this post seems long overdue.
it's finally time that i actually admit that i'm obsessed with this cookbook
so i'd like to present to you my very first cookbook critique!
first up: date night in
by the crazy talented ashley rodriguez
who also write the blog not without salt
cookbooks are a dime a dozen. if you've browsed the shelves at your local bookstore you
know there is a cookbook for everything. pasta, veggies, cocktails, low-carb, 30 minute meals,
asian-inspired, the list goes on and on. and while most good cookbooks have a theme of
some kind (in my opinion), not many do it as well as 'date night in'.
the concept is this: entire meals planned for your next date night in... appetizer, cocktail,
main dish, side dish and dessert made for two. the book is divided into seasons - fall, winter,
spring and summer, and has full evenings planned. like 'somewhere in italy', 'by the fire',
'dinner and a movie', and 'a winter BBQ'. each one of them with unique and inspired recipes,
with tips for how to make things ahead of time.
i think i've made over 80% of the recipes in this book and haven't been disappointed once.
that tells you everything right there. here are the pros and cons (in my opinion):
pros:
beautiful pictures
easy instructions
start to finish meal ideas (from cocktails through dessert)
95% of the recipes serve 2 people (which is great for young couples or empty nesters)
nothing lacks in depth or flavor
great everyday food (not too simple, not too sophisticated)
standard ingredients
cons:
definitely full fat, full flavor dishes (nothing healthy about this book!)
hard if you're looking for one specific thing (like a veggie dish) as everything is organized by full meal, not by course
my rating: 10 out of 10
(which is setting the bar pretty dang high!)
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