Heather says:
Unless this is your first visit to this site, it should be quite clear that there are a few things I love in life: to eat, to cook, and to read. Sometimes publishers pick up on this and send me a cookbook to review. If the concept strikes my fancy, I accept. This week I was lucky enough to receive a review copy of Southern Living Farmers Market Cookbook: A Fresh Look at Local Flavor (Southern Living (Hardcover Oxmoor)). First things first, let’s get the disclosure out of the way. I received a review copy of the Southern Living Farmers Market Cookbook. The links to the book on Amazon are affiliate links, this means I will get a small portion of any books sold through that link.
I have to say, I’m quite pleased with both the book’s concept and the execution. I’m somewhat picky when it comes to recipes as I live in a small town and sometimes cookbooks assume access to all kinds of exotic ingredients. I am happy to report that after skimming many of the recipes, this didn’t appear to be an issue. These recipes are designed to expand a cook’s culinary horizons, but they seem to not stray too far into the exotic. I see this as a plus when recommending a book. In my experience, it always seems as though the one suspect recipe in a given book is the one my friends decide to try.
The explanations are clear and concise, written for cooks with a basic understanding of techniques. I like the layout, most pages are limited to one recipe, readable when the book is left open on the counter. I find this an important quality in cookbooks.
The photos are gorgeous, naturally did you expect less? There are some step-by-step photos, but most are fairly standard and of the finished recipes.
If you are a farmer’s market noob, there are a few great tips at the beginning of the book: what to look for, the questions to ask, and tips on storing the produce. There are also resources to help locate the nearest farmers market.
The recipes are divided by season, which is a handy tool when trying to liven up a menu. As an added bonus, I saw many recipes that would easily adapt for use with frozen vegetables.
Given our recent focus on choosing healthier alternatives to overly processed foods, I would say this cookbook would make a good resource for someone dipping their toes into adapting their diet to fit a more locally focused and sustainable lifestyle.
Cookbook reviewed, check, on to the giveaway.
I will be passing along this gorgeous, but gently used cookbook. There may be a light dusting of pollen as I’ve moved my office out-of-doors on nice days.
To enter the giveaway simply leave a mildly entertaining comment. I will be choosing the winner at random, so it’s not a requirement and your wit scores no special favors, it just livens up my inbox.
A second entry is available t0 anyone who uses social media, simply tweet, blog, or Facebook about the giveaway and leave the URL of the effort as a second comment.
Limit two entries per person and because I foot the bill of the shipping, it’s limited to the US and Canada.
The contest closes 9pm Eastern on Saturday April 10, 2010. The winner will be announced on Monday April 12, 2010. Please use a valid email address, it makes contacting the winner *that* much easier.
Have fun and good luck.
I should win this because I like the South, but don't live in it. So maybe this book will bring a little bit of it to California. Plus, I never win things…it's about time. What else? My son wore overalls today…and farmers wear overalls (at least in the pictures they do…)…and this relates to a farmer's market, so you can see it's a clear connection…just let me win it, okay?
What an awesome giveaway! I'm addicted to farmers markets. I can't wait till they start up around here again. I also joined a CSA (community supported agriculture) this year…a good excuse for trying new veggies!
Well, I will throw my two entries into the hat, first here and then over on "the facebooks" but I do it not for me, as well all know how little I enjoy food. I do it for you Heather, as I can save you the shipping. As I mentioned, you can tell by my slim and fit physique that I very RARELY eat foods, but I hate the thought you you spending all that shipping. 🙂
I'd love to win this book! I don't have that many adventurous eaters in my family, so it would be nice to have an excuse to try something new and local and in season!
My recent post Laurel Pregnancy Center: Race/Walk For Life!
Yay! This looks great! I haven't been to the farmers market in ages but this would be the perfect excuse to do so.
My recent post Incredible Homemade Pierogies
Perhaps this would be a good cookbook for me since I am a born and raised Seattle girl who married a man with a huge family from Kentucky. I’m not too shabby in the kitchen, but after visiting at Christmas, I can say I am pretty sure they wouldn’t let me near the kitchen back on the family land.
You want us to be mildly entertaining AND use a valid email address? Heather, you ask so much of us! 😉
I actually just now retweeted your giveaway but I'm unsure of how to include that here?
I just love cookbooks, all cookbooks. I have a ton of them but am always on the lookout for one more. So here I am, commenting.
Would love some new recipes for my tomatoes, peas and breans I will be growing this year… Ramdom number thingy, pick me pick me
We do not have any good Farmer's Markets by us, but I would love a new cookbook!!!
I love cookbooks and I love Southern Living. So I should win. Mildly amusing…hm…my daughter (5 years) calls diet 7-Up “diet wiggly worm”. That’s all I’ve got. Have a great day.
Here is my Facebook post: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#!/profi…
I have come to the conclusion that the only way I will ever lose weight is to only eat whole unprocessed foods, which is why I LOVE farmers markets and why I love to garden. This looks like a great cookbook to have! 🙂
I just joined my first produce co-op and am thinking this cookbook would offer some fun ideas for all that produce that will come my way beginning in May. Plus, I just love cookbooks and cooking in general!
Anything to help me cook better food and be more healthy would be great! Thanks for the giveaway!
I tweeted about the giveaway! http://www.twitter.com/sara_v3
I'm jonesing for a helpful guide to cooking seasonally and with local goods, so this book would be a boon! Thanks for the great giveaway and apologies for not being wittier…
Mmm, farmers' markets. Lurve them.
We have an amazing Farmer's Market and although I rarely wake up early on Saturdays to push through the many that think deodorant is optional, I really should be treking down there more often 🙂
My recent post Fitness Friday – How Are Those Goals?
Anything that might help motivate me to buy and cook vegetables would be welcome. Is the produce covered "Southern" produce, or do you think it would be useful anywhere?
One of my goals (after June 1st, when I get to resume my life because my book will be done) is to cook more; this would sure help! Sorry — I'm too tired to be even mildly amusing:)
My recent post “Yes, I Do Have 30 Hours of Leisure Time”
Nothing witty to share. I've been cooking alot lately and love it! This cookbook would be an awesome addition to my collection.
My recent post Menu Plan Monday – 4/5/2010
Nothing witty to share. I've been cooking alot lately and love it! This cookbook would be an awesome addition to my collection.
My recent post Menu Plan Monday – 4/5/2010
Nothing too entertaining in this comment – gotta love the FTC disclosures now. This would be a great cookbook to have! 🙂
I love food and I love free stuff. love.
By the way, not quite sure how to link back to my facebook post about the giveaway, but I did do it. You can try this link, but I'm guessing it won't work unless I'm on your friends list:
http://www.facebook.com/dawn.demeo
My recent post Chocolate Orgasms
Thanks for the giveaway! Looks like a good one.
My recent post April Resolutions
Thanks for the giveaway! Looks like a good one.
My recent post April Resolutions
I'm always looking for new farmer's market / seasonal eating cookbooks!
My recent post Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
Facebooked: http://tinyurl.com/ygbo3ma I turned it into a tiny url to take my last name out of the searchable space. Hope you don't mind. 🙂
Facebooked: http://tinyurl.com/yza5fhl I turned it into a tiny url to take my last name out of the searchable space. Hope you don't mind. 🙂
And here is my comment: I would particularly like to win this because of the idea of it being arranged by seasons. Sorry for the lack of wit!
Thanks for the opportunity, though!
Hi my name is Random Number Generator, and I'll gladly pick the winner for you!
Just one of the many services I offer.
(Void where prohibited, licensed or taxed. Extra charges apply. Your results may vary. One size does not fit all. Ever.)
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I have never been accused of being witty…until after the situation that calls for it is passed! I am wanting to start using the farmer's market more and would love the tips for noobs! Thanks for hosting the giveaway!
My recent post Words Arn't Enough~Thank You!
I have never been accused of being witty…until after the situation that calls for it is passed! I am wanting to start using the farmer's market more and would love the tips for noobs! Thanks for hosting the giveaway!
My recent post Words Arn't Enough~Thank You!
This book looks great! Perhaps there are new ideas in there that will motivate me to try growing something new this year. Plus, my granny never wants to try any of the "weird" food I make (yet she eats it anyway if I dont tell her what it is first) but she likes Southern food, so this could help!
win or not – I L O V E Home Ec 101. Gr8!
I am witty sometimes. Now is not one of those times. Sorry. I do, however, *always* like free things. Especially if they concern food. 🙂
I love cooking! And I can always use more cookbooks!
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A girl from the south….that was me
But my husband (ye gads!) a yankee…..
So our children do lack
'Cause I've lost the knack.
So this book would be most handy!
(I'd love to win)
My recent post April is Ducky Diaper Cake Month!!
The thing that catches my eye here is the fact that it doesn't delve too far into the exotics. SO MANY of my cookbooks have these amazing looking recipes, but as I go through the ingredients lists — it never fails. I don't have an item, have never heard of an item, don't know where to find the item, or All of the above!!!
My recent post Weekly Winners (Mar. 28 – Apr. 3)
This looks like a great cookbook. Thanks for the giveaway!
I especially love the fresh market and farmer's market cookbooks. Fruits, vegetables, herbs and other foods at the height of their flavor peak. What could be better?
BTW- Is it possible to have too many cookbooks?
Southern Living is one of my favorite recipe sources — they tend to have usable recipes that my family will actually eat.
Why are husbands like lawn mowers?
They are difficult to get started, emit foul smells,
and don't work half the time.
At least that sounds just like mine. 😉
I actually had this cookbook on my wish list already! I need some ideas for fresh veggies.
mary at deepsouthdish dot com
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I tweeted for another entry!
http://twitter.com/DeepSouthDish/status/117042613…
My recent post Brown Sugar and Mustard Glazed Bone-in Ham with Coca Cola Pan Sauce – Plus Bonus Glazes
I'd like to make use of the urban garden I'm working on in my window-sill and roof & would adore some Southern EATspriation!!!
I would love a chance to win this cookbook. I’m a farmer’s market wannabe, plus I’m interested in … How did you put it? Expanding my culinary horizons without straying to far into the exotic. 🙂 Plus, my family generally doesn’t do exotic. Looks good. Thanks for the chance to play.
Melinda
Do they have recipes that tell you at to make green beans taste like candy? LOL It only took quite a few years, but I finally love my veggies, well not all equally though. LOL
Connie had your site on FB this morning. Thanks Connie! Amazing site. Thanks for helping me find this. And thanks for the giveaway. Here's hoping for my family's sake that I win the cookbook! They'd love some new dinner ideas.
Our farmer's market will be open again soon, and I can't wait!!! One of my favorite things about summer is grilled vegetables. Seriously! 🙂
I would like to win this. Period. Thanks!
WOW!! I'm with most other American people and trying to grow more veggies in the garden–that I will promise to use and not let rot because it is too hot and humid to be outside long enough to harvest–clean the cobwebs and dust piles out of my canning jars–as long as they fit in the dishwasher after I get someone of more muscular stature to haul them out of my basement. Whew! Would love to get the cookbook!!!
I love to eat and I love to cook.
How great it would be
to win a cookbook.
Here is my Twitter Tweet http://twitter.com/channce1
with living on a farm and growing a garden I would love to have the cookbook to go with it. I end up giving away so many of my crops for free. It would be nice if I could find more ways to cook with them.
What a neat cookbook! I hope to grow more veggies myself this year and finall ybreak the addiction to processed stuff, maybe this would help! 🙂
My recent post Spring Things to Smile About
wow looks very tasty all those pictures
My recent post HP/De Tijd
I had to reject the meatballs cookbook, but this one looks more promising!
*EDITED by Heather inline to preserve the comment count* I totally understand, I was chuckling the whole time I wrote up that giveaway.
Ooh, ooh, pick me! lol I need a cookbook that has some normal recipes in it. Every cookbook I own nearly has been given to me by someone else, and it baffles me how a cookbook can have 30 recipes for chicken spaghetti, but not a single one for brocolli rice casserole. I'm looking at you, PTA cookbooks!
I live near a great farmer's market that will open up the end of this month. This will help get me there, as it's earlier on Saturday mornings than I like to be moving!
I have never heard of this cookbook before. It looks great, and I can't wait to find out more about it!
I could really use the book.
I'm surrounded by farmer's markets. Too many can be a dangerous thing, of course. Delicious produce and homemade goods, always there, always tempting me…
Love Southern Living and look forward to having a small garden this year so that maybe I can use some fresh veggies in cooking! Thanks for the opportunity!
robandleighbright@suddenlink.net
My recent post Marvin & April's Wedding
I have a horrible/wonderful addiction to Cookbooks. (Is there a group for that?) I actually like to "read" them as well as cooking from them! I would LOVE to win this one as I know anything from Southern Living is always a hit with the family.
Two weeks until the Farmer's Market is open here!!
I have a horrible/wonderful addiction to Cookbooks. (Is there a group for that?) I actually like to "read" them as well as cooking from them! I would LOVE to win this one as I know anything from Southern Living is always a hit with the family.
Two weeks until the Farmer's Market is open here!!
Cookbooks are my favorite books to read, and every once in a while I actually cook something too.
Yumm! I adore finding new cookbooks, and I almost always cook with fresh produce so I'm excited to get more recipes!
My husband & I were just saying the other day how much we miss our produce co-op from when we lived in ATL. If we win this book, it might be just the motivation we need to get us started here in PHL. Thanks for this great giveaway.
Southern Living cooking!
A must have.
I live in the south and I love to cook.
Just ask my menfolk.
Facebook isn't allowing me to pull up the post alone to my link to the giveaway, so here is my profile link where you will find it:http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/profile.php?r…
i am always looking for something different to cook. especially with veggies. i am growing my own veggie garden again this yr. It is hard for me to get my daughter to try something new but she has no choice since i refuse to make 2 seperate dinners at the same time..
blargh. Farmer's Market. I should have gone today, huh? I assume they've started already…But I guess, since it a quarter-of-one and I've only just woke up—and this sleep schedule is in no way rare—that's probably not going to happen any time soon.
blargh.
I love Southern Living cookbooks, and would love to use one that doesn't make me feel guilty. Of course, it's not SL's fault I seem to only make the chicken-fried steak, biscuits and gravy-type recipes in their other books!
I love cookbooks. I check them out from the library on a regular basis. Would love to win this!!
My recent post Menu Plan Monday
tweeted
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I'm sorry that I have no mildly entertaining comments because it is 6:30 am and we had no sleep last nite due to tornado warnings and the need to run to the basement every hour or so.
Thanks for this giveaway, looks like a great cookbook to have for the summer!