Category: Cookbook Reviews

Reviews of cookbooks and other food-related books.

Cookbook Review: The All-Natural Diabetes Cookbook

Post author By Carma Spence
Post date May 23, 2017

The All-Natural Diabetes Cookbook: The Whole Food Approach to Great Taste and Healthy Eating by Jackie Newgent R.D. is a collection of plant-based, nutritiously well-rounded, simple-to-fix recipes. Now out in its second edition, the book has been updated to include vegetarian and quick-fix recipes, tips for achieving high flavor and suggested menus.

I love eating healthfully and thought this would be a good addition to my growing collection of diabetes-related cookbooks.

NOTE: I received a free copy of this book for review, however, I am under no obligation to write about it positively or otherwise.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Over the past couple of years, I’ve experienced an increased interest in the topic of diabetic-friendly cooking. Not only have a married a wonderful man who has Type 2 Diabetes, but I’ve discovered that I’m pre-diabetic (which is, thankfully, reversible through diet and exercise!). This is the fourth in a series of reviews of books on this topic.

Summary of The All-Natural Diabetes Cookbook

The premise of this book is that healthy, natural food should be tasty, otherwise you won’t eat it. The author provides a primer at the front of the book of natural ingredients, including some basic definitions of the terms “natural,” “organic” and how they are different. Recipes are organized into the following categories:

Breakfasts
Dips, Salsas and Sauces
Small Plate and Snacks
Salads
Soups, Stews, and Chilis
Sandwiches, Burger and Burritos
Entrées
Sides
Beverages, Smoothies, and Cocktails
Sweets

So there should be a recipe that everyone in your family will like!

What Worked for Me

The overall design of the recipes is clean and easy to read. Each recipe includes serving, servicing size, prep time and cooking time, which helps you plan your menus. Also, each recipe has some additional information as a sidebar, adding interest and, at times, ideas for scaling a recipe to feed more people.

Not only do the recipes favor natural ingredients, there are also a wide variety of cuisines included.

What Didn’t Work for Me

This is a small thing, but the color palette for the design is rather drab: A dark grayish-green and black. If you like photographs of recipes, you find very many in this volume either.

Recommendation

This is a utilitarian book. It is useful and you should be able to find something for everyone within its pages. Because it is published by the American Diabetes Association, you know that the recipes are safe for people with diabetes, too. So, if you’re looking for a “whole food approach” to dining with diabetes, this cookbook just may be what you’re looking for!

Rating for The All-Natural Diabetes Cookbook

Specs

Format: Paperback (352 pages)
Publisher: American Diabetes Association
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1580405452
ISBN-13: 978-1580405454

Pick up your copy on Amazon.com here.

Previous Reviews in this Series:

Tags diabetes

Cookbook Reviews Food Fiction & Essays

Culinary Memoir with a Slice of Pie

Post author By Carma Spence
Post date March 10, 2017

Pies are an integral part of English-speaking life. Here in the U.S., you can get your piece of the pie and even have your finger in every pie. If something is quintessentially American, it is as American as apple pie. Your sweetie is a cutie pie. When you make a mistake, you end up eating humble pie. Big dreams are like pie in the sky and simple tasks are as easy as pie.

Mention the word pie and a dozen or more images can fill your brain. There are several restaurants that focus on pies as their signature offering.

In other words, life is full of pie. And a reflection of this is the wide selection of memoirs that use pie as a metaphor or a central focus. Here is a listing of seven pie-related memoirs that you might enjoy reading.

[one_half] A Little Slice of Heaven: A Celebration of Faith, Family, Perseverance, and Pie
by Angela Woodruff Scott and Donald A. Garlock Jr.
Several generations of the Woodruff family have created Woodruff’s Café and Pie Shop, which Southern Living magazine said makes the best apple pie ever. This memoir shares the family’s story of overcoming challenges and finding success in making pies. [/one_half]
[one_half_last] [/one_half_last]

[one_half] Squirrel Pie (and other stories): Adventures in Food Across the Globe
by Elisabeth Luard
Elisabeth Luard, an award-winning writer, and journalist, shares knowledge gained from a lifetime’s worth of experience foraging in the wild. Illustrated with her own black-and-white line drawings and including recipes (including Squirrel Pie), this memoir is a blend of anecdotes and practical advice. [/one_half]
[one_half_last] [/one_half_last]

[one_half] Maman’s Homesick Pie: A Persian Heart in an American Kitchen
by Donia Bijan
This is a story of culture and cuisine. Donia Bijan weaves a story that crosses the globe from Iran to California and shares her culinary journey from Paris to San Francisco. Along the way, you’ll find recipes from her childhood, her French training, and her cooking career. From the memoir’s description, “An exhilarating, heartfelt memoir, Maman’s Homesick Pie is also a reminder of the women who encourage us to shine.” [/one_half]
[one_half_last] [/one_half_last]

[one_half] American Pie: Slices of Life (and Pie) from America’s Back Roads
by Pascale Le Draoulec
This memoir seeks to answer the question, “In today’s fast-paced, take-out-food world, is there a still a place for pie?” The author traveled across the United States to find out. She interviewed pie makers — both famous and infamous — across the country, gleaning from them their stories and recipes. Along the way, she discovers that not only does the mention of homemade pie melt the hardest of hearts, but the quest for pie can have unexpected results. [/one_half]
[one_half_last] [/one_half_last]

[one_half] Pieography: Where Pie Meets Biography-42 Fabulous Recipes Inspired by 39 Extraordinary Women
by Jo Packham
From the memoir’s description: “What kind of pie conveys the experience of starting a new job, getting married, becoming a mom? Over 30 of the country’s top foodies are here to tell you. Each one has devised a pie recipe that captures the essence of her life. Stir in beautiful photography, short essays, and brief bios, and voilá, you’ve got more than a cookbook: you’ve got Pieography.” [/one_half]
[one_half_last] [/one_half_last]

[one_half] Whoopie Pies and Family Ties
by Whoopie Pie Pam Jarrell
Whoopie Pie Pam shares her journey of self-discovery through the lens of the Whoopie Pie.”From the moment Pam laid eyes upon her first Whoopie Pie she has been infatuated with them. In 2001, while shopping in one of her favorite stores – Walnut Creek Cheese, located in Holmes County, Ohio – she purchased her very first package of Chocolate Whoopie Pies. From the first bite, a food obsession began,” claims the book’s description. [/one_half]
[one_half_last] [/one_half_last]

[one_half] American Pies – Baking with Dave The Pie Guy
by David Niall Wilson
David is on a mission to restore pies to their former glory … at least for his family. This book is the result and includes pie history, pie memories and a selection of pie recipes. This book not only provides a humorous memoir, but also a few tips and tricks for baking the perfect fresh-fruit pie. [/one_half]
[one_half_last] [/one_half_last]

Create Your Own Unique Pie!

Does pie making daunt you? Are you wary of deviating from any pie-recipe you find, for fear that you’ll ruin the flavor of the resulting pie?

It doesn’t have to be that way!

Pie-Palooza 2017 is brought to you by Your Perfect Pie, a cookbook that breaks down pies into easily made component parts so you can unleash your pie-making creativity. Available on Amazon in both print and Kindle formats. Grab your copy today and start creating your perfect pie!

Miss previous posts? Find links to them here.

Tags culinary memoir, Pie-Palooza 2017

Cookbook Reviews Special Occasions

Cookbook Review: Afternoon Tea at Home

Post author By Carma Spence
Post date February 8, 2017

When I was three years old, my family moved to Nairobi, Kenya. Because it was a former British colony, the culture had a lot of British influence, including the practice of afternoon tea at 4pm. I grew up with this habit, and to this day still favor a nice cup of tea — although not restricted to the afternoon!

This is why I was attracted to Will Torrent’s book Afternoon Tea at Home, the goal of which is to “bring the elegance of afternoon tea to your table at home.”

NOTE: I received a free copy of this book for review, however I am under no obligation to write about it positively or otherwise.

Summary of Afternoon Tea at Home

This beautifully photographed book provides “deliciously indulgent recipes for sandwiches, savouries, scones, cakes and other fancies.” The recipes are upscale and will help you make a favorable impression on your guests.

What Worked for Me

This is a perfect coffee table book. It is beautiful to look through and I look forward to giving many of the recipes a try. The content is organized by seasons, and my occasion. If you want to have a classic afternoon tea, this book has you covered. If you want to have a more special or seasonal affair, this book’s got you covered, as well. In the back of the book are 14 suggested menus for occasions ranging from birthday part to Gentleman’s tea to Thanksgiving treats. Whatever the occasion, you’ll find something in Afternoon Tea at Home that will suit your needs.

What Didn’t Work for Me

Because this is more of a coffee table book, it isn’t all that practical for the kitchen. It’s ungainly size (8.5 x 10 inches) and pages that don’t always lie flat, will make it a challenge to actually use. But I’m sure if you’re motivated enough, you’ll overcome that, too.

Recommendation

This book is perfect for lovers of the traditional afternoon tea. If you’re an Anglophile, you’ll enjoy perusing the pages for classic and elegant recipes. If you are an arm-chair cookbook collector, this book will make a beautiful addition to your collection. And, if you’re a motivated cook, you’ll probably find a way to try out the recipes within — without making a mess of the book in the process.

Rating for Afternoon Tea at Home

Specs:

Format: Hardback, 176 pages
Publisher: Ryland Peters & Small (February 11, 2016)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 184975702X
ISBN-13: 978-1849757027

Pick up your copy on Amazon.com here.

Tags afternoon tea, high tea, Will Torrent

Cookbook Reviews Healthy Living

Cookbook Review: The Italian Diabetes Cookbook

Post author By Carma Spence
Post date February 3, 2017

With all the pasta that Italian cuisine is famous for, you’d think it would be the last type of cuisine recommended for folks with diabetes. But, according to author, chef and Mediterranean expert Amy Riolo, the core of classic Italian cooking is preparing fresh ingredients, such as vegetables, whole grains, legumes, poultry, seafood and more, with time-honored techniques that preserve flavor, as well as tradition.

When diagnosed with diabetes, people are often extolled to eat more fresh foods and less processed ones. Riolo’s book, The Italian Diabetes Cookbook: Delicious and Healthful Dishes from Venice to Sicily and Beyond, presents a collection Italian recipes that are also easy-to-prepare and diabetes-friendly.

NOTE: I received a free copy of this book for review, however I am under no obligation to write about it positively or otherwise.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Over the past couple of years, I’ve experienced an increased interest in the topic of diabetic-friendly cooking. Not only have a married a wonderful man who has Type 2 Diabetes, but I’ve discovered that I’m pre-diabetic (which is, thankfully, reversible through diet and exercise!). This is the third in a series of reviews of books on this topic.

Summary of The Italian Diabetes Cookbook

This cookbook includes a collection of 150 authentic and naturally healthy recipes from Riolo’s Italian homeland. There are recipes for all occasions and several have vegetarian and gluten-free options. In addition, there is are suggestions for seasonal menus, a short primer on how to cook Italian, a guide to what one would need for an Italian pantry, and an Italian Culinary Glossary. There is even a guide on where to find ingredients if you can’t find them in your local store.

What Worked for Me

The book is consistently laid out with ingredients on the left and instructions on the right, which makes it easy to use. Most, if not all, the recipes include a note about “Italian Living Tradition” and a wine pairing suggestion. The information about exchanges and other nutritional data is also nice. This is a utilitarian book with few pictures … which is what a cooks cookbook should be.

What Didn’t Work for Me

Many of the pages have a watermark image for design, which can make the recipes a tiny bit harder to read. But everything is still legible. The different chapters are not easily distinguishable from the rest of the book, so flipping to the area you’re looking for is not easy. You’ll have to look up the section in the Table of Contents or recipe in the Index and then find the correct page.

Recommendation

If you love fresh Italian food, this cookbook will do the trick — providing you with healthy options without all the high-glycemic index pasta. This is not a meat and potatoes lover’s cookbook, but many of the recipes might just turn that carb-loving diabetic in your home around to better eating options.

Rating for The Italian Diabetes Cookbook

[one_fifth] [/one_fifth]
[one_fifth] [/one_fifth]
[one_fifth] [/one_fifth]
[one_fifth] [/one_fifth]
[one_fifth_last] [/one_fifth_last]

Specs:

Format: Paperback, 224 pages
Publisher: American Diabetes Association (January 12, 2016)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1580405657
ISBN-13: 978-1580405652

Pick up your copy on Amazon.com here.

Previous Reviews in this Series:

[divider]

[one_third] [/one_third]
[two_third_last]

Take Charge of Your Health!

Changing your eating habits can be tough. But it doesn’t have to be if you take a little time to think it out and create a plan.

This Healthy Eating Worksheet will walk you through the process of creating a healthy eating plan. All you need to do is print it out, set aside some time to complete it, and then fill it out. Then you can create your plan, knowing that you have addressed potential obstacles and came up with some creative ways to handle them.

[/two_third_last]

Tags Amy Riolo, diabetes, Italian

Cookbook Reviews Healthy Living

Cookbook Review: The Six O’Clock Scramble Meal Planner

Post author By Carma Spence
Post date January 26, 2017
1 Comment on Cookbook Review: The Six O’Clock Scramble Meal Planner

EDITOR’S NOTE: Over the past couple of years, I’ve experienced an increased interest in the topic of diabetic-friendly cooking. Not only have a married a wonderful man who has Type 2 Diabetes, but I’ve discovered that I’m pre-diabetic (which is, thankfully, reversible through diet and exercise!). This is the second in a series of reviews of books on this topic.

These days, people are so busy that they often eat more fast-food, frozen and highly processed foods, and other quick and not very nutritious meals. Much of this can be reversed with a bit of planning. But who has time to do that, right?

That’s where Aviva Goldfarb’s book, The Six O’Clock Scramble Meal Planner: A Year of Quick, Delicious Meals to Help You Prevent and Manage Diabetes, comes in. The purpose of the book is to make planning and preparing a week’s worth of healthy, diabetes-friendly meals simple and easy.

NOTE: I received a free copy of this book for review. However, I am under no obligation to write about it positively or otherwise.

Summary of The Six O’Clock Scramble Meal Planner

In this book, Goldfarb has provided readers with 160 diabetes-friendly recipes — all that can be made in 30 minutes or less — organized into 32 weekly meal plans complete with main and side dishes. They are even divided into seasons so you can have variety and make use of fresh ingredients for your menu. In addition, each week includes a shopping list for the week’s menus so you don’t have to think about that part of the planning, either.

What Worked for Me

This book is nicely laid out, easy to read and filled with extra tips to make your meal more favorable or adaptable to your life. Since I’m in love with my slow cooker (especially since I’m still recovering from being hit by a car last February and don’t have 100% use of my left hand), having the slow cooker option to cook many of the meals is an added blessing.

I like that the recipes are organized by season. This empowers the reader to use fresh ingredients more often. And fresh definitely tastes better than frozen or canned! The seasons are color coded, so you can easily find the season you’re looking for, too.

In addition, if you visit the Author’s website, you can sign up for her mailing list and receive the grocery lists in PDF format via email.

What Didn’t Work for Me

I’m a finicky eater and there are recipes for foods I just won’t eat. But that’s not the problem. The problem is that the shopping lists are by week, so if I’m not going to make all the recipes in her book planned for that week, I have to go through the list and make adjustments on my own. I would love it if each menu had its own shopping list, as well. That way you’d have the option to do just one day’s menu or the whole week.

Recommendation

Personally, I can’t wait to start using some of these recipes! If you’ve be diagnosed with diabetes or pre-diabetes and want to take control of your health through fresher, healthier foods, this book is pretty darn cool. The seasonal and weekly organization takes a lot of the planning effort off your plate, so you can just shop, prep and enjoy.

Rating for The Six O’Clock Scramble Meal Planner

[one_fifth] [/one_fifth]
[one_fifth] [/one_fifth]
[one_fifth] [/one_fifth]
[one_fifth] [/one_fifth]
[one_fifth_last] [/one_fifth_last]

Specs

Format: Trade Paperback, 431 pages
Publisher: American Diabetes Association (February 16, 2016)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1580405673
ISBN-13: 978-1580405676

Pick up your copy on Amazon.com here.

Previous Reviews in this Series:

What Do I Eat Now?

[divider]

[one_third] [/one_third]
[two_third_last]

Take Charge of Your Health!

Changing your eating habits can be tough. But it doesn’t have to be if you take a little time to think it out and create a plan.

[/two_third_last]

Tags Aviva Goldfarb, The Six O'Clock Scramble Meal Planner

Cookbook Reviews

Cookbook Review: Decadent Shakes

Post author By Carma Spence
Post date December 14, 2016

My husband and I love to go to old-fashioned 1950s diners and indulge in a decadent shake. Rich chocolate, occasionally with peanut butter or Oreos thrown in, have delighted our taste buds many a warm, lazy afternoon.

But we had no idea that these simple indulgences could be even more decadent than our wildest dreams! Just reading the table of contents for Decadent Shakes: Milkshakes with More left me drooling and ready to try out one or two — diet be damned! As the back cover promises, “These treat-laden milkshakes, dripping in excess chocolate and sweets, evoke a sense of delicious indulgence.”

NOTE: I received a free copy of this book for review, however I am under no obligation to write about it positively or otherwise.

Summary of Decadent Shakes

Who knew making milkshakes could be an art form? Apparently, Matthew, Sara and Brendan Aouad do! Their book Decadent Shakes takes the old dessert-as-beverage standby and gives it some pizzazz and flair. (And probably a bit of sugar shock thrown in!) This beautifully photographed book provides more than 35 recipes for over-the-top, not-your-malt-shop shakes. It also includes decoration (aka presentation) tips and a glossary.

What Worked for Me

The photography is mouthwatering. The presentation of each shake is creative and artful. This is a beautifully put together book with very readable instructions and easy-to-use design. The recipes are clearly divided between what goes into the shake and what is used for the presentation, so you can just make the shake and consume, if that is your preference.

What Didn’t Work for Me

I have a bias for cookbooks with easy to use bindings, which is why I prefer them to be either spiral or binder bound. This is a typical hardback book, so you may have a challenge keeping the pages open without breaking the binding, especially with recipes near the front and back of the book.

Recommendation

This book can make an excellent gift for those “arm-chair chefs” on your list. You know the type … they actually read cookbooks, but rarely use them. Also, people who love milkshakes or creative food presentation will enjoy this feast for the eyes. And, of course, anyone who wants to expand their milkshake-making expertise, can’t go wrong here.

Rating for Decadent Shakes

Specs

Format: Hardcover, 7.2 x 0.6 x 9.4 inches, 120 pages
Publisher: New Holland Publishers (September 19, 2016)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1742578691
ISBN-13: 978-1742578699

Pick up your copy on Amazon.com here.

Tags Desserts, milkshakes, shakes

Cookbook Reviews

Cookbook Review: What Do I Eat Now?

Post author By Carma Spence
Post date May 16, 2016

If you’ve been recently diagnosed with diabetes, you may be confused about what you can or cannot eat. The American Diabetes Association and authors Tami A. Ross, RDN, LD, MLDE and Patti B. Geil, MS, RDN, CDE, MLDE, FAND, FAADE, have collaborated on this book providing a step-by-step guide to eating right with Type 2 Diabetes.

Given that I’m about a marry a man with Type 2 Diabetes, I’ve experienced an increased interest in the topic of diabetic-friendly cooking. This is the first in a series of reviews of books on this topic.

NOTE: I received a free copy of this book for review, however I am under no obligation to write about it positively or otherwise.

SUMMARY OF WHAT DO I EAT NOW?

What Do I Eat Now? A Step-by-Step Guide to Eating Right with Type 2 Diabetes, 2nd Edition, is both a guide to healthy eating in general and for those with diabetes, and a recipe book. It is organized like a study book. Each chapter ends with a summary, a recipe and a short list of facts. Sometimes there is even space for you to jot down next steps inspired by what you learned in the chapter.

There are plenty of sidebars and bulleted lists to make this easy to read in small sessions (like during your 15-minute afternoon break?)

WHAT WORKED FOR ME

The lay out makes for easy reading, as well as the simple language. This book can be read and understood by almost anyone who finds themselves with a diabetes diagnosis.

The authors acknowledge the importance of food in our every day lives. This book isn’t about denying this basic human fact, but provides a solution for managing your blood sugar while still enjoying the foods you love, albeit in more than likely a greater deal of moderation than you’ve been using so far.

WHAT DIDN’T WORK FOR ME

This is a minor thing, but I didn’t like the color palette. The interior is printed in two colors: green and black. I know this reduces the price of the book, but it looks too clinical to me. Maybe a different color than the green they chose would feel a bit more fun.

RECOMMENDATION

This is an excellent beginner book for someone who has just been diagnosed with diabetes … or the person who has finally decided to take their head out of the sand and address their blood sugar issues. There is even information that people who are looking to just manage their weight, too.

RATING FOR WHAT DO I EAT NOW?

SPECS

Format: Trade paperback, 6.8 x 0.6 x 8.9 inches
Publisher: American Diabetes Association
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1580405584
ISBN-13: 978-1580405584

Pick up your copy on Amazon.com here.

Tags diabetes, eating guide, food guide