Semi-Homemade Cooking 2

Love this one so much have had to purchase my second copy-wore the first one out. That is when I saw how many Sandra Lee has published. I try to catch her two shows daily and this week several holiday specials. Tons of new ideas.

I am a man with a family. I own Semi-Homemade 1 and 2 as well as grilling and slow cooking. Until then I've had some luck with cooking as long as I follow instructions to the letter. Most cookbooks seem geared to spending a half day in the kitchen which after 15 minutes is gone. Sandra's books have given me the confidence to cook. They don't take much time, they are always good, and with her books I cook meals as fine as the finest restaurant in our town. My family is impressed. Her books with their pictures are almost like a menu in which I can see what I want and then set out to make it and most importantly, know that it will be good when I'm finished. There are some minor flaws and if I can work around them, anyone can. Some of her ingredients are hard to find (pre made crepes for example. Some are just not available in our area but what difference can there be between a can of soup with roasted garlic and a can of mushroom soup with a couple of cloves of garlic added? Her books are fast becoming my bible. Thank you Sandra for giving me the feeling that I am a gourmet cook and the confidence to be one. People, especially women, seem to think that a man in his 60's couldn't possibly cook but the women who eat at my house are treating me with new respect. One more thing, we're eating at home more because I can now make everything that a restaurant does but mine is better.

I have read and reviewed countless recipe books but for me this is top-notch. I believe one of the reasons I like it so much is that it is not complicated, but simple. I don't necessarily mean the recipes, but the format. In the beginning we have the chapters clearly outlined from Italian to Special Occasions. As we turn the pages we see some tips for a helpful, healthful pantry and then we go into our recipes. Each page contains the recipe, directions and a photo of the dish. It is clear and easy to understand,neat and crisp. I like that. If I'm going to use a recipe I like to be able to see it quickly and do what I need to do. This book does that for me. The meals look mouth-watering and delicious, photos give you a great visual; all in all one great cookbook and I recommend it.

I've used this book soooooo many times, out of four cooking books I have - this is my number one. I only wish that the book would suggest what else to serve with the receip at hand. Like the beer grilled salmon - what am I to serve with it?

Semi-Homemade Cooking 2 is only cookbook I can honestly say my husband and I both enjoy using. Not everybody has time or energy to make the various pieces and parts of a main course from scratch and Sandra Lee's book does a great job of showing you what you can do with ready made ingredients and a little creativity. There are no extra frou-frou steps (like adding vegetables, etc. to make it look like there's more food on the plate) and the recipes are straight forward-- if you want a flavorful beef, chicken or pork main dish there are plenty of unique ideas for rubs and marinades. This is a cookbook for people who want flavorful food and can make their own side dishes instead of having a one-stop plate full of everything mixed together. If you're looking to enhance your gourmet cooking repertoire then you'll be disappointed, but for the rest of us who just want something that tastes good, these recipes are a great place to start.