As a chef of 24 years, I have used many cookbooks. I use the spice cook book to teach my apprentices the history, and importance of cooking. I espeically like the excerpt by dionysius.

thank you very much
Wade St. Germaine

This is not only a cookbook, but a history book as well. Gives informative, interesting background on the various spices called for in the recipes. I found this book for [a small amount of money] at a garage sale years ago and am now buying a copy for my daughter. Every recipe I've tried in it has been wonderful.

This cookbook is the single best cookbook I own. My mother received it as a wedding gift in 1966, and I luckily got it from her. Every recipie I have tried from this book has turned out deliciously. Most of the recipies are quite easy and quick, and the directions are straightforward. The information on the spices themselves is also very helpful in general, and the illustrations accompanying the recipies are funny and adorable! I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes to, or has to cook, even a "beginner."

I discovered this book because I always read the RWA RITA Award finalists, and I can't remember the last time a novel touched me so deeply. If you're looking for a book that will bring tears to your eyes and joy to your heart, buy TWELVE DAYS. Buy it right now.

Ms. Hill gifts us with everything we could ask for and more: lyrical writing, powerful emotion, tender romance and the kind of freshness and originality we rarely see in the genre these days. She also writes some of the best dialogue this side of Nora Roberts. Her characters are marvelously human, vulnerable, real people and their story will linger in your heart long after you turn the last page.

In my humble opinion, TWELVE DAYS should have won the RITA and Teresa Hill deserves a place on the hardcover bestseller lists. If you enjoy women's fiction by authors like Barbara Delinsky, Kristin Hannah and Anna Quindlen, you will love Teresa Hill.

Sam and Rachel's marriage has been going downhill for years, neither of them wanting to admit it. Despite the fact that Sam has taken to sleeping in another room, Rachel is stunned when she overhears Sam's phone conversation revealing he is moving out after Christmas.

While their problems are deep, they seemed to come to the surface after the foster child (Will) they were caring for had to be returned to his biological mother. Now neither of them are willing to care that much for a child again. Sam and Rachel have struggled with infertility ever since the death of their premature daughter twelve years previously. They gave their heart to young Will only to have it shattered.

Twelve days before Christmas Rachel's aunt, a social worker, shows up on their doorstep with three young children in tow. It seems they have been abandoned in a local motel by a mother who promised she'd return. Rachel and Sam are still on the list of approved foster homes and despite the fact that neither of them feel they want to risk their heart again, they have no option but to keep the children -- at least through the Holidays.

This is an emotional story, reminiscent of Kristin Hannah's "family dramas." I love it when you have a couple who has had some sort of problem to work through which leads to them almost parting -- or sometimes actually separating/divorcing. The characters of Sam and Rachel as well as that of the three children, Emma, Zach, and Grace are ones that will stay with the reader long after the last page is turned. There were no easy answers for Sam or Rachel here. Their problems are realistically portrayed. If you enjoyed books such as ANGEL FALLS by Kristin Hannah, COAST ROAD by Barbara Delinsky or MOMENTS IN TIME by Mariah Stewart, chances are you will enjoy TWELVE DAYS as well. The book is simply unforgettable and I can assure you it will be going on my keeper shelf for re-reading every Christmas season

Sam and Rachel have drifted apart, neither understanding at the beginning of the story just how far. When she overhears him on the phone making plans to leave her right after Christmas, she is devestated,and realizes she has only twelve days to change his mind. In Sam and Rachel's tradition, the twelve days before Christmas (not following) are very special, and the magic of caring for unexpected foster children may help revive their love. But they've loved and lost children before, and the three who show up on their doorstep desparately needing a warm Christmas, have the power to tear the couple apart, or put them back together. This is an emotional story and I recommend a box of tissues and a big chunk of time to read uninterrupted.

No matter what your interests, you will enjoy this book! I received it one afternoon and finished it before retiring that evening. Who knows, the author may be right on the mark with his scenario of events at the close of the Vietnam War. It is definitely thought provoking. Highly recommended.

The Twilight of the Day is a rivoting story that is probably closer to the truth that anyone would want to believe. Once you pick it up you cannot put it down. It is a "must read" for anyone who knows and cares about what happened in Viet Nam. I am looking forward to reading more from Ian O'Connor.

Review by Ginnie FitzGerald: truly riveting! Husband enjoyed it so much I had to read it. True to his word, it grabbed my attention and was very fast paced. I could not put it down until I had finished it! I most highly recommend it!

This book is filled with enough twists and turns to keep you reading non-stop! Ms. Benitez is a talented writer and I look forward to her next novel. I loved China - as they say, you can't judge the book by the cover! Who knew? Teresa - her character touched me deeply in so many ways. And Roz . . . I know one Roz too many! This is a must read! Terrific first novel! Keep them coming Ms. Benitez!

Initially my thoughts were, "another girl book". I was wrong! I enjoyed it very much. The author has a unique style that kept me wanting more. Kudos, MS. Benitez. I can imagine this on the big screen...wish I had the money to invest...it would make millions. I recommend this novel 100%. It's a fast and easy read that sends you through some interesting drama.

Quick moving and easy reading. I read this book in a day. It has enough drama to keep you wanting more and enough happiness to keep you hoping. Hand claps to the new writer on the block!

A must read. Good for the soul and spirit. Encourages you to see the blessings you are given every day and every minute of the day. Encourages you to open your eyes to see what is at your fingertips and helps you to know that God is watching over you even in the simple happenings in life. This book will enrich your heart and spirit.

Reading this book is like having a conversation with a wonderful friend!! One who possesses loving insights, and an egar willingness to share what she has learned through her observations and personal experiences. You need only take a moment (or an hour) to 'look' with the inner eyes of your spirit, not just your physical eyes, to realize and recognize the daily expressions of God's great love and many blessings the author is reaching out to share with you. You MUST read this book and give a copy to anyone you love! One read-through is not enough.

This author is an easy read. She relates to everyday people & shows how God's hand is always in our lives, All We Have To Do Is Look. She truly shows that even a negative experience is God's work & that something good will be waiting down the road.

Some of these recipes were old favorites and some were very new, but what they all have in common the low fat content which we all appreciate. The author does not sacrifice taste when she trades in the higher fat foods for lower fat ones!

Some of the recipes are ones I enjoyed reading but would never try because of the loooong list of ingredients. I find myself just skipping over recipes that have 20+ ingredients. It's just too much.

Looking out at 2 feet of snow, I am planning on making the Chick Pea and Tomato Soup this afternoon. Sounds yummy.

This is a must for your kitchen cookbook library. "Saved by Soup" should not be confused as a seasonal cookbook. I love cooking soup during the blustery winter days, and from fall to spring this compact cookbook seldom goes back into the rack. The summer section in this book is also very good. You must try Judith Barrett's 'Best Gazpacho' and 'Chilled Corn Vichyssoise' summer recipes.

My girlfriend is delighted over this cookbook, and she does not often cook. She jumped in and made some very good soups -- try 'Real Gumbo with Okra and Chicken' . Together, we have yet to find a recipe that is not very pleasing. Many, like the 'Ligurian Minestrone', are excellent (this is the best Minestrone we have eaten).

Now, even though these recipes are easy to follow, and the great color photographs make them more enticing, they are not the "20 minute" type. Many of them call for fresh herbs and fresh ingredients, but don't despair, Barrett will reward you with outstanding taste almost every time and I guarantee that your guests will clamor for more. OK, with that having been said, don't forget that most of her recipes are low fat -- less than 3 grams of fat per serving. Wow, health and great flavor too! Highly Recommended

This is a lovely little book. Full of recipes that are easy to make and taste fabulous. We try a new soup from this book at least once a month, and we make Pasta e Fagioli almost every week. The only down side, for those on specialized diets, is that the nutritional information is limited to calories and grams of fat only.

I am related to Charlie Lawson. General Lawson was my grandfather. My parents (Jess & Trudie Pruitt) told me the story when I was younger and the book tells the same exact story. My mother was interviewed for this book.

Ok, so I haven't read the book, but I DID go to the old school that the Lawson children went to. The school has been shut down from about 1930 or so. My freinds and I walked down a long dark path and when we got so close to the school, we had to leave! Very odd things happened while we were there. We were planning to go in but we just couldn't! After we left the school, we drove to the grave site (which is about 10 miles from the school) where the whole family had been burried. All together with one huge tombstone "Lawson" The father was burried on the far right then the mother and infant together and then Marie(the oldest daughter) That is all we got to before some weird things happend.

My father used to have this book (we are related to Charlie Lawson) but at the time he had it, he didn't let me read it because i was too young. Now that i am older i amd more fascinated (and so is my dad) about the Lawson Family Murders. My dads grandpa (Sanders) was out hunting with the oldest son of Charlies the morning of the murders. We would like to contact other family members who are interested in this. My grandpa Lawson lives in NC (close to thomasville) so if we ever come down we would like to visit the grave with other family members.

It's almost overwhelming. There is no way you can spend this much time teaching everything, but it's nice to be able to pick and choose fun things to do with your baby. It's easy to use in a well thought out layout from birth on, divided by sensory perception.

As a first time mom,of a child with special needs to boot, I had no idea. This book and the others in the series are great resources for finding things to do with your child other than watching Teletubbies for the thousandth time. If your child needs extra help in a certain area, like fine motor or listening skills, you can easily find a variety of exercises to help here. The later books in the series (Threes, Fours, and Fives) would also be a great resource for a homeschooling parent.

Not just for daycare! I am a first-time, stay-at-home mom and needed a way to tell if I was "doing all the right stuff" in regards to play, development, speech, music, etc. This book gives you exercises that are so easy for each stage of the first year of life. There is not a lot to read like a typical baby care book, but each section outlines what the child should be accomplishing and gives you exercises to ensure that your child reaches those development milestones. If you can look past the idea that it is written for daycare providers, you will find this book extremely helpful. I knew I was giving my child all he needed because I had these exercises to use as a handy guide. Good luck to you!

A collection of intelligent and informed essays from the late, lamented magazine. Not necessarily for the casual fan, but rabid BB admirers will find tasty food for thought in these pages.

Don Cunningham and Jeff Bleiel edit Add Some Music To Your Day, about analyzing the music of the Beach Boys. Over forty articles, essays and reviews provide critical analysis of albums and songs in a coverage which will delight Beach Boys fans. A highly recommended pick.

Don Cunningham and Jeff Bleiel have assembled some of the best Beach Boys writings here in this book, "Add Some Music To Your Day." I wasn't around to read these the first time in the "Add Some..." fanzine, but this is GREAT stuff. BRAVO!

This is indeed a good algebra primer, though not without its failings. First the positive. The authors avoid the use of math jargon and long winded explanations that many other academic types use primarily for self-aggrandizement purposes. There are plenty of practice problems, and the lessons are laid out in a logical order. Now the negative. Some of the more difficult concepts are given little attention, while the very simple are given far too much attention. Also, the book should have been edited more closely (there are several typos and at least one repeated paragraph, but these errors are, for the most part, easily recognizable). I have found that books written by teachers are quite often rubberstamped by the people checking for accuracy, but this book avoids one of the worst failings of teacher/authors--the apparent practice of an author simply handing class notes to a publisher, believing their work is infallible. The authors of this book obviously put much thought into this work, and have succeeded admirably. Oh, by the way, "...In 20 Minutes A Day" means absolutely nothing.

I took Algebra over the summer and before taking the class I read this book. It helped me alot. This book gets down to the facts and helps you understand them with practice and examples. For me this book was better than a teacher teaching me Algebra. It was great and helped me alot. I think this should be a required material for all algebra classes; it is better than any textbook. I am taking Geometry next year and I am soon to order Geometry Success in 20 Minutes a Day!

I am planning to go to College as a mature student in Spring and really and truly needed to fully understand Algebra. Well this book is perfect. Step by Step. If you don't understand Algebra after studying this book, you really weren't paying attention.

That and it's actually enjoyable. I also bought learn Geometry in 20 minutes a day. And I also feel the same way about that book.