Review: Pretty Darn Awesome
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 02 2, 2012
I was absolutely charmed by the introduction and their philosophy about cream and butter makes sense to me.  (Meaning it's a philosophy that allows me to eat butter and cream occasionally.  Yum.)The recipes are clear, the photos are lovely and realistic, and the book is formatted well with bold text and hyperlinks to make things clearer and easier to navigate.  The tips are helpful, as well.  Many of the recipes are indeed better suited for "special" meals where one can take some more time, but some could fit easily into my regular cooking rotation.  Technically speaking, as an experienced home-level cook (not "accomplished"), I wouldn't hesitate to try these.  Had I read these when I was more inexperienced, I think I would have been comfortable trying them.The food itself sounds delicious and most recipes have a variation or two on ones I've seen before.  I hadn't seen that particular version of cacciatore, and I'm definitely trying it soon.The title says "Special Dinners for Two," but some recipes indicate they make more than 2 servings (although information and suggestions on leftovers are provided).  I also almost skipped this book because I am usually cooking for more than two.  Maybe this release is for the upcoming Valentine's Day holiday, but I think a less specific title would be more appropriate.  I'd hate for this book to be missed because someone isn't interested in "dinners for two."I think it's a good resource for planning a special meal, and it's definitely something I would use for that purpose, right down to the menus.  I also think I am going to pull a few recipes out and put them into general use soon - those butter twists sound really tasty, and I need a side dish idea for tonight!