Thursday, November 23, 2006
Happy Thanksgiving; Cook With Us Using Our 'Desperate Housewives' Cookbook Review
The Desperate Housewives Cookbook: Juicy Dishes and Saucy Bits (Hyperion, $29.95) brings delicious and scrumptious meals and treats from those classy Housewives and their neighbors! The cookbook is by Christopher Styler and Scott S. Tobis. Styler gives us his recipes and the text is composed by Tobis. The cookbook has over 125 recipes and is 267 pages! The cookbook is divided into character sections. Each section has recipes related to a character. You even have a recipe for Susan's famous macaroni & cheese...but don't worry it is not as terrible as she makes it! I will get to more of the dishes soon, but let me tell you what characters are featured. First up we have Bree's recipes, then Susan, Gabrielle, Lynette, Edie, the deceased Mrs. Huber, Mike, Felicia, and good 'ole Mrs. McCluskey. Inside some of the character's recipes are borrowed recipes from other characters, like Mama's Solis' Quesadillas. The last section of the book has information on the food on the set of the series. It is a quick 5-page read and you learn a lot about how the food is used and eaten on the set.
For Bree Van De Kamp, dinner is not about convenience, it is about simmering, braising, pureeing, steeping, chopping, and flambeing. From Basic Puree Soup and Lobster Risotto with Herb Oil, to Blueberry Muffins and Buckwheat Pancakes, Bree's meals are sure to impress.
An earth-mother type with better intentions than kitchen skills, Susan Mayer believes that it's the thought that counts. Here, Susan has gathered some of her favorite, foolproof (even Susan-proof!) recipes to share, including Roasted Peppers and Fresh Mozzarella Topped with Arugula Salad, Garlic Mashed Potatoes, and Chocolate-Butterscotch Bars.
Left to her own devices, Gabrielle Solis steers towards simple and healthy fare that she can put together on her own. Gaby's recipes include Guacamole with Warm Chips, Shrimp with Chorizo and Bell Pepper, and Rum-Glazed Pineapple.
Whether Lynette Scavo has spent the day taking care of the kids or the climbing the corporate ladder, when it's time to pack the kids' lunch or put a family dinner on the table, she'll take quick over perfect. Her recipes are time efficient and kid-friendly such as Grilled Cheese, French Toast for Breakfast (or Dinner) with Blueberry Syrup, Buttermilk-soaked Fried Chicken, and Potato Casserole.
Although Edie Britt technically isn't a housewife, the neighborhood flirt does have a few recipes that are sure to be crowd-pleasers (especially all-men). Her faves include Oysters Poached in Champagne and Cream, Sausage Puttanesca, and Molten Chocolate Cake.
And some of the neighbors have recipes to offer, too! Whether it's Mrs. Huber's Strawberry Smoothies, Mike's Rib Eye Steak, Felicia's Double Whammy Chocolate Pudding or Mrs. McCluskey's Peanut Brittle.
Those are just a FEW of the items for each character. You will find much more when you browse the book. I get hungry each time I look at it. I'm no cook, but even I can use some of these recipes. So, a real cook out there would love this book even more.
As a Thanksgiving treat, I leave you today with a recommendation for today's meals:
Breakfast: Bree's Buckwheat Pancakes & Blueberry Muffins and Gabrielle's Mexican Hot Chocolate.
Lunch: Lynette's Grilled Cheese & Irresistible Brownies and Susan's Vegetarian Chili.
Afternoon Snack: Gabrielle's Guacamole with Warm Chips and Lynette's Babysitting Cookies
Dinner: Bree has your main courses - Poached Turkey Tonnato, Roast Turkey with Gravy, and Two-Step Braised Duck. Susan has a side dish of Foolproof Macaroni & Cheese and Slow-Roasted String Beans. It's Thanksgiving so let's eat more with Gabrielle's Green Rice and Spicy Paella. We will also need Gaby's Fruit Salad with Yogurt-Honey Dressing. And finally who else do we turn for dessert? Edie of course! Her Molten Chocolate Cake will leave you breathless!
Midnight Snack: After a huge dinner, you are probably stuffed but let's end your day with Felcia's Almond Macaroons! What a perfect snack to end your day!
-- Reviewed by Pavan
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Related links:
Official Show Website
TV.com Page
Hyperion Books
Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows
Wednesday, May 28
Tyler Perry's House of Payne - "House of Tough Decisions" (BET, 9:00PM ET/PT)
House of Payne is the hilarious comedy about Retired fire chief Curtis Payne and his lovely wife Ella.
Tyler Perry's Assisted Living - "Parental Woes" (BET, 9:30PM ET/PT)
Tension escalates as tempers flare between Reginald and Brandon's rocky relationship; Leah's disconnect with Sandra leaves her terribly confused.
The Ms. Pat Show - "Pick Up Your Feelings" (BET, 10:30PM ET/PT)
The family arrives in Atlanta to find Pat's cousin and former partner in crime, Tanya, has been released from prison, which leads to a difficult walk down memory lane.
Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of May 26)
Wednesday, May 28
- Ryan Reynolds (Two Guys and a Girl) - Watch Ryan on a repeat of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
- Tiffany Haddish (The Last O.G./The Carmichael Show) - Tiffany is a guest on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
- Leslie Bibb (Palm Royale/God's Favorite Idiot/American Housewife/The Odd Couple/About a Boy) - Leslie appears on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
- Esther Povitsky (Dollface/Alone Together) and Arden Myrin (Working/Still the King) - Esther and Arden are guests on a repeat of After Midnight at 12:37am on CBS.
- Joe Mande (Hacks/Parks and Recreation) and Fred Armisen (Los Espookys/Forever/Final Space) - Joe and Fred are guests on Everybody's Live with John Mulaney at 10pm on Netflix.
- Felicity Huffman (Sports Night) - Felicity talks about The 13th Wife: Escaping Polygamy on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am.
- Julianne Moore (Sirens) - Julianne chats with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
- Sarah Silverman (The Sarah Silverman Program) - Sarah talks about her special Sarah Silverman: PostMortem on NBC's Today sometime between 7-9am and on Live with Kelly and Mark, so check your local listings.
- Ashley Tisdale (Carol's Second Act/Merry Happy Whatever/Clipped/The Suite Life of Zack & Cody) - Ashley stops by the studio to talk Disney's Phineas and Ferb on Live with Kelly and Mark, so check your local listings. She also chats with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
- Ming-Na Wen (The Single Guy) - NBC's Today catches up with Ming-Na in the 9am hour.
- Ralph Macchio (Eight Is Enough) - Ralph talks about ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am.
- Demi Lovato (Sonny with a Chance) - Drew is having a candid conversation with Demi about how growing up in the spotlight inspired her new documentary Child Star on a repeat of The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
- Jenny McCarthy (Two and a Half Men/Jenny) - Jenny talks about Fox's The Masked Singer on Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.
- Carrie Preston (Crowded/Happyish/Emeril) and Wendell Pierce (The Odd Couple/The Michael J. Fox Show/The Weber/The Brian Benben Show/The Gregory Hines Show) - Carrie and Wendell talk about CBS' Elsbeth on a repeat of Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.
New on DVD and Blu-ray
01/28 - Wait Till Your Father Gets Home - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
02/04 - The Wayans Bros. - The Complete Series
03/11 - Frasier (2023) - Season Two
04/01 - Abbott Elementary - The Complete Third Season
05/13 - The Drew Carey Show - The Complete Series* (missing 4 episodes and some music has been replaced or altered)
06/06 - Shoresy - Season 2
06/17 - Looney Tunes - Collector's Vault - Volume 1 (Blu-ray)
07/08 - Bewitched - The Complete Series - 60th Anniversary Special Edition (Blu-ray)
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