"If You Can't Stand the Heat" Cookbook ~ Review & Giveaway (Ended 2/26)

Overall, this was a very sweet gig.  I'll be walking away from this review experience with my first roux making under my belt, a recipe for my new favorite spice combo in the whole wide world in my pocket, a new interesting and fun fellow Disney loving comrade, and finally knowing how to make some amazing fish tacos at home!

I found Robert on Twitter... just tweeting away about Disney (imagine that).  His profile intrigued me ... he is a retired New Orleans firefighter, now living close to the Magic in Florida.

If you've ever known any firefighters, you know they have long shifts where they live at the station.  A camaraderie develops for many reasons - one of which most certainly has to be the big portion cookin' going on in the kitchen.

The New Orleans firefighters in Robert's station seriously lucked out.  His culinary skills blossomed in this arena (and thereafter, cooking per friend's requests), and he's now shared some of his best in the cookbook "If You Can't Stand the Heat".  Oh, I can STAND the heat!

Shrimp Fettuccine Diablo ~ rich, creamy, & decadent ... with just a little kick

If you've done any Cajun cooking, it usually revolves around some concoction of spices you mix together and use liberally.  Robert's version is called "Flashover Seasoning", and is used in many of his recipes.  I had a good feeling about Flashover Seasoning, and was very excited to get my hands on it.  Unlike other Cajun mixes I've tried ... it also has a little green in it - thyme, basil, and oregano (the French New Orleans influence, perhaps?), and it does not disappoint.

I love that there is an entire section on "Sauces,  Stocks, and Seasonings".  Make no mistake, this was written by a true food lover, and the flavor explosions abound!  I tried the recipe for cilantro dressing, needed to complete the cole slaw mixture that tops the fish tacos.  Oh, my.  Words cannot express how delicious this meal was!

Fish Tacos with Cilantro Infused Coleslaw - my new favorite meal.

It's not just Cajun cooking though, there is a really nice variety included.  He features some Chinese recipes, pasta recipes, stuffed artichokes, lots of creative ideas for fish and shrimp, the list goes on and on ... mmmmm.

He lost me at the recipe calling for "2 whole rabbits, cut up" (seems some of his buddies at the station were hunters), but hey ... you never cook every single recipe in a cook book, anyways, right?

Cookbook sections include:

• Sauces, Stocks, & Seasonings
• Soups, Salads, & Sandwiches
• Appetizers, Sides, & Snacks
• Entrees
• Desserts

Mandarin Chicken - only found in Louisiana.  And Robert's cookbook!

Robert has a great writing style - helpful, witty, informative without being too wordy.  Some of the creations were a little challenging for me, I'll admit.  But he walks you through it in such a down to earth manner, that anyone can pull it off.  Overall, it's just a really fun experience.

10% of the proceeds from all sales of the "If You Can't Stand the Heat" cookbook is donated to the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation.

The Giveaway

Robert Medina has offered a signed copy of his fantastic cookbook "If You Can't Stand the Heat" to one of my readers!  

I received a complimentary copy of "If You Can't Stand the Heat".  All opinions are my own.

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