Stop and Smell the Rosemary is beautifully written and also makes a wonderful coffee table book. The recipes are easy to follow and the tips listed in the margins are great. This has been a favorite of mine to give as gifts, and has been very well received.

You must try the Mango Margaritas, they are festive and great for a change from the standard lime. The Tortilla Soup is the best I've ever had! There are far too many great dishes to name them, and my dinner guests have never been disappointed!

I love this book, and am very impressed that it was put out by a "non-professional" publisher (the Houston Junior League). The recipes are easy to follow & clear, the graphics are crisp and fine, and the food that I have made from the book has been well-loved by the lucky eaters in my circle.

I fancy myself a bit of a domestic goddess-- ask anyone who knows me if they would turn down a dinner invitation. I originally bought this book to give to a friend for a wedding gift, and eventually had to buy it for myself. I traded in a more "famous" trendy cookbook which was not well done for this one and have not looked back.

It's both complex enough for experienced cooks and simple-to-follow enough for the beginner-- plus includes some "everyone ought to know this" tips and charts on things other than the nuts and bolts of recipes. Buy this book; you won't regret it, and you're supporting charity work, as well.

I have been inundated with Jr. League cookbooks over the years, and most resemble nothing more than a cookbook of typical, unimaginative recipes compiled by housewives with nothing to do. I would rank them equal to the typical church group cookbooks that are published day and in and day out. Stop and Smell the Rosemary sets a new, refreshing standard for cookbooks of this nature. This book is truly a class act. Each recipe I have tried has been nothing short of amazing and wonderful.

Foremost are the photographs. I would call Annerino's canyon portraits the best of a really good lot, even over big-time large-format photographers. While the large-format works are stunning artistic studies of light and color shot with impossibly huge f-stops, Annerino's canyon photographs give expression to the phrase "wearing one's heart on the sleeve." His photos have an active passion that others lack. Anyone who knows him will say he is among the "hardmen' to tackle the Southwestern mountains and canyons, but that he is definitely the most sincere in his passion for place. Perhaps, because of this he lacks a calculated commercial view of the places he photographs. His images also record his own passion, creating compelling and unique photographs. More than any other contemporary outdoor photographer, Annerino's photos mirror his love of the land's people. In the text, Annerino portrays canyonlands people as part of what makes the places special. He has a deep affection for past and present native peoples, but unlike some Anglo North Americans, Annerino isn't a lost 20th century soul. Rather, he seems to have a straightfoward and genuine admiration for native people, and has learned a great deal about them. His research on each canyon's history is impressive. Annerino writes with an immensity commensurate with his subject. His style is old-fashioned, evoking an older, more grandiose era of writing of explorers like Powell and Pattie. While many modern writers seem bent on infusing themselves into as much of the story as possible, Annerino's style is not so full of himself as full of the intensity of his canyon experiences...Annerino is at his best when he writes about Mexico, especially the Big Bend passage where he talks about the injustices served the Mexican across the river at the hands of our national park there. An optimist who sees great things in the canyons, Annerino neither ignores nor dwells on the obvious problems facing the West like pollution and development. And fortunately, CANYONS OF THE SOUTHWEST is not a treasure map guidebook to these areas. -Desert Skies

John Annerino's pictorial celebration of the canyons of the southwestern United States and northern Mexico is a handsome momento for those who have heard the wind whistling in these haunting canyons, and a beckoning invitation for those who have not yet made the journey. Annerino has spent much of his adult life exploring this territory -- as a wilderness runner, adventurer, and photojournalist -- and here combines his firsthand knowledge with his expertise as a nature photographer and author to create an intimate portrait of some of the most dramatic landscapes in the world. Scores of stunning full-color photographs make plain the basis for the region's appeal. From the centuries-old Anasazi ruins to the breathtaking buttes of Monument Valley, from the Narrows of Zion National Park to the barrancas (canyons) of the frontier of Mexico, CANYONS OF THE SOUTHWEST is a memorable record of one of the earth's most spectacular bioregions.

Everyone knows about the Grand Canyon, but what many of us don't know is that the Southwest is laced with canyons less traveled but no less spectacular. Lucky for us, Annerino spills a few secrets in this book, describing in words and fine photographs such places...an encticement to visit or revisit, in person, this stunning terrain. -Outside Magazine

What a wonderful collection of delicious recipes. Chef Walker has shared his magical culinary secrets and has delivered them in a beautifully illustrated and well written book. "In Your Kitchen" tells us how to prepare some of Brennan's famous treats such as: Brandy Milk Punch, Turtle Soup and Bananas Foster. Carl Walker also shares his life experiences with his readers. After reading through the book, I feel that I know Chef Walker and his family personally. NOTE: The Texas Cornbread Pudding will become a must for your family gatherings.

Brennan's of Houston in Your Kitchen is as approachable as Chef Carl Walker himself. This cookbook guides the reader through the best Creole recipes from the restaurant in a straightforward, informative manner. Recipes are not overly simplified for the home cook, but instead are presented in an enticing and easy to follow step by step process, with lovely pictures of the final products. Each dish we have prepared tastes exactly like the food available at the restaurant. We recently visited Brennan's of Houston and were again pleased with how well the recipes translated for the home cook. What a delightful addition to any "chef's" library.

This book is so well balanced with recipes, photos, history of the place and it feels like you know the author when you read it. I've tried some of the recipes and they are user friendly, which isn't always the case for a chef written book. I've given this book to my friends for Christmas and they have loved it. The photos are exceptional and they are not intimating to me, like so many other books. If you want a touch of Creole and some just good cookbook reading it is my new favorite.
ps. I forgot almost every recipe has Chef tips and notes so you can substitute ingredients that may be hard to find and make your own creation.

[Backcover Review]: "PEOPLE OF LEGEND by acclaimed photojournalist and author John Annerino is a stunning and evocative portrait of Native America and the mystical landscapes they call home. "This largely photographic essay...offers a rare glimpse of coming of age ceremonies and feasts, and vivid re-enactments of ancient dances."-San Francisco Chronicle. "Contemporary Native American culture is revealed by a photojournalist who spent over 20 years exploring the Southwest...a stunning visual display of modern tribes and people: a blend of cultural history and art book."-Reviewers Bookwatch. "Annerino's work is outstanding." -Arizona Daily Star. "PEOPLE OF LEGEND tells a history, in words and pictures, that we all need to know." -American Photo Magazine. "Extraordinary."-Sandia Review." [Backcover Bio]: "Praised by Newsweek as one of the finest photographers of the West, John Annerino has worked in the frontier of Old Mexico and the American West for two decades. The Washington Post has lauded his "reverant and ravishing photographs," The Denver Post described his work as "fabulous," Publishers Weekly calls it "stunning." Represented by Gamma-Liaison, Annerino's credits include Time, Life, Newsweek, and Scientific American, among many prestigious publications worldwide. The author of nine books, Annerino's works include the critically acclaimed 1999 border saga DEAD IN THEIR TRACKS and his new photo/art book on American cowboys and cowgirls, ROUGHSTOCK: THE TOUGHEST EVENTS IN RODEO."

Acclaimed author and photojournalist John Annerino is known for his high-risk journeys through the frontiers of Mexico and the American Southwest, seeking stories untold and photos unseen. For the past two decades, with his pen and his camera, he has told the stories of indigenous people -- their struggles and triumphs, their political strife and quiet dignity. His chronicles about the Tarahumara [WHERE SPIRITS STILL DANCE, in press] and Inde [APACHE: The Sacred Path to Womanhood, Marlowe & Co.], and his journeys across the desert with Mexican citizens looking for work in the United States [DEAD IN THEIR TRACKS: Crossing America's Desert Borderlands, Four Walls Eight Windows], can be found in several books as well as in frequent articles. Annerino share[s] his journeys and experiences, reflecting on how indigenous cultures have retained their traditions while dealing with outside influences. -Heard Museum

PEOPLE OF LEGEND. Annerino's book examines Indians' ties to land...A dozen figures raise crooked sticks toward the twilight sky. In the shot, Annerino manages to bring an almost monumental quality to the circle of students at San Simon High School, on the western edge of the Tohono O'odham reservation, as they play the ancient stickball game. At first glance, it appears to be some ancient ceremony. In a way it is. "I wanted to show the spirituality of the game of toka for the Tohono O'odham," Annerino said. -Daily Star

Cookbooks are my hobby and I read dozens of them all the time. Most fail because they are frequently of foods that require complicated preparation and/or are foods that the average American doesn't enjoy. Another failing of most cookbooks is that the author has tried hard to fill the book up with recipes rather than giving a few that are tried, true and tasty. Mad Coyote Joe has obviously tried all of his recipes because everything in his book is delicious besides being easy to prepare. He has also chosen a popular setting for preparation of his culinary masterpieces. Most people like to do barbecue for assembled friends and parties and Joe has given us lots of food presentations with which to impress our friends and families. This cookbook is so good I am going to buy one for everyone on my Christmas list.

The Sonoran Grill is the printed version of Mad Coyote Joe's great TV show. The author takes you through some great tasting recipes from the desert southwest, and you don't feel like you need to spend years in the kitchen to make each meal a success. You might have to spend a few weekends over the grill, but this book makes doing that even easier. Its a must for the seasoned chef, and those new to the grill. I never used to cook before and now its a big part of my life. You need this one for your backyard.

Author, Mad Coyote Joe, shows you how to go from mediocre to margaritaville with this easy to follow book, The Sonoran Grill. Packed with his best recipes from the popular southwestern cooking show, The Sonoran Grill, you will never look at grilling food the same way again. This book covers chile peppers, soups, salads, salsas, side dishes, sauces and rubs, main dishes, drinks and desserts...Mexican Green Rice, tequila grilling sauce for fish, grilled coconut shrimp, grill-baked paella, and almond kahlua flan to name a few of his mouthwatering recipes. The recipe for Habanero-lime butter will have you laying down on the floor and screaming with ecstasy and is worth the price of the book alone!

Well worth a look. Magical realism at its best. Not for everyone, as the protagonist is a feminist, strong woman, with opinions. Most enjoyable.

...to describe how this book made me feel. It is poignant, it is bittersweet, it is joyful, and it is more. The descriptions in this book were exquisite, the characters were well-drawn, the lessons were apropos to any society at any time but even more so to today's American society -- and the book was filled with cats, which is always a plus in my eyes. If you've ever felt like an outsider, I think you will appreciate this book, and I hope you will love it as much as I did. And if you've never felt like an outsider, then, in my opinion, you definitely need to read this book. It will open your eyes. I recommend this book to absolutely everyone. And their cats. :-)

This is an incredible book on love, life and the unfairness and stupidity of history. And cats fascination with tuna. I don't often get emotional when reading a book, although a good movie can bring me to tears if well done. This book made me cry with happiness, with anger and it made me laugh out loud and smile one heckuva lot. I cannot recommend this book enough. Although this is the only book I have ever read by Ms. Dexter, I truly enjoyed it and look forward to other books by her. If this is the best she has ever done, well, that's fine, because this book is masterful.

A truly inspiring read and insight to the Pecos. Gradys recipes will revitalize the aura in your in pots and pans as well as the entire kitchen. The book is simple yet creative and above all the recipes are great fun to eat. Set your tables in the motif, cook from the book, dress the part and you've got a great evening with good friends

What a fantastic cookbook. I saw a copy at my parents' house, and I was charmed by the photos and design, so I hinted at a birthday gift selection. The parents obliged, and A COWBOY IN THE KITCHEN has become my favorite cookbook. I discovered that the terrific photos and graphics are only the tip of the iceberg -- the recipes are just fantastic. I have made probably 8 or 9 of them so far, and every one was a joy to make and even more of a joy to eat! In particular, the Spicy Tomato Soup with Sourdough Croutons has been a real hit with friends at dinner parties. The classic Chicken Fried Steak with Cream Gravy is simply divine. It's a great combination of old-timey, classic country comfort food and new-fangled, flavorsome delights. The classic Ranch Dressing and fancier Sherry Vinaigrette have become the standard salad dressings in my kitchen. I can't say enough good things about this book!

Received Cowboy in the Kitchen as a present last Christmas. Having eaten at the Gage Hotel, Marathon and the Reata in Alpine Texas, where Grady Spears was chef, I couldn't put the book down until I read it cover to cover. It's an outstanding collection of authentic Trans-Pecos and Big Bend stories and genuine ranch-hand recipes with a touch of TexMex-New Mexico flavoring. Just try a couple of the recipes and you're lassoed on the book and recipes.

Some books can slap you awake.. Gilb's "Woodcuts of Women" is like that. It was like I'd been asleep and it woke me up and I had energy again. There is not a story in this collection that can't be read more than once. the best book I've read in years. I am not a person who usually like short story collections, they are usually like "assignments" in creative writing classes that please teachers. I read novels. But this collecton isn't like a collection of stories. It's arranged around maybe not one "theme", though all of them are about love and sex and sex and love, and all that confusion about love. It's better and deeper than that. It is chicano, but its not just a chicano book. Not about it only. Like "100 Years of Solitude" is about Columbia but not about Columbia only. No, the whole of it takes your breath away. Sure its the fine writing Gilb has-poetic writing and scenes that, common as they might seem to be, make you feel like you've seen it for the first time. Chicano Zen?.

I got on amazon.com to write this, never written one before. I don't usualy rave about books.

The stories have a wide scope, even if on the other hand they are all so much the same. The last one titled "Snow" was maybe the finest. About a man going to New York because his girlfriend is pregnant. There's a scene (imagined) in an abortion clinic that is the saddest. And the end. The snow and the silence on Broadway Ave in NYC. That is the end of the whole book, the mood. Silence. Everything changed.

I think anyone would love the story "Bottoms." It was wild funny. About this gigantic woman, she keeps getting bigger and bigger, a fantasy and not, who decides to have this journalist who is all messed up about someone else. There's a story about "Tere" who he fantasizes about while he's staying with another woman, while some other woman he's staying with wants him to fall in love with her. This book isn't about only men or only women, we all act and feel this, all of us are confused and conflicted about love. Battling one dream that we lost while getting another that we can't pay attention to. I could go on more and about every story.

I mentioned Marquez. I read Gilb's novel before. It's not Marquez like in the slightest, it is more European, or Steinbeck, but it has the depth of an major book. And I'd only read a few of his stories in "The Magic of Blood". (I plan to get that and really sit down with it because it's suppose to be great). But his "Woodcuts of Women", I wll say, is an American Marquez. Beautiful and profound. Someone says it is short It might not be that many pages but evey single page counts, and you read every sentence. Not like so many books. It is just right, no padding. I guarantee you will love this book as much as I do

Anthony Park Chicago, Illinois

if I could give woodcuts of women more stars i would...it is so good...it is the best book i read this summer...i have been hearing about it for a couple of months now and so i decided i would have to read it and i did. yes it is about love and sex but it is about alot more too. and if you watch how beautiful is the writing not to mention the deeper thouhgts that it creates...a profound book by a writer who understands and loves woman and not just sex altough i think he obviosuly does...i recommend this book especially to women. because we do not always think of men as this aware of us. i read a review that said gilb made them to idealized in woodcuts if that is so i want to be idealized then. go buy this book, the art fits to it too.

Dagoberto Gilb's "Woodcuts of Women" is one of the most honest, entertaining, well-crafted short story collections about love and lust that I've read in a long while. Gilb doesn't spare us when he allows his male characters to delve deeply into their obsessions with the opposite sex. In "Maria de Covina," the first story in the collection, a young Chicano (nineteen but he thinks he passes for twenty) simply tells us: "This is the thing: I like women. No, wait. I love women." In "The Pillows," the male protagonist, Jorge, thinks he figured out why his pocho friend, Danny, is having women problems: the only pillows he owns are old, raggedy and dirty. Jorge is obsessed about this particularly while housesitting for Danny. Jorge tells his own girlfriend: "I can't imagine a woman getting in a bed with those pillows. I can't imagine a woman wanting to, even to take a nap." Some of the stories are heartbreaking, like "Shout," where poverty pushes a man to be abusive to his wife and children; even here, there is a glimmer of hope, hope based on love of women. Gilb is a master at ambiguities, our ambiguities as people searching for companionship. The only bad thing about this book is that it is too short (a mere 167 pages).

Much praise is also due to the artist, Artemio Rodriguez, who illustrated each story with linocuts (similar to woodcuts); these illustrations capture the wonder, danger and craziness of loving women too much.

Since we frequent Perini's Steakhouse, we know Tom's award-winning cuisine first-hand! His cookbook is a "no-holds barred" approach... giving ALL of his famous recipes from his unbeatable steak rub to green chile hominy to his signature bread pudding with whiskey sauce!

In addition to fabulous recipes, the book also showcases wonderful photography depecting life in West Texas. Sidelines feature insights into several famous Texas ranches.

Your cookbook collection shouldn't be without this book! It is one you will be sure to use often!

Texas Cowboy Cooking by Tom Perini arrived yesterday. It is a cookbook that makes you want to jump up and make the recipes as you are turning the pages of the book. We have already tried the Cowboy Bloody Mary, Lisa's Favorite Caesar Salad, the seasoned olive oil for the Sourdough Bread Chips to use as croutons for the salad and are in the process of making the Sourdough Starter for the Sourdough Bread. It's the best Caesar Dressing that we've tried and the croutons are very good.

The historical information is good and has added color to this cookbook. It is not Texas boastful--simply well done. We plan on giving it as Christmas gifts to family members who have visited us here in Abilene, Texas.

The book would be a welcome addition to any cookbook library, but we don't think you will be content looking at this book on a shelf. Our guess is the purchaser will find the book being used over and over. There is a wonderful variety of recipes from which to choose, whether preparing a meal for family or friends from the neighboring ranches or, shoot, if you happen to live in a city then this type of cooking is sure to please. Over the years we have been fortunate to enjoy many pounds of prime rib cooked the Perini way with the flavor of the beef drawn out with his Texas Herb Rub found on page 85, cooked over mesquite coals and served with some of the delicous recipes that can be found in the side dishes section, followed by Tom's bread pudding with whiskey sauce found on page 173, leaves me hoping others will be so fortunate. In additon to recipes, the book is filled with ranch photographs taken by a well-known rancher/photographer and the food photography is stunning. Also the information about historic ranches, ranch cooking and the old photographs will be fascinating to anyone with an interest in real Texas food told by a man who is now sharing great food ideas with you.

Looking for low salt recipes and didn't feel they for very low. Also, most ingredients were not in my pantry. Too much prep time.

What a great book. It's been on my list of favorites since it first came out. Now that I've used up all the recipes - and some are my all-time favorites - I would like to see another on the same subject. By the way, when will Wiseman find a way to devise low-fat tamale recipes? Maybe the publisher should tell him to "Get after it, boy."

Just another believer in the power of the chile pepper.

The recipes are great and tasty - easy to prepare and never fail to please the palette.

This cookbook is well designed and the photography is luscious and mouthwatering. I highly recommend this book for all kitchens and gift-giving occassions.