[.ca] The Complete Meat Cookbook: A Juicy and Authoritative ... (ISBN 061813512X)

From Amazon.com:
"Frankly, we love meat." Thus spake Bruce Aidells and Denis Kelly, their first words in The Complete Meat Cookbook. "This book," these well-informed authors tell us, "is written for those who share this carnivorous inclination." As the authors of Hot Links and Country Flavors, Real Beer and Good Eats, and Flying Sausages, these guys know meat. And their mission in life is to share what they know. With gusto. The divisions are obvious: beef, pork, lamb, veal. But packed into each chapter is more information than any single reader might think possible. There's history and anthropology; there's anatomy and kitchen chemistry. And all of it is aimed at what the authors call the "new meat." It's a leaner product--less fat than ever before. So to get the succulence and the flavor that resides in memory (coming from a time of fattier cuts) sliced and onto the plate, today's cook has to use a different, more informed approach. You will find that guidance in this book. How to select and buy, how to prep, how to intensify the flavor, how to cook, how to store: it's all here. There is no other book like it. Heavily illustrated, The Complete Meat Cookbook opens with a section on meat basics, including a little meat eating history and a terrific doneness chart. Then there's a long section covering all the basic cooking techniques and which cuts of which meat work best with each technique. Once the book breaks out into sections by kind of meat--beef, pork, lamb, veal--the depth of information focuses and intensifies, and the recipes roll right along for more than 600 pages. Myth busting (like, don't salt meat before cooking, it will dry it out: wrong) is highlighted throughout the book. And each recipe is labeled for ease, speed, budget consciousness, serve to company, etc. The recipes take into account the world of meat eating. This is no Eurocentric text--it is, as the title proclaims, complete. If you are going to eat meat, do it right. This is the book to show you how. No cookbook bookshelf is complete without a copy of The Complete Meat Cookbook. --Schuyler Ingle

This "tome" of meat cookery not realistic for everyday cooks:
Considering how hefty this volume is, I was hoping to find recipes to produce well-cooked, flavorful meats with nearly any cut of meat I had in my freezer, using everyday ingredients I would normally have on hand. Not necessarily so. This is more of a gourmet's cookbook for those with time to cook, access to big-city delis and a liking for fussy sauces. Example: Puebla-Style Tongue in Chipotle Chile Sauce; Cured Pork Loin Roasted with Parsnips in Maple-Vanilla Sauce; Caribbean Pork Braised with Limes and Oranges; Sauteed Filet Mignon with Corn and Chile Cheese Sauce. There is some basic information on how to best cook some cuts of meat, but not enough to justify the price of the book, and the recipes rely heavily on the fancy ingredients. As a side note, if you don't like to include alcohol in your cooking, this is not the book for you! The recipes and tips on cooking pork ribs were good.

Now THIS is "Man" Cooking!:
This cookbook is fantastic. It provides excellent descriptions of various techniques and the reasons for them. The recipes are fantastic. This is one of those cookbooks that provide so many outstanding options that it is difficult to decide what to do. My recommendation would be to try the techniques described that you haven't done before. It will certainly open up new horizons and give you great ideas of your own. This is one of the essential cookbooks for any collection.

If you like meat you need this book:
This is an awesome meat cookbook. It gives so many ways to make the same cut of meat taste a little bit different. My family loves the brines, marinades and dry rubs. It is very easy to read and follow. A must have for any serious cook.

Fabulous Meat Cookbook:
This is a fabulous meat cookbook! I have used several of the recipes for lamb, pork and beef and they have all worked. The directions are very clear; no guess work is required. The different herb and spice rubs are really delicious. Many of the recipes work very well on a budget, and there are recipes for leftovers, too. The explanations of the different cuts of meat and their different (and for some cuts multiple) names were really helpful when I moved from the midwest to the west coast. Unlike some fancy cooking magazines which actually have recipes for beef stew using beef tenderloin, Aidells and Kelly will guide you to the best cut of meat for every dish. Highly recommended for both the beginning meat cook and those who just want some new, delicious, fool-proof recipes to try.

Absolutely Horrible:
How many people realize what you are really eating? You are eating animal tissue and that, in my oppinion, is disgusting. Not to mention, meat is incredibly unhealthy and it is much more nutritious to go without it. VISIT PETA2.com for info!!!