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3 of 3 found the following review helpful:
Discover Iowa Could Not Be More Perfect May 10, 2009
By Becky Coffield
"R.L. Coffield"
Amelia Painter's Discover Iowa, Cooking with Iowa Wines, Meats and other Iowa Products, could not be more perfect.
Painter has done a superb job with this project, making it truly a must have for Iowans and anybody traveling through Iowa.
This work goes far beyond the typical recipe book, and the recipes are terrific, I might add. What sets these Iowan menus apart, is that the recipes were largely contributed by Bed and Breakfast establishments which Painter also covers in this splendidly organized, useful book.
There's so much going on in this volume it's difficult to know where to start! I suppose the beginning is a good place. Here Painter lists the participating Bed and Breakfasts and Inns by city and also by name which is a great help for travelers. There's also a topical table of contents.
Now the fun begins! The pages that follow contain a photo of every participating B&B, along with all the necessary contact information including address, email, website, phone and owner names, plus a paragraph or two about the B&B and the area. This alone is a tremendous help for any traveler or tourist. Unbelievably delicious recipes contributed by the establishments are also included. If this were all, this alone would be outstanding, but Painter includes even more in this incredible Guide/Cookbook.
Recipes from Iowa Department of Agriculture and the Iowa Egg Council are included, along with cooking tips for fruit pies, cinnamon use in cooking and information about Iowa wines and cooking with wines.
In addition to the above, Painter includes tremendously interesting information about Iowa products as well as cooking tips and nutritional tidbits. I honestly don't know what the author could possibly have overlooked. This book is incredibly well organized, interesting and concise.
The index of the book is unusually helpful in its organization, and includes Iowa wineries by city, all the recipes categorized and then listed, and a complete listing of the Iowa Bed and Breakfast Innkeepers Association Membership along with their respective phone numbers.
This book is just a wonderful surprise. The selected recipes are wholesome and delicious, exactly what one might think Iowan cooking would be. Some of the recipes make rather large portions since they are served in B&Bs, but they are easy to cut down for smaller portions. One recipe I'm very fond of that I haven't been able to find is Fruit Pizza, and there it was in Painter's book, better than the original I'd been served.
I've never been to Iowa, and I have to admit it would have been one of the last places I'd have ever thought about visiting, but I'd be more than willing to go now that I've had the opportunity to read Painter's book and have seen the available, beautiful Bed and Breakfast establishments. The appetizing food and the Inns and their settings are too enticing to turn down.
1 of 1 found the following review helpful:
Great Recipes, Helpful Lodging Info, and much more! Jun 11, 2009
By Angela L. Roberts
As a lampwork bead artist (www.bimsbangles.com) I often travel from my home state of Florida to other states for advanced training, jewelry conferences, and fine art shows. I just returned home from a week stay in Spencer, Iowa. I was there for a one week Lampworking Master Course and came home with an added bonus, a copy of the "Discover Iowa" cookbook.
I really like this cookbook! The recipes are quick and easy, plus some are extremely unique. There is one called "Pumpkin Stew" and I can't wait to prepare it -- this one is going to be a dish the family talks about for some time.
The cookbook also contains photos and descriptions of the B&Bs that the author obtained the recipes from -- very interesting. And, I am especially glad the author added a listing of all the Iowa B&Bs and the Iowa Wineries -- these listings are going to come in handy when I return to Iowa in the fall.
If you enjoy good food and cooking, you too will enjoy this cookbook from Iowa telling you just how to cook the recipes Iowans serve.
1 of 1 found the following review helpful:
TO DISCOVER: Discover Iowa: Cooking with Iowa Wines, Meats and other Iowa Products Apr 28, 2009
By Stacy Lytwyn Maxwell
"OhStacy!"
As the author of "Consummate Connecticut: Day Trips with Panache," a Connecticut guidebook, one of my pastimes is reading--you guessed it, guidebooks. So, although I have not made the trip to Iowa, I enthusiastically dove into "Discover Iowa: Cooking with Wines, Meats and Other Iowa Products." When I reached page 12, I had the sudden impulse to make Blueberry Cream Cheese French Toast, one of the many recipes presented from local B & B owners. The Blueberry Cream Cheese recipe is from the Camp Bean Bed and Breakfast's (Albert City) collection (yes, that's the B & B's name). It seemed simple to make and had a super easy ingredient list to work with...I mean, our household always seems to have "day-old" bread around. The result? Fabulous; much like Amelia Painter's fine collection of Iowa B & B jaunts and her other amassed regional flavors.
Who better to write this kind of book other than a true B & B owner? She and her husband operate The Prairie Cottage in Fostoria. Not only does "Discover Iowa" take you on an armchair journey to some of the most enchanting accommodations on the map, it does an excellent job of providing a mouth-watering sample of recipes. One thing is certain, you will never look at the humble egg in quite the same manner; Iowa is one of the largest producers of eggs in the country. I cook with eggs all the time, and am just beginning to realize their versatility. If you never plan to visit Iowa, B & B owners are some of the best foodies on earth and if you like to cook, the book is a must-have on the recipe shelf. If you don't like to cook, this is a must-have on the shelf...you will experience a sweet, homespun journey. "Discover Iowa" is the perfect companion to curl up and discover!
1 of 1 found the following review helpful:
Simply Delicious Apr 20, 2009
By E. Wasnetsky
The recipes in this are tasty. I found them inspiring and delightful. Highly recomended!
1 of 1 found the following review helpful:
Delicious Recipes and More Mar 30, 2009
By Tracy Winters
"Publisher/Author"
This book features many delicious recipes and information about the Bed and Breakfast inns that supplied them. In addition, there are tips for preparing pies, selecting cuts of meat, preparing vegetables, deep frying, food safety and the shelf life of food items that are practical and helpful. A welcome addition to any kitchen.
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