I love cookbooks.
I don't like to cook, though... at least not during the week days.
It's actually quite sad. Part of my dual major in college was in Home Economics and I even won the Betty Crocker award at my high school (amazing, I know)-- but if a cookbook starts using words like "blanch" or "caramelize", I'm on the phone calling my mom to find out what that means and how to do it. Or (more likely), just moving on to another recipe.
I think the problem is that I like the idea of cooking, but I'm not always thrilled about coming home from work and actually cooking anything. The week end is different though. I have time to grocery shop and time to enjoy the process of cooking. I now have a new "cookbook love" and it's just in time for Valentine's Day...
The PIoneer Woman Cooks, by Ree Drummond ,and they're in the shops NOW!! If you haven't heard about Ree, her blog, and this outstanding cookbook --- come out from under that rock, Edith!! Here's a little excerpt from Ree...
I’m a thirty-something ranch wife, mother of four, moderately-agoraphobic middle child who grew up on a golf course in the city. I attended college in Los Angeles and wore black pumps to work every day. I ate sushi and treated myself to pedicures on a semi-regular basis. I even kissed James Garner in an elevator once. Then, on a brief trip to my hometown, I met and fell in love with a rugged cattle rancher. Now I live in the middle of nowhere on a working cattle ranch. My days are spent wrangling children, chipping dried manure from boots, washing jeans, and frying calf nuts. I have no idea how I got here…but you know what? I love it. Don’t tell anyone.
The Pioneer Woman Cooks is fun, chatty, with amazing pictures and step by step instructions for every recipe .... and did I tell you she too all the pictures for the book too - impressive, really impressive!! And these aren't recipes for that snotty, global cuisine stuff. Nope. This is a collection of American recipes that our mothers would have bought years ago and actually made for the family!
Chicken Pot Pie!! Who knew you could ACTUALLY make it at home!!
I made the Lasagna and it was the best Lasagna I'd ever made... ever ate in my life!! I also made Ree's Olive Cheese Spread and it was "to die for"!! No, really... we tried it on crispy French bread, we tried it on crackers, and finally I decided to forget the extra starch and just started scooping it out with my finger - YUM!
And the pictures of her family, pets, and farm life are wonderful!!
Who wouldn't like to take a couple of these little cowboys home?
And how 'bout "Charlie"?? Everybody needs a hard working ranch dog!
Can ya tell I LOVE this cookbook??! And the amazing thing is I actually use it!! Do yourself a favor this Valentine's Day and come into Country Sampler and buy one for yourself! It'll make ya smile and might actually get you a few marriage proposals ... or at least a few love notes from your valentine!
