Home Page

Autobiography / Biography   Travel / Places   Cooking / Food   Fashion / Health / Beauty   Other / General / Self-Help   Crafts / Home Improvement   Humor

The Spaghetti Sauce Gourmet
by David Joachim
Fair Winds Press
ISBN 1-59233-221-8
Published November 2006 - Hardcover - 260 pages - $19.95

When I saw (and touched) this book at my library, I just knew I had to review it.  The cover resembles (in more ways than one) a jar of spaghetti sauce.  I for one, know how important it is to have at least a variety of good spaghetti sauces in the cupboard - they truly are lifesavers.  You'll rarely be in a bind for a meal with spaghetti sauce on hand.  Author David Joachim gives us some important information about spaghetti sauces and does a cost/quality comparison between many well-known brands.  However, homemade tastes so much better, and you know what you're eating.  Contents include: Beef - Main Dishes; Pork - Main Dishes; Lamb - Main Dishes; Chicken and Turkey - Main Dishes; Fish and Shellfish - Main Dishes; Pasta Dishes; Pizza, Tacos, and Sandwiches; Soups and Stews, and Sides, Salads, and Litte Dishes.  Some basic recipes to try are: Quick Tomato Marinara Sauce, Basil Pesto Sauce, Alfredo Sauce, Top-Secret Meatloaf, Bow Ties with Chicken and Mushrooms, Tuna Noodle Casserole, and Southwestern Corn Pudding.  Some more adventurous recipes to try are: Braised Chipotle Chuck Roast, Hungarian Pork Cutlets in Creamy Paprika Sauce, Pork Chops in Fennel Sauce, Turkey Tetrazzini, Linguine with Walnut and Blue Cheese, and Mediterranean Chicken in Puff Pastry Shells.  A great tip: Check the first ingredient on the bottle label - go for "diced tomatoes" rather than tomato puree, as they often use dried (puree) ingredients instead of fresh ones.  Read Joachim's Introduction as it's infinitely interesting and we need to get educated about what we consume.
Illustrated.  No nutritional guides.
Conclusion - I loved this book - great paper, great pictures, and totally practical recipes.