The Can't Cook Book: Recipes for the Absolutely Terrified!

by Jessica Seinfeld

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Deceptively Delicious, an essential collection of more than 100 simple recipes that will transform even the most kitchen-phobic “Can’t Cooks” into “Can Cooks.”

Are you smart enough to dodge a telemarketer yet clueless as to how to chop a clove of garlic? Are you clever enough to forward an e-mail but don’t know the difference between broiling and baking? Ingenious enough to operate a blow-dryer but not sure how to use your blender? If you are basically competent, then Jessica Seinfeld’s The Can’t Cook Book is for you.

If you find cooking scary or stressful or just boring, Jessica has a calm, confidence-building approach to cooking, even for those who’ve never followed a recipe or used an oven. Jessica shows you how to prepare deliciously simple food—from Caesar salad, rice pilaf, and roasted asparagus to lemon salmon, roast chicken, and flourless fudge cake. At the beginning of each dish, she explains up front what the challenge will be, and then shows you exactly how to overcome any hurdles in easy-to-follow, step-by-step instructions.

Designed to put the nervous cook at ease, The Can’t Cook Book is perfect for anyone who wants to gain confidence in the kitchen—and, who knows, maybe even master a meal or two.

Genres: Cookbooks, Cooking, Nonfiction, Food, Reference, Health, Food and Drink

256 pages, Spiral-bound

First published October 8, 2013

About the author

Jessica Seinfeld is the author of four New York Times bestselling cookbooks: DECEPTIVELY DELICIOUS, DOUBLE DELICIOUS, THE CAN’T COOK BOOK, and FOOD SWINGS.

In October, Jessica will release her fifth cookbook, VEGAN AT TIMES. The book focuses on relieving the pressure and shame that is frequently associated with veganism and instead shows how easy it can be to be a vegan, at times, by cooking flavorful, affordable, and robust plant-based meals whenever you want.

Jessica is the Founder and Chair of the Board of Good+Foundation, a national nonprofit that uses a multi-generational approach to address family poverty. Good+Foundation’s ground-breaking model meets the short-term needs of mothers, fathers, and caregivers and helps families create pathways for long-term, self-determined success. For over 20 years, the organization has provided goods to encourage families to attend programs that support mothers and create a healthier, happier environment for children through a focus on father engagement.

Reviews

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

I need to qualify this by saying that I'm not really a fan of her earlier cookbooks. The recipes in 'Deceptively Delicious' borrowed heavily from the Sneaky Chef, and I'm fairly convinced she would not have been published if it hadn't been for her husband. I generally look for family-friendly and healthy, but Lapine's recipes are better (I realize that a judge found that Seinfeld hadn't copied Lapine, but I disagree).

So, I wasn't prepared to like this as much as I did. She's ditched the purees and healthy additions, and this is a really great weeknight cookbook - for anyone. The prep times are accurate, and she really walks you through the steps to make each dish. There are lots of photos, and her upbeat tone (like the friend that's trying to coach you) is authentic. The meat and chicken dishes are particular standouts.

Nothing in here is going to knock your socks off - a lot of the recipes are comfort food staples and you may already have recipes for them (sweet potato coins, anyone). But her recipe is really fast and tasty.

My only issue here is that nutrition information isn't provided. It is easy to find online, along with several other demos. But since she's built her rep as a health-oriented chef, I expected it here. That's why it's only 4 stars.

[Shannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jessica Seinfeld has a number of things working for her in this cookbook, a fantastic food photographer and easy to make recipes that are also delicious. The layout and step by step directions are exactly as stated in the title, this book is for folks who are disasters in the kitchen or who have never cooked before. Literally everything is written in 1.2.3 how to's such as how to salt and pepper your food and how to wash produce. I'm not a fan of her writing style, a little to trying-to-be-friendly for my taste so I skimmed her personal antidotes after the first couple of chapters and went right for the recipes and photos.
The recipes are in sections by meal (breakfast) and ingredients (fish, grains, vegetables etc) and include 'don't panic' words of support, tools needed, work time, total time and number of servings. I would recommend this book for college students, recent graduates, newlyweds and anyone who is a complete beginner in the kitchen. For anyone else, skip the how to's for the fun recipes like broiled honey nut bananas (YUM!).

[Kori · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let me start by saying this: I can cook. I can follow a recipe. I can even change them to fit my needs and flavor preferences. None of that matters. I love this cookbook. Everyone needs a handful of quick, go to recipes that take little effort and this cookbook offers that and more. My husband has even been able to make use of it. He would probably use it more if he could figure out how to navigate my tablet. We've made probably fifteen or so recipes so far and have made almost all of those over and over again. Deliciously simple. Don't worry, even the more advanced recipes are easy to follow.

[Dorothy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVE this cook book! Simple, easy to follow recipes. How to's for all the basics. It's easy to see how to makes changes for different tastes as well. Jessica chose such great recipes I feel like I'm really learning HOW to cook, not just how to do this one recipe. Using similar ingredients helps me keep my pantry stocked too!

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love Jessica Seinfeld and was not disappointed with this cookbook. Beautiful photography, great layout and yummy, simple recipes. Made the huevos rancheros for lunch today and will be adding it to the rotation.

[Joy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I haven't found a lot of recipes to try in this cookbook. But it's nicely photographed and the recipes do seem easy to follow.

[merlin513 · Rating 5 out of 5]

After over six decades on this rock spinning thru space,
I can most definitely say ‘I CAN cook!’ I’m just not that fond of doing it. Plus, I tend to cook soup kitchen amounts of food which isn’t practical for a single living alone.

As a person totally content with eating peanut butter on toast for weeks on end 🙄 I can appreciate the ‘Can’t Cook Cookbook.’ It’s beautifully put together, clear, concise instructions and great photography. The foldout page inserts were a fun touch. I picked this up at Goodwill just because the cover and title looked like fun. Was NOT disappointed!

While there are certain recipes I wouldn’t touch with a stick, looking at you, Brussels Sprouts. . . and some recipes call for ingredients not available in landlocked NE Arkansas, (I guarantee any little necked clams found here WILL be dead). There are a lot of fun easy recipes for anyone to aspire to. I’ve already got most of the pasta section bookmarked for testing.

I think this would be a great gift for anyone striking out on their own for the first time! Niece, nephew, son or daughter. Or for the newly single person used to being served a meal and not having to produce one themselves. Anyone that appreciates good food and is curious about making it for themselves on a beginners budget and not Martha Stewart or Julia Childs level of expertise.

[Constance Mcgoff · Rating 4 out of 5]

THIS IS A GOOD COOKBOOK FOR BEGINNERS OR ANYONE.

BUT WITH ONE BIG CAVEAT:

NEVER WASH RAW CHICKEN!!! DOING SO WILL SPREAD BACTERIA ALL OVER YOUR SINK, COUNTERS, UTENSILS AND OTHER FOODS! THE WATER DROPLETS CAN TRAVEL.

USDA & CDC ADVISE AGAINST WASHING RAW POULTRY

[Jeanette Durkin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is definitely more for the beginner chef. There's step by step instructions included for every recipe. I did find a couple of recipes that I'm eager to try!

[MGaccione · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easy recipes for anyone who wants to get comfortable in the kitchen.

[Samantha P · Rating 4 out of 5]

I cannot cook to save my life. I know I'm not the only person out there in this boat, and I'm about to tell you why you should pick up this book!

First off, this book gives you the basics. It starts with a summary of the basics that a well stocked kitchen needs. I immediately realized that I lacked several things, and I think that is my only real complaint with the book. It sort of assumes that the reader can go out and pick up whatever they are missing. Some people with real jobs may be able to, but college students with limited budgets and no cooking skills can go out and purchase a food processor on a whim. There were a couple recipes I would love to try, as soon as I decide how to combat my lack of a food processor (apparently a blender won't cut it...).

Beyond this annoyance, the book really does break down the basics of cooking for the reader. There is a whole section of how-to tips that the recipes will refer you back to. They're basic things, but so handy to refer back too. The book also includes conversion charts and a table of what's in season. These little details are awesome.

The recipes are great. I've tried a few, including the Pan Roasted Chicken Breast, Your First Chili, and Toasted Pine Nut and Cranberry Quinoa, and I enjoyed them all. I wouldn't say any of the recipes are groundbreaking, but they're all simple, and the ones I have tried have been delicious! Overall, the directions are pretty simple to follow, and include an outline of all the ingredients and equipment required. And there are pictures of EVERYTHING, which I love having! The photography is fantastic (as you can see oh my I am hungry now).

I love this book. Like actually love it. I wish this had been out when I first started living on my own. If you need to work on your cooking skills, or know someone learning to cook for themselves, check this out now!

Finished copy provided by Simon and Schuster. All opinions are my own. Originally posted on Reading-AndCoffee

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Why I'm interested in this book at the first place..
I'm a fan of Sienfeld.The sitcom gives me life while growing up.Although I am by all means,not interested with Mr Seinfeld's personal lives,I got to know Mrs Seinfeld through a page of a tabloid magazine years back.
And now she has published cookbooks! Take a read,I must.

What do I think about this book..now that I've done reading it..
Surprise,surprise...Can't Cook Book is a decent read.I'm impressed!

+
- colorful pictures :)
- simple instructions that even includes basic cooking methods
- her motivation quotes in each of the recipes (very comforting,thank you :) )
- list of seasonal fruits/vegies for reference (isn't that nice?)

-
- *quoting Emily Thorne from Revenge;season 1 episode 2* "A little bird may have whispered something.." ..I think it's better to leave this point as-is.

Some parts of the book that amuses me
- the way Jessica addressing her family,by using full names,like,

Julian Seinfeld loves to bake these cookies.

My man Jerry Seinfeld is all over these.

...*chuckling heartily*

Get this
- if you love to cook!
- if you're a "Can't Cook",and would like to start off with something simple yet satisfiying
- if collecting cookbooks is one of your hobbies

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

For the first time ever, I sat down and read a cookbook cover to cover; not only to learn something about cooking but for the pure pleasure of it. I rarely buy books anymore but I think I'm going to buy this one. It's wonderful.
It's extremely well written and very easy for even the most novice cook to follow. Jessica goes step by step with encouragement along the way. I really enjoyed the chapter on knives because I like a lot of people am terrified of them. She shows you how to hold them to avoid injury and how to use them correctly.
I love the detailed pictures and descriptions and I cannot wait to try some of the recipes. I got so excited when I saw the Kale Chips recipe b/c I absolutely love those!
I admit that I checked out this book from the library b/c I love Jerry Seinfeld. I knew that Jessica wrote cookbooks and I wasn't really interested in her Deceptively Delicious cookbook that is geared toward making things for kids, so this one was a wonderful surprise.
I highly recommend it if you're interested in cooking or just want something fun to read. I love that she included some humor in it as well. There is even a link to videos so that you can see her doing the steps of the recipes.
My only flaw with this book is that there aren't any recipes geared toward servings of one, but I am sure that any of the ones listed can be adapted as such.

[Penny McGill · Rating 3 out of 5]

We've had this book kicking around the book piles for a couple of weeks and we've not found anything that caught our fancy enough to try it. A patron @ work yesterday said she found the book to be 'too simple' and it might be that I agree with her on that point. The title of the book does give us good reason to find the recipes to be simple so we shouldn't really blame Jessica Seinfeld for it.

Aside from the simple recipes I found the accompanying stories to be pleasant enough. She had to say something encouraging at the beginning of each and, though I usually find that kind of repetition to be too much of a gimmick, I found I liked her more in this cookbook than in her deceptive ones. It has great instructions and very complete suggestions for things like testing when meat is done or dealing with pesky rice problems. So I don't think it is the most simple of cookbooks, rather that the recipes she chooses to feature are very simple. It's inspiring and beautiful and that is really part of what a good cookbook gives - a little bit of inspiration.

[Melaniedk · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have tried several recipes and they turned out very well. The effort put in turns out great results. The recipes are simple yet tasty. This cook book will finally turn me into a good home cook. The book is written in a fun and encouraging manner. There are plenty of online resources that go along with the book to supplement the recipes. This book has been a real asset for me that I will treasure for many years to come.

Update: I've tried several recipes and they turned out very good. In addition, I've gotten great ideas too, and feel comfortable tweaking to my liking as necessary. The recipes are simple enough that tweaking doesn't change much anyway - and this is how a cook would do it, right? I would be proud to cook these recipes for guests too, so that's saying something coming from a former 'can't cook'.

[Cami · Rating 4 out of 5]

At first I was not sure you could go from never cooking (a "Can't Cook" as she calls you) to picking up this book and making it happen, but once you realize that she gives tips and confidence-builders and even links to video how-tos, you can definitely get there if you put in the effort. This cookbook has a FANTASTIC food photographer. Every page makes me drool. And these are recipes I would actually make. (Well maybe not the shrimp but that's just personal preference.) I checked it out from the library to see what it was like and made a list of page numbers to revisit (recipes I wanted to try), then I realized that just about every page made the list and I had better just buy the book already. (Christmas wish list right here!) I have never attempted pork chops or huevos rancheros or Mexican corn but I can't wait to try all these recipes now. Yum.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

#1 thing that I like about this book is that every recipe I've tried so far actually tastes good.

I've been cooking for 15 years, and yet, regardless of my continued attempts, I find that my cooking has not improved. Enter this cookbook, and it's little extras (like, put the colander in the sink -- seriously, that's helpful for me) and I'm already feeling more confident in the kitchen. Two weeks ago, I tried to make coffee cake and it came out dry and not very tasty. Last night, I made the Berry Crumb Cake from this cook book and I can't stop eating it because it is that good.

So, this cookbook may not be for you if you find that you are already confident in the kitchen. But for someone like me, who just can't seem to ever get in right in the kitchen, this has been a very helpful book.

[(a)lyss(a) · Rating 4 out of 5]

"If the only cooking you've done is stirring a spoon in a cup of coffee, you will be able to do these."

This is a pretty good introductory cooking book.

It's supplemented with lots of photos and web links that help you make sure you know what you're doing. The book seems to assume that you're starting at the beginning and working your way through it because by the time you're a few recipes in it says things that imply you should know what you're doing by know so flipping through to pick a recipe may not be your best bet. That being said there's a lot of good recipes to choose from for chicken and pasta that aren't super intimidating. Unfortunately the book isn't great about offering substitutions for dietary preferences or restrictions but overall it's a helpful base for making some solid meals.

[Melissa Lee-Tammeus · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love cookbooks that have pictures of all the food, so this book passes the test. It is also a great reminder to go back to the basics. I was reminded that french toast and peanut butter banana open faced sandwiches ARE awesome. However, for those of us who have been cooking and baking a long time, it is hard to appreciate the picture of a toaster with "Toaster" labeled underneath or the intense directions in how to chop an onion. But, for anyone just starting out, this is a fantastic way to learn how to cook yummy, easy to deal with meals. On a snarky side, I could not help but think if this book would have ever made it to the shelves if Mrs.Seinfeld did not have the famous coattails of her husband to ride on.

[Marathon County Public Library · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh, yes you can...cook, as the front cover says! This beginner's cookbook has a list of all the basic cooking gear needed to get started without fear. I love the "how-to" section for preparing many everyday items; it even tells you when to keep your fingers away from the knife. The cook book has recipes for breakfast, lunch, dinner, quickies, and my favorite, desserts. If you're a sweet potato fan like I am, try "Roasted Sweet Potato Coins" on page 167, guaranteed delicious!

Kitty R. / Marathon County Public Library
Find this book in our library catalog.

[Gina House · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jerry Seinfeld's wife is a GENIUS! I initially bought this cookbook for my son to take with him to college, but I fell in love with it. The layout is lovely and all of the photographs are tantalizing. I've tried almost half of the recipes so far and have loved them. After over 20 years of cooking, I've become frustrated with it and this cookbook truly inspired me to try new meals for my family. At least 7 of the recipes have become weekly staples. The best aspect of this cookbook is that the recipes are not only delicious, but they have very few ingredients are all are simple, healthy and easy to find. Best cookbook I've ever come across.

[Bunny · Rating 3 out of 5]

Color me impressed. Which is a light pink shade.

I can't cook to save my life (I could potentially kill someone with my awesome cooking that only I can eat), so I was intrigued by this book. Less intrigued by the fact that these recipes are rather intricate.

But the recipes, even the ones I am not interested in, are really well laid out. The book starts with a lot of great prep tips, including basics like chopping onions and how to properly salt something (I suck at seasoning. I suck I suck I suck)

I only found a couple of keepers (Bacon-wrapped meat loaf. OMG, must make), but I really do like the format and set up of this book. Very well put together.

The cover is a bit much, though.

[The other Sandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fairly simple techniques explained in plain English. There's even an illustrated section that demonstrates how to do things like zest a lemon or peel and pit an avocado, with links to online videos that demonstrate the techniques. Also, there are more recipes that look edible to me than I usually find in cookbooks.

I'm knocking off one star because all but two of the breakfast recipes are egg dishes, which is not helpful to those who have egg protein allergies, and because almost all of the recipes in the book serve 4. I'm not sure how well they'll scale down for singles and couples who cook in smaller batches. I intend to find out, though.

[Lady Lioness · Rating 4 out of 5]

If my living situation was different, I would totally buy this book for my cookbook shelf. I primarily do baking, but Seinfeld's book eases you into using vegetables and healthy crap for meals. The majority of the ingredients are commonly found within chain grocery stores, each dish generally serves between 2-4 people, and prep time is usually under 30 minutes.

While I haven't actually made any of these recipes, if you're already comfortable in the kitchen, I think these recipes will bridge the gap between 'from a box' and 'gourmet.'

[Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

For anyone who's never cooked before, I feel like this would be a useful starting point. The first part of the book does a nice job explaining the basics of kitchen tools/appliances/needs, outlining how to use basic culinary techniques, and such. Then, I really appreciated the simplicity of the tasty-sounding recipes. Even now that I've been cooking for a while, I still find myself turned off by recipes that are too in-depth - so it was refreshing to read through hers. They are approachable, reasonable and most importantly, appealing.

[Nicole · Rating 2 out of 5]

So I got this book from the library a few weeks ago. Looked through it a few times…dog eared a few recipes but only ended up making one. Freaky greek pasta. It was pretty good the night of, not so great as next day leftovers. This book has lots of good “technical” info in a simple to read fashion, love how it will lay flat on the counter and there are a lot of “looks delish” recipes. But there was nothing ground breaking, nothing that made me jump off the couch to cook. Maybe I’ll get it out again some day but for now…back to the library it goes.

[Alisha (booksmellz) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first cookbook I can say I've read from front to back. Jessica Seinfeld gave such clear instructions and had loads of nice photos. I especially liked the "Don't Freak Out" parts at the beginning of the recipes - most of the time it was about something I was worried about and just kind of seeing that made relax a bit more.

I can't cook, I could set water on fire if you leave me in the kitchen long enough, but this cookbook set most of my worries at ease for trying out new recipes and I'm excited to try them out!

[Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic! An adult cookbook for timid cooks that doesn't "talk down to" the grown ups reading it. In fact, I'd like to gift this cookbook to my niece who's only 10. It's that clear-cut on the instructions. An added bonus: a free app for your smart phone or tablet that allows you to scan images throughout the book to see video instructions of various techniques! I tried a couple of recipes from various chapters & found them all yummy. :)

[Minna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Personally, I didn't think there was much in this book for me - I'm not a Can't Cook, and I have made pretty much everything in this book the "hard" way.
But I'll give it four stars nonetheless since a friend who IS a Can't Cook was over at my house, paged through this book, and literally was inspired to make everything in it. For its target audience, it seems to be very successful.
I'll probably end up buying it for my friend as a Christmas present.

[Stacy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have another cook book by this author but this book is waaaay better. I love how simple it is - Jessica describes the very basics in the kitchen. How to cut veggies, how to chop garlic, how to salt and pepper your food. There are some great recipes in here, i have tried several. I am not a total disaster int he kitchen but i appreciate how easy and tasty the recipes are. I really hope she writes another book like this!