I’ve been an occasional reader at the Smitten Kitchen blog by Deb Perelman, but after reading her new cookbook, I’ve become a regular subscriber.
I borrowed the The Smitten Kitchen Cookbook from the library and I knew I needed to read it quickly as the library wait list was extensive.
I started out flipping through pages reading the recipes, noting a few favorites, and checking to see if I could find similar recipes online. But as I read one of her many book reviews/recipes online, she mentioned how funny and charming Deb’s stories were, as it was the first cookbook to make her laugh out loud.
I was intrigued so I slowed down, and started reading from the beginning. I have to admit up until that point, I was already hooked, but reading her charming narrative really did add another interesting aspect.
I even found several recipes that I originally bypassed, but after reading her recipe back-stories, I was excited to try. The whole wheat raspberry scones was one recipe!
Besides the sweet stories, she makes many elaborate sophisticated recipes seem attainable and simple to make, such as pizza dough, scones, and blintzes. I love her take on unique flavors and ingredients, and she assures that all but fifteen of the recipes are brand new!
There are tons of detailed, wonderful photos, including plenty of all-important finished dish photos. The one thing I can’t stand is wasted space for artistic photos of fancy cookware and close-ups of ingredients that illustrate nothing about the actual recipe. There’s none of that in The Smitten Kitchen Cookbook.
Just a few of the recipes that I want to try:
- Emmentaler on Rye with Sweet & Sour Onions – tell me that sandwich photo doesn’t make you salivate!
- Cheddar Swirl Breakfast Buns – Another salivation-fest! I’ll try it with whole grain flour though.
- Gingerbread Spice Dutch Baby – I’d love one big fluffy oven pancake for our dinner!
I’m sad to return this cookbook back to the library this week, but I have requested it again; in a few weeks I’ll have one more chance to read through it.
Update (May, 2013): I have borrowed this book at least 2 more times because I am so inspired by it!
Disclaimer:
I love reading cookbooks, like some people love reading novels! I am inspired by recipes, and enjoy learning ideas from cookbooks, which means I’d rather put my own spin on a recipe than follow it exactly. Please keep in mind that my opinions might be completely different from the other home cooks.