Fresh From Central Market Cookbook

November 2, 2009
This collection of 225 seasonal favorites from America's oldest continually-operating farmers market, Lancaster, Penn.'s Central Market, gives locavores plenty to chew on. In this new edition, veteran author Good (The Fix It And Forget It series) takes a back seat to the vendors, bakers and butchers of the market. Looking every bit like the community cookbook it is, this volume leans heavily on simple, hearty fare like Chicken Tortilla Soup, Swedish Meatballs, roast chicken and Peach Pie, though occasional surprises like Roasted Rosemary Sweet Potatoes and Whole Wheat Ricotta Gnocchi provide room for experimentation. Missteps, like the curious Sausage and Peach Bake-peaches and sausages baked in pancake batter, topped with peach syrup-are few. Good provides no recipe introductions, leaving cooks to determine, from steps and ingredients, what the final result should be; in addition, recipes can be difficult to distinguish and, therefore, difficult to decide on. Those located near Lancaster's farmers market will most benefit, as many vendors offer suggestions for getting the most out of their particular goods. Regional cookbook collectors and fans of Americana may find this volume of interest, but those outside the region may find it pedestrian.

November 15, 2009
Good, coauthor of the bestselling "Fix-It and Forget-It Cookbook: Feasting with Your Slow Cooker", has gathered 225 recipes from the truck farmers, bakers, and local butchers who sell their goods at the country's oldest continuously operating farmers market. While Lancaster, PA, is often synonymous with the Amish, cooks will find a multicultural array of easy-to-follow recipes incorporating fresh ingredients: Greek Bandit-Style Chicken, Green Curry Chicken, Hungarian Chicken Livers, Vegetable Pizza, Chocolate Raspberry Torte, and more. Recipes list the cook and businesses, cooking time, variation options, and notes on the recipe's history. Sure to appeal to home cooks who shop their local farmers markets for ingredients.

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