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COOKBOOK CONFIDENTIAL – from my kitchen to yours

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Hi there,

I am excited to kick off the first edition of our Cookbook Confidential Cookbook Club. I will be bringing you reviews and recipes from some fabulous bloggers. The first cookbook in this series is Milk Street Tuesday Nights Mediterranean by Christopher Kimball.

Christopher Kimball wrote this cookbook to be a very diverse collection of Mediterranean recipes. He would like the reader to consider the recipes to be “good home cooking from Gibraltar to Lebanon.” One of the reasons this cookbook caught my attention is the unique way the chapters are divided. The first three chapters in the cookbook are named Fast, Faster, and Fastest. The idea of putting a delicious Mediterranean on the table in under 45 minutes was a recipe I could put my arms around. While I was reading the cookbook, my son came over and saw the photo of the Moroccan-Inspired Roasted Spiced Chicken. He immediately requested it for dinner the next time he visited. So this recipe became an easy choice.

The chicken dish was very flavorful. I made a few minor changes. In place of skin on chicken legs, I used a combination of skin-on and skinless chicken thighs. I also substituted garlic paste for the cloves and cilantro paste for fresh chopped cilantro. I only sprinkled parsley over the finished dish because I am not much of a cilantro fan.

In conclusion of this review, I think this is a beautiful cookbook filled with simple and easy recipes, but I will not be buying a copy of my own. I feel that there are a lot of excellent Mediterranean recipes that are freely available on the internet. But I would consider buying it as a gift for a novice cook.

I can’t wait to read what recipes were chosen by the participants in the cookbook club and their overall opinion of this book.

I INVITE EVERYONE WHO IS INTERESTED TO JOIN OUR FUN GROUP. HAVING AN INTEREST IN RECIPES AND FOOD IS THE ONLY QUALIFICATION FOR MEMBERSHIP. IF YOU WANT MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE EMAIL ME AT NEWCLASSICRECIPES@GMAIL.COM. I HOPE TO HEAR FROM YOU.

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28 responses to “COOKBOOK CONFIDENTIAL – from my kitchen to yours”

  1. Darlene – British Columbia, Canada – Writer of children's stories, short stories and travel articles. https://twitter.com/#!/supermegawoman http://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=201634059868404&id=631897250&ref=notif&notif_t=like#!/pages/Darlene-Foster-Writer/362236842733
    Darlene says:

    A great start to the challenge. I love this cookbook and have it on my Kindle. I’ve made a number of the recipes and loved them all. (Just had to get used to reading a recipe on my tablet) Fast and easy, the time they give was right on in every instance. So glad I joined the challenge.

    Reply

    • I happy so happy you joined too! As a writer, you bring a different and unique viewpoint. Yes, it takes some getting used to not having a book or a piece of paper to refer to.

      Reply

  3. Hi Bernadette, I like the sound of this dish. I bought this book so will be able to make it sometime.

    Reply
  4. CarolCooks2 – Udon Thani – Enjoying life in The Land Of Smiles I am having so much fun researching, finding new, authentic recipes both Thai and International to share with you. New recipes gleaned from those who I have met on my travels or are just passing through and stopped for a while. I hope you enjoy them. I love shopping at the local markets, finding fresh, natural ingredients, new strange fruits and vegetable ones I have never seen or cooked with. I am generally the only European person and attract much attention and I love to try what I am offered and when I smile and say Aroy or Saab as it is here in the north I am met with much smiling. Some of my recipes may not be in line with traditional ingredients and methods of cooking but are recipes I know and have become to love and maybe if you dare to try you will too. You will always get more than just a recipe from me as I love to research and find out what other properties the ingredients I use contain to improve our health and wellbeing. This is now taking me into other areas like deforestation, chemicals and preservatives in the food chain. Exciting for me hence the title of my blog, Retired No One Told Me! I am having a wonderful ride and don’t want to get off, so if you wish to follow me on my adventures, then welcome! I hope you enjoy the ride also and if it encourages you to take a step into the unknown or untried, you know you want to…….Then, I will be happy!
    CarolCooks2 says:

    This sounds delicious, Bernadette and the challenge sounds like fun 🙂

    Reply
      • CarolCooks2 – Udon Thani – Enjoying life in The Land Of Smiles I am having so much fun researching, finding new, authentic recipes both Thai and International to share with you. New recipes gleaned from those who I have met on my travels or are just passing through and stopped for a while. I hope you enjoy them. I love shopping at the local markets, finding fresh, natural ingredients, new strange fruits and vegetable ones I have never seen or cooked with. I am generally the only European person and attract much attention and I love to try what I am offered and when I smile and say Aroy or Saab as it is here in the north I am met with much smiling. Some of my recipes may not be in line with traditional ingredients and methods of cooking but are recipes I know and have become to love and maybe if you dare to try you will too. You will always get more than just a recipe from me as I love to research and find out what other properties the ingredients I use contain to improve our health and wellbeing. This is now taking me into other areas like deforestation, chemicals and preservatives in the food chain. Exciting for me hence the title of my blog, Retired No One Told Me! I am having a wonderful ride and don’t want to get off, so if you wish to follow me on my adventures, then welcome! I hope you enjoy the ride also and if it encourages you to take a step into the unknown or untried, you know you want to…….Then, I will be happy!
        CarolCooks2 says:

        Have emailed you ❤️

  5. Thanks for your thorough review. One of the challenges with using internet recipes, is that the reader often does not know if those recipes have been rigorously tested. My experience with internet recipes, as with cookbooks, has been uneven. I am a cilantro enthusiast so I might try the roasted spiced chicken.

    Reply

  6. That chicken looks lipsmackingly delicious! Can’t wait to see more recipes from this cookbook.

    Reply
  7. V.M.Sang – UK – I was born and educated in the north west of England. I trained as a teacher in Manchester and taught in Salford, Lancashire, Hampshire and Croydon. I write fantasy novels currently. I also make cards, knit, crochet, tat, do cross stitch and paint. I enjoy walking on the Downs, cycling and kayaking. I do not enjoy housework, but like cooking.
    V.M.Sang says:

    This sounds a fantastic recipe book. As you suggest, a perfect present for a novice.

    Reply
  8. Chef Mimi – As a self-taught home cook, with many years in the culinary profession, I am passionate about all things food-related. Especially eating!
    Chef Mimi says:

    I just gave this to a girlfriend! I’m glad you approve.

    Reply
  9. the Painted Apron – Life is all about creativity for me, as long as I'm creating something I am happy! I hope I will inspire your daily life and give you ideas for your own wonderful creations!
    Jenna says:

    I used to buy a lot of cookbooks, but now you can access just about any recipe you can think of on the internet as you said. This Cookbook Confidential will be fun to read about Bernadette!

    Reply
  10. Annika Perry – East Anglia, UK – I’m a versatile writer whose books span across various genres. My first venture into publishing is "The Storyteller Speaks" and this a collection of short stories, flash fiction and poetry. Published in January 2018 "The Storyteller Speaks" has received over twenty-five glowing reviews on Amazon. "Oskar’s Quest", my second book, it is a beautifully illustrated children’s book for younger children (and all young at heart!). "Oskar’s Quest" is an engaging story of adventure and courage. I have also completed one more story for children which is as yet unpublished. "Island Girl", my first full-length novel, is in its final edits and I’m looking forward to publishing this in due course. Writing has been a passion since childhood although it is only in the past few years that I have seriously started to write fiction. Initially, a writing course gave me encouragement and direction with my writing. Furthermore, the tutor recommended blogging and in January 2015 I set up my blog, Annika Perry’s Writing Blog. I never imagined the friendships I would make and I’ve been overwhelmed with the warmth and incredible support from people around the world. In spring 2014 I won First Prize in a Writing Magazine’s Short Story Competition which was a fantastic surprise and joy. Furthermore, I was short-listed for an Ink Tears Short Story Competition the same year. The recognition of my writing ability outside of my family and friends was a huge boost to my self-confidence and as a result, I started the mammoth undertaking of writing my first novel. Meanwhile, in early 2017 I was greatly encouraged by my friends and writers to publish some of my numerous short stories in a book. It was with great excitement and sense of achievement to launch the publication of my first book, "The Storyteller Speaks", in December 2017 with the paperback released in January 2018. The latter part of 2018 and throughout 2019 was busy with the realisation of a dream project, to publish a children’s book. Like so many parents, my son when young would request a bedtime story. These I tended to make up and a couple became his and my personal favourites. I revisited one of these stories and after much rewriting, editing and finding a wonderful illustrator, "Oskar’s Quest" was ready! Overall my road to publication has been circuitous and aided by the support of my family and friends. After gaining my BA Honours Degree in German Language and Literature from the University of Leeds I started working as a journalist. Following a serious illness, I changed career and gained a position as Administration Manager for a busy timber import company. I worked here for many years before leaving to pursue my passion for writing. I am now a full-time writer, blogger and book reviewer. I was born in Gothenburg, Sweden and at the age of six, moved to the UK with my family where we settled near Ilkley, West Yorkshire. Since then I have moved many times but now live in a small village in North Essex, England with my husband and occasionally my son, when he returns during university holidays. I am on the following social media sites and look forward to seeing you there. If you have a specific enquiry please use the form below. Twitter: https://twitter.com/AnnikaPerry68 Author Website: https://annika-perry-author.com/ Amazon Page: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Annika-Perry/e/B0789NNWFX/ Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/55576285-annika-perry Linkedin:https://www.linkedin.com/in/annika-perry-5a9ab8a6/
    Annika Perry says:

    A great review, Bernadette and the first recipe book I’ve ever read! I like the sound of the first three chapters and the photos look brilliant- no wonder your son requested the meal and glad it works so well! Oh, I too have tried following recipes on my iPad but still prefer an actual cookbook!

    Reply

  11. A great start to the cookbook club. I agree – it’s a great book for a not so confident cook and if you’re looking for a collection of Med recipes all in one place.

    Reply

  13. Well, this sounds delicious! I love that your son found the photo so appetizing that he requested the dish. What a great idea, for a cookbook to categorize the recipes by time allowance. That would be super helpful during a busy week.

    Reply
  14. Retirement Reflections – Vancouver Island, BC – Prior to retirement, I lived and worked in Beijing China for fourteen years (Middle School Principal/Deputy Director at The Western Academy of Beijing). Leaving international life behind, my husband and I retired to Vancouver Island in June 2015. To document both this transition and our new adventures, ‘Retirement Reflections’ was born. I hope that you enjoy reading these reflections, and will be willing to share your own.
    Retirement Reflections says:

    Hi, Bernadette – Your Moroccan-Inspired Roasted Spiced Chicken looks fabulous — exactly like the photo in the cookbook! Not only are you a great cook, you are a wonderful food photographer as well. Thank you once again for your leadership on this cookbook adventure. I am already having a blast with it!

    Reply

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