[.ca] More Bear Cookin': Bigger and Better (ISBN 1560233265)

Inventive and Charming:
I gave my son "Bear Cookin': The Original Guide to Bear Comfort Foods" and "More Bear Cookin': Bigger and Better " for Christmas. He's moving out this spring for college and I was looking for a couple of cookbooks to kick-start his collection. He knows his way around the kitchen, but his experience is from cooking by my side without written down recipes. I wanted simple homestyle recipes, with no-nonsense ingredients and instructions. He's a big boy, more of a cub than a bear, with a big appetite and I wanted something he would actually use. These cookbooks deliver exactly what I wanted and more. The recipes were collected from family and friends, delicious and traditional and hearty, with easy to find ingredients and easy to follow instructions. Each recipe is lovingly introduced - the book sprinkled with helpful tips, serving hints, food tributes and the author's down to earth humor and charm. The cookbooks aren't fancy and filled with pretty pictures, but what you do get is something that can actually be used and enjoyed. I would heartily recommend these cookbooks for any cook that appreciates inventive, homestyle cookin'. I've ordered copies for myself. The "Bigger and Better" is an accurate description of the second cookbook from PJ Gray; the second cookbook includes emergency substitutions, recipe equivalencies and recipe terminology. Haven't tried any of the recipes yet, but several definitely caught my attention. The "Candy Bar Smoothie" is something I wouldn't want to fix on a regular basis, but it's perfect for a special treat. I had to laugh at the "Deep Fried Twinkies" recipe. I'm sure this will be a popular one for my son. I have a secret passion for succotash, so the "My Succotash Wish" will be a favorite indulgence. Then for something a little more substantial - there's a no-frills "Big Fat Greek Spinach Pie," the entertaining and simple "Honey, Lick my Chops" and the interesting "Peanut Butter Beef." Oh, and the "Bali Hai Pie" I'm actually making for dessert tonight! Coconut, pecans and pineapple. Yum! Can you tell I wrote this review while I was hungry? *grins*