To Serve with Love

This is a great cookbook. There are alot of beautiful pictures and each dish has a cute name. I actually had a chance to meet Carnie and taste one of her yummy dishes. This book is a wonderful representation of the sweet and sincere person she is in life.

I remembered Carnie Wilson from the heyday of the Wilson sisters' group (Wilson Phillips?) - in the music videos, she was the one who was startingly heavy compared to her cohorts. I felt a bit sorry for her; WP was a fine little group, but they had the commercial life span of a may fly, and I couldn't help but wonder how the typical "post success doldrums" of the typical pop star would affect a young lady who already obviously had health and emotional issues with food. Well, here's the answer: she got her act together, changed her life for the better, and seems to have carved out a niche as a writer and spokesperson for life after gastric bypass surgery. And an excellent job she does of it too. This isn't really a diet book, and only it's only partially a book about how a person who has had the surgery continues to deal with diet and food issues (Wilson has dealt with that at length in two other memoirs). This is a book about the love of food, and cooking, and how they contribute to the quality of life. As such, I love it. Wilson's prose and recipe texts may gush a little too much (she makes Rachel Ray sound like a Hindu penitent by comparison), but it's a real pleasure going through these pages. This is a good looking book too. Simple, uncluttered layout and design, great food photography...it just feels "generous" somehow, and I was amazed at the low cover price - even with the limited number of recipes here, I expected "To Serve With Love" to cost at least another $5.00 to $10.00. All of the recipes here are worth making, but I have to point to one special recipe, an appetizer titled "Robin's Hot Meat" (no dirty jokes please), which is worth the price of the book practically by itself. It's simple but brilliant, and a lot of people are convinced I'm a brilliant cook (and trust me, I'm not) just because I've brought it to a pot luck or a birthday party, where it tends to evaporate in about 5 minutes. A very nice book to have in your collection.

This is a great cookbook! Interesting recipes (Viva Las Veggies, Dreamy Creamy Baked-Tomato Crostini) yet basic ones too (mac & cheese, split-pea soup). Yummy too! I'm looking forward to making the banana wonder bread w/banana frosting. Many recipes come with a story from Carnie. Lots of pictures of the food. Nice glossy paper. Great price for such a nice book. I will note, this is NOT a low-calorie, low-carb, low-fat book. I didn't buy it for those reasons. I love good tasting food, I don't have a weight problem, I just don't overeat. So don't knock Carnie for not writing a "diet cookbook".

I wasn't sure what kind of book this would be. So,first of all, this is NOT a diet cookbook, far from it! Although she included many "Skinny" low fat or low carb versions of her recipes in this book (they look really good), I'm not going to be making the "skinny" versions, HAHA! I saw Diane Sawyer swooning over the "Fall To Your Knees Mac & Cheese" that Carnie prepared on Good Morning America, actually, the whole crew was going nuts, so, how bad could this be?" I ordered it and it's TERRIFIC! FIVE STARS, I couldn't be more pleaasantly surprised, I have "folded the page" to mark MOST of the recipes, my poor book is mutilated. I have already tried seven recipes (mind you, I've only had the book a few days)and 100% of those are going into my file for holiday entertaining. The seven recipes I've made so far are: "Butternut Bruschetta" (OHMYGOD with toasted walnuts, port, cream cheese, sage, beautiful for Thanksgiving...), "Fall to your Knees Mac & Cheese" (it is so over the top, it's like a last meal for mac & cheese addicts),"Fresh Pear Cheesecake" (easy and impressive, looks like it's from a pastry shop) "Mini Corn Souffles" (EASY made in 4 oz muffin pan and served warm with a dollop of sour cream, salsa or guac as hor's d'oeuvres,) "Hungarian Pork Chops" (Rich and complex, good for cold weather), Wasabi Deviled Eggs (3 ingredients + garnish and looks and tastes amazing) and a fresh vegetable chopped salad with southwestern flavors called "Viva Las Veggies" that I just made and can't stop eating. ALL of these recipes are colorful, pretty and appropriate to serve to guests. There are a few fun and kitsch-y 1950's style "Back Of The Box" recipes that I would categorize as secret pleasures, but many more are sophisticated appetizers; tapas, bruschetta, desserts, brunch dishes, entrees, etc. that are quick prep and IMPRESSIVE presentations..it is VERY broad ranging and a beautiful book plus it's FUNNY to read, Carnie is quite a character! This book is downright handy for the working "foodie" who wants to serve something special but is on a tight schedule. The recipes are ALL do-able, nothing crazy, nothing boring, no impossible recipes either. Much of it is "comfort food", but comfort food from a hipper, more sophisticated place, with more trendy influences than you would find in a typical down home style cookbook. It's as if Paula Deen married Mario Batali and moved to Malibu. The large chapters of Appetizers and Desserts are what I need for the holidays as it is my year to have the family dinners. I'll definitely be giving these books as gifts this year, especially in my office. What else costs $13.57, looks like it cost $50.00 (this book is huge, 12" X 10" with a separate glossy bookcover, gorgeous, full-page, color photo on every other page, not typical for a book at this price point, it's SO well done, I hope this was a BIG printing because I'm ordering more). I'm really enthusiastic about this book both as a cooking resource and as a Xmas

Excellent for someone having a dinner party or holiday dinners/brunches. I am really pleased with this book, many varied recipes with lots of useful dishes categorized by course; appetizer, breakfast, dessert, etc.. Internationally influenced comfort food with companion "skinny" recipes for the very rich ones (and there are lots of those). Very attractive presentations in a beautiful book that belies its tiny pricetag. Full of color photos, fun to read and well organized. Nice Christmas present.