My Czech Heritage Cookbook

It’s a good book, but not I was looking for.

This book has a nice family feel to it. There are some stories, asides, and snippets throughout the book which make it feel like you are having a conversation with the author. The recipes read like you asked a friend for a recipe and they jotted down the ingredients and some quick instructions. Personally, I like this; they're brief and to the point. The two recipes I've used so far have been thoroughly explained. I'm not sure how beginner-friendly it is for someone just learning to cook, given the brief nature of the explanations. There's a little room for interpretation, and a lot of potential for modification. I managed just fine, but I'm familiar with why certain ingredients/techniques are used and what certain ingredient combinations do.There seems to be a decent variety of dishes (though heavy on the deserts and poppy seed recipes). I'm not Czech nor completely familiar with Czech cuisine, so I can't say if it's a thorough sampling. The recipes do seem to come from the family and family friends, so I'd imagine the collection is regional/local. I give it four stars only because I have had it a week and only used two recipes; I can't say yet if I think the book is fantastic or not. But I like it so far. My husband grew up eating Czech food made by his immigrant grandmothers, and he liked both my dishes and is excited to try many of the recipes.

The seller was good and the package arrived in time and in a nice condition. The book has soft covers and the pages are really thick so thats a good point for speeling sauces or another cooking accidents.The book comes with plenty of recipes and the typography is really big so you can read it for far away.I would like it to come with the recipes better explained but overall I was happy with the purchase and it was a great gift for a friend that is moving to the Czech republic and wanted to learn about their culture

I truly enjoyed the "heritage" introduction as I, too, am mostly of Czech heritage (51%). I've always considered myself to be Bohemian. My mother's family also made their home in the same area of Iowa and I was brought up with a love for Kolache.However, as a cookbook, well, it's more of a "recipe" book. Unless you already know to cream butter and sugar for 10 minutes; you will get undesired results. Unless you know that yeast needs to be activated between 100 and 110 degrees (lukewarm); you will fail. Unless you know to use a strong bread flour for yeast recipes; you will have mediocre result. Unless you know that bread dough needs to be kneaded for at least 10 minutes (longer for a dough with butter and eggs) to release the gluten so that it proofs properly; you will fail. I could go on... Who writes a cook book and omits the baking temperature and the time?The funny part? I have my Mom's old recipe box and it's virtually useless as it's so vague! A list of ingredients, that's it! Since I wanted more I bought this book.Unless you have a Czech grandmother, who has passed on to you the technical part of Czech cooking, or any type of cooking; I'm quite afraid that you will fail. And who needs that?

I finally decided at age 68,that I should learn to make my Gramma's Bohemian bakery .She was the most skilled cook/baker,but I never learned how.I was too busy waiting for the stuff she was baking.In a wood-burning stove!! So I found this delightful book,which is not just a cook book,but a little biography about her Czech/Bohemian ancestors.Very nice touch.The book has several baked-good recipes that I was looking for especially,and found them!! Also,the book is perfectly formatted for my KF 10.

Love it. Perfect recipe book full of heritage recipes. Don’t buy if you don’t have a basic knowledge of cooking and baking. It’s not an instructional book, it’s a traditional recipe book. Sometimes you gotta improvise and fly by the seat f your pants but that’s what makes it fun.

Book would be easier to use if it opened flat.

I was amazed when I read the forward and this book originated from my home town! The recipes are spot on from what I have gotten from my Czech family. We found some VERY OLD written incomplete recipe notes from my Babi that was passed away before I was born. I hope to use this book to piece together her notes to figure out what recipes she was jotting down in the late 1920's through the 1940's

This is a good book, I was pleased with the contents and it was a fast download. I would recommend it.

The book itself has a plethora of really great recipes. It has a bit of history, interesting facts, many variations on some of the recipes, such as kolač and its fillings. The latter part of the book also includes some non-Czech recipes, giving a glimpse into this particular family's culinary preferences. The recipes come in a few different format, most with North American volume measurements, while a few are more like quickly jotted-down notes, instructing you to add as much sugar as three eggs weigh.My only qualms with it are the heavily pixelated front cover picture, and the lack accents on the Czech words.

Did not like the book...too small...no pictures...They put Canadian style recipes in it. Not enough authenticity.

Very interesting and helpful book.