The original The I Hate To Cook Book was published way back in 1960. Since that time frame, over 3 million copies have been sold. Considering many books are lucky to sell 3,000 copies, obviously the author was on to something.
The thing about The I Hate To Cook Book is that it's MY kind of cooking. Sadly. I'm not a fancy chef, and I'm not delusional in thinking that I ever will be. Especially not when dinner at midnight is considered an early dinner in our home. Now that doesn't mean that I hate to cook - I love it, I like having complete meals on the table, and I'm probably not the core audience technically the book was catering to - I'm a SAHM, and our kiddo schedule is rather boring at this point (story time at the library is about our only time sensitive weekly "appointment" lol). I definitely cannot complain that my days are filled with going to work, shuttling 2 kids to practices, etc. like many women do.
Geez. We have become boring. Good grief!
The book is full of shortcuts, tips to get kids to eat, menu ideas, and easy, simple meals that will not break your grocery budget. It's definitely not food art. Seriously, I hate those kind of books sometimes. The fancy cookbooks are like the Playboy of cookbooks - great to look at, drool over, but few of us ever obtain what's in the pages. ;)
Most of the ingredients you'll see in this one are easily found already in your cabinets - there's no trips to the overpriced market that only sells certain things. You know which ones I'm talking about, ladies. I love to shop them, I really do, but when I buy the fixin's for just one meal, I've spent my entire week's worth of dinner budget. Yeouch! The recipes are easily to follow along with, and simple to prepare. Some of the ingredients have already been updated for what's in today's pantries as well, so you won't be looking on your hands and knees at the grocery store for a funky ingredient they no longer sell by that name.
There is also a section on household hints (such as coating the center of buttons with clear nail polish to strengthen the thread - genius! no one wants to sew buttons back on these days.) If Peg was still alive (she pass away several years ago), I would love to have coffee with her. I like her sense of humor that shows through in the book. It makes a great fun wedding or bridal shower gift too. Weeeell, maybe if they aren't a gourmet cook in a fancy restaurant. ;)
The I Hate To Cook Book, Updated And Revised by Peg Bracken is a hardcover book that retails for $22.99. You can find it at your favorite local bookstore, or online via places like Amazon (where's it's currently on sale for $15.63 as of this posting)
I received a copy of this book in order to review.
3 comments:
This makes me sentimental because I used to read her columns in one of the womens mags when I was a teenager. I remember her great sense of humor, and sensibility. (I also remember the illustrations were done by Hilary Knight, who illustrated the Eloise books. Not that that means anything to anybody, but I always loved his work.) I remember the first I Hate To Cook Book. It has stood the test of time, obviously. I even remember one recipe I saved called Aggression Cookies (as in taking out your aggression on the dough, lol). Have to check out this new edition.
I enjoyed this review. Have to check out amazon for the book. I feel like you when it comes to cooking, lol.
"I'm not a fancy chef, and I'm not delusional in thinking that I ever will be. Especially not when dinner at midnight is considered an early dinner in our home."
You can also win an Email Version of the book on Joy of Desserts Blog.
Post a Comment