An interesting idea for a cookbook, author Gabriele Galimberti's love of food and cooking was developed and encouraged by his grandmother. He decided to travel the world and try the various specialties of grandmothers everywhere.
The genesis of "In her Kitchen", Gabriele compiles 70 recipes from the far-reaches of the world. After all, who doesn't love some good home cooked comfort food? The cookbook has a picture of each grandmother, her dish, a small paragraph about her and then the recipe on the next page. It was wonderful to see so many proud grandmothers. Gabriele also chose easier dishes, the comfort food of each grandmother so the dishes are also a little more accessible to those who don't cook was much.
I'm planning on trying the Thai omlette, a childhood classic. Although I am partial to my mother's (she's a fantastic cook) I'm excited to see how this one lines up.
Overall review: the perfect gift for a grandmother! (I mean, come on, does it get any better?). Also, if you want to try a variety of simple dishes from around the world, this is great way to start. 3.5/5 starts.
I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review. However, all the opinions are entirely my own.
Friday, December 5, 2014
Sunday, November 16, 2014
The Druknen Coobkook
Yes, you read that right. The Druknen Coobkook is my latest foray into the wild world of cooking.
This brilliant book pairs a hilarious sense of humor with a variety of mouth-watering recipes. The idea? That a slightly (or maybe more than slightly) tipsy version of yourself will one day find itself wanting to cook. However, kitchens are dangerous places, so the book helps you identify your level of inebriation (a downright fantastic read) and suggests you're cooking ability. The recipes range from simple burgers to extremely savvy curried monkfish and mussels.
I was impressed with the variety of recipes and the author's narrative flair.
Overall thoughts: GREAT GIFT idea for your friend who loves to cook (and drink). It's affordable ($10.00) and has a great variety of recipes.
I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review. However, all the opinions are entirely my own.
This brilliant book pairs a hilarious sense of humor with a variety of mouth-watering recipes. The idea? That a slightly (or maybe more than slightly) tipsy version of yourself will one day find itself wanting to cook. However, kitchens are dangerous places, so the book helps you identify your level of inebriation (a downright fantastic read) and suggests you're cooking ability. The recipes range from simple burgers to extremely savvy curried monkfish and mussels.
I was impressed with the variety of recipes and the author's narrative flair.
Overall thoughts: GREAT GIFT idea for your friend who loves to cook (and drink). It's affordable ($10.00) and has a great variety of recipes.
I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review. However, all the opinions are entirely my own.
Sunday, November 2, 2014
A Kitchen in France
As I'm sure you've noticed from my last post I'm extremely fond of French cooking, so when "A Kitchen in France" popped on my list of cookbooks to review I jumped at the chance.
To review a bit about myself I'm a university student, which presents some limitations to my culinary budget, as well as to the amount of time I can spend cooking.
Whenever I review a cookbook there are several things I look for; commonly available ingredients, detailed-but-not -too-detailed instructions, pictures of the final product (I'm a visual person so I like having an idea of the end goal in mind) and a variety of dishes (especially when the cookbook represents a specific cuisine).
Mimi Thorrison's "A Kitchen in France" nailed them all. First off, the cookbook itself is a piece of art (indicative of the author's French heritage). All though the Mimi introduces herself and talks about her life, it's not the focus. She has a wide variety of dishes arranged by season, which varies from the haut cuisine of French socialite culture to the hearty peasant food typical of the French countryside. The melange of simple dishes and complex meals makes this cookbook something I know I'll be able to constantly use, not just the occasional reference to the offbeat-somewhat forgotten recipe.
Matt and I like to host supper for our friends, and we're looking to have a pie night this coming weekend, our last left something to be desired (although apparently no one else noticed our difficulties in the kitchen). For dessert we're planning to test out Mimi's Chocolate Torte, which looks absolutely decadent. I'll upload pictures and a review once we've made it.
My overall thoughts on "A Kitchen in France": If you've ever wanted a French cookbook THIS IS THE ONE. The variety of recipes is a phenomenal introduction to French cuisine for the newbie, as well as a great way to diversify you're repertoire if you've a bit more experience. I usually don't give raving reviews, but I'm doing one for this book. Again, the holidays are coming so if you have a francophile in your family, this IS the perfect gift. Or you've a relative that likes to cook, or...you get the point.
I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review. However, all the opinions are entirely my own.
To review a bit about myself I'm a university student, which presents some limitations to my culinary budget, as well as to the amount of time I can spend cooking.
Whenever I review a cookbook there are several things I look for; commonly available ingredients, detailed-but-not -too-detailed instructions, pictures of the final product (I'm a visual person so I like having an idea of the end goal in mind) and a variety of dishes (especially when the cookbook represents a specific cuisine).
Mimi Thorrison's "A Kitchen in France" nailed them all. First off, the cookbook itself is a piece of art (indicative of the author's French heritage). All though the Mimi introduces herself and talks about her life, it's not the focus. She has a wide variety of dishes arranged by season, which varies from the haut cuisine of French socialite culture to the hearty peasant food typical of the French countryside. The melange of simple dishes and complex meals makes this cookbook something I know I'll be able to constantly use, not just the occasional reference to the offbeat-somewhat forgotten recipe.
Matt and I like to host supper for our friends, and we're looking to have a pie night this coming weekend, our last left something to be desired (although apparently no one else noticed our difficulties in the kitchen). For dessert we're planning to test out Mimi's Chocolate Torte, which looks absolutely decadent. I'll upload pictures and a review once we've made it.
My overall thoughts on "A Kitchen in France": If you've ever wanted a French cookbook THIS IS THE ONE. The variety of recipes is a phenomenal introduction to French cuisine for the newbie, as well as a great way to diversify you're repertoire if you've a bit more experience. I usually don't give raving reviews, but I'm doing one for this book. Again, the holidays are coming so if you have a francophile in your family, this IS the perfect gift. Or you've a relative that likes to cook, or...you get the point.
I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review. However, all the opinions are entirely my own.
Monday, October 20, 2014
Tamales; Fast and Delicious Mexican Meals
I've always been a fan of Mexican and Hispanic food so I was super excited to try this cookbook. My cooking experience has primarily been limited to tacos and enchiladas, and this book seemed like a great way to branch out.
Alice Guadalupe Tapp's "Tamales:Fast and Delicious Mexican Meals" breaks down an intimidating food into a manageable process for the adventurous cook. Unlike some of the other cookbooks I've reviewed recentl, this was much more user friendly. Ingredients are pretty straightforward. Other than some of the chapter of "Nose-to-Tail Tamales" which uses everything, from nose to tail, you should be able to find all ingredients in your local grocery store.
I haven't had a chance to try anything yet with midterms and lab reports and whatnot, but I've picked out the Sirloin Beef tamales, a bit of a splurge for a college student with the sirloin, but looks extremely promising. The instructions are clear without being overly descriptive (like the Bahn Mi Book) and ingredients are all easy to find (unlike Cerviche, Peruvian Kitchen)
I'll write up and update once Matt and I get a chance to make these.
UPDATE: THEY WERE DELICIOUS. We made the pork tamales, and the dessert tamales with bananas and nutella. The ingredients were straightforward (other than finding the masa) and we used parchment paper instead of corn husks. Once assembled, the tamales steam and its very low intensity. Absolutely recommended :)
Overall thoughts on this cookbook: Very good if you like tamales. Straightforward instructions using accessible ingredients that shouldn't be too expensive. Definitely recommended for any Mexican food fan who doesn't mind trying something a bit more adventurous.
I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review. However, all the opinions are entirely my own.
Alice Guadalupe Tapp's "Tamales:Fast and Delicious Mexican Meals" breaks down an intimidating food into a manageable process for the adventurous cook. Unlike some of the other cookbooks I've reviewed recentl, this was much more user friendly. Ingredients are pretty straightforward. Other than some of the chapter of "Nose-to-Tail Tamales" which uses everything, from nose to tail, you should be able to find all ingredients in your local grocery store.
I haven't had a chance to try anything yet with midterms and lab reports and whatnot, but I've picked out the Sirloin Beef tamales, a bit of a splurge for a college student with the sirloin, but looks extremely promising. The instructions are clear without being overly descriptive (like the Bahn Mi Book) and ingredients are all easy to find (unlike Cerviche, Peruvian Kitchen)
I'll write up and update once Matt and I get a chance to make these.
UPDATE: THEY WERE DELICIOUS. We made the pork tamales, and the dessert tamales with bananas and nutella. The ingredients were straightforward (other than finding the masa) and we used parchment paper instead of corn husks. Once assembled, the tamales steam and its very low intensity. Absolutely recommended :)
Overall thoughts on this cookbook: Very good if you like tamales. Straightforward instructions using accessible ingredients that shouldn't be too expensive. Definitely recommended for any Mexican food fan who doesn't mind trying something a bit more adventurous.
I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review. However, all the opinions are entirely my own.
Thursday, October 9, 2014
French Roots
I've always had an interest in French culture. It all started with Madame Martin, my 6th grade French teacher. Since she sparked my initial interest in all things French I continued my taking classes until I graduated high school, a couple semester at college, and proceeded to study abroad in Montpellier, France. So yes, I might be what most people consider a Frencophile.
Whenever I get wind of a book on French cooking it piques my interest. I got to cook with my host mom in France and I'm always eager to try out new recipes. I'm no culinary expert, but I do enjoynew recipes, as you can tell from this blog.
Unfortunately, most of these will be outside of my college-student price range, but there are a few simple classics that I'll be able to make, My host mother Isabelle got her recipe from a friend in Bordeaux, and made them for us on occasion. I was eager to compare the recipes, and see what Jean-Pierre and Denise recommended. Although I don't have a cannele pan, perhaps one day, I gave these a try and was pleasantly surprised with the result.
The cookbook itself is a combination between a traditional French cookbook, (no pictures, continual recipes and less descriptive instructions) and a narrative about the authors', Jean-Pierre and Denise. It was fun to read about their lives, and the food plays in it.
My rating: Only if you're really into French recipes and don't want to invest in the traditional Julia Child's Mastering the Art of French cooking.
Overall, I enjoyed this cookbook. However, if you don't have more exotic taste, and aren't willing or able to drop a bit of money on a single meal, this isn't for you. Although there is a range of recipes, most call for more expensive and somewhat harder to find ingredients, this isn't for you.
I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review. However, all the opinions are entirely my own.
Whenever I get wind of a book on French cooking it piques my interest. I got to cook with my host mom in France and I'm always eager to try out new recipes. I'm no culinary expert, but I do enjoynew recipes, as you can tell from this blog.
Unfortunately, most of these will be outside of my college-student price range, but there are a few simple classics that I'll be able to make, My host mother Isabelle got her recipe from a friend in Bordeaux, and made them for us on occasion. I was eager to compare the recipes, and see what Jean-Pierre and Denise recommended. Although I don't have a cannele pan, perhaps one day, I gave these a try and was pleasantly surprised with the result.
The cookbook itself is a combination between a traditional French cookbook, (no pictures, continual recipes and less descriptive instructions) and a narrative about the authors', Jean-Pierre and Denise. It was fun to read about their lives, and the food plays in it.
My rating: Only if you're really into French recipes and don't want to invest in the traditional Julia Child's Mastering the Art of French cooking.
Overall, I enjoyed this cookbook. However, if you don't have more exotic taste, and aren't willing or able to drop a bit of money on a single meal, this isn't for you. Although there is a range of recipes, most call for more expensive and somewhat harder to find ingredients, this isn't for you.
I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review. However, all the opinions are entirely my own.
Sunday, September 28, 2014
The Buhn Mi Handbook, by Andrea Nguyen
Ever since my aunt and I backpacked through Vietnam during my Gapyear, I loved Buhn Mi. What is Buhn Mi/Bun Mi? A traditional French inspired Vietnamese sandwich.
That's a right. This delicious sandwich is a crusty baguette filled with meat (depends on your preference), pickles, vegetables and sauce. The marriage between the traditional sandwich form and the Asian flavored fillings make this a unique and delightful meal.
As you can imagine, I was thrilled to try some of the recipes in the Buhn Mi handbook! We started with the basic bread. I'm usually a good baker, but there were multiple kitchen disasters (my fault, not the author's--that should teach me to stick to simple things after my night French class). However, dispute, under and over baking the bread and letting it rise for less than half the recommended time (again, I'd like to reiterate that I am usually quite a competent chef...) it was still surprisingly tasty. If I managed to mess up the bread that much and it still tasted good, it's got to be an absolutely amazing recipe. Time consuming, but great.
The basic chicken, marinated chicken, homemade mayo and pickled beets also worked well. Altogether, it was an amazingly delicious sandwich. We have a Bun Mi restaurant near campus (I love the diversity of food in Minneapolis) and this tasted like something you'd get from there, minus the problematic bread.
The only criticism I have of this book is the cooking times. READ the recipe, when I glanced over the recipes I decided to make, I went with the estimate at top. However, there were a couple surprises, like the extra 8 hour refrigeration necessary for the tofu.... Also, Andrea can be bit overly descriptive in her steps, so prepare for some wordy instructions. Overall, this was a great Book and I can't wait to try it again, perhaps with some other toppings.
My rating: worth it if you like Bun Mi, but be prepared to spend some time making it!
I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review. However, all the opinions are entirely my own.
That's a right. This delicious sandwich is a crusty baguette filled with meat (depends on your preference), pickles, vegetables and sauce. The marriage between the traditional sandwich form and the Asian flavored fillings make this a unique and delightful meal.
As you can imagine, I was thrilled to try some of the recipes in the Buhn Mi handbook! We started with the basic bread. I'm usually a good baker, but there were multiple kitchen disasters (my fault, not the author's--that should teach me to stick to simple things after my night French class). However, dispute, under and over baking the bread and letting it rise for less than half the recommended time (again, I'd like to reiterate that I am usually quite a competent chef...) it was still surprisingly tasty. If I managed to mess up the bread that much and it still tasted good, it's got to be an absolutely amazing recipe. Time consuming, but great.
The basic chicken, marinated chicken, homemade mayo and pickled beets also worked well. Altogether, it was an amazingly delicious sandwich. We have a Bun Mi restaurant near campus (I love the diversity of food in Minneapolis) and this tasted like something you'd get from there, minus the problematic bread.
The only criticism I have of this book is the cooking times. READ the recipe, when I glanced over the recipes I decided to make, I went with the estimate at top. However, there were a couple surprises, like the extra 8 hour refrigeration necessary for the tofu.... Also, Andrea can be bit overly descriptive in her steps, so prepare for some wordy instructions. Overall, this was a great Book and I can't wait to try it again, perhaps with some other toppings.
My rating: worth it if you like Bun Mi, but be prepared to spend some time making it!
I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review. However, all the opinions are entirely my own.
Thursday, August 14, 2014
Cerviche:Peruvian Kitchen
I must admit, I was quite excited for this book. Having never experienced Peruvian food, I thought this book would be the perfect segway into trying new foods, as there are no Peruvian restaurants in Colorado or Minnesota.
First off, I'm very impressed with the careful planning that has gone into the layout of the book. Each recipe has a small description, so amateurs such as myself can get an idea of what they'll be making. There is also a picture every 2 or so pages, which I love. As a visual person, I like knowing what I'm making, and what it should look like. The author also has a biographical section, in which he describes passion for Peruvian food. The index in back of the book explains the various ingredients throughout the book, and was extremely helpful!
As a college student, I'm rather limited in what I'm able to purchase. However, there are some recipes that I'll be able to make. I'll keep you updated as I do.
Overall, if you have a bit of extra money available and want to try making a different variety of food, I do suggest this book.
I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review. However, all the opinions are entirely my own.
First off, I'm very impressed with the careful planning that has gone into the layout of the book. Each recipe has a small description, so amateurs such as myself can get an idea of what they'll be making. There is also a picture every 2 or so pages, which I love. As a visual person, I like knowing what I'm making, and what it should look like. The author also has a biographical section, in which he describes passion for Peruvian food. The index in back of the book explains the various ingredients throughout the book, and was extremely helpful!
As a college student, I'm rather limited in what I'm able to purchase. However, there are some recipes that I'll be able to make. I'll keep you updated as I do.
Overall, if you have a bit of extra money available and want to try making a different variety of food, I do suggest this book.
I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review. However, all the opinions are entirely my own.
Monday, July 21, 2014
Simple Thai Food:Classic Recipes from the Thai Home Kitchen by Leela Punyaratabanhu
I just had a chance to try a recipe from "Simple Thai Food: Classic Recipes from the Thai Home Kitchen" by Leela Punyaratabandhu. Being half Thai, and having grown up with 'real' Thai food, I was extremely interested to see if this cookbook would give an accurate representation of true Thai food. I tried the Pad Thai, a Thai classic, and often horribly Americanized dish. I was extremely impressed with the results. The same goes to the Spicy Basil Chicken and Fried Eggs on Rice. This was one of my favourite childhood dishes, and had it several times a week whenever we visited family in Bangkok, so I've tried numerous renditions of this dish. Although its slightly different than my mother's, it was rather delicious.
Leela also included many less known Thai dishes that I love. Although I haven't had a chance to try these yet, I can't wait! It'll be my reward for taking my Organic Chemistry test on Thursday...
I'm also excited to try her hand made pastes at some point, most Thai people I know, actually all Thai people I know, buy them, so I can't wait to compare.
My only criticisms are that the book could use more pictures. Many of these dishes will be unfamiliar to most readers, and if you're not familiar with Thai food, the titles can be misleading. Pictures would help readers choose. Also, out of necessity for western readers, Leela uses some substitutions that I think would vastly alter the taste. The Leaf Wrapped Salad Bites (pg 25) are a case and point. It'll be nearly impossible for people in the states to find cha-phlu leaves, but substituting collard greens or Chinese broccoli leaves will simply not work. However, that's not her fault.
Overall, I absolutely recommend this book!
I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review. However, all the opinions are entirely my own.
Leela also included many less known Thai dishes that I love. Although I haven't had a chance to try these yet, I can't wait! It'll be my reward for taking my Organic Chemistry test on Thursday...
I'm also excited to try her hand made pastes at some point, most Thai people I know, actually all Thai people I know, buy them, so I can't wait to compare.
My only criticisms are that the book could use more pictures. Many of these dishes will be unfamiliar to most readers, and if you're not familiar with Thai food, the titles can be misleading. Pictures would help readers choose. Also, out of necessity for western readers, Leela uses some substitutions that I think would vastly alter the taste. The Leaf Wrapped Salad Bites (pg 25) are a case and point. It'll be nearly impossible for people in the states to find cha-phlu leaves, but substituting collard greens or Chinese broccoli leaves will simply not work. However, that's not her fault.
Overall, I absolutely recommend this book!
I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review. However, all the opinions are entirely my own.
Sunday, July 13, 2014
The Ecstasy of Surrender; Judith Orloff, M.D.
I have to admit, I was slightly skeptical when I picked up "The Ecstasy of Surrender; 12 Surprising Ways Letting Go Can Empower Your Life". I've read my fair share of Self-Help books, and to a certain point they all have some distinct similarities. However, Orloff's warm narration truly helps connect the reader to her points. In exploring her personal experiences, and the wisdom she's discovered.
As Orloff points out early on the concept or surrender, of letting goes seems extremely counter intuitive. As a university student, I often feel pressured to have an exact handle on my future. To know exactly what I will do, when and how. "The Ecstasy of Surrender" helped me address some paths I've been considering. The manner in which Orloff divides the book, into different sections on the different types of surrender was extremely helpful. I'll definitely be able to implement Orloff's advice into my life, and know I'll flip back through it quite often. I enjoyed this book, and would recommend it.
I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review. However, all the opinions are entirely my own.
As Orloff points out early on the concept or surrender, of letting goes seems extremely counter intuitive. As a university student, I often feel pressured to have an exact handle on my future. To know exactly what I will do, when and how. "The Ecstasy of Surrender" helped me address some paths I've been considering. The manner in which Orloff divides the book, into different sections on the different types of surrender was extremely helpful. I'll definitely be able to implement Orloff's advice into my life, and know I'll flip back through it quite often. I enjoyed this book, and would recommend it.
I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review. However, all the opinions are entirely my own.
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