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★★★★★
Great Cookbook. Plus Read Review for a Solution to Your Binding Woes
I really like the Well Fed series cookbooks. As far as content goes...this one very possibly has the most recipes that we'll actually make of the three cookbooks. Although we like to cook, like everybody, it seems like there's never enough spare time to cook as much as we'd like. So, a cookbook focused on recipes that take less time is a welcome addition. We've looked through the whole thing, and have made several things. I also find it interesting that the author has picked some of the same types of recipes that we've independently found work very well on those time-crunched nights [homemade taco meat is delicious and very simple even when using actual spices and not a 'packet', and of course grilled burgers with salad, etc.].
Trying to keep the carbs down, I AM IN LOVE WITH the cauliflower-based 'rice' and 'mashed potatoes' substitute recipes that we learned about in Well Fed 2 (page 167). This book uses those ingredients in several dishes such as "Shepherd's Pie" (page 123) and "Dirty Rice" (page 129)...and I literally see no reason to ever eat potatoes or rice ever again! I also really liked the Sticky Orange Sunflower Chicken with Sesame Broccoli (page 173). If you are thinking of doing more low-carb and/or Paleo cooking, I strongly recommend that you check out this book and Well Fed 2 (with Nom Nom Paleo also being pretty good).
Now on the subject of the binding: Yeah, not sure *what* is up with that binding, but it is strange and leaves a lot to be desired. A couple of others are reporting pages falling out. That hasn't happened with ours, but if you leave the book laying open, the cover doesn't return to flat...it kinda sits there all curved around the spine of the book. And is really just funky. I saw a recommendation here by someone to get it spiral bound at an office supply or print store, and this was great advice. I just took it down to Staples, and it was only $5.50 to cut off the old binding and put a plastic spiral binding on the cookbook. It now works *better* than when it was brand new, as it lays truly flat now (see my uploaded image)! I am guessing that at some point the publisher and printer will fix this binding issue, but I'm actually glad that I've made this 'upgrade'...makes using the book much easier.
My wife wants me to tell everyone on Amazon that a great cookbook with a poor binding is still WAY better than the opposite. This way, however, you can have the best of both worlds!
Update 12/14/16: We've made several more things from this cookbook, and I've liked everything except for one recipe that called for ground up anchovy (Sicilian Cauliflower w/ Beef page 73...tried to be 'open' to new flavors...but no thank you). I really liked the Yucatan Green Chile Saute with Cumin-Lime Sauce (page 101) and the Greens with Potatoes & Sausage (page 111). I thought the Chicken Satay Burger was decent as well...I would have it again...but maybe not on my list of absolute favorites from this cookbook. Anyway, we're really enjoying these new meals, and some new recipes that don't take a really long time to make.
November 2016 · Books · verified purchase