• June Cookbook of the Month Review – and a Giveaway!!

  Filed under Cookbook of the Month
  Jul 1
  Make sure and check out the end of this post to find out how to win a copy of July’s Cookbook of the Month!!

  I grew up in New Mexico, so I thought I knew Mexican food. Turns out I was wrong. I know New Mexican food, which is suprisingly a little different than authentic Mexican food. The good thing is, though, that I love it all – New Mexican, TexMex, and authentic Mexican food!!

  I’m actually glad there were a few surprises for me, because it really helped me to learn and grow through this cookbook. There was such a wide variety in this book, I feel like I only scratched the surface with these 5 recipes!!

  Cooking Times Listed in Recipes: no
  No. I was able to accurately guess on most of the recipes, but you do have to read through the recipe thoroughly to try to gauge how long it will take you.
  
  Number of Photos: low
  24 total photos. Once again, I wish there were more, but I really think the recipes in this book are enough to sell it!

  Difficulty Level of Recipes: medium
  I have to admit that I was a bit intimidated just looking at some of these, but surprisingly, all the recipes I made were pretty easy. I don’t think this is a cookbook that a beginner will have an easy time with, but if you are fairly confident, this will be a piece of cake.

  Availability of Ingredients: medium to hard
  I guess this really isn’t a fair question, since the cookbooks I am going through this year have all been cuisines from different countries so far. So yeah, some of the ingredients might be hard to find – like quail or squab. But there is plenty that can be found at either your regular grocery store or at a Mexican grocer. And there is a list of sources at the back of the book for mail or internet ordering.

  

  Crispy Black Bean-Bacon Tacos – 4.25 out of 5

  

  Red-Chile Braised Chicken with Potatoes and Greens – 4.5 out of 5

  

  Essential Roasted Tomatillo-Serrano Salsa – 4.5 out of 5

  

  Scrambled Eggs with Mushrooms and Spicy Tomatillo – 4.5 out of 5

  

  Warm Cajeta Pudding with Fresh Berries – 4.7 out of 5

  Overall Rating : 4.5 out of 5

  This has been one of my favorite Cookbook of the Month cookbooks so far this year. Not only were the recipes all delicious, but it left me wanting more. I have been checking the books out of the library since I can’t justify buying a cookbook every month right now, so the real test is if it is a book that I want to own, and I can definitely say YES to that on this book!! In fact, I look forward to trying out some of his other books as well!!

  For July, we’re going in quite a different direction. There is a reason I said that I wanted to try different cuisines for this year’s cookbooks instead of saying countries – because I wanted to try some different US cuisines as well. This month, we’re going south for some good, down home southern cooking. I saw The Lee Bros. Southern Cookbook at the library and snatched it up, because this is a book I’ve wanted to check out forever. And I’m excited to get started! Make sure and check back tomorrow for the first recipe!

  Want to win a copy of The Lee Bros. Southern Cookbook?

  If so, Facebook is your friend this month!! You get one entry for just being a fan, and then for every 5 friends you suggest Taste and Tell’s fan page to, you get another entry! Just leave a comment on this post if you are a fan, and then leave a separate comment for each 5 friends you suggest Taste and Tell to. There is no way for me to verify, so make sure you are honest – we are going on the honor system here!! (Note – you only have to suggest the page to friends – they don’t necessarily have to become fans, although I’d love for them to!) Here is the link to Taste and Tell’s fan page:

  Taste and Tell’s Facebook Fan Page

  Need to know how to suggest to friends? Go to Taste and Tell’s Facebook page and beneath the cake picture (upper left hand corner), hit suggest to friends. A list of your friends will come up and you can choose which ones you want to suggest the page to. It’s as easy as that!!

  You have until the end of July to enter. Comments will be open until July 31st at 10pm Mountain time. The winner will be announced with the Cookbook of the Month post for August on August 2nd. Giveaway is open to US and Canada readers only – sorry all you international readers!!

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  46 Comments

46 Responses to “June Cookbook of the Month Review – and a Giveaway!!”

1. 

   Da Bee's Knees said on July 1st, 2010 at 12:32 pm

   I grew up in San Antonio, Texas… and thought I knew Mexican food. Turns out I knew Tex Mex and only had a glancing knowledge of REAL Mexican food. My first trip as an adult to Mexico opened my eyes!

   I would love to have this cookbook to learn how to make some of the fantastic flavors of Mexico in my home kitchen.

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2. 

   Jenny said on July 1st, 2010 at 12:36 pm

   Yum! I'm a FB fan.

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3. 

   Sweet and Savory said on July 1st, 2010 at 1:34 pm

   I'm a fan of yours on facebook! Great giveaway – I'm thinking the Lee Bros. were featured on Bobby Flay's throwdown show on the Food Network once? If not, their twins were!

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4. 

   Rosa's Yummy Yums said on July 1st, 2010 at 1:44 pm

   A great review and giveaway!

   Cheers,

   Rosa

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5. 

   kat said on July 1st, 2010 at 1:50 pm

   I'm a big fan of the Rick Bayless books too everytime we cook from one we wonder why we don't more often. I saw the Lee Brothers on Martha & their dishes looked great

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6. 

   Courtney said on July 1st, 2010 at 3:20 pm

   Great review! Those crispy black bean tacos look amazing. I'd love to win this cookbook!

   P.S.- I'm a facebook fan.

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7. 

   Julie said on July 1st, 2010 at 4:15 pm

   I'm a FB fan! I've never been big on Mexican food (or at least what passes for it around here), but Rick Bayless takes such a respectful approach to the cuisine that I'm much more interested in giving it another try.

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8. 

   Cindy said on July 1st, 2010 at 7:39 pm

   Great review of the book. We are big Mexican food fans here!

   P.S. I'm a FB fan!!

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9. 

   Monet said on July 1st, 2010 at 9:53 pm

   I grew up in Houston, and so I love love Mexican food. Thanks for the great cookbook review. I think this would be a wonderful addition to my library!
   http://anecdotesandapples.weebly.com

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10. 

    Joanne said on July 2nd, 2010 at 12:02 am

    I'm SO glad you did Bayless's book. That man is amazing!

    Can't to to see what southern fare you cook up next month!

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11. 

    suri said on July 2nd, 2010 at 1:37 am

    im a face book fan
    suratina@aol.com

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12. 

    Debbi Does Dinner Healthy said on July 2nd, 2010 at 3:36 am

    Great review! The recipes that you made look really good! I dn't do facebook, sorry. No time!

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13. 

    Jean Bugs said on July 2nd, 2010 at 3:46 am

    Hey Deb,
    Of course I'm a fan on FB! And, I'm headed to your page right now. The July cookbook looks like great fun. Southern cooking?..oh my

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14. 

    Jean Bugs said on July 2nd, 2010 at 4:03 am

    Well, suggested "Taste & Tell" to friend #1.

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15. 

    Jean Bugs said on July 2nd, 2010 at 4:04 am

    …friend #2…

    [Reply]

16. 

    Jean Bugs said on July 2nd, 2010 at 4:04 am

    …friend #3…

    [Reply]

17. 

    Jean Bugs said on July 2nd, 2010 at 4:04 am

    …friend #4…

    [Reply]

18. 

    Jean Bugs said on July 2nd, 2010 at 4:04 am

    …friend #5…

    [Reply]

19. 

    Jean Bugs said on July 2nd, 2010 at 4:05 am

    …and friend #6…just because I love your blog!

    [Reply]

20. 

    momof2girls said on July 2nd, 2010 at 12:33 pm

    I am a fan.

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21. 

    Sharon said on July 2nd, 2010 at 7:04 pm

    I am a fan on facebook

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22. 

    Sharon said on July 2nd, 2010 at 7:05 pm

    I recommended your page to Carol Knipper

    [Reply]

23. 

    Sharon said on July 2nd, 2010 at 7:05 pm

    I recommended your page to Iris Johnson

    [Reply]

24. 

    Sharon said on July 2nd, 2010 at 7:05 pm

    I recommended your page to Mich Myrick James

    [Reply]

25. 

    Sharon said on July 2nd, 2010 at 7:06 pm

    I recommended your page to Rhonda Kizer O'Neill

    [Reply]

26. 

    Sharon said on July 2nd, 2010 at 7:06 pm

    and I recommended your page to Robin Planicka SMith

    [Reply]

27. 

    Cheryl said on July 2nd, 2010 at 7:28 pm

    I am a fan on Facebook

    [Reply]

28. 

    Cheryl said on July 2nd, 2010 at 7:29 pm

    I suggested and sent invitations to 5 of my facebook fans.

    [Reply]

29. 

    Cheryl said on July 2nd, 2010 at 7:30 pm

    I suggested and sent invitations to 5 more of my facebook fans.

    [Reply]

30. 

    Cheryl said on July 2nd, 2010 at 7:30 pm

    I suggested and sent invitations to 5 more of my facebook fans.

    [Reply]

31. 

    Cheryl said on July 2nd, 2010 at 7:32 pm

    I suggested and sent invitations to 5 more of my facebook fans.

    side note: I suggested and sent invitations to 40 friends total to my facebook fans. Thanks for the opportunity to enter my name.

    [Reply]

32. 

    cmjhawaii said on July 3rd, 2010 at 2:25 am

    These recipes look great. I love Mexican food!
    flowerpower0097 at live dot com

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33. 

    Katerina said on July 4th, 2010 at 10:45 pm

    I just became a fan on facebook, and then on your facebook page saw this post, too funny!

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34. 

    cmjhawaii said on July 9th, 2010 at 1:40 am

    just became a fan.
    flowerpower0097@live.com

    [Reply]

35. 

    cmjhawaii said on July 9th, 2010 at 1:41 am

    suggested your page to my co-worker, Warren.
    flowerpower0097@live.com

    [Reply]

36. 

    @!3x said on July 15th, 2010 at 12:34 am

    i'm a fb fan! and i suggested it to 56 of my friends!!!

    [Reply]

37. 

    abbi said on July 16th, 2010 at 12:06 pm

    I'm a FB Fan

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38. 

    Elaine said on July 16th, 2010 at 4:46 pm

    I am a FB fan

    [Reply]

39. 

    charlene020 said on July 17th, 2010 at 12:14 am

    What a great giveaway! I think the south has some of the yummiest food! Have a great week-end!

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40. 

    Lara said on July 17th, 2010 at 3:18 am

    I am a fan of yours on facebook. Keep up the yummy recipes and thanks for the chance at to win this cookbook!

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41. 

    @!3x said on July 21st, 2010 at 2:35 pm

    I'm a Facebook fan! And i sent an invite to 52 of my friends!!

    [Reply]

42. 

    italianmamachef said on July 23rd, 2010 at 5:22 pm

    I'm a FB fan

    [Reply]

43. 

    italianmamachef said on July 23rd, 2010 at 5:23 pm

    I'm suggesting to about 10 friends right now.

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44. 

    claire said on July 26th, 2010 at 3:15 pm

    i am a fan!

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45. 

    claire said on July 26th, 2010 at 3:16 pm

    i suggested 5 friends!

    keeping my fingers crossed!

    [Reply]

46. 

    newlywed said on July 30th, 2010 at 2:03 pm

    I'm a FB fan…I think. Or at least I clicked that I "like" Taste and Tell…I am so bad at using Facebook!

    [Reply]

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