Read: A Homemade Life
A good cookbook should inspire and make you want to open your fridge and get cooking. And it’s been a while since I’ve read a good cookbook. As a result, I’ve been in a bit of a cooking rut over the past couple of weeks.
But along came Molly Wizenberg (aka Orangette) and her book A Homemade Life, which I ended up finishing on Sunday after our plans to play tennis were disrupted when the husband had to do some last-minute work. And I ended up liking this book much more than I expected (I’m always a bit hesitant about blog-turned-book books). And what was even better, I was inspired to try out some new recipes!
It started out with raisin scones for the first time. I have to admit that I didn’t use Wizenberg’s recipe as Dorie Greenspan’s recipe listed ingredients i already had in my pantry (they turned out really good by the way – nice and buttery and were easy to make).
And while I was reading the book, I constantly wanted to try out her recipes (or some adaptation of them), especially the many salads and vegetable dishes (like the caramelised cauliflower with salsa verde) that are in the book. I think part of the reason why I plowed my way so quickly through this book was that I was also reading Alistair MacLeod’s The Island as well, and when I emerged from one of his stories, I felt the need to dive into something a bit more lighthearted and fun. But then not all of Wizenberg’s pieces are lighthearted and fun, as quite a bit of it deals with her dad’s dying from cancer. And that made me sob. But then, after some nose-blowing and tear-wiping, I moved on to the recipes that ended each chapter, and reading recipes, especially ones with such personal details as hers, made me feel better – and hungry. And that made it a good read and a good cookbook.
Book provided by my library
I just wanted Molly to cook for me. I think it would be wonderful to eat dinner at her house!
Wouldn’t it? And oh, her wedding sounded amazing!