Food Network Magazine Review: September 2011

Do you remember what I said in last month's review of FNMag? "You know a cooking magazine was a great issue when there are crumbs between the pages and the cover is destroyed."  Well the same is true for the September 2011 issue.  I was able to avoid the crumb issue, but there is brownie batter all over the cover.... this is why I save all my favorite recipes in a binder with protective sheets.  So long story short, September is a great issue and these are some of my highlights:


I learned: about what's actually much cheaper to buy at the salad bar instead of packaged.  Great tips for a family on a budget page 47.


The Kids are Cooking too!: Guy Fieri's son Hunter share's his recipie for chicken salad sandwiches - a great one to have on hand for back to school lunches.  Hunter Fieri's Chicken Salad Sandwiches: Page 54

Fun Stuff! Make your own pop tarts! I really want to try this... I wonder if I can make the smore ones? Grape Jelly Breakfast Tarts, Page 68

Time for Fall Cooking:

I want to make Alex Guarnaschelli's skillet cornbread on page 71 - mostly because I don't have a cast iron skillet and it's a great excuse to get one.  And the homemade strawberry jam looks so easy.

We're going to try the Apple Honey Drumsticks for dinner tomorrow night.  This is a recipe created because they had to use Mott's Apple Juice.  I bet it would also work well for the extra apple cider (because I don't like it) that ends up the fridge after the local fair.

If we have a fall dinner party this year, we might do fried brie as appetizers.  You'll have to grab the magazine for this recipe but it looks like a fun way to do individual brie servings for a cheese course - Page 87

Weekend Cooking:

This past weekend we made the Tuscan Cookout Meal on page 119.  We used a sirloin to do the Grilled Florentine Style Steaks because it's more affordable.  The Braised Beans were delicious and something I'll cook again.  Instead of the Eggplant Ricotta Bites we just swapped the eggplant for bread to make it easier, still so delicious!

Honestly, you really just need to check out the magazine for the rest.  It's flooded with easy dinner recipes, great for the busy back to school time in the Weeknight Meals section.  And I can't wait for the next issue! Rumor has it the newly crowned Sandwich King will be featured! Then it's the Thanksgiving issue! And then Christmas cookies! Wow - if you don't have a subscription you should get one now!

Enjoy!

- All photos used in this post are from http://www.foodnetwork.com/ And no - Food Network does not give me anything for saying how awesome this magazine is - although that'd be super if you're listening FN! ;-)