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4.35 AVERAGE
4.35 AVERAGE
I wouldn't ordinarily review a cookbook on goodreads, since generally they're collections of ingredients and instructions, and what really matters is how well the recipes work. But this cookbook is so beautifully put together that I had to acknowledge it. Because yes, the recipes are fabulous--full of vegetables, not fussy but fancy enough for a dinner party, with recipes that will satisfy omnivores to vegans. And every single recipe I've tried has turned out fabulously. All this would be enough to recommend it, but each recipe also has gorgeous color photos and a few paragraphs from Perelman, describing how she came up with the dish and why she likes it so much. It combines to be so enticing that every time I open this book, I end up actually cooking something. Coming from someone like me, whose usual dinner is Trader Joes chili and cookies, that's a real sign of success!
Only a couple recipes in the book have become regulars for me, but I love her funny, conversational writing. The pizza dough recipe is my new go-to!
Wonderful recipes, wonderful pictures, yummy results. Love her blog, love her book.
I love cookbooks. I also love Deb's blog. This cookbook is basically just like her blog. Nice big pictures. Funny little anecdotes. Excellent, excellent recipes. I want a copy. It's inspiring, and I like paging through a real paper, full-color cookbook better than scrolling through the same information on the interwebz.
This was the second cookbook I got in my quest to have some sort of well-rounded Useful Information Library and I'm giving it four stars even though I can't actually remember how many recipes in here I wanted to make, because I've made a few recipes from her website and it's all been fantastic.
I've been a fan of the Smitten Kitchen blog for a while now and Deb's cookbook is equally fantastic. I made Mushroom Bourguignon for my parents the other night and they loved it!
informative
inspiring
relaxing
medium-paced
Wow - looking at my previous activity for The Smitten Kitchen Cookbook - it was exactly 9 years ago that I initially read through this! Completely unplanned, just a wonderful coincidence. Plus I'm embarrassed to say that I've likely not flipped through these recipes again for 7 of the past 9 years of owning this cookbook.
My 2025 Cookbook Trials - logging these in Goodreads to keep track of my cooking adventures this year. My new year's resolution for 2025 was to try more recipes - at least one new one per month. To aid in this endeavour, I'm once again signing out cookbooks from the public library.
While my cookbooks from the library pile up - I thought I should also really take a look at the cookbooks that have been sitting on my shelf collecting dust; none more so than my beloved Smitten Kitchen tomes. Smitten Kitchen was the site that started my adventures into cooking and trying out new recipes - the everyday meatballs, lentil soup with sausage and chard and ultimate banana bread were constantly revisited back in the 2010's.
Since those initial years, my cooking habits have changed (not to mention locations too!) and in recent years, I've not only stopped flipping through this cookbook but also rarely visit the Smitten Kitchen website. Regardless, Deb Perelman and Smitten Kitchen remain a mainstay and when I see her on social media doing a podcast or when my sister reminds me of her absolutely perfect pancake recipe - there's a sense of familiarity that warms my heart. Deb and Smitten Kitchen has been steadily and reliably churning out recipes now for 16 years and I'm sure this will continue for another 16 or more!
The Smitten Kitchen cookbook - even when I first bought it - did not have a lot of recipes that appealed to me. I trust the thoroughness of all of Deb's recipes, truly head and shoulders above all others (especially compared to some other longstanding recipes blogs that like to steal recipes from others... rhymes with Half Flaked Starvest), so regardless of how many recipes I currently use (or not) - Smitten Kitchen will always have a place on my shelves.
RECIPES STILL TO TRY:
1) Sugar snap salad with miso dressing
2) Sweet peas & shells alfredo - our household does not eat pasta often, but I could see this as a light weeknight dinner!
3) Sesame spiced turkey meatballs with smashed chickpeas - might substitute turkey for something else, but we love meatballs and L loves chickpeas!
4) Roast chicken with grapes, olives and rosemary - this sounds fabulous and should try asap!
5) Lemon bars - I've had this on my to-try list since the first day I bought this book. The fact that I still have not tried it is a travesty!
My 2025 Cookbook Trials - logging these in Goodreads to keep track of my cooking adventures this year. My new year's resolution for 2025 was to try more recipes - at least one new one per month. To aid in this endeavour, I'm once again signing out cookbooks from the public library.
While my cookbooks from the library pile up - I thought I should also really take a look at the cookbooks that have been sitting on my shelf collecting dust; none more so than my beloved Smitten Kitchen tomes. Smitten Kitchen was the site that started my adventures into cooking and trying out new recipes - the everyday meatballs, lentil soup with sausage and chard and ultimate banana bread were constantly revisited back in the 2010's.
Since those initial years, my cooking habits have changed (not to mention locations too!) and in recent years, I've not only stopped flipping through this cookbook but also rarely visit the Smitten Kitchen website. Regardless, Deb Perelman and Smitten Kitchen remain a mainstay and when I see her on social media doing a podcast or when my sister reminds me of her absolutely perfect pancake recipe - there's a sense of familiarity that warms my heart. Deb and Smitten Kitchen has been steadily and reliably churning out recipes now for 16 years and I'm sure this will continue for another 16 or more!
The Smitten Kitchen cookbook - even when I first bought it - did not have a lot of recipes that appealed to me. I trust the thoroughness of all of Deb's recipes, truly head and shoulders above all others (especially compared to some other longstanding recipes blogs that like to steal recipes from others... rhymes with Half Flaked Starvest), so regardless of how many recipes I currently use (or not) - Smitten Kitchen will always have a place on my shelves.
RECIPES STILL TO TRY:
1) Sugar snap salad with miso dressing
2) Sweet peas & shells alfredo - our household does not eat pasta often, but I could see this as a light weeknight dinner!
3) Sesame spiced turkey meatballs with smashed chickpeas - might substitute turkey for something else, but we love meatballs and L loves chickpeas!
4) Roast chicken with grapes, olives and rosemary - this sounds fabulous and should try asap!
5) Lemon bars - I've had this on my to-try list since the first day I bought this book. The fact that I still have not tried it is a travesty!
To nobody's surprise, this book is fabulous. Definitely need to buy a copy to keep. I love Deb Perelman's writing, her stories, her food.