Martha Stewart Living

“The aim of all of us at Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia is to inspire and to teach.”

That aim has been fully realized in this Encyclopedia of Sewing and Fabric Crafts (which, to be clear, includes sewing-crafts and fabric-crafts, not sewing in general). The teaching focuses mostly on beginning crafters -- step-by-step instructions, easy techniques, even some no-sew projects (e.g. coasters, storage boxes) and some that begin with commercially available products (e.g. totes, bibs, show more bed/bath/table linens). And for experienced crafters -- the book is pure inspiration.

Beautifully illustrated throughout, it opens with primers on sewing, embroidery, appliqué, quilting, dye and stenciling. MSL’s trademark visual glossaries of fabrics (almost tactile!), threads, notions and supplies are throughout, and an index and listing of sources are included at the end. But the bulk of the book is its 250 pages of fabric projects, some of which are crafting standards, many of which include fresh options. (**Note: perhaps half of the projects require the crafter to print a pattern/template from PDFs on an accompanying CD (not included in my review copy); therefore, access to a computer with a CD drive, a printer, and the free, downloadable Adobe Acrobat software are required.)

I don’t recall an over-the-top, un-doable project in the lot; the only sections that even approach are upholstery and window shades, yet the instructions there also seem manageable. Every project is illustrated in finished form; many also feature illustrations alongside the step-by-step instructions. I challenge anyone -- beginner, experienced, even an "armchair" crafter -- to look through this book without taking on a project :)

(Review based on an advance reading copy provided by the publisher.) show less

Martha Stewart admits she did not grow up with a slow cooker nor did she ever use a slow cooker until she decided to write this book. But she's a convert now.

The second cookbook I received (after, of course, the ubiquitous Better Homes and Gardens Cookbook) at my wedding shower was a crockpot recipe book. This was the 70's and I was determined to both work and cook well for my man. The crockpot cookbook was perfect for us. I'd start it up at seven before I left for work and, when we arrived show more home at five, we had a pot of amazing food.

So we (my man has learned to use the slow cooker, too, over the years) have continued to use this cookbook for the past forty years. I thought I knew everything about crockpots.

Then I read this book.

Martha Stewart had the luxury of having a panel of editors and recipe developers create and test recipes that enhanced the strengths of a crockpot for more than a year. Martha shares a list of ten Slow Cooker Commandments, all new to me, and a list of tips for best using the crockpot (all new to me). These alone are worth the price of the book.

Then I tried out the recipes. My husband and I sticky-noted recipes that sounded good to us---Chili Chicken Tacos, Sausage and Vegetable Ciambotta, Brisket and Onions---and over a few weeks, we tested Martha's testers.

Our results?

We've set our tattered and splattered forty-year-old crockpot standard in the pantry for now, and replaced it with Martha's shiny new book in our cookbook stand.

Here's one of our (new) favorites:

Martha Stewart's Slow-Cooker Brisket and Onions
Ingredients

1 large yellow onion, thinly sliced
2 garlic cloves, smashed and peeled
1 first cut of beef brisket (4 pounds), trimmed of excess fat
Coarse salt and ground pepper
2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley leaves, for serving
Directions

1. In a 5- to 6-quart slow cooker, combine onion and garlic. Season brisket with salt and pepper and place, fat side up, in slow cooker. Add broth. Cover and cook on high until brisket is fork-tender, about 6 hours. Remove brisket and thinly slice against the grain. Serve with onion and some cooking liquid; sprinkle with parsley.

2. If you make this ahead of time, cover and refrigerate brisket in cooking liquid, up to 1 week. Reheat in a 300-degree oven. show less

I may not necessarily love Martha Stewart but the craftiness she puts out is definitely a win! I have created some of these fun things and they have been a hit as gifts and decorations. Also a great book to have on hand for those rainy days when kids are stuck inside! There are step-by-step instructions and pictures so you know how what the outcome is supposed to look like.

Typical Martha but her techniques are usually flawless. Some interesting recipes. The technique for perfect hard-boiled eggs on p 63 works every time.