Cooking from A to Zest: DVD review & GIVEAWAY ($59.99 value)

I am not very skilled in the kitchen. I can make meals, follow recipes, and sometimes (but seldom) I can get creative with a dish I make. I wish I could learn how to make amazing meals, desserts, etc. and I always thought it would be fun to take a cooking coarse. I just got a super DVD set to review called: Cooking from A to Zest and it is a great set of DVD's to learn from and get educated! My husband and I are watching these together, and we are learning so much! I love all the helpful hints, suggestions and ideas that Kierstin Buchner, host on the DVD's, share with the viewer.
Product description:
Cooking is more than just following a recipe. It's being able to confidently walk into a kitchen, assess what's there and whip up something delightful and delicious. With that in mind, Cooking From A to Zest is like having your own private in-home instructor teaching you a foundation of techniques and skills. Watch it like a class, learning as you go, or use the main menu to jump directly to the technique or recipe you want. From how to dice an onion like a pro to roasting the perfect chicken to gaining helpful insight from experts at markets and restaurants, host Kierstin Buchner shares tips for both the beginning and more experienced cook. VOLUME 1 - BUILDING YOUR KITCHEN: Cooking starts with kitchen essentials - such as efficient knife skills, selecting your equipment and stocking your kitchen with staple ingredients. VOLUME 2 - STOCKS, SOUPS, & SAUCES: Learn the building blocks of delicious stocks and broths, unveil the secret to cream soups and purees, then finish with with five key Foundation sauces. VOLUME 3 - SALADS, VEGETABLES, POTATOES, PASTA, GRAINS & LEGUMES: Learn to prepare salad dressings with ease, saute, blanch, and grill your way to flavorsome vegetables, and cook the perfect rice and pasta - every time! VOLUME 4 - EGGS, MEAT, POULTRY & FISH: Discover six classic ways to prepare eggs, then move on to a variety of mouth-watering methods for meat and poultry, including brining, braising and stewing.

The first DVD was highly informative. Volume 1: Building your kitchen, went over the essentials that most kitchen shows don't explain. I thought the first DVD was very helpful!
Building your kitchen starts you off with the basic necessities your kitchen needs. It went over the different kinds of knifes, how to sharpen them, and what they are designed to cut. Kierstin described the pots and pans you should have in your kitchen and what the pots and pans purpose is designed for. I thought it was very helpful and useful information. Also included in Volume 1 is the staple ingredients you should stock in your kitchen for basic recipes.

The other three DVD's went over meal planning and proper meal preparations. I did not know that putting oil into my boiling water was not the correct way to boil pasta! So helpful, and great ideas in these DVD's!
I learned a lot about spices and herbs, and how to use them in meals...and which spice/herb went with what type of food. Kierstin shared how to cut and store the herbs, as well.
I am excited to prepare some home made soups and salad dressings, from the helpful ideas of these DVD's. I like how Kierstin goes through the steps individually and is very thorough in her instructions and guidance. I highly recommend these DVD's and I am so thankful that I have these for a reference. I think they would make a great house warming gift, wedding gift, or college graduation/high school graduation gift. Really, I think anyone who enjoys food would benefit from Cooking from A to Zest! (SRP $59.99 plus tax)

***Enter to Win!!***
This contest is open to bloggers and non-bloggers of the United States, and the contest is open until midnight October 31st, 2010. To enter, comment here about what some of your favorite ingredients are, or your favorite recipe. You could also leave a comment about what you have found helpful for working with food, or in the kitchen. Winner will receive the Cooking from A to Zest DVD collection set (4 DVD's). I will notify winner, and if after 3 days the winner does not respond, I will pick a new winner.

**For extra chances you can: blog this contest, add my button to your site, subscribe to my blog, twitter and/or become a fan on facebook, and/or visit everyday and add another friendly comment about something you found helpful for cooking. You can comment on other blog posts of mine for extra credit, too, just let me know in another comment the link to your comment. Lots of chances to win! Don't forget to put the extra comments for the "extra" work. Good luck!**

This review was provided from Cooking from A to Zest.com. They have provided me with DVD's to review and information to share with my readers. I am sponsored to offer a giveaway for my readers through this review (same DVD set for one winner). I was given the product for my personal opinion and option to share with my readers. I was not compensated for my time or written review.