TIMES*

I am a family woman – I have two adult daughers and while they were growing up, supper- time was the most important meal. The rule was that we all ate together as a family. But, it was hectic since I had a full-time job out-of-the-home and I also ran an efficient household. Returning back from work, everyone was tired and hungry. I prepared the food. It was very important for me to get the food on the table ASAP. To do this, firstly, I did the groceries on the weekend and I planned ahead. Second, I had a trusted cookbook. It was and still is a necessity. I will let you in on a secret. My VERY best cookbook is  “Encyclopedia of Creative Cooking– Edited by Charlotte Turgeon, Editor of Larousse Gastronomique and The Creative Cooking Course.”

THE AUTHOR

Charlotte Snyder, American born and a graduate from Smith College, (indeed a classmate of Julia Child), married Amherst College language professor Frederick King Turgeon, Mrs. Turgeon, while residing in France for a time, enrolled in the Cordon Bleu Academy in Paris, graduating in 1937. She was a prolific writer, credited with 53 books, etc. Anne Willan, founder of the Parisian cooking school, La Varenne, described Mrs. Turgeon as “a pioneer forerunner for women in the culinary arts in this country.’’ Mrs. Turgeon was regarded as the person who introduced Americans to French cooking, In 1961, this American chef and author translated and edited Prosper Montagne’s encyclopedia of food, wine, and cookery, “Larousse Gastronomique.’’ It was a huge accomplishment – it took four years, and was complicated by the need to change the European metric measurements into American measures.

SERIES/COLLECTION

Éditions Larousse, the prestigious French dictionnary people are book publishers. Its best known work was “Petit Larousse”. It is also addresses the subject of food ‘big time’.

Larousse Gastronomique is a prime example. The first edition (1938) was edited by Prosper Montagne. The preface was by George Auguste Escoffer, who codified French cookery of the 20th century. Such cookery was elevated to “Haute Cuisine”

But there is more… much more.  Other books on cooking from Larousse include as for example 1. “Larousse des cuisines du monde”; 2. “Larousse des desserts”; and 3. “Petit Larousse Patissier”. etc.

THE BOOK

“Encyclopedia of Creative Cooking”,  Edited by Charlotte Turgeon, Editor of Larousse Gastronomique and The Creative Cooking Course” is an UNIQUE cookbook. To the question “Why?”, I say that it:

• Is written in an easy –to-understand style.
• Is a complete guide to creative cooking. The title says it perfectly. If you want to be creative, here, in one over-size volume are 2000 recipes for: (a) Appetizers; (b) Meat dishes; (c) Desserts; (d) Crepes; (e) Vegetable dishes; (f) Pastry; (g) Breads; and (h) Cakes; etc. The mouth-watering recipes cater to a wide variety of tastes and will definitely impress your dinner guests.
• Enumerates the ingredients. What is so helpful for me, is that these are products, which can be easily found in most local grocery stores.
• Has detailed instructions, which make it easy to prepare the dish.
• Has much advice on cake decorating, souffle making and cooking techniques galore. Indeed, you feel as though you have a cooking teacher instructing you. The beauty of having this valuable book in the kitchen is that it’s readily available for reference.
• Includes as an added bonus,  800 FULL COLOUR photos. They will give you a vivid picture of what your finished dish will look like.
• Encourages you to experiment and be creative. Indeed, these recipes stimulate your imagination and before you know it, you have created a delightful recipe of a dish of your own

.(N.B. Dishes other than French cookery were added to make this a volume covering many other national-ethnic dishes.)

CONCLUSION

The point

I have several good cookbooks, but this is the one, which I use the most. It is wonderful. It is a cook’s dream book. These recipes will fill your house with delightful aromas. It is an excellent reference source. Through the years, I have referred to this all-in-one encyclopedic cookbook for different recipes to prepare everyday meals as well as big holiday dinners, dinner parties and also simple little get-togethers. It is my trusted kitchen ally. It never lets me down. Without fail, when I use this book, my guests compliment me on my exquisite dishes. It will be an asset in any kitchen and in my opinion, the only cook book that one really needs. I recommend it!

Take it out for a spin and tell me if you agree.

And that’s my thought of the week on books, what’s yours? *

ALP

CREDITS

-Web Tech:  richmediasound.com

The above is a new media production of Valente under its “United Author*” program.

*TM/© 2010 Practitioners’ Press Inc. – All Rights Reserved.