THE VODKA COOKBOOK - by John Rose
This cookbook has a copyright of 2006. I got this cookbook in the bargain bin at Barnes & Noble (For about $3). I have never cooked from this book before.
Many many years ago, I found a recipe in one of my Glamour magazines for pasta with a vodka sauce. I think it was the only recipe that I ever made out any issues of that magazine. I remember I served it for "company". It was damn good. I made it a few times and then lost the recipe somewhere. When I came across this cookbook, the memories of being in that tiny apartment kitchen with my roommate, making that dish with vodka, came flooding back to me. Cooking with vodka back then was a novel idea...very...upscale for a girl like me who didn't really cook (for those that know me, think back to Pizza Hut days...). These days, cooking with alcohol seems to be quite popular so I look forward to experimenting with this cookbook.
After a brief introduction, there is a "How to Use This Book" which was very helpful. Some of the dishes take pre-planning, like making infused vodkas. The author also explains how the book and recipes are set up. There is a page with Vodka basics (drinking, cooking with). Standard chapters with a few different ones like Food Flights (small servings presented together, think shot glasses full of goodies) and Infusions (with a few pages on making those in general). There are a couple of chapters that deal with, what I guess you would call, basics made with vodka (things like different types of jam, ketchup). There are a few photos of the 120 recipes but not many (I always like tons of photos).
The recipes seem pretty straightforward. I'd say there aren't a lot of hard to find ingredients because the basic ingredients are pretty normal stuff, but because you have to make flavored vodkas and some of the sauces required in the recipes they might not be that easy (sour cherry vodka anyone?).
The recipes are enticing. Not sure if it's me just thinking "oh goody, vodka's in this" or just the name of the recipes, but I'm finding quite a few dishes I'd like to try. Loaded Donuts with Ginger Pear Filling, Vodka-Steamed Shrimp Cocktail, Vodka Roasted Pepper Flight, Chilies Stuffed with Goat's Cheese and Dates in Vodka Sweet Pepper Sauce, Glazed and Confused Chicken, Disoriented Duck, Moscow Tacos, Bloody Natasha Steaks (using a Bloody Mary type concoction), Habanero-Encrusted Tuna with Lemon Vodka and Thyme Dressing, Naked Ravioli in Vodka Tomato Sauce, Vodka Berries Romanoff, Red Squares (vodka Jello), Screwdriver Souffles, Vodka and Onion Ketchup, Raspberry Vodka Jam, Espressotini, Champagnsky Koktail....wait...I'm listing everything aren't I? Seriously good sounding stuff. Excited to try out some of these recipes!
I love cooking with Vodka! Sometimes I even put it in the food...
Posted by: G4 | March 02, 2010 at 06:55 AM
Lot's of delicious sounding recipes there. Love the name "Moscow Tacos".
Posted by: Livin Local | March 02, 2010 at 07:33 AM
OMG, a whole book on cooking with vodka. I feel tipsy just thinking about that. ;)
Posted by: Carolyn Jung | March 02, 2010 at 06:09 PM
You are truly helping me with my holiday shopping early this year. I think each sibling will get this cookbook along with a bottle of Vodka from me this Christmas. It's so unique! At least to me. :-)
Posted by: JeanetteS | March 02, 2010 at 07:32 PM