new cookbook excitment

I have had this book, The Splendid Table's How to Eat Supper: Recipes, Stories, and Opinions from Public Radio's Award-Winning Food Show for about 2 weeks now and I keep talking about it to anyone who will listen. This usually means Pete.

me: Honey, try this rice, really you have to. . .(me putting a wooden spoon in his face of very hot brown rice while he has other non-compatible food in his mouth) I cooked it a whole new way!

husband: (Taking a very small nibble) Um, okay. . . .it's good?

me: Yes! And, you know what the key is to everything?

husband: Money?

me: No, Fish sauce! Umami!

husband: In the rice?

me: No, salad dressing!

husband: Um, what? Hmmmm. . .wow. (Not listening, feeding the baby.)

me: I seriously can't believe this rice cooking method they talk about. This has changed my life, you know? Amazing! Oh! we need to get the little mesh sink drains at the Asian market, that would change ours lives too. They mention that in the book.

husband: Which book?

me: That new Splendid Table Book, you know, from the radio show?

husband: Right.

later that week-

me: In that book, it has a master salad dressing recipe and then 10 variations! And they also crush garlic with a rock! That is so great.

husband: Which book?

me: That How to Eat Supper Book. And we can now make our own pho!

husband: hmmm

the next day-

me: I think Sadie is a super-taster. They have a test you can do to see if you are, but we need to go to an office supple store to get something for the test. I don't think she'll put it on her tongue, either.

husband: What? Um. . . .what? Did you say super-taster?

me: Yeah, from that new cook book.

husband: Which book?

me: That Lynne Rossetto Kasper book.

Not that he doesn't like food or talking about food—to give him credit, I do have conversations in my head and forget how much I have said out loud, so there is confusion sometimes. Add two loud kids and one crazy baby and the fact that I can never refer to anything, like a cookbook, by the same title. It's a gift of mine.

I will try to describe it-

It's a book for home cooks, even beginners, but it's not too basic. There's a wonderful equipment list, book recommendations, quotes from other chiefs, amazing recipes, advice on navigating ethnic markets, the list goes on—tons and tons of tips, shortcuts, and cool things I had never heard of. It somehow melds Italian, Asian, Indian, & Mexican recipes without it being the kitchen sink. It also has a list of favorite vegetarian cook books, and hooray, most of them are not vegetarian, you know what I mean? My favorite cookbooks save one, are not vegetarian.

I have learned so much from this book already, like a whole new way to cook rice (Seriously!) umami, (So cool!) and I am now using way more raw red onion. (With tips to make it less raw red onion-y.)

It's an intuitive cooking book. That's the deal, and that's how I cook. It describes basic preparations but then suggests many variations. The dishes sound amazing, but honestly, there's so much to read (without it being too text heavy, somehow) I haven't made many recipes from it yet. But I will report back on that.

It's by Lynne Rossetto Kasper from NPR's The Splendid Table, along with her producer Sally Swift (who, after reading this book, am convinced is my cooking doppleganger) and I think this is why the book is so pleasant—it's like their laid back food loving radio show in book form, minus the caller asking how to cook tongue or cow brains. Very nice. I read cookbooks in bed, I'm one on these people, and this is perfect bedtime reading. It's right next to Anna Karenina, a good balance right now.

Actually that's an interesting idea—to read a cookbook along with fiction, especially if it relates somehow. I need to remember this.

Comments

[Five Flowers/ Emily]

Oh,cool! I had been thinking about getting it, since i like to catch the show with the kids napping in the car: double heaven!Super Natural Cooking by Heidi Swanson (101 cookbooks) is still by fav vegi cookbook: lots of new fun ingredients!

[susan]

only two ways i cook rice...in the rice cooker or not :-) you really seem to be into the cooking and cook book thing. always something tasty...my fav is the lemon bars. i think i will try and make for my honey this week. he is outside trying to dig us out of the major snow we had thurs and friday...must dye lots of fabric this week for guild show. something i should have done weeks ago but i seem to work best under pressure... :-)

[amy]

yes- I am so jealous of you guys- I am still number 8 on the library list for this gem. I am so excited!!! :)

[Kelly]

The "conversations" with your husband cracked me up. I do the same sort of thing, usually unloading all my random thoughts right when he walks in the door.

My favorite raw red onion fixer is to chop it however you'll be usuing it and pour boiling water over it.

A typo that made me smile in the best way:
"How to eat SUPER book" (imaginary comma making it a super book of how to eat)

[amy k.]

kelly! oops! fixed it-;)

[katie]

are you working for someone??? you're awfully good at promoting books! i had some of the same converstations with my husband about 'artisan bread...'....so funny!!

[emdot]

yea! i will buy this book. sounds great.

[amy k.]

yikes! no, katie, just loves me some books-plus I am working so hard on my book, the crafting content around here isn't getting much blog time right now. . .

[Kim]

I'm glad to see that someone else has conversations in her head and can't remember if she has already said it aloud. I usually end up repeating my self just for the sake if knowing it's out there. I may have to check this one out. My significant other is such a picky eater and I get so bored with the same thing every night, but he seems to be ok with it.

[Elizabeth]

Along the lines of reading cookbooks with fiction...have you heard of Jane Brocket's new book?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Cherry-Cake-Ginger-Beer-Treasury/dp/0340960892/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1205498559&sr=8-2

You could read it with your girls. :>

I will be checking out that cookbook - thanks.

[laura]

Thanks for this review! I am adding it to my list. The dialog with your husband made me laugh because it was a bit too familiar!

[liz]

I loved this show when I lived in Ohio, especially the segment when she makes an item with 5 ingredients people have in their fridge. I had no idea this book was out, thanks for sharing and I, too love to read cookbooks in bed, makes for great dreams.

[Angela]

I podcast the Splendid Table and last week also the How to Eat Supper podcast- they talked about the salad, the basic dressing recipe, and the onion thing. I think that this might have to become the latest addition to the collection. Thanks for the review!
p.s. wanted you to know that I am a struggling beginning sewer and I got several books from the library before committing to any one via purchase and hands down yours was my favorite. Will be going to the bookstore soon and hopefully completing a project successfully!

[LA Blogger Gal]

I just heard or read mention of their new cookbook the other day. I know what cookbook I'll be getting shortly - or for my birthday!! Or for a birthday gift to give.

[Collins]

I can't wait to get this cookbook. I read cookbooks in bed too!

[Sally]

This book sounds great. I need some new ideas, I'm in a cooking rut. I just took a break from the weekly menu and grocery list because I'm stuck, tired of the same old stuff.

I would love to hear your hubby's version of the conversation!

[Barbara]

hmm.. the super taster thing is interesting. i read a lot about the blood type and genotype diets, and the "taster" status is one of the clues to figuring out your type. how do they apply it in this book?

anyway, sounds like a good book!!

[LeeAnn]

So I had your blog on the laptop at the kitchen table while I was preparing lunch today and my husband sits down and starts readings. He says,
Hus: "Hey, this lady sounds like you LeeAnn."
Me: "Is that good or bad?"
Hus: "No, I think its good."
Me: "Oh, Ok."
Hus: "Hey did you read this whole thing because this cookbook looks really good. Umami. Yum! I think I'll just order it on Amazon OK?
Me: "Sure, you know I love the author."
A few minutes later....
Hus: "I hate this! I am always just a few dollars short of free shipping! You'll just have to wait till you want another book."

So you better suggest another book soon!

[stacy]

if you like reading about cooking and its based on someone's life....Julie & Julia by Julie Powell. So funny, good - you would probably like it.

[Allison]

Recipes and fiction - there must be a whole genre out there to explore.
I'm pretty sure you know Like Water for Chocolate by Laura Esquivel. I read another one a little while ago called Pomegranate Soup by Marsha Mehran, it's about three Iranian sisters who go to live in Ireland to escape their hardships. They own a little cafe and there are recipes of all the dishes they serve.
Ummmm, what else. I can think of a few memoirs with recipes. Monsoon Diary by Shoba Narayan is one. She is Indian and goes to live in America and recreates her family's recipes.
One dedicated to chocolate is La Dolce Vita by Isabel Coe. She's got Italian and Swiss grandparents and it's all about the sweet treats she got from them.
Can't think of any more at the moment, but I'm sure there are plenty.

[Stacy A]

That dialogue sounds exactly like my hubby and I. Well me and everyone really, so much going on inside its easy to forget that I only spoke a bit of it. I have a stack of cookbooks next to my pillow. Your right, perfect night time reading (unless I am hungry). Plus, you then get to dream about food. Perfect. Thanks for the review. This is going on my wish list. Love Stacy

[melissa]

Thanks for sharing this. I will have to check the cookbook out. I enjoy your enthusiasm!

[lisa s]

that book sounds amazing and right up my alley....

will add it to my wish list....
thanks!

[nathalie]

delurking to say I have had the same experience with "A new way to cook" http://tinyurl.com/4zdb3f

My husband is trying hard to share my enthusiasm for variations to basic vinaigrette - at least the kids are suitably impressed with cooking en papillote

[Tammy]

Apparantly, umami (or a "savory" flavor) is the one that tells our brain that we are consuming amino acids, the building blocks of protein. I brains are wired to think "delicious" when we taste umami. There are some vegetarian umami options (for those who don't eat fish), including seaweed, green tea, and dried shiitake mushrooms. High levels of umami also occur naturally in many fermented foods, such as soy sauce, miso paste, and parmesan cheese. Any of these foods can help lend umami to a dish! Consider using some of them to make stock or adding them to your rice ^.^

Much of this information is courtesy of the book "Veg Out: The Vegan and Vegetarian Survival Guide for Japan"

[cyndyava]

I thought I was the only wierdo who read cookbooks in bed...Gotta love it! Just curious...what do you think about "The Art of Simple Food?"

[Dallas]

You're a great salesman... but what is a super taster?

[Crystal]

Did you see that Lynne and Sally are gracing our lovely city with their presence? The Baghdad theater is holding an event on April 26th. Yeah for new cook books and Portland!

http://www.powells.com/biblio/62-9780307346711-0

[Wendy]

I really enjoyed Julie and Julia. Just to second that from another commenter to another commenter that may never see that response...;)

I think my husband is like you. We've had arguments about it actually. He talks to me all the time in his head when he's at work, so when we get together it's often radio silence or non sequiturs. I get annoyed at prompting him to explain what he means or why I should know this person/thing/event but in his head he's already told me everything I need to know.

Sigh. We love you crazy people.

[Delena]

My mom has a really good pho recipe (or she makes it up in her head each time); I have never had the patience to try it since it involves cooking and tenderizing meat for HOURS. Please let me know if the recipe in the book sounds easier and faster, I love shortcuts!

[Linnea]

Hi :o) Your conversation script made me laugh! I'll have to check and see if that cook book's in the library. It sounds like a good one. I also couldn't help but notice that your nails are very pretty!!
Linnea

[alice]

Oh! I am going to have to buy this book now :) The Splendid Table is so soothing.

[Lucky]

TENDER AT THE BONE by Ruth Reichl (NY Times restaurant critic about growing up with food)

This is my #1 favorite book, period. By the sounds of it, I believe you'll enjoy it as well.

http://www.amazon.com/Tender-Bone-Growing-Up-Table/dp/0767903382/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1208173621&sr=8-1

[Julie @ Letter9]

Wow, Amy, your review makes me want to learn to cook. And to learn to ENJOY cooking.

Oh, OK, let's not go overboard. It honestly doesn't make me want to cook at all because I hate cooking, but it makes me want to get it for my husband. : )

[Penny]

This post cracked me up.
My DH works in the food industry, he has had the priviledge of attending some pretty awesome conferences in the last year, in turn I too have learnt about Umami and how our oldest daughter is a Super Taster... the food industrie's worst enemy when it comes to taste testing LOL.

[romila]

I've always loved the Splendid Table, but I do especially love your review! Thanks for the smiles! I live in Okinawa so I'll definitely have to look into umami.

[JennyC.No3]

I feel like the chick from the Jerry Maguire movie ... "You had me at 'Pho'". Haha, I'm seriously going to have to get this book if it's as good as you say since hubby and I are addicted to Pho. Well, that's a bit much but it would be great to make it at home! Thanks!!

[Nevis]

MMmm..."Little French Fudge Cakes"...!

[amy k.]

Thanks all!
the pho looks pretty easy, it starts with a cheater broth and then you add spices-

dallas: google "supertaster" it's pretty interesting

-I started Julie and Julia but didn't finish it

-I love Ruth Reichl!

[desi]

can you post the recipe for those little french fudge cakes? they look awesome!

[jen davis]

Just fabulous, the very stuff that is life!

[Dyan]

Lol's for you and Pete, I so know what you mean, that's sort of how it goes when I start talking about crystals or aromatherapy with my hubby. There's this whole confusion because of what I'm thinking in my head and saying and what he's hearing.
Dy

[Lasso the Moon]

You crack me up!
I love that radio show. Her voice is so seductive, like we're making love to the food. Or near the food...
Anna

[Amy]

{brag, brag} I used to work for Lynne and was around when some of the recipes were being tested. I LOVE this book.

[June]

Your "conversation" had me laughing out loud. The book does sound good, full of recipes and information that's helpful even for seasoned cooks.

[Leslie]

I'm getting this book, for sure. Hey, I wanna take the 'super taster' test. Office supply store? Strange!

[Jennifer Minson]

Have you tried her Italian Country Cookbook? It's one of our utter favorites here.

[sandy]

Mmm, those little french cupcakes look delic!!!! :)

[pamela]

tag you're it! check out my site for details!!

[amy k.]

hey Pamela-
thank you!!

I have given up on tags/memes, sorry, I suck!

I just get all stressed about them, I know I sound like a freak. :)