Y'all, I really like Jenny Mollen. Hated her character on Angel, sane enough to know actors are not their characters, saw how hysterical she was on TwY'all, I really like Jenny Mollen. Hated her character on Angel, sane enough to know actors are not their characters, saw how hysterical she was on Twitter, been a massive fan ever since.
When she started posting her (first) son's lunches on Instagram, I was tickled. As should be anyone who grew up watching the Cher movie Mermaids, quite frankly.
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Not that Jenny would be caught dead making marshmallow kebabs, of course.
And I looked forward to every new lunch, and every hysterical explanation of what the food represented. California raisins run over by LA traffic, for example.
And I also knew she was most likely going to put out a cookbook.
But y'aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaall.
This is some rich white lady bullshit over here.
I say that as someone who chuckled at a lot of the humor in here.
But ye gods, she is Ina Garden, using locally sourced tears from a 90-year old virgin nun in the Himalayas, but if you have to use store bought, I guess that's okay, too.
I got a couple of ideas, and want to make some of the crafty snacks. But seriously, Jeremiah isn't going to eat almost anything in here.
Which is a shame because I haven't stopped craving salad and salmon since I finished this....more
Received via Netgalley in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.
I'd never heard of Hot Pots before maybe a year or two ago, one of my favorite YoutuReceived via Netgalley in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.
I'd never heard of Hot Pots before maybe a year or two ago, one of my favorite Youtubers does them with her family for Christmas, and seeing the food and the experience made me super interested and also really hungry. But in my crappy little town, we don't have any place that has Nabemono, so I figured I was relegated to dreaming and being hungry forever.
Enter this book, which I was super excited to read. Tell me your magical food secrets, I want to dip meats and veggies in broth and eat the hell out of it.
After reading this book, I am absolutely ready to continue dreaming and being hungry forever.
She lost me right around the time she said Kobe wagyu beef was her favorite protein.
Also the equipment listed at the beginning, the only thing I own is a rice cooker. And someone else paid for that.
Seriously, who has the money for the items she includes in these recipes?
To her credit, some of them are SUPER simple, and still sound incredibly mouth watering. She does an excellent job of describing flavor combinations, including for ingredients I've heard of but never tasted.
But the odds of me ever eating this deliciousness? I'm more convinced than ever those odds are not good. ...more
Let's be real, there was no chance I wasn't going to read the cookbook written by Mr. Sarah Michelle Gellar.
I enjoyed Sarah's book immensely, and thiLet's be real, there was no chance I wasn't going to read the cookbook written by Mr. Sarah Michelle Gellar.
I enjoyed Sarah's book immensely, and this one is just as good. I would genuinely like to own both, because each gives me something different. Sarah's book is all about fun, for amateurs and professionals alike. It's food for the family, for the holidays, for the pure joy of it.
It is quite obvious that Freddie is the cook in this family. And it's also clear how much he likes to cook. This isn't a cookbook where an actor throws his name behind some run of the mill recipes that you could find with one quick scour through Pinterest.
Every introduction explains where he was, or what period of his life he was in, when the cooking came together. He includes recipes from his mother, recipes his children are especially fond of, and of course, recipes his wife prefers the most.
From following him on Instagram I knew he liked to cook, but this showed him in an entirely new light, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading through this cookbook. ...more
This book is super adorable. There's nothing particularly ground breaking here, though I adore her ideNo one's surprised I picked this book up, right?
This book is super adorable. There's nothing particularly ground breaking here, though I adore her ideas about waffle "fondue" and bagel buffet. But the food sounds delicious, and the craft part is absolutely adorable.
There's nothing overly complicated here. There's not a lot of ingredients I was giving a side eye, not a lot of equipment you have to figure out a substitute for. All of the ingredients are separated not by meal, but by month. From New Year's to Cinco de Mayo to Star Wars Day to Shark Week, almost any occasion can be celebrated with something from this book.
Sarah is extremely protective of her children's privacy, so it was a real joy seeing the photos in here of all four of them together in the kitchen. So sweet, so fun. I might actually make something from this book.
Maybe.
Probably not.
But those Shrimp Lo Mein "cupcakes" sound KIND OF AWESOME....more
Received via Netgalley in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.
I legitimately have no reason for loving Bento boxes as much as I do. I blame Cher iReceived via Netgalley in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.
I legitimately have no reason for loving Bento boxes as much as I do. I blame Cher in the movie Mermaids, seriously. But there is something about these neatly packed boxes of food, all portioned out, often in fun shapes, that just SCREAMS TO ME, "Stop bringing cup o'noodles to work and make your own damn food, you heathen!"
The difference between this book and a few other bento books I've seen is that this one is ACTUALLY based around Asian cooking. What a concept! Unfortunately, this also means there's a butt load of ingredients I'm probably never going to get my hands on. Also some I don't ever want to get my hands on, or ever see a picture of again, thanks sliced lotus seed pod things.
But the majority of the recipes in here sound SO GOOD, and also look so good. Is it the adorable portions and shaped food? Well...probably, again, I am so susceptible to food in cute little boxes.
I bookmarked so many of these recipes. Will I ever make them? Dear god, I want to. But probably not. And let's be real, I don't own any cute little bento boxes. That's what mismatched Tupperware and butter bowls are for.
This recipe, in various forms, is often used in [this chef's] tasting menus and is a very difficult dish to complete in a home kitchen .... We recommeThis recipe, in various forms, is often used in [this chef's] tasting menus and is a very difficult dish to complete in a home kitchen .... We recommend this only for the most adventurous of home cooks.
Well, I guess it's a good thing you didn't include it in a goddamn cookbook.
Who, exactly, is the target audience for this book?
Is it tattoo lovers? Because of the MANY MANY chefs featured in this book, less than a handful have full blown pictures of their tattoos. The rest have photos taken with their goddamn arms crossed so you can catch glimpses of them. Good thing "Tattoos" isn't in the damn title.
Is this marketed to home chefs? See above re: DON'T TRY THIS AT HOME? You're talking about ridiculously overpriced specialty ingredients, hours of prep and cooking that is really only done, outside of a restaurant, by maybe 1% of the population. Sure, home cook. Right. Let me go pick up some Black Pig at my local fucking Winn Dixie.
Professional chefs?
Yeah. Because they need a fucking cookbook.
What even is this book? I found literally TWO recipes worth replicating, and am irritated with people who did nothing wrong other than have their picture taken without showing me what their goddamn tattoos look like.
I am irrationally angry about this book. IRRATIONALLY....more
I don't think I've ever immediately made a recipe I found in a cookbook before. Normally I save the good ones and they sit. Forever. Until the [image]
I don't think I've ever immediately made a recipe I found in a cookbook before. Normally I save the good ones and they sit. Forever. Until the apocalypse comes.
That right there is Nutella cake, and despite the mess, it is AMAZING, and I will be making it a lot from now on.
It's not the only recipe I saved from here, there were quite a lot of amazing sounding foods that seemed super simple. And the odds of me making them are much greater than the odds of me making any other recipes I've found in cookbooks over the years.
But odds are, I'm just going to make Nutella cakes and that's it. Not a loss!...more
And I didn't even read all of the recipes! Just reading the ones that got me super interested, I started getting the eye twitch.
AThe typos.
THE TYPOS.
And I didn't even read all of the recipes! Just reading the ones that got me super interested, I started getting the eye twitch.
All that aside, this cookbook really is super cool. It was on a display at my local library, I grabbed it right before Thanksgiving and let it sit for over a month. There are a lot of insanely clever recipes in here, though I think the breakfast suggestions had the most recipes that I would like to try.
There's also a recipe for jello shots, which I am terribly amused by. ...more
Sweet Revenge is about taking all your bittersweet memories, mixing in a little flour and sugar, and creating something delicious AF out of them.
Look Sweet Revenge is about taking all your bittersweet memories, mixing in a little flour and sugar, and creating something delicious AF out of them.
Look up a picture of Heather Kim, and you'll get a good idea of the style of this cookbook, even taking away that amazing attention-grabbing title. She's young and spunky and covered in tattoos and I really, really need to be her friend. Or at least to tattoo me. Or to bake for me.
Please be my friend.
These recipes not only sound delicious, they're hilariously titled, instructed, and annotated. From I Don't Give a Fig About You (figgy cookies) to Please Turnover and Die Soon (rhubarb turnovers), and even TBH, You're a Total D-Bagel (chocolate-bagel pudding). The difficulty level is clearly explained, and while there is plenty in here I couldn't even come close to attempting, I did find so many recipes that sound so delicious, there's no way I won't try to re-create them.
But also, some of these recipes are so freaking weird. Peanut-corn chip candy. What's that, you say? Candied Fritos. CANDIED. FRITOS. But wait, there's more! I've actually heard of candied chicken skin, but candied funyuns?! Hot Cheetos ganache?! White chocolate candied ramen?! Are you insane? Why would you do this, and why do I have such an intense desire to eat them?! Like, why am I not currently eating a cake coated in sriracha icing?!
Y'all. I need this cookbook. And I do happen to have some pictures to use for mixing utensils, as directed.
Received via Netgalley in exchange for a fair and unbiased review....more
Received via Netgalley in exchange for a fair and unbiased review
This is not a drill, people, I repeat, this is not a drill. There is a bonafide BUFFYReceived via Netgalley in exchange for a fair and unbiased review
This is not a drill, people, I repeat, this is not a drill. There is a bonafide BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER RECIPE IN THIS ONE.
I present: THE DOUBLE MEAT MEDLEY. With way less cat in it.
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If you saw my review for The Geeky Chef Cookbook, you know I have an especially humongous affection for anything fandom related, and these books are so far from disappointing, they deserve to have their own fandom.
President of the Geeky Chef fandom here. Line form behinds me to hug Cassandra Reeder (and demand she cook for me).
She explains several times through the book that she never thought she'd have the chance to write a sequel to her original book, so she tried to cram in all of the best fandoms she could in the original. Props to her, because not only did she come strong with the popular fandoms, she pulled out references I never saw coming.
From video games to TV shows, she's got almost everything a hardcore fan could want for their viewing parties. I say almost because I'm sure if I thought hard enough, I could come up with SOMETHING to complain she left out. At the moment, I'm too happy to think of one.
Seriously, these books are a fan's dream, and I see no reason for you not to stop reading this review and go to Amazon to order both of them. I'll have your Fandom Membership Card waiting when you get back.
What I hated about this book: The ridiculous title.
What I loved about this book: Literally everything except thaPeople want dessert when life is good.
What I hated about this book: The ridiculous title.
What I loved about this book: Literally everything except that ridiculous title.*
This book is SO MUCH FUN. I have NEVER, in my ENTIRE LIFE, been so motivated to make Rice Krispie Treats.
And you know what? I get to call them Rice Krispie treats, as opposed to Rice Cereal treats. You know why? Because this author was brilliant, and works with Kellogg's, so she doesn't have to go for a generic name. That right there? Everything.
The creations in this book are BRILLIANT, and amazing. They are all arranged alphabetically, from Apple to Zebra. This makes the reading even more fun, because you're anticipating what other objects will pop up. What's going to be under X? What's going to be the next P? Are there any naughty Rice Krispie treats in here???
(Spoiler: There are not).
I anticipated this would be more of a looking book than a reading book. Because let's face it, you don't really need to read the recipe. She puts the base recipe at the very beginning of the book, then throughout, tells you how much of it you will need, in addition to the fun add-ons, like Airheads, Twizzlers, and candy melts. (Also, she put chocolate Twizzlers instead of black licorice Twizzlers, bless you, woman.)
Then, flipping through the chapters and squeaking at the pictures, I came across the chapter on making fruit-shaped treats. And the first line caught my eye.
I love fruit, but sometimes I just wish it had more butter in it.
I cackled. Out loud. And then got annoyed with myself for not reading the introduction to each recipe. SHAMEFUL.
This book is so excellent. It would've been exceptionally easy to put the pictures in here with no instructions. I've seen it done before. Jessica Siskin provides not only written instructions, but also damn near picture-by-picture, step-by-step instructions. I think even I, as culinarily and creatively challenged as I really am, could make some of these.
And believe me.
I will be.
* Yes, I can appreciate the pun. That doesn't make it less ridiculous. ...more
Received via Edelweiss in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.
I've been scouring the internet the last few months looking for healthy snacks now tReceived via Edelweiss in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.
I've been scouring the internet the last few months looking for healthy snacks now that my nephew is moving out of baby food and into real foods. I want to find healthy, safe foods he can enjoy eating and that will make snacking fun for him.
This book is absolutely perfect for this, and I really want to own it. Filled to the brim with healthy snacks, tips for making preparation easier, and even ideas on storing and transporting, this is so great for anyone who feels guilty that they keep buying pre-packaged chips and cookies, or stopping in a drive-thru for Happy Meals after extracurricular activities.
She also includes tips on how to adjust recipes for food allergies, including gluten and dairy free options. Fun snacks that everyone can enjoy, that can be eaten at home, in the car, or tucked into a lunch box for school or work. Absolutely awesome. ...more
Received via Netgalley in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.
Sweet baby jesus, does the food in this book look amazing. Pretentiously amazing.
I Received via Netgalley in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.
Sweet baby jesus, does the food in this book look amazing. Pretentiously amazing.
I watched Sam Talbot on Top Chef. He didn't make an impression. But I'm pretty sure he won his season? I think? At the least, he got all the way to the end, so his skill is nothing to wave off.
And I will say, the lay out of this book is absolutely perfect. He's not introducing brain bending ideas, get rid of the processed foods in your kitchen, lay off the system-sabotaging dairy and junk, eat better, feel better. We've all heard it before.
But seriously, man, this food looks REALLY GOOD.
A lot of the recipes are chef-y items I wouldn't ever plan on eating, either by cooking it (badly), or ordering it at a restaurant. But the stuff I want, I want immediately.
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Seriously, look at that delicious plate of pretension. I want it. NOW.
I probably won't cook anything in here. I will, however, ask the culinary arts-trained bestie to make it for me. ...more
Before I even start this review, let's just be clear. When looking at these absolutely adorable cookie-cutter'ed, carved, kebabed, and all around maniBefore I even start this review, let's just be clear. When looking at these absolutely adorable cookie-cutter'ed, carved, kebabed, and all around manipulated food stuffs, this was all I could think about:
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Rachel Flax was clearly so ahead of her time.
This book is so awesome, y'all. I have such a love for adorable themed bento box lunches. Alyson Hannigan was, at one point, posting pictures of her daughter's lunch box. She has the egg molds, as well as vegetable cutters she bought in Japan that basically turn food into a puzzle to be put together.
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See? So freaking cute.
I don't even have kids. And I want to make someone's children the boxes described in this book. I want to make everyone's kids these boxes. Please, let me come to your home and build your child's lunch for you. Er, you have to supply the egg molds and actual food stuff, though. But I'll put them together!
Yes, sure, there's an entire section for adult Bento boxes, but forget that. What fun is that? I want to make Yoda sandwiches and Lego-shaped fruit.
I want this book. And I want to buy it for everyone I know who has a child. Because even if you don't have the fancy shmancy boxes she suggests, and even if you don't have the ingredients, or the cutters, there is so much inspiration here. The book is exploding with ideas for ways to make your child's entire day just by having them open their lunch box. ...more
Almost every fandom imaginable can be found here. Including Buffy, if only for a split second for, well, Blood. And she refers to TwiSO MUCH GOODNESS.
Almost every fandom imaginable can be found here. Including Buffy, if only for a split second for, well, Blood. And she refers to Twilight as "the T word" which HA!
Multiple Firefly references, too. Stop bribing me, Reeder, you grabbed me early on.
I want to make so many of these. No joke. From a GoT Bowl o'Brown to Harry Potter Treacle Tart. The recipes vary wildly in skill level, but her descriptions and ingredient lists are not terribly hard to follow.
What really impressed me is, with all of these recipes she's developed, she explains the nutritional information on the vitamin-packed ingredients she's included in each.
This book is so wasted on me. Not only because I don't cook, but also because Nine and Ten are the only Doctors I care about.
Some of these recipes arThis book is so wasted on me. Not only because I don't cook, but also because Nine and Ten are the only Doctors I care about.
Some of these recipes are so complicated, I had to facepalm while flipping quickly past them. Others are simple, and sound SO fun.
The Dalek salad, though? Disturbing on EVERY level.
Seriously, this is so cute and I kind of love it and want to own it. For display purposes, not because I'm actually going to make anything. Because heh. No. ...more
I love sandwiches. When the Atkins craze was such a big thing (and now its new, prettied up identical twin Paleo) , I laughed and laughed. I will neveI love sandwiches. When the Atkins craze was such a big thing (and now its new, prettied up identical twin Paleo) , I laughed and laughed. I will never give up bread, or rice, or pasta. Back off my carbs.
I like unique sandwiches, too. Good quality bread slathered with hummus and topped with fresh mozzarella and roasted red bell peppers is my favorite thing I've ever made on impulse. And it's that type of thing I had in mind when I requested this ARC. Because I'm not the savviest at putting different types of food together, especially foods healthy enough to be referred to as "superfoods".
This book pretty much had me sold after a few bread recipes. Then we get into condiments, where the first recipe is for an onion jam. Signed, sealed, delivered. I'm ready to go to the store now and discover that they don't sell 3/4 of what I need for these recipes in any store nearby. There's a fantastic mix of both vegetarian and carnivore recipes, and for those who think there's too many veg and not enough mammal, please remember that (::whispers::) you can always add meat to a recipe. It's not illegal.
The only trouble I have with this book is the author's love of fruit. I really hate fruit. Like, viscerally hate fruit. I'm a hardcore veggie lover, don't ever leave a vegetable platter unattended around me. But if you set a fruit salad out, it will grow mold before I even think to look in that direction. In general, the only fruits I like are the ones that are actually vegetables and people are mistaken. See: tomatoes, avocados.
Also cherries that have been soaked in coca-cola. Or Rum.
So, the fruit-based recipes aren't really up my alley. I don't see myself enjoying a steak and strawberry sandwich. However, I can appreciate the concept. I can see how someone who actually does like fruit would wet themselves with joy. And even my fruit hating self has to admit a grilled pineapple and avocado sandwich sounds like heaven. If you liked pineapple. Which I seriously do not.
I plan on making a lot of these recipes. ESPECIALLY the Edamame Fried Rice Veggie Burger, because HOLY SHIT.
I'll leave the Beet and Goat Cheese Pie Sandwich to the rest of you. Because ew.
Received via Edelweiss in exchange for a fair review....more
My niece's tablet was stolen, along with her copy of the Hunger Games audiobook, so I went looking to see if my library's ebook catalog had it. SpotteMy niece's tablet was stolen, along with her copy of the Hunger Games audiobook, so I went looking to see if my library's ebook catalog had it. Spotted this and cocked an eyebrow. 'Cause Hunger Games? Is people starving.
I do have to give credit, the recipes for the districts are very cleverly done. Though I really really hate goat cheese, so a lot of them aren't relevant for me.
The Capitol recipes are better, and sound fantastic. I was especially pleased at the recipe for the lamb stew, which sounds so good in the books. And I don't eat lamb, so that says something.
But I agree with other reviewers, I can't find an excuse for the lack of pictures in this book. Despite being a huge HG fan, I couldn't justify buying a cookbook without example pictures.
I can't cook to save my life (I could potentially kill someone with my awesome cooking that only I canColor me impressed. Which is a light pink shade.
I can't cook to save my life (I could potentially kill someone with my awesome cooking that only I can eat), so I was intrigued by this book. Less intrigued by the fact that these recipes are rather intricate.
But the recipes, even the ones I am not interested in, are really well laid out. The book starts with a lot of great prep tips, including basics like chopping onions and how to properly salt something (I suck at seasoning. I suck I suck I suck)
I only found a couple of keepers (Bacon-wrapped meat loaf. OMG, must make), but I really do like the format and set up of this book. Very well put together.