Sunday, August 22, 2010

My Kind of Cookbook

Julie Bosman, in The New York Times, wrote about a cookbook that I think I’ll look for in the store. It originally came out in 1960, but has been updated by the daughter of the author. When the original author shopped the cookbook to six male publishers, they rejected it. A female editor at Harcourt, Brace loved it. It sold more than three million copies. The title of the cookbook?

The I Hate to Cook Book.

Oh yeah. My kind of book.

Recipes that use cake mixes rather than sifted flour and making it from scratch. Canned soup. Canned mushrooms. Uh huh. You heard me. Thirty minutes in the kitchen, not four hours.

Yep. My kind of cookbook.

25 comments:

  1. Oooh! This sounds pretty wonderful. I do love to cook, but with the vascular problems I've got, I can't stand up for four hours anymore.

    Plus, yanno, who has that kind of time! I loved doing special things for dinner parties, but when it's just me and my boys, and the food will disappear in 20 minutes, it's hard to want to cook all day!

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  2. This is a fantastic idea for a cookbook. Even for people who love to cook, there isn't always a lot of time. This book could save the day.

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  3. Peg Bracken wrote that. I used to have it even though I love to cook!
    Another favorite is Ernest Mickler's White Trash Cookbook. Tutti's Fruited Porkettes are the best! This is a hilarious and loving look at cuisine that has been highly underated!

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  4. I reviewed that cookbook today! Peg Bracken was very funny!

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  5. Jan, I'm not big on cooking, but a book called White Trash Cookbook certainly deserves a look!

    bermudaonion, I'll zip over and read your review.

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  6. I don't mind cooking, but the cookbook that also makes the food has my vote.

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  7. I find cook from scratch therapeutic. Unless I make a gourmet dessert I haven't noticed it takes 4 hours to make a cake from scratch.

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  8. Alex, that's why diners were invented.

    Brooke, I totally admire those who love to cook. I admire them from afar.

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  9. That's what I kind of like about Sandra Lee. the Semi Homemade lady. She combines pre made ingredients with a bit of fresh.

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  10. That's my kind of cook-book too. I hate to cook, most boring there is. I always go for the quick dishes; pasta and pizza, usually >:)

    Cold As Heaven

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  11. Definitely my kind of cook book. Especially annoying are the recipes that ask for 10 different spices that I don't have anyway.

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  12. Sounds like a great buy!! :)

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  13. Michelle, I have one of her cookbooks.

    And then you buy those spices, Laura, and never use them again!

    If I see it in a bookstore, I'll thumb through it first.

    Y'all should know that this post came from a woman who has probably a hundred recipes (haven't actually counted) on her website. Most are from really good cooks, not me.

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  14. I love that book. Have a tattered copy around somewhere. It spoke to me from the first time I saw it.

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  15. Fast & easy recipes? I'm there!

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  16. I'm going to have to look this one up. I love cooking from scratch around the holidays. Most days a fast solution works best. Even so I don't cook baked goods from scratch ever. There is a reason they have bakeries. (Hugs)Indigo

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  17. LOL, I love it. While I sometimes do like a four hour gourmet marathon in the kitchen, having great simple to make not having to be from scratch can sure come in handy, hmm?

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  18. I have this cookbook to review and just loved it! Sometimes love can be found in a can! Thanks for sharing!

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  19. I rememebr my mom and sisters baking pies from scratch. Its a lost art these days Me, I go to Marie Callenders to pick up a delicious home made Rassleberry pies.

    Stephen Tremp

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  20. I don't mind cooking for guests or family gatherings or holidays, but day-to-day, I want fast and easy.

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  21. Sounds like my kind of cookbook too. Before I started writing I used to love to cook. But now I just don't have the time to pour into it anymore. And I'm kinda bored of my limited number of quick recipes. So yep, this sounds like a winner.

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  22. Scratch doesn't always take that much longer...and it always tastes so much better. I will say though, that washing the dishes is a killer.

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  23. I agree, Liza. And to top it off, my "company" dishes have to be hand washed.

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  24. Funny stuff. Before becoming a married guy I can remember the "Yea canned soup for dinner" cheer.

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  25. I'll send you some simple recipes if you want. I love cooking, but I often don't have time for anything long or complicated.

    There are a few recipes that have help like the cookbook you describe. The zucchini bread from Bisquik is so easy and good.

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