The Good Housekeeping Test Kitchen Cookbook

October 17, 2011
This solid, encyclopedic reference opens with an equipment overview, including basic knife skills, and is followed by practical advice for food safety and healthy eating, some entertaining strategies, and an introduction to wine. Recipes, which are helpfully coded with symbols for heart-healthy, slow cooker, and make ahead , reflect the magazine’s multicultural but accessible sensibilities: miso soup stands by split pea with ham, and chicken with rice; Brazilian pork chops and Cajun meat loaf are included alongside oven-barbecued spareribs. Vegan pumpkin waffles and crustless leek and gruyere quiche are thoughtful nods to changing contemporary diets. Throughout, tips on buying and preparing whole grains, freezing and reheating casseroles, and frosting layer cakes enhance the educational experience. This volume brings the venerable institution up to date with QR codes that enable the reader to instantly watch helpful how-to videos on a smartphone. While this volume isn’t breaking any new culinary ground, it would make an ideal gift for a young or emerging home cook. Photographs.

April 22, 2013
The latest ring-bound collection from the Good Housekeeping Test Kitchen lives up to the high standard of practicality set by its brethren in this collection of 225 recipes geared for grilling. Tabs allow readers to quickly flip to the section of their choice, be it burgers, steaks and ribs, fish, chicken, or vegetables, as well as sauces, salsas and sides to accompany their meals. Grilling standards like Grilled Caesar Salad, Beer Can Chicken, and basic barbecued ribs, baked beans, and cole slaw are here, but the editors do an admirable job of expanding one's grilling options with the inclusion of Shrimp with Asian BBQ Sauce, Greek Chicken Pitas, and Spicy Grilled Pizza with White Corn and Three Cheeses offered courtesy of "celebrity grill masters" Johanne Killeen and George Germon of Al Forno (several other celebrity chefs make appearances as well). A guide to gauging done-ness, tips on smoking and wood selection, and QR codes that lead readers with smartphones to short, instructional videos broaden the book's appeal and will be appreciated by those new to grilling. Veteran grillers may find a few new dishes to try, but those in the honeymoon phase of grill ownership benefit most with this practical collection.