A Little Taste of... China

I picked this up at Ross for about $4. It is the best $4 I have EVER spent on a cook book. Hands down.

Not only am I a sucker for beautiful pictures (and this book has loads) but I love an easy to follow recipe that tastes like something from a really good restaurant. This is it. After making a quick trip to the Viet Ho market, I was able to fairly quickly acquire some special black vinegar and Shao Xing (after figuring out it was vinegar ONLY because it was in the vinegar section), I made the Kung Pao chicken on page 54. Mark requested it, and Kung Pao he got. I don't know if it was one of those exotic ingredients, but it absolutely rocked. It is rare that I see him take thirds or even seconds, but I am pretty sure he had fourths and then I had to smack his little paws away from picking at the baby's plate.

The photos are absolutely beautiful and there are several colorful and glossy pictures of food, people, and places on each and every page. The back has a quick reference for breads and sauces, and the book is a nice small, but not TOO small size.

You can find it on Amazon.com for about $5 used, but I would look around at sale tables at some book stores to avoid shipping. However, I think it is worth it anyway - impress your guests/husband/kids. Everyone loves Chinese food.

Beautiful food, beautiful pictures, beautiful book. Super easy to follow, great organization, nice size, and the Kung Pao kicks ass.