Cookbook GIVEAWAY and Virgin update

My review of the cookbook, Da Cajn Critter - The Lifestyles, the Rules and Makin Groceries ends today. What fun! Take a look at my last 7 posts to see an incredible cake, a Crab Salad, Fried Catfish, a couple of side dishes, TWO very different, but very tasty Pork Tenderloin recipes and finally a classic shrimp Po'Boy. Talk about good! Click HERE to see all 7 recipe posts... keep scrolling down, they will all be there.

I was approached by the publicist for the book to do a review. this is my first cookbook review, and I want to do it right. A cookbook is more than a collection of recipes. After making 7 dishes, I certainly will give the recipes in the book a huge thumbs up. Easy to follow and complete. PLUS, the book gives dozens of recipes for each category, appetizers, breads, breakfast, soups, salads, meat and poultry, seafood, desserts and a terrific fun section of "extras" (wine pairing to candy making to "perfect" tips). As a collection of recipes, it succeeds as a cookbook.

No cook book could be all things to all people. Different skill levels, comfort zones and specialized cuisine all limit a book to a demographic. I believe the book is aimed at beginning to moderate cooks. There is nothing too difficult in here. There was not a single recipe that left me scratching my head. There are plenty of recipes that will make you shine (like the chocolate pecan cake shown above). But the book also has VERY basic recipes like egg salad, tuna salad (from a can), grilled cheese or S'mores. The majority of these recipes are not restaurant quality, and they make no pretense of being such. What they are; are real recipes, for a real family that will feed that family and will keep them looking forward to dinner time. If you are looking for that book that will get you offered a head chef job at a 4 star restaurant, this is not it. If you want your husband or wife to brag about your cooking to their buddies... This CERTAINLY is it.

Despite the name, it is not a collection of just Cajun food. With few exceptions (and they are well marked), there are not a lot of overly hot spiced foods. What this book mostly reminded me of was the semi-annual cookbook the ladies of Liberty Baptist Church of Pekin, Illinois printed. All good, all stood the test of time, and all easily reproduced. This is a book that Moms will feed their families with.

Da Cajn Critter is a living entity. That is, the author has set up an interactive website, with lots of details about the book, the author, more recipes and entertainment ideas and contact information. You can click HERE to get to her home page. Da Cajn Critter was born out of the tragedy of Katrina. For a good read of the spirit of the city, and the need to rebuild not just the building, but the family traditions that make Cajun Country unique, take a look at the websites "About Da Critter" page.

So, to sum up... The book is not all things to all people. Doesn't pretend to be. It is not a book for advanced restaurant chefs. It is a book for the rest of us. For the beginners, as well as those of us that cook every day. Once you give it a try, you will add several recipes to your "go-to" file. this book has a place on your shelf!

And now for some good news. Over the weekend, I was contacted by the author and the publicist for the book. They were pretty pleased with the recipes I had made, and wanted to keep da critter movin' on... That is, they are going to let me give a book away to a reader.

Easy to enter,
just drop a comment
and pinky swear promise that once you receive the book, you agree to cook a recipe from the book and blog the results. If you like any of the recipes I have done, you can do those, but I would like to see something new from the book!

There is no blog police, and I will not hunt your mother down and rat you out if you don't, but the nice Critter folks love bloggers and that love should be rewarded with good reviews (when they deserve it, as this book does), and word of mouth product placement on your blog if they give you a freebie you want (don't enter if you don't want the freebie). So, if you want a great free cookbook, just drop me a comment, and a winner will be picked on Thursday of this week!

And now, an update on my move to St.Thomas in the US Virgin Islands...

NOTHING NEW!

And I am pretty pissed about it. It started out with that do nothing Democrat Congress not being able to pass a Health Care bill with a super majority of senators. They had no excuse for their knuckle dragging. But last week, the infrastructure, the support staff (the people who actually do the nation's work (secretaries), as opposed to the Congress) took the entire week off due to the winter storm of the century (Stormzilla).

Jackie and I are one memo approval away from leaving. The virgins of the island wanted me there (and her) on February first. Now, it is looking like March 3rd at best. My birthday is March 8th, so I am thinking that is a realistic target date. Near as we can tell, the memo has been written, approved and is in transit. just have to get the secretaries back to work to get it finished.

So, between goats in the road, a do-nothing congress and snow in the nation's capital, we are in a holding pattern. But, my Speedos are packed and we are ready!