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The Ten Most Recent Comments By mhmurray

From Talk

Alton Brown's recipes: yay or nay?

I Say Yay! Be sure to read the comments on recipes at the Food Network site and also check out Good Eats Fan Page. It has transcripts of each episode, in case you missed something.

mhmurray at 1:20PM on 02/25/08

Responses to Comments by mhmurray

From Talk

Alton Brown's recipes: yay or nay?

With the hundreds of shows he's done and topics he's covered, I find it so interesting that several have noted his turkey recipe and the 3 chocolate chip recipes - based on personal preference. Those are the ones I remember most and have tried successfully as well.

To search the turkey, I remember putting turkey 500 in the search box and there it was. I was at my daughter's, she had just had a baby and they didn't have most of the brine ingredients, so I just skipped that (very involved w/lots of ingredients like candied ginger & apples) step. It was still one of the best turkeys I have ever made.

PerkyMac at 2:56PM on 02/26/08

From Talk

Alton Brown's recipes: yay or nay?

For some of the reasons discussed above, I really enjoy reading the publications from Cook's Illustrated, whether it's their magazine or cookbooks. They painstakingly detail all the tests that went into developing their recipes and give a pretty accurate description of what defines their "ideal" end product. Sometimes my opinion lines up with theirs and other times it doesn't, but at least I know beforehand.

I've never made a recipe from AB that turned out horrible -- I own all of his books and use them a lot -- but sometimes I find that I prefer someone else's recipe. For example, his muffin batter base is adequate but not spectacular for my tastes...I still eagerly anticipate every new episode of his show, though!

Dominic
the zen kitchen

dvchurch at 9:54AM on 02/26/08

From Talk

Alton Brown's recipes: yay or nay?

I really like Alton Brown's show but not all of the reicpes we've tried have been winners. Avoid his mac and cheese recipe, both of them.

bobbob at 9:33AM on 02/26/08

From Talk

Alton Brown's recipes: yay or nay?

I've made several of Giada's recipes--they come out fine to me...

heartnibbler at 9:30AM on 02/26/08

From Talk

Alton Brown's recipes: yay or nay?

The reason AB uses a scale when baking is that you will get more accuracy with a scale than with measuring cups. Again baking is a science as you are dealing with chemical reactions of leavening and liquids.

You don't have to be so particular when cooking. A pinch of something will do, well, in a pinch. Recipes are written with standard measures (cups, tsps, etc) so that everyone can follow them. But most cooks will make their own adjustments to suit their palates.

SayWhat at 8:23AM on 02/26/08

From Talk

Alton Brown's recipes: yay or nay?

If you just follow AB's recipes exactly you've missed the whole point of the show. He doesn't just spew out a recipe, he spends the show telling you the why. Armed with the knowledge from the rest of the show you can add or remove bits, alter the cooking process or make substitutions with more knowledge of what the outcome will be.

I also am not a big recipe follower, which is why Good Eats is a good show for me. I don't need yet another cookie recipe, but I could use info into what makes a cookie, crispy, chewy, or cakey.

IdeaRat at 6:05PM on 02/25/08

From Talk

Alton Brown's recipes: yay or nay?

My first attempt as making Thanksgiving turkey was made by using Alton's recipe published in (Gourmet? Bon Appetite?) I was very nervous about that bird, but Alton held my hand the whole way. It turned out great-and I got LOTS of compliments!
THANK YOU ALTON!!!!

bisbee at 5:09PM on 02/25/08

From Talk

Alton Brown's recipes: yay or nay?

I have to admit I am an AB fanatic, Never miss Good Eats and I'll watch anything else he appears on including sitting through every episode of who will be the next iron chef. I love his recipes and even though I seldom measure anything when cooking, as opposed to baking, his I will measure for. I've always had good luck with his recipes. so YAY!

huney_bumper at 3:55PM on 02/25/08

From Talk

Alton Brown's recipes: yay or nay?

Alton is amazing. He is an idol in my home. So much so that my wife has given me permission to have his children if that would be physically possible. I have his books and they are just as informative yet entertaining as his shows are. I've done many of his recipes and they all work. The deal is: his instructions are easily the best that I've ever read on how to cook something. He writes like an excellent technical writer and not a chef so he tells you exactly what you should do and how.

Bunnyman at 2:50PM on 02/25/08

From Talk

Alton Brown's recipes: yay or nay?

I have had great luck with his Gold Cake recipe. Both in cake and cupcake form. Extremely tasty and moist!

delaklug at 2:06PM on 02/25/08