A Modern Way to Cook

A Modern Way to Cook is a terrific companion and followup to A Modern Way to Eat.  In some ways, I love A Modern Way to Cook even more.  Perhaps it is because of the way it is organized, by time.  Meals that take you 15 minutes, 20 minutes, 30, 40 and then, the investment cooking where you spend more time to make something that could last all week.

Even though I'm not the type of person to actually time myself in the kitchen, we are all busy people. After a hard day, often the last thing you want to do is spend a long time in the kitchen.  Especially when it's hot as hell.  Jones' book reminds us that healthy and delicious actually doesn't take that long. You don't have to reach out for junk fast food when there is delicious healthy food at your fingertips. If you have a sweet tooth, you're in look as Jones includes a chapter on quick desserts and sweet treats.

This book will make a great gift for anyone who doesn't want to sacrifice long hours, or flavor for health.

I received this book from Blogging for Books in exchange for my honest review.

Get Light and Happy

Anna Jones states in the early pages that she wants to eat in a way that leaves her feeling light and happy at the same time.  She doesn't want to rely on a lot of heavy carbs or dairy.  Instead, she uses spice, texture, flavor and easy to create light and happy dishes.  Indeed, her recipes are packed with flavor.

For Jones, cooking changed when she became a vegetarian.   And like Jones, many of us have changed our eating habits to embrace more vegetables, less meat or more protein, less carbs.   All these dietary changes create new challenges.  How to nourish ourselves with food that tastes good and stimulates our tastebuds.  Jones breaks down how she puts a recipe together, an 8 step flow chart. Hero ingredient, how will she cook it, supporting role, accents, flavor, herb, crunch, season and finish.  Sounds really easy, right?

Most of the recipes are easy.   She breaks down the thought processes on soup, salad.   She has a page devoted to vegetable underdogs like turnips, rutabaga, celeriac.  There's a lot for breakfast and sweets -- not my favorites.  This book, however, is great for anyone who wants to eat lighter without sacrificing flavor, and is intimidated by where to start.

I received this book from Blogging for Books in exchange for an honest review.