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carlynclark's review
informative
inspiring
fast-paced
3.0
Charmingly illustrated with a nice mix of recipes drawing from many culinary traditions
kate404's review
3.0
It’s hard to rate cookbooks, given that I obviously did not try all of the recipes in this book and I’m sure there were some great ones that my picky eaters just wouldn’t try.
My favorite thing about it was how adaptable and accessible the cookbook was. Often giving various swap ideas and also alternative methods of prepping and cooking. It was refreshing to see things like, “if your knife skills aren’t great you can roughly break it up”. Also sections like for when your short on time was also helpful because that is usually how I approach meals!
That said, we rented this from the library and didn’t find any of the recipes we tried to be particularly worth buying the book and trying more.
My favorite thing about it was how adaptable and accessible the cookbook was. Often giving various swap ideas and also alternative methods of prepping and cooking. It was refreshing to see things like, “if your knife skills aren’t great you can roughly break it up”. Also sections like for when your short on time was also helpful because that is usually how I approach meals!
That said, we rented this from the library and didn’t find any of the recipes we tried to be particularly worth buying the book and trying more.
add24's review
2.0
This book was colorful with interesting recipes and ingredient combinations. As a parent of small children, this wouldn’t be the first recipe book I’d grab. There are various recipes that would be unusual to my family, but might be enjoyable to others.
I found the lay-out hard to follow, but that could be because it was all on my Kindle and think cookbooks are hard to format for kindle. Would have liked photos for reference also.
Thanks to Net Galley for the advanced copy.
I found the lay-out hard to follow, but that could be because it was all on my Kindle and think cookbooks are hard to format for kindle. Would have liked photos for reference also.
Thanks to Net Galley for the advanced copy.
goldentortoisebeetle's review
Such a kind and thoughtful book. I've never seen a cookbook put this much attention to detail when it comes to disability. Even though I'm a sucker for big glossy cookbook photos, I like her reasoning for why she chose not to include them. Many veggie and vegan options. The woman loves sardines.
half_book_and_co's review
5.0
I first "met" Ruby Tandoh in 2013 when she graced our screens in season four of the Great British Bake Off. Since then Tandoh has forged her way as a food writer in the most admirable way: incredibly inclusive, willing to learn, tender. Some recipes of her cookbook Flavour are firm favourites of mine and her book Eat Up: Food, Appetite and Eating What You Want is one I recommend often.
Now, Cook As You Are: Recipes for Real Life, Hungry Cooks and Messy Kitchens was published and it feels like Ruby Tandoh's self as a cookbook writer and as a critically engaged food writer fully tied together to create a little masterpiece. Cook As You Are wants to meet us exactly where we are: no matter how small or messy the kitchen, not depending on specific lifestyles, with whatever budget we bring to the table and considering a variety of physical ability levels. There no photos in the book, so that we as readers/ homecooks judge our food by the simple fact if we think it's tasty and if it looks good to us (and also to cut down on other aspirational stuff photos will always transport like fancy kitchens and certain body types).
The texts are always kind and understanding of a variety of circumstances trying to offer solutions which work for many (while being conscious there will never be solutions working for everyone). Just reading this cookbook feels like a warm hug. For every recipe, Tandoh offers variations and substitutions (for example on how to make a recipe in a way that you have less things to cut which can be a real difficulty for many people with disabilities, chronical illness, or - as Tandoh also notes - people who prepare a meal while carrying a child on their hip).
Cook As You Are is a cookbook for everyday. There are fast 20 minutes recipes but also bigger projects if that's what you feel like. I enjoy Tandoh's unpretentiousness when introducing recipes and the constant quoting of people and other books which inspired her (there are even lists in the beginning of each chapter naming some other cookbooks). This just adds to the feeling of openess and generosity - and isn't that how one would like to feel in the kitchen?
Now, Cook As You Are: Recipes for Real Life, Hungry Cooks and Messy Kitchens was published and it feels like Ruby Tandoh's self as a cookbook writer and as a critically engaged food writer fully tied together to create a little masterpiece. Cook As You Are wants to meet us exactly where we are: no matter how small or messy the kitchen, not depending on specific lifestyles, with whatever budget we bring to the table and considering a variety of physical ability levels. There no photos in the book, so that we as readers/ homecooks judge our food by the simple fact if we think it's tasty and if it looks good to us (and also to cut down on other aspirational stuff photos will always transport like fancy kitchens and certain body types).
The texts are always kind and understanding of a variety of circumstances trying to offer solutions which work for many (while being conscious there will never be solutions working for everyone). Just reading this cookbook feels like a warm hug. For every recipe, Tandoh offers variations and substitutions (for example on how to make a recipe in a way that you have less things to cut which can be a real difficulty for many people with disabilities, chronical illness, or - as Tandoh also notes - people who prepare a meal while carrying a child on their hip).
Cook As You Are is a cookbook for everyday. There are fast 20 minutes recipes but also bigger projects if that's what you feel like. I enjoy Tandoh's unpretentiousness when introducing recipes and the constant quoting of people and other books which inspired her (there are even lists in the beginning of each chapter naming some other cookbooks). This just adds to the feeling of openess and generosity - and isn't that how one would like to feel in the kitchen?