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.
29 responses to “COOKBOOK CONFIDENTIAL – from my kitchen to yours”
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.
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.
Sounds like a very fun series. Looking forward to reading more.
Thanks so much. The members did a fabulous job. I think it will be a fun set of reviews.
Hi Bernadette, I like the sound of this dish. I bought this book so will be able to make it sometime.
Hi Robbie, it is a beautiful book and please share future recipes that you prepare. Thanks for joining me on this project.
This sounds delicious, Bernadette and the challenge sounds like fun 🙂
Thanks Carol. If you are interested in joining, just let me know. Your expertise would be very welcome.
Have emailed you ❤️
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.
Thanks Judy. The chicken recipe is delish and Milk Street is known for thorough testing. Have a great Sunday.
That chicken looks lipsmackingly delicious! Can’t wait to see more recipes from this cookbook.
This is a fun project and the women who joined me are such a diverse group, that it will make the reviews really interesting.
This sounds a fantastic recipe book. As you suggest, a perfect present for a novice.
I just gave this to a girlfriend! I’m glad you approve.
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!
You are right about that Jenna. I sort of read cookbooks like novels🧐
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!
Thanks Annika. I think we are old school kindred spirits.
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.
Thanks Jo. I know everyone will enjoy reading your review and all the other great and diverse opinions.
the flavours here sound just wonderful! I am a huge fan of Middle Eastern/Mediterranean foods.
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.
Steve is a huge foodie. He has spent a lot of time working in restaurant kitchens. Now he is a barber but he still loves to cook.
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!
You are most welcome. I am so happy to get to know you better.
Oh wow, this sounds amazing Bernadette!
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