Customer Rating: 
Summary: Fine representation of Czech cuisine
Comment: I've raved about Penfield Books' spiral-bound cookbooks before and they have done it again with "Cherished Czech Recipes." I recommend these tiny treasures of culinary joy for two main reasons: They're affordable (at $6.95, you just cannot beat the price) and the recipes look and certainly taste authentic (even if you've never tasted that country's cuisine before in your life). As an added plus, the books aren't padded with extraneous culinary terminology that is more geared for experts and hardcore foodies.
From this volume, I made the Bohemian Rye Bread (but I took the chump's way out and substituted butter in place of the lard), the white bread, and the goulash. I've actually made the goulash twice and it turned out better the second time and is now one of my favorite dishes to make and eat (note: if you don't want to use catsup, try tomato sauce).
The most interesting part of the book for me was the cultural notes in the beginning, especially where the Czech settlements are in the U.S. that can be found on page 5. It was *very* interesting to know that any St. John Nepomuk churches are primarily Czech congregations, as there is such a church located in Philadelphia right around the corner from where my maternal grandfather used to live.
A very minor gripe I have with this offering is the twenty-plus pages of filler material in the back of the book. There were many blank pages labelled "Notes" as well as the lyrics to the Czech and Slovak national anthems and pages of Czech proverbs. Surely there must be more interesting and tasty recipes to have included here.
But, in all, Penfield's cookbooks are among the best around. Very rarely will they miss the boat on a particular cuisine. Their books are definitely worth the investment and this volume is no exception. - Donna Di Giacomo
Customer Rating: 
Summary: Czech Foods
Comment: This is a neat little volume that contains several of the old recipes which had been alluding me for years.
Easy to understand and follow directions. Small enough to keep handy in a kitchen drawer.
Provides a window into the kitchen culture of eastern Europe.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Good
Comment: Thank you. A great cookbook, I wish it was bigger and had more recipes. Thank you again.
Customer Rating:
Summary: What do I do with my leftover Pig Snouts?
Comment: Why, make hash, of course!! A lot of interesting recipes in this little book, and many of them, including Christmas recipes look pretty tasty. I probably won't make anything with Pig Snouts, Brains, or Cheeks, but you never know!!
Customer Rating:
Summary: Short But Has Most Common Czech and Slovak Favorites
Comment: There are many variations for cooking Czech and Slovak dishes. This brief flip-chart bookelt has about 100 recipes. It is weak in the soup department but strong in bakery and main courses. Included are meat dishes like Chicken Paprika and one version of Marinated Beef (Svckova). Other favorites include liver dumplings, nut cake, poppy seed pastries, and of course, Kolacki (Kolaches). The last section of the book includes the words for the Czech and Slovak anthems and proverbial sayings from the region. It is not a complete Czech and Slovak cookbook, but contains good tried and true recipes.
