Just Jennifer

Happy Cooking by Giada De Laurentiis

Make Every Meal Count…Without Stressing Out

In her eighth cookbook, Food Network star Giada De Laurentiis strays a bit from her Italian roots and focuses on eating things that make you feel good, taste good and that you enjoy cooking.  Giada acknowledges that many people have dietary restrictions, self-imposed or for medical reasons and includes many vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options.  There are a lot of savory breakfast options, including recipes that can be made on the weekends and heated up or altered slightly on a busy morning.  As a single mother, Giada addresses the need to have simple, healthful but tasty foods to grab quickly, especially on the go.  Many of the recipes have short headers giving serving ideas or ideas for changing up some of the ingredients (in the Focaccia with Tangerine and Fennel she advises using any citrus or cherries if you don’t have or like tangerines).  Each chapter has several sidebars that discuss things such as packing a salad in a jar so it doesn’t get soggy before lunch or Giada’s favorite mini-cleanses.  Some more complicated recipes such as a Spring Pasta Timbale turn out to be not all that complicated and are real show stoppers.  Fans who followed Giada’s rise to stardom will enjoy catching up with her and seeing how her recipes, cooking and philosophies have evolved over time. 

FTC Disclaimer: I received this book from the Blogging for Books program in exchange for this review.

Just Jennifer

Pop Goes the Weasel by M.J. Arlidge

In this sequel to Eeny Meeny Detective Inspector Helen Grace finds herself on the trail of another serial killer while trying to put her team back together after the fallout from their previous serial killer case (spoiler alert: do not read this sequel until you have read the first book to avoid spoiling the ending).  This time, Helen finds herself looking for someone, she thinks a woman, who is killing men who frequent prostitutes, cutting out their hearts and delivering the hearts to their nearest and dearest.  Something isn’t quite adding up, but with aggressive newspaper reporter Emilia Garanita threatening to expose all of Helen’s secrets if she doesn’t dish and a new boss, Detective Superintendent Ceri Harwood who isn’t particularly fond of Helen, on her case, it makes her question her own instincts.  Helen often appears stoic and has an unusual form of stress relief, but ultimately cares about those on her team as much as getting justice.  As with the first novel, Arlidge delivers one last twist when it seems there are none left to be had.  This series is several books longer in the UK ensuring US fans many more mysteries with Helen Grace to come. 

Just Jennifer

The Homemade Kitchen by Alana Chernila

In her follow up cookbook, the author of The Homemade Pantry brings food, eating and cooking down to their basics.  She approaches much of this book through her eleven-year-old daughter Sadie who is beginning to not only discover the pleasures of cooking for the final product, but also the sense of comfort and even emotional well-being that can be found through the process of cooking, allowing your mind to wander or to focus on the task at hand.  After a short essay, Alana begins the first chapter with a “How to Cook” primmer from eggs to vegetables to pickles, turning fruit into jam, cooking grains, roasting a chicken, pie crusts and pasta.  She next reminds us that even if we are eating alone we are worth the effort and follows up with easy recipes that work as a light lunch or snack for one but could easily be a starter or side for a family supper.  Alana sings the praises of garlic, even describing how to grow it in a conversational manner, and focuses on fresh ingredients and recipes that relate back to our mental and physical well-being.  Alana discusses between organic and Certified Naturally Grown and demystifies the labels on chickens and eggs.  Several pages on food waste offer tips to storing food to avoid loss and gives helpful tips for what to do with peels and scraps before turning them to compost.  While the recipes are interesting and variations offer ways to change up recipes like stuffed winter squash or quiche, it is the chatty, friendly side-bars sharing Alana’s good humor and dedication to good food that make this a very useful and user friendly cookbook.  

FTC Disclaimer: I received this book from the Blogging for Books program in exchange for this review.