The Well-Seasoned Book Challenge is done. Yeah! Here are the three reviews for the titles read:
Jamie at Home: Cook your way to the Good Life by Jamie Oliver
I have always enjoyed watching Jamie Oliver on his cooking shows so I was not surprised to find his book just as fun to read. His personality shows through the cookbook and he really does make cooking look both easy and fun, even for the beginner or burnt-thumbed type.
His introduction starts out with the bit about his wife thinking that he is having an affair. Of course, Jamie explains that his “mistress” is his garden where he spends lots of time growing food to use in his cooking. He has an outdoor oven (on my wish list for sure) and a very simple barbeque set-up. Lots of the recipes can be done outside on the grill. There are some ingredients and combinations of food that appear to be very British, but quite adaptable to American palates. Divided by the four seasons with fantastic photos of the dishes and gardens. At the end of each section there is a “How I grow…” section with Oliver explaining how he grows a particular vegetable in his garden. This is definitely not for vegetarians although the author uses fresh veggies throughout. And there is a short section on game hunting.
I am a cookbook collector so I had already purchased this title. Having read it, I would still have spent the money or perhaps borrowed from the library after having read the book. I liked the combination of garden and cooking. Some of my favorite recipes (used and not yet used) are:
- Bubble and Squeak
- Grilled asparagus
- Curried cauliflower fritters
- Rhubarb and custard kinda souffle
The Secret’s in the Sauce: A Novel by Linda Evans Shepherd and Eva Marie Everson
I chose this title blind–no recommendation, review or description other than the catalog record. This title is in a series called “The Potluck Catering Club”. The story follows the lives of the women in the Potluck Catering Club and the problems occuring in their lives. The novel is set in Colorado. It is a Christian fiction with all problems tied up by end of the story through the power of prayer. This is one of the few titles that I did not like but decided to finish only because it was on my list. Very predictable.
What a fun title. Shirley Fong-Torres tells a great story, leading readers on a tour of San Francisco Chinatown in history, food and family. I found the personal story compelling. Fong-Torres gives her family’s travels from China to the United States. Fong-Torres explains her Hispanic-Chinese name, how her family came to live Oakland and Angel Island history. Recommendations of eating, dancing and exploring Chinatown comes from 20 years in the tour business. Also included are favorite recipes requested many times by guests of Wok Wiz Chinatown Tours. If you want to learn about Chinatown or are planning a visit, read this book.
