New cookbook, score!

I have tons of culinary tomes which, of course, includes all of my cookbook from my very favorite TV cook Alton Brown! In fact, my cookbook collection could be an analogy for the SAT.

Lisa: cookbooks :: Imelda Marcos: shoes

Earlier this week I was offered a great opportunity to add to the ever growing collection. Amid a horrible day at work that included spending 2 1/2 in the dark thanks to a power outage, I opened the my email to find an invitation for an advanced review copy of a new cookbook.

One of the wonderful readers of this blog is Esther a book publicist at Atria Books, a division of Simon & Schuster. She extended another offer. I was so floored by the the first offer back in March to preview "Under the Table." But I was probably even more taken off guard this time for a second review book. Thank you so much Esther for reading and thinking enough of this blog to make the offers. I am truly thankful. In fact, her email made my day and made me smile. Thank you.

Anyway, Friday the newest addition to the collection arrived: America's Most Wanted Recipes by Ron Douglas. It is a copycat of famous restaurant dishes cookbook.


I do really enjoy copycats recipes. And make a few copycat dishes myself. In my post on the pork BBQ, I mentioned how much I love the KFC cole slaw copycat from Todd Wilbur. I have also found a great copycat recipe for the cheddar baked potato soup from Bob Evans.

Paging through the book, I saw several to place on the "try this" list. In the make immediately column: sweet onion sauce from Subway. I have that put on almost every sub I get from there. And Subway is usually a once a week lunch stop, so being able to make the sauce myself will be awesome! Another is Luby's Cafeteria's spaghetti salad. I've never had it from this particular restaurant, but I love it in general and never make my own. Good excuse to make some now!

I saw many dishes I'd like to try, but I've never had the original version because the restaurant is not in my area or I haven't been to it. I just don't eat out much but making new dishes at home... I'm all for that. In fact, the copycat version of the Bob Evans cheddar baked potato soup I make tastes better than the real deal. What I like is being able to make it with my touches.

I'm telling my best friend L there are recipes for Boston Market mac and cheese and Red Lobster chicken tenders. And I'll admit to liking Boston Market mac and cheese even though I'm not a big mac and cheese fan, but that will be one to try.

As for the book itself, the recipes are arranged alphabetical by restaurant so that makes it easy to locate a favorite. It is also arranged by category in the back and has a standard index. There are little factoids about restaurants, like when the first Hooters opened. You know I needed that information. ;)

For the newbie cook there are helpful cooking tips, information about unusual items, cooking terms and tips on buying ingredients.

There are also suggestions on how to make some dishes with alternatives such as other meat options and substitutes like egg whites for whole eggs.

Looks like a nice little cookbook for copycat recipe lovers. Or cookbook hoarders like me ;)

I'll report back on the sweet onion sauce, ASAP.

And thanks again, to Esther for making the offer.