Southern Living Farmers Market Cookbook: A Fresh Look at Local Flavor

I received this book as a gift and I'm very pleased. Few cookbooks inspire me to want to make most, if not all, of the recipes like this one does. It is appropriately divided by season and the recipes call for simple ingredients most cooks should already have on hand. My only complaint (and the reason it is 4-stars and not 5) is that the recipes call for processed ingredients (such as store-bought pie crusts, salad dressings, breads and jams). I prefer cooking from scratch, and while I can easily substitute homemade versions where commercial ingredients are called for, I think that offering basic recipes as an alternative to processed ingredients would better fit the healthy and organic theme of the book. Only a couple basic recipes are offered, and are somewhat obscurely placed in the book so they are easily overlooked. Well done though!

My friend LOVES Farmers Markets, and goes every weekend. This book is perfect for anyone who enjoys the "seasonal" approach to ingredients and produce that this book offers! It highlights which items are at their peak during different seasons, and provides multiple recipes (each with it's own enticing picture), that highlight the best attributes of the produce while it's at its peak. Also, there are tips and tricks sprinkled throughout on anything from how to pick the perfect artichoke, to the best way to store peaches. She loved the book, and promised to make a few of the recipes for me the next time I visit.

Just received my SL Farmers Market Cookbook and absolutely love it. Having the book sectioned by the various seasons is very helpful with meal planning. Recipes are very fresh and simple with no exotic ingredients. SL has done it again with a fabulous publication!

I have a large collection of cook books...many are from Southern Living. This book is a fresh approach to seasonal Farmer's Market shopping and cooking. I am giving several to ladies in my family because it has many different ideas for fresh spring/summer/fall produce..Peach Pecan Ice Cream, chilled fruit soups, thirst quenching fruit teas and coolers, jams to make in minutes and then into the freezer, and a fresh produce and herb primer instructing how to select, store, prepare and cook all sorts of garden delights....need I say more? Lots of great information for inexperienced cooks to make a meal to be proud of, and nifty new ideas for seasoned pros to get a new enthusiasm about eating healthy and DELICIOUS foods!

So far between my mom and I we have tried 8 recipes and they have all been excellent. We have tried both the double berry freezer jam and the granny smith freezer jam, the sweet onion pudding, the tomato-zucchini tart, the chicken enchiladas, the lime-raspberry bites, the salted caramel strawberries, and the ham and tomato pie. There is a picture for almost every recipe. Hope Southern Living comes out with more cookbooks like this with great pictures and great recipes.