Starred review from August 7, 2017
Blogger and cookbook author Perelman (The Smitten Kitchen Cookbook) found she had to modify her approach to mealtime to accommodate a young, hungry family. This cookbook is her attempt to inspire herself and others to take a relaxed yet celebratory approach to feeding our families. The result is a joyous cookbook filled with delectable, creative possibilities for every meal. Main-dish recipes include miso maple ribs with roasted scallions; chicken and rice, street-cart style; and meatballs marsala with egg noodles. Even salads, the afterthought of many a meal, are given some sparkle with options such as a smashed cucumber salad with salted peanuts and wasabi peas and a Sushi Takeout Cobb Salad finished with the carrot-based dressing made famous in American sushi restaurants. Vegetarians and omnivores alike will be tempted by the vegetable-centric main dishes Perelman offers, which include a Parmesan Dutch Baby (pancake) with creamed mushrooms, dry-rub sweet potato steaks with green bean slaw, and an artichoke and Parmesan galette. Desserts are Perelman’s forte and her recipes include a chocolate pecan slab pie, a chocolate peanut butter ice box cake, and a brilliant primer for creating party cakes for any occasion. Perelman’s latest is packed with tempting, well-written recipes that promise delicious meals for the whole family. Agent: Alison Fargis, Stonesong.
Starred review from August 1, 2017
Little food blog that could (and did), The Smitten Kitchen has been delighting a faithful and growing audience for more than 10 years, and author Perelman manages to improve upon her wonderful first cookbook, The Smitten Kitchen Cookbook (2012), in her second. After having a second child, Perelman began to understand why not everyone jumps with joy when it's time to make dinner. Thus, these recipes are meant to minimize home cooks' strife and maximize the enjoyment they can share with appreciative others. In her introduction and the narrative lead-ins for each recipe, Perelman showcases her fine, friendly writing; her approach to perfecting and inventing foolproof recipes; and her self-effacing charm (no, the recipe she found online for smeteneh kuchen was not a shout-out to her, embarrassingly enough, but a great cake results). Some 100+ recipes for all the day's meals include salads, soups, main dishes that are more vegetarian than not, and plenty of treats. Measurements in both weight and volume and a guide to mixing and matching elements for a quickly made special-occasion cake are especially useful. With Perelman's signature photos, this is one to enjoy cover to cover.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2017, American Library Association.)
Starred review from September 15, 2017
Home cooks can rely on Perelman, the award-winning blogger behind Smitten Kitchen, to deliver winning recipes for whatever mood strikes. Her latest cookbook collects 100-plus dishes that have brought joy to her growing family, including everything drop biscuits with cream cheese, roasted tomato soup with broiled cheddar, smoky sheet pan chicken with cauliflower, and toasted marshmallow milkshake. The recipes are clever yet practical, often containing humorous headnotes and using both weight and volume measurements. A guide in the back of the book identifies dishes appropriate for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and dairy-free diets. VERDICT Whether you're seeking an indulgent, impromptu breakfast, a speedy dinner culled from pantry staples and canned goods, or a bake sale best seller, you'll find something to love within this follow-up to The Smitten Kitchen Cookbook. Expect demand. [See "Editors' Fall Picks," LJ 9/1/17, p. 32.--Ed.]
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