Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

I've been waiting for this book to come out ever since it was announced. I have all of Melissa Clark's previous books and really love her recipes. So far, however, I am not loving this one nearly as much, and I feel terrible saying that. Clark has already raised the home cooking bar so high that it makes me feel bad to say that this one is not quite there, but at least I'm not finding that it is. I have to further preface this review by stating that many of the recipes I adore and very often make from Clark's insanely great cookbook, "Dinner: Changing the Game," are already one pot - the most amazing shakshuka I have ever made, or even had, is in that book, and the Chicken with Anchovies, Lemon, and Capers, and the Brussels Sprouts with Halloumi are one-pot constants in my house. There are so many outstanding recipes in that book - one of my personal all-time favorite cookbooks ever - that I think it would be a really hard act to follow. But, I thought, if anyone can do it, Clark can. So perhaps I was expecting too much, but I'm just not loving what this book has so far delivered, with only a few exceptions. Here's what I have made so far: -- Garlicky Pork Chops with Cauliflower and Pomegranate. It was the first recipe I made from the book. I was a little leery about cooking pork chops on a sheet pan in the dry heat of an oven, but I figured if anyone could make it work, Clark would. The result was not great, but it wasn't really because of the pork, which amazingly came out fairly well (I live in the South and the pork here is usually pretty great). It was because the dish, as a whole, really did not come together. The flavors were just ok. I would not make it again. -- Skillet Shrimp Scampi with Orzo and Tomatoes. This turned out better than the pork dish for sure, and I had fantastic shrimp that was caught earlier in the day by the fisherman down the road, so I was hoping for spectacular. It was ok/good, but I would not really make it again. -- [Updated] Crispy Chicken Thighs with Puttanesca Green Beans. This was the best of the three, but still just ok/good. I made this with the skinless, boneless thighs called for and the chicken was not crispy nor did it look nice when plating, so I tried it again with skin-on thighs. Having the crispy skin was an improvement, and it plated much more attractively, but there was quite a lot of fat, even though I cut some out to make up for having the skin. This was one recipe that I thought was worth another try - but it still wasn't as good as I'd hoped. -- [Updated] Roasted Mushrooms with Polenta This has been the winner so far. It was delicious and ridiculously easy for how good it tasted. I used maitake, shiitake and cremini mushrooms (threw in a bit more than the recipes called for) and an organic polenta. The pre-made polenta was better in this dish than I thought it be - creamy on the inside and crispy on the edges. We loved this dish so much that there was not a speck left in the pan. This one is a keeper for sure. It was enough to keep my going through the book. -- [Updated] Green Shashuka with Avocado, Chile and Feta This was not good. The chile in the recipe title made no appearance in the list of ingredients nor in the instructions, so I was left to wonder about the editing of this book. The recipes have been so unlike Clark's previous books that I have to think that faulty editing might be the reason. IDK if chiles would have made a difference or not but this was a unanimous not good in my house. We ate it, but only because I will not throw away food unless it is entirely inedible. -- [Updated] Spicy Stir-fried Pork with Green Beans and Tomatoes This was good enough to make again. I had to adjust some of the seasoning amounts because the jalapeños I bought were on the mild side, but the dish came together very quickly and was tasty. It was successful enough to make me want to try a few more recipes. -- [Updated] Roasted Chicken "Tagine" with Dates, Olives and Lemon This, along with the mushroom dish, has been the best thing I've made from this book so far. The flavors were had the kind of the complexity and intensity that I love about Melissa Clark's recipes. I didn't serve it on couscous, although I agree with the recipe that the pan juices are worth having something to sop them up with. This was so good. My husband thought this was the best thing from this book. At this point, I am suspecting that there were errors in editing this book. And maybe the errors just happened to be in the recipes I chose to make because I'm surprised that, aside from the Roasted Mushrooms and Chicken "Tagine", we really haven't liked them that much. If this was not Melissa Clark, I would have quit after three strikes, but having had more strikes, it will be a while before I make another one.. save for those two. I am used to making Melissa Clark recipes that knock everyone socks off, but so far, my socks are still on. I wish I was giving this book a rave review because it would mean that we have been having some amazing dinners in my house this week. Unfortunately, that is not what happened. A lot of cookbook authors do ok/good, but Melissa Clark usually goes way beyond that. I was expecting her usual, amazingly great recipes and I have not yet consistently gotten that from this book.