OMG - this book is hilarious - and the recipes are real.
930666
I found myself laughing all the way through this book. Bryan Ballinger has researched hostess recipes from the past, complete with the Donna Reed'esque models to show us mortals how real cooking was once done. The photographs alone give me new appreciation for the cooking channel recipes.  I mean - only a paranormal creature could salivate over something like caramel slumps and live to tell the tale.

Just goes to show you that fact is stranger than fiction. This cookbook is truly "Kooky" and a fun addition to any cookbook repertoire.
4068913
This book is big. And heavy. And it makes me want to spend forever making yummy things.

Its sorted into two main categories: Everyday, and Food for Friends. Within those categories are ten sub-categories (each, for a total of 20) such as No Cook, Get the Most from your Roast, Batch and Freeze, Big-Pot gatherings, No-cook desserts, Menu Planners, No-fuss Finger Foods, etc. Each recipe will tell the prep time, the cook time, tell you if its good frozen, or if its a healthy option. The front is loaded down with pictures and then sends you to the page with the recipe you want. The meals are also sorted by meat or protein type. And my favorite part?

Each recipe has a photo.

There are 700 recipes in this book. And each recipe has a photo. Next to it. You don't even have to search for it.

This book makes me so happy. Check out the DK website for preview pages! (http://www.dk.com/us/9780756662196-illustrated-quick-cook/)

This would be such a great gift to a young professional or soon-to-graduate college student. Or a mom who doesnt want fifty cookbooks, just one. Or a guy who is afraid of cookbooks. Or people like me who don't cook anything if there isn't a photo of it. Its everything you need for every kind of cook. The new edition of this book is available at the publishers website.
3523745
I enjoyed reading this cookbook more than any other cook-book I own. I laughed out loud on just about every story. Ruby Ann is a gifted story teller for sure. I own every  one of Ruby Ann Boxcar's books and this one is my favorite. I haven't tried any of the recipes yet in any of her books and not sure that I will, I just love reading the stories in them. Once you realize that Ruby Ann Boxcar is actually a man in drag, then read between the lines of some of the things she/he is saying you will find her books really humorous!
2172925
Hilarious with actual recipes to follow! The humor doesn't stop with the title, it continue on through out the book and into the actual recipe itself.
277896
Hysterical description of her relationship with her slow cooker ... I almost feel the same way as I count on it for my chili. When I went to college, I, too, was given a crock pot, but I had no idea how to use it. I tried making gumbo in it once and learned that one should not add okra to rice while it cooks because it turns into a mucous-like substance. How I wish back then that I had this cook book. However, that was in the days before email, much less eBooks. She has great tips on general use of the slow cooker to get the most out of your recipes, one of these being that I had never before heard of a crock pot liner. My wife is the queen of creative spice-combining, creating beautiful dishes that make it difficult to keep trim. However, Price's recipes are complete and wonderfully spiced. Each recipe is full of awesome flavors and will satisfy even the most critical palate. This is the first recipe book I've found that has funny recipes, such as the recipe on pork butt in which she writes, "My butt is generally fatty so I don't require the help of additional liquids ..." Ha ha! The recipes are as good as they are funny, so enjoy having your recipes at your fingertips on your ereader. Personally, I'm on my way to the kitchen to make Gooey Chocolate Cake in my slow cooker. It's my turn to surprise my wife instead of the other way around. Oh, boy! Two thumbs up and a couple inches out at the waist! ;-)
2466190
I'm probably a bit biased because I think Chrissy Teigen is a hilarious wonderful person, but I really do enjoy this cookbook. While I haven't cooked all the recipes yet (since some are definitely on the indulgent, "you need supermodel genes to be able to eat this and not become a circle with eyebrows" side) the ones I've made have been excellent. The ones in the Thai Mom section are especially great. I've made the jok moo and grilled shrimp for friends and they've always been a hit.
1240107
Superb! Part cookbook and part memoir, I read it straight through and laughed out loud! The author embarked on an experiment that I myself have considered but don't quite have the gumption for: to see whether homemade is really better. Her adventures with the chickens and goats are hilarious! The recipes are great as well. If you love cooking, or have wondered whether homemade is worth it, this is the book for you.
1056916
I love this cookbook! I was never really into cooking until I got hooked on Sam The Cooking Guy's show on Discovery Channel. He makes cooking unique recipes look so easy. Each week I cannot wait to see his show so I can practice making a new recipe. I heard this book was coming out and I could not wait to get it! I knew I would not be disappointed.  It is a complete mirror of his show. It has Sam's warm, open and friendly personality with that hilarious Seinfeld like humor throughout the book. But the recipes are the best part! From brunch to appetizers, the main course and desserts. Wow! There are tons and tons of recipes that are so clearly written and really easy to make, yet you will blow every one away with the presentation and the amazing taste. This is a book you will be able to refer to for years to come. Thanks, Sam!
2988191
I cannot put this book down- it seriously has become my Bible! It is so more than just a cookbook, she is a phenomenal writer and really knows how to make real food taste AMAZING. It's not biased in any way which is what I love so much about it- she doesn't push vegan, vegetarian etc on anyone, she simply offers substitutions on certain recipes to make it work for everyone. I am currently eating my way through the entire book and am loving it- I have not come across a recipe I'm not obsessed with yet! I love that it also includes a 2 week, whole food cleanse that's not boring or depriving in any way. If you own any cookbook in your life, make it THIS one, it's seriously that good!!
148046
The author is very funny. I only wish his chapters were longer and the recipes shorter because I enjoy his writing so much.
85503
This book is absolutely hilarious! I got it for the chef in my family and he is thrilled with it. He not only loves the humor but really enjoys the recipes as well!
2149548
I don't watch cooking shows on TV nor do I read gourmet cooking magazines or anything like that ~~ the names of the chefs in here don't mean anything to me. It's not personal. I just don't have the time nor the interest to read about them nor do I travel to eat at fine restaurants ... But this book is hilarious. It is one of the few books where I am lost in the giggles over the mishaps in the kitchens. And I love it.

I do cook and am a fairly good cook ~~ though not as good as these professionals are. I have messed up dishes often and have my embarrassing moments ~~ but not on the grand scale as these chefs. And I love the stories ~~ the wedding cake mishaps are my favorite ~~ especially Michel Richard's "Alibi" ~~ that one literally brought tears to my eyes. I can just see it all. Another favorite is "Our Big Brake" by Mary Sue Milliken and Susan Feniger. One that brought sighs to my heart is Paul Kahan's "(Not) Ready for My Close-up." Another one is Tamara Murphy's "For The Birds" ~~ I just lost myself in the giggles over a plate of grilled cheese sandwiches (Ah. A dream to come true would be having a chef cooking for me!).

To be honest, I don't think there's a story in there that I didn't like. They all are funny and very human ~~ it brings a touch of humanness to the world's greatest cooks. And since I like to cook, I can definitely relate to their stories. And I love all of their stories. I cannot remember the last time I had so much fun reading a book!!

However, don't read this while you're hungry ~~ some of their descriptions of food will make you hungry and if you're like me, that doesn't have a modern up to date kitchen or pantry ~~ you'll find yourself raiding something wishing that you can finally taste what they are famous for making. A Ding Dong just won't do it. But maybe it will spur you to become a better chef in your own kitchen ~~ knowing that the greats are just as human as we all are.

10-18-07
145514
I've seen this book recommended by Amazon on my home page for months, but after checking the description, ignored it. Apparently, my taste in food is behind the times, because I already know the recipes for deviled eggs, pineapple upside down cake, lettuce wedges, Swedish meatballs and many of the other recipes in the book, so  I figured I didn't need this book. But fortunately I received it as a gift, and every time I read a bit of it, it brings a smile to my face - it is absolutely fantastic! Most recipes are accompanied by a story, either discussing how it came up in the series or the historical roots of the recipe. Sometimes the book uses dialog from the series which makes me chuckle - for instance, ultra-snooty Pete Campbell extolling the virtues of onion soup and sour cream dip. I was amazed at the depth of the research the authors did, and the fascinating backgrounds of the recipes. If you are a fan of Mad Men or enjoy historical period recipes, you will absolutely love this book. I do.
286184
The recipes are great and the narrative is so hilarious. This quickly became a fav
1107592
I've said before, I love reading books about food. Reading a novel that has the recipes it mentions is even better. As soon as I'm done with the book, I want to start making the food. What's even better is when the recipes are super easy for non cooks like me.

Dying to Decorate has all this and more. I really want to be able to find friends like the ladies in the Friday Afternoon Club when I reach that age. The friends meet every Friday (hence the name) for a time of fellowship, fun and food. Each woman has a very different personality that meshes well and doesn't clash with other. One of the members inherits a Civil War era house from her great aunt and the FAC goes to help her renovate it. During their stay, they discover the history of the house and how it will eventually change their own outlook of life. I enjoyed the book tremendously. My favorite scene was when John and Liz go out to dinner and stop by a coffeehouse. They order their coffee and John thinks he is splurging by ordering a grande. His reaction to the actual size of his cup as compared to Liz's venti is hilarious. I've been in Starbucks lots of times to hear people get confused and complain about the sizes. Sooooo relatable.

I'd recommend this book for fans of The Potluck Club or The Yada Yada Prayer Group. I really related to this book even though I'm the same age of the characters' kids! This book has it all: food, mystery, fun and even a history lesson! I am definitely looking forward to the next FAC adventure. I'm thinking about making that coconut cream pie or the baked potato soup...although i think i might pass on the pioneer mush :)
4061846
My mother gave me her ancient slow cooker a couple of months ago, confident that I would use it much more that she ever could (she knows that I'm a devoted happy housewife who loves to cook). I was very hesistant to have one of these big ceramic monsters taking up space in my tiny condo, the only thing I could think of cooking in this would be some weiners and maybe a stew or two...NOT WITH THIS BOOK IN HAND.  Dammit, I use my slow cooker so much that it actually sits on my COUNTER.

At least 80% of the recipes have come from this book, the rest are from Fix-It n Forget-It and some recipes that my mother passed on to me. The recipes in THIS book, though, are super easy but the result is very good. Most of the ingredients are things you have in your house if you're a home cook. You can control some of the ingredients to your tasting and nutritional preference (just be mindful of the liquids!). The author gives some tips on using a slow cooker, then follows into some meal suggestions for entertaining before entering into her world of slow-cooked deliciousness. My only tiny, tiny complaint is that I wish it would list nutritional information, but most of the recipes use such fresh ingredients that I can't think to take a star out for that. I'll list some of my favorite recipes:

Chicken Stew with Rosemary Dumplings - This was the first one I made from the book, and it stays a favorite because even though I messed it up on my end (the dumplings broke apart because of a mismeasurement) it was a huge hit. I made them again fully following the directions and it was perfect. It also reheats really well.

Chicken Cacciatore - great dish with pasta, the recipe asks for chicken thighs but I used boneless chicken breast and it came out delicious.

Turkey Mushroom Loaf - This one is probably my absolute favorite to make. It's really easy, and it comes out looking gorgeous and tasting like something from a restaurant. With some mashed potatoes, you can't go wrong. The second time around I replaced some of the ground turkey with some veal and pork just to vary it, worked out.

Chicken and Black Bean Chili in Tortilla Bowls - Fabulous dish for a small casual dinner party. Doesn't it even just SOUND freaking delicious...tortilla bowls for pete's sake!

Burgundy Beef and Wild Mushroom Stew - the 'dark horse' stew of my house, I love how simple and rich the flavors result. Another great reheater.

I can't list all the ones I've made or even want to make in the future. This book is a must have and is used VERY often in my house. VERY OFTEN.
3378243
Hysterical.  I can almost hear her saying this stuff.  I love the notes between the editor and his boss.  Not sure about trying the recipes, my husband is old.  LOL