Martha Stewart's cookbook of collected Recipes

I am a Martha fan. I make no apologies for it. Don't get me wrong, I don't live Martha's lifestyle - the only staff in my house is a walking stick a guy at work gave me. No one is whipping up an amazing dinner for me after changing my bed linens with 300 thread-count cotton sheets trimmed in antique hand-crocheted lace from Portugal.

This cookbook is fun for the same reason Martha's TV show and magazine are fun. It gives us something to aspire to. Of course few of us are never going to make anything out of this book. I cook out of very few of my cookbooks. But... I know that if I suddenly have the *urge* to make spun sugar I'll know right where to go for encouragement.

These are not the recipes your grandmother cooked to feed the farm hands. But, that's not what you'd expect from Martha, is it? This is a cookbook that's supposed to make us consider the possibilities in the kitchen. For some unknown reason, I find comfort just knowing it's there - in case I ever need to make a masterpiece in the middle of the night.

So... take it for what it's worth... these are Martha's recipes. They're not made for mere mortals. They're made for people who have a staff or for those special occasions when you're inspired. As long as you accept her on her terms you'll be happy with it. If you want to make a whippy meatloaf, best to buy that cookbook your church is selling. It's more likely to serve that need.