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Seriously Delish: 150 Recipes for People Who Totally Love Food
The eagerly awaited first cookbook from the wildly popular blog How Sweet Eats Jessica Merchant, creator of the popular food blog How Sweet Eats, has now created her first cookbook, Seriously Delish . Her playfulness jumps off the page in her inventive and incredibly delicious recipes, such as Amaretto–Butternut Squash Soup with Cinnamon Toast Croutons, Mini Crab Cakes with Sweet Corn and Blueberry Salsa, and Fleur de Sel Caramel Bourbon Brownie Milk Shakes. Her sense of humor, which brings millions of visitors to her site, shows through in chapter titles like “Breakfast (. . . for Dinner?)” and “Salad, Soups, and Vegetable-like Things (Ugh, if We Must).” Merchant makes food that people get excited about, nothing run-of-the-mill or expected. As an added bonus, all of the photographs in the book were taken by Merchant herself, giving her cookbook the personal touch that her fans love and newcomers will appreciate. Seriously Delish features imaginative recipes that are tasty and original and bring readers to a place where cooking becomes adventurous and food becomes fun.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2014
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1162 people want to read
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August 16, 2016http://bookslifewine.com/r-seriously-...
DNF
I've been a follower of Jessica Merchant and her How Sweet Eats blog for quite some time now. I feel I'm pretty used to Jessica and her cooking habits.
Which is why I decided to borrow Seriously Delish instead of buying it. And I'm glad I did.
Although I've followed Jessica for years now, I've only made a handful of her recipes. Why? Because Jessica likes to (as she calls it) "trash recipes up" by making them more complicated, more expensive and/or changing the taste profile, etc. While I admit that I adore Jessica's photography and find her commentary whimsical, the recipes are often much too complicated and/or lengthy for a typical meal.
The team who created Seriously Delish seemed to have tried diligently to encapsulate the whimsical and breezy nature of the How Sweet Eats blog. Sadly, one of the methods they used was something I consider close to a cardinal sin: over emphasis using fonts:
OMG. This drove me batty from the moment I laid eyes on it. And I did not read a lick of it. There are three different fonts. There are two different colors. Some words are both in bold and italics. Jesus take the wheel - this is just not right.
What was right were the tons and tons of beautiful photographs included. I have to admit that Jessica's photography grabs me a lot more than her ingredients listings. Though I was a little put out when viewing photos like the one showing for guacamole. The photo - while gorgeous - shows a deconstructed pile of (admittedly beautiful) ingredients instead of actual guacamole.
After spending quite some time flipping around in the book, I've decided that Seriously Delish is more of a special occasion cookbook than a every day meal kind of book.
DNF
I've been a follower of Jessica Merchant and her How Sweet Eats blog for quite some time now. I feel I'm pretty used to Jessica and her cooking habits.
Which is why I decided to borrow Seriously Delish instead of buying it. And I'm glad I did.
Although I've followed Jessica for years now, I've only made a handful of her recipes. Why? Because Jessica likes to (as she calls it) "trash recipes up" by making them more complicated, more expensive and/or changing the taste profile, etc. While I admit that I adore Jessica's photography and find her commentary whimsical, the recipes are often much too complicated and/or lengthy for a typical meal.
The team who created Seriously Delish seemed to have tried diligently to encapsulate the whimsical and breezy nature of the How Sweet Eats blog. Sadly, one of the methods they used was something I consider close to a cardinal sin: over emphasis using fonts:
OMG. This drove me batty from the moment I laid eyes on it. And I did not read a lick of it. There are three different fonts. There are two different colors. Some words are both in bold and italics. Jesus take the wheel - this is just not right.
What was right were the tons and tons of beautiful photographs included. I have to admit that Jessica's photography grabs me a lot more than her ingredients listings. Though I was a little put out when viewing photos like the one showing for guacamole. The photo - while gorgeous - shows a deconstructed pile of (admittedly beautiful) ingredients instead of actual guacamole.
After spending quite some time flipping around in the book, I've decided that Seriously Delish is more of a special occasion cookbook than a every day meal kind of book.
July 6, 2022
3.5 rounded down
I'm a big fan of Jessica's food blog "How Sweet Eats" and have been following it for over a decade, so I was curious to see what her cookbook had to offer! I really loved that the book lies flat when open, and that nearly all of the recipes had (truly delicious looking) photos. I mostly appreciated the structure/sections here, though I felt the "Celebrations" section was a little confusing--it basically had a mixture of all kinds of foods that would be considered a bit more decadent, and I can appreciate she was trying to do something unique, but I'd have rather she just included those foods in the relevant dinner/dessert etc. sections. I'll admit, I had to skim through the beginning bits, because the format here drove me batty, with lots of randomly bolded and italicized words. I do sometimes find her gushing, effusive style a little much for me, so this bit wasn't quite my bag, but I'm also not really picking up the book for the forward...
Not quite as many recipes that I HAVE to make as I expected, but I think that's partly because for many of them I've already got something close enough in my recipe arsenal to enjoy or they just weren't for me. For example, I found the drinks section entirely wasted on me, as I'm not really one to make beverages, particularly non-alcoholic ones. There was a great variety, and certainly some recipes I'm excited to make, but the end, I'm glad I checked it out from the library, as I'm more than satisfied just utilizing her blog.
I've Made:
sweet potato hash, scrambled egg, & herb goat cheese freezer breakfast burritos - easy and tasty! I froze half the batch and just put the other half in the fridge to reheat for my breakfasts this week, so I've yet to try reheating from frozen, but the flavor is great! Next time I think I'll add some kale or spinach for a bit of greenery.
crispy roasted garlic green beans with shaved pecorino - not a green bean lover, and this didn't convert me, but I generally enjoyed it and if I loved green beans more, this would definitely be a great quick side.
simple asparagus ribbon pasta salad - made this without tomatoes & cilantro due to food preferences, and it was a BIG hit! Pretty quick and easy, and I love that it's a recipe you can make in advance and let sit in the fridge until you're ready to eat! Definitely one I'll be making all summer.
I'm a big fan of Jessica's food blog "How Sweet Eats" and have been following it for over a decade, so I was curious to see what her cookbook had to offer! I really loved that the book lies flat when open, and that nearly all of the recipes had (truly delicious looking) photos. I mostly appreciated the structure/sections here, though I felt the "Celebrations" section was a little confusing--it basically had a mixture of all kinds of foods that would be considered a bit more decadent, and I can appreciate she was trying to do something unique, but I'd have rather she just included those foods in the relevant dinner/dessert etc. sections. I'll admit, I had to skim through the beginning bits, because the format here drove me batty, with lots of randomly bolded and italicized words. I do sometimes find her gushing, effusive style a little much for me, so this bit wasn't quite my bag, but I'm also not really picking up the book for the forward...
Not quite as many recipes that I HAVE to make as I expected, but I think that's partly because for many of them I've already got something close enough in my recipe arsenal to enjoy or they just weren't for me. For example, I found the drinks section entirely wasted on me, as I'm not really one to make beverages, particularly non-alcoholic ones. There was a great variety, and certainly some recipes I'm excited to make, but the end, I'm glad I checked it out from the library, as I'm more than satisfied just utilizing her blog.
I've Made:
sweet potato hash, scrambled egg, & herb goat cheese freezer breakfast burritos - easy and tasty! I froze half the batch and just put the other half in the fridge to reheat for my breakfasts this week, so I've yet to try reheating from frozen, but the flavor is great! Next time I think I'll add some kale or spinach for a bit of greenery.
crispy roasted garlic green beans with shaved pecorino - not a green bean lover, and this didn't convert me, but I generally enjoyed it and if I loved green beans more, this would definitely be a great quick side.
simple asparagus ribbon pasta salad - made this without tomatoes & cilantro due to food preferences, and it was a BIG hit! Pretty quick and easy, and I love that it's a recipe you can make in advance and let sit in the fridge until you're ready to eat! Definitely one I'll be making all summer.
March 26, 2016
I have followed this blog for an eternity. While I like the cookbook & purchased it pre-order before the release I would recommend just using her free website. Photos were stunning but she has so much content after blogging for like a decade it seems pointless to purchase. She’s an excellent cook though.
April 19, 2018
Jessie Merchant's food blogs How Sweet Eats, is my favorite. I have been following it and cooking from it for five years. I haven't been disappointed in any recipe I have made. Her first cookbook Seriously Delish, is just has delicious has the bog. She has a brand new cookbook out, The Pretty Dish! The photography is gorgeous and every recipe scrumptious! You will love both of Jessica's books!
November 29, 2014
Trying something a little different on this Friday. If you've been reading my blog for any amount of time you probably know that I am a big cook and baker. You may not know that for years I have been obsessed with food blogs. How Sweet Eats, Jessica Merchant's blog, has been one of my favorites for a long time, I'm thinking at least 2010, maybe even 2009 which is the first year she started blogging. If you are not reading Jess's blog you are seriously missing out. Not only does she post amazing recipes with gorgeous photography, she also writes about her life, pop culture, beauty, books, and so many other things in a way that makes me want to kidnap her and force her to be my BFF (just kidding about the kidnapping...kind of).
When Jess announced she had a cookbook coming out I was so excited. Everyone knows I am not a big buyer of books, but I knew I had to get my hands on Seriously Delish. I wish I could have made it to one of Jess's NYC book signings, but they were right after I started my new job and I just couldn't swing getting out of work early to go into the city. When I finally got my hands on the book I was not disappointed. I actually sat and read the book cover to cover and couldn't wait to get started on cooking some of the recipes in the book.
Let's talk about the pros and the cons:
Pros:
* Just like on her blog Jess's personality and voice really shine through and not only are the recipes great and then photography wonderful, it's an entertaining and funny read.
* In addition to being entertaining and funny it's also informative. I think of myself as a pretty experienced cook, but I definitely learned new things and picked up pieces of advice from Jess's writing.
* I love Jess's blog because she strikes a great balance between crazy-I-would-never-make-that food porn and recipes that I want to make for dinner that night. As much as I love the food porn I appreciated that Jess's book is much more in the things-I-would-make-for-dinner vein.
* There is a wide variety of food from the three main meals to snacks to appetizers to alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks.
* It's a hardcover paper over board case which I love, especially for a cookbook. No annoying dust jacket!
Cons:
* In theory I like the idea of the "celebrations" chapter that has food, both fancy and not fancy, for special occasions, but in practice it just kind of confuses me. I can remember seeing a salad or grilled cheese, but then I have to remember if it's a celebration salad or grilled cheese or a regular soup or sandwich.
* I love Jess's photography, but some of the layout of pages drives me a little nuts. Most of the pages and spreads are fine, but then sometimes there will be a picture floating in a weird spot on the page or the layout of text will be kind of odd. Some of the pages just looked a little patched together.
* There seem to be a very high percentage of recipes involving pineapple. Maybe it's just me and my pineapple allergy, but I found it a little bit odd and annoying (because I love pineapple and hate that I can't eat it any more).
With 150 recipes I still have many more to try like the strawberry coffee cake scones, 30-minute southwest black bean soup, whole wheat blueberry bundt cake, and cheesy roasted cauliflower dip. My favorites that I've tried are the Greek chick panzanella with honey-lemon vinaigrette (I flipped the ratios of vinegar and olive oil in the dressing), homemade chicken pitas with jalapeno whipped feta and quick tzatziki (except I made it without the tzatziki because I hate it), and whole wheat chocolate chip cookies.
If you're not sure about investing in the book you should definitely spend some time on Jess's blog first. I think my two all-time favorite recipes of hers are the roasted chipotle chicken taco stacks (some of the best chicken I've ever had) and the roasted jalapeno cheddar turkey burgers with BBQ aioli (just flat-out amazing) and I highly recommend making both of them ASAP. And then, after loving them, going out and getting Seriously Delish.
One Year Ago: Book Review: Six Months Later
This review first appeared on my blog.
When Jess announced she had a cookbook coming out I was so excited. Everyone knows I am not a big buyer of books, but I knew I had to get my hands on Seriously Delish. I wish I could have made it to one of Jess's NYC book signings, but they were right after I started my new job and I just couldn't swing getting out of work early to go into the city. When I finally got my hands on the book I was not disappointed. I actually sat and read the book cover to cover and couldn't wait to get started on cooking some of the recipes in the book.
Let's talk about the pros and the cons:
Pros:
* Just like on her blog Jess's personality and voice really shine through and not only are the recipes great and then photography wonderful, it's an entertaining and funny read.
* In addition to being entertaining and funny it's also informative. I think of myself as a pretty experienced cook, but I definitely learned new things and picked up pieces of advice from Jess's writing.
* I love Jess's blog because she strikes a great balance between crazy-I-would-never-make-that food porn and recipes that I want to make for dinner that night. As much as I love the food porn I appreciated that Jess's book is much more in the things-I-would-make-for-dinner vein.
* There is a wide variety of food from the three main meals to snacks to appetizers to alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks.
* It's a hardcover paper over board case which I love, especially for a cookbook. No annoying dust jacket!
Cons:
* In theory I like the idea of the "celebrations" chapter that has food, both fancy and not fancy, for special occasions, but in practice it just kind of confuses me. I can remember seeing a salad or grilled cheese, but then I have to remember if it's a celebration salad or grilled cheese or a regular soup or sandwich.
* I love Jess's photography, but some of the layout of pages drives me a little nuts. Most of the pages and spreads are fine, but then sometimes there will be a picture floating in a weird spot on the page or the layout of text will be kind of odd. Some of the pages just looked a little patched together.
* There seem to be a very high percentage of recipes involving pineapple. Maybe it's just me and my pineapple allergy, but I found it a little bit odd and annoying (because I love pineapple and hate that I can't eat it any more).
With 150 recipes I still have many more to try like the strawberry coffee cake scones, 30-minute southwest black bean soup, whole wheat blueberry bundt cake, and cheesy roasted cauliflower dip. My favorites that I've tried are the Greek chick panzanella with honey-lemon vinaigrette (I flipped the ratios of vinegar and olive oil in the dressing), homemade chicken pitas with jalapeno whipped feta and quick tzatziki (except I made it without the tzatziki because I hate it), and whole wheat chocolate chip cookies.
If you're not sure about investing in the book you should definitely spend some time on Jess's blog first. I think my two all-time favorite recipes of hers are the roasted chipotle chicken taco stacks (some of the best chicken I've ever had) and the roasted jalapeno cheddar turkey burgers with BBQ aioli (just flat-out amazing) and I highly recommend making both of them ASAP. And then, after loving them, going out and getting Seriously Delish.
One Year Ago: Book Review: Six Months Later
This review first appeared on my blog.
October 3, 2014
This is a lovely book---a good translation of a good blog. Loved the descriptions, photos and many of the recipes. I understand her "food philosophy" but others of us would STILL LIKE NUTRITIONAL INFO. I probably won't be adding bacon to everything under the sun including cocktails. Not that I ever have cocktails. LOL Nice blog-to-book.
June 25, 2021
O M G, this title is not lying! Seriously! I've been flipping through a lot of cookbooks since the start of the pandemic, trying to figure out how to keep myself and hubby fed with happy, exciting food that we can look forward to. And it's not often that as I flip through a cookbook, I involuntarily gasp out loud, raise my hand to my chest in surprise, and nearly swoon in delight at what I find. It's not often. But it happened with this book. I love the creativity of her recipes, they all have a unique twist on old favorites.
She does use a few ingredients that I've never heard of, but mostly they still sound pretty pedestrian. I blame myself for always walking that fine line of trying to cook traditional American food that hubby likes, while also trying new combinations that I would like. It's a fine line, and anyone who knows me knows that I am a klutz, incapable of walking a fine line.... So..... yeah, I blame myself for not knowing that vanilla bean paste is an actual thing (Pumpkin Bannilla Bread). But here's some of the swoon-worthy recipes I found: Roasted Pork & Pineapple Baked Taquitos, Mini Crab Cakes with Sweet Corn & Blueberry Salsa, Honey-Glazed Pork Tenderloin with Roasted Grapes, and Slow Cooker Beer Pulled Pork Sliders with Mango Slaw.
And have I ever told you of my deep and abiding love for bacon and bourbon? I think this is how I plan to spend my perfect weekend; for lunch I'll have a Grilled Gouda, Bacon & Caramelized Onion Grilled Cheese with a Potato Soup Dipper and a Fleur de Sel Caramel Bourbon Brownie Milk Shake. I think I'll also have to make a big batch of Cinnamon Sugared Bacon, that's right, sugared bacon, so I can stick one or two in my milkshake, and later crumble some on my popcorn as I watch Saturday night tv with a Bacon Manhattan. Oh my God I'm drooling already! And 2 weeks ago I made a batch of boozy cherries (pitted cherries in a jar, then drown them in bourbon and dissolved sugar, allow to refrigerate for a week or two, and voila, boozy cherries!) and I think they are crying out to be enjoyed with sugared bacon and a bourbon cocktail.
She does use a few ingredients that I've never heard of, but mostly they still sound pretty pedestrian. I blame myself for always walking that fine line of trying to cook traditional American food that hubby likes, while also trying new combinations that I would like. It's a fine line, and anyone who knows me knows that I am a klutz, incapable of walking a fine line.... So..... yeah, I blame myself for not knowing that vanilla bean paste is an actual thing (Pumpkin Bannilla Bread). But here's some of the swoon-worthy recipes I found: Roasted Pork & Pineapple Baked Taquitos, Mini Crab Cakes with Sweet Corn & Blueberry Salsa, Honey-Glazed Pork Tenderloin with Roasted Grapes, and Slow Cooker Beer Pulled Pork Sliders with Mango Slaw.
And have I ever told you of my deep and abiding love for bacon and bourbon? I think this is how I plan to spend my perfect weekend; for lunch I'll have a Grilled Gouda, Bacon & Caramelized Onion Grilled Cheese with a Potato Soup Dipper and a Fleur de Sel Caramel Bourbon Brownie Milk Shake. I think I'll also have to make a big batch of Cinnamon Sugared Bacon, that's right, sugared bacon, so I can stick one or two in my milkshake, and later crumble some on my popcorn as I watch Saturday night tv with a Bacon Manhattan. Oh my God I'm drooling already! And 2 weeks ago I made a batch of boozy cherries (pitted cherries in a jar, then drown them in bourbon and dissolved sugar, allow to refrigerate for a week or two, and voila, boozy cherries!) and I think they are crying out to be enjoyed with sugared bacon and a bourbon cocktail.
February 4, 2021
I read Jessica Merchant's "The Pretty Dish" prior to "Seriously Delish," and I absolutely LOVE "The Pretty Dish!" So much so that I purchased it after checking it out from the library several times. Compared to "The Pretty Dish," I found this book to be a disappointment. The layout was bland, the recipes were nothing that jumped out to me, and I didn't find myself bookmarking any of them. The only section that interested me was the drinks/cocktails section. That being said, I realize this was her first cookbook, and I know how great her ideas and cookbooks can be!
January 9, 2018
I love this blog and was very excited about the cookbook. The recipes I have tried have surprised me how good they are without being complicated. I especially love the turkey and white bean enchiladas! I wish there were even more recipes! There are many sandwiches and burgers included in this book, which is less recipe and more assembly, though the sandwiches are creative and delicious!
June 6, 2017
I have been obsessed with this food blogger for years and I finally bit the bullet and bought the cookbook. I do not regret it at all! There are so many anecdotes and helpful hints in here. Also I love that there are recipes that are not on the blog that make it feel worth it!
September 24, 2017
Maybe should be titled Seriously Pretentious.
A good book to check out from the library. I wouldn't buy this book for myself. But...if someone gave it to me as a present I'd probably make a bunch of the recipes.
Yah, I know...
A good book to check out from the library. I wouldn't buy this book for myself. But...if someone gave it to me as a present I'd probably make a bunch of the recipes.
Yah, I know...
December 20, 2017
We used this cookbook for our December meetings of the cookbook book club. All the recipes were tasty, but nothing that stood out in particular. Fun book, but the format or font made this not as appealing as some others that we have used.
January 9, 2020
Delightful cookbook - lively writing style, healthy recipes that don't call for a long list of obscure ingredients. Most are from the author's blog so she includes some background information.
This cookbook introduced me to Overnight Oats which is now my most favorite breakfast ever.
This cookbook introduced me to Overnight Oats which is now my most favorite breakfast ever.
March 5, 2020
I'm a longtime follower of Jessica's blog and I love both of her cookbooks. I love her flavor combinations and her recipes are ALWAYS my go-to. The baked oatmeal in this book is a staple I bring to new mothers (and make for myself too!).
February 6, 2021
This is a good cookbook. Good photographs, well laid out directions, food that is just different enough to be worth buying the book, but doesn't take hours to prepare/require obscure ingredients.
However.
The random font/color changes render this book nearly unreadable.
However.
The random font/color changes render this book nearly unreadable.
July 6, 2017
(Reviewing the book only, not the recipes)
A fun read, and if you like her blog, you'll like this! I think I'm most excited to try the lemon chia waffles, and the breakfast risotto.
A fun read, and if you like her blog, you'll like this! I think I'm most excited to try the lemon chia waffles, and the breakfast risotto.
December 14, 2017
This was the December selection for my Cookbook Club. Lots of yummy easy recipes. My favorites: the cinnamon bacon and the incredible peanut butter brownies.
May 17, 2018
Awesome recipes. Simple and creative. Love the pork loin with grapes and the butternut squash soup
October 14, 2018
I am so glad several years back Merchant put her blog in book form. Her pho8are captivating and food....delish!
April 18, 2019
Some of my favorite recipes came from this book. I love that Jessica doesn’t require us to stick to an exact script but encourages us to play with her recipes to suit our own tastes.
April 26, 2019
Seriously tho. Probably should own this beaut.
August 9, 2019
Felt like they were trying too hard to be fancy. The photography was well shot though.
November 21, 2021
I counted 16 recipes that I will try.
February 12, 2017
I didn't know what to expect from this book. I go through phases when I fervently follow her blog, and then my interest wanes. As good as everything sounds on the blog, I was so much more interested in the recipes in this book, and this is the first cookbook I've seen in a long time that I'm truly excited to cook from. Merchant can ramble on a bit, but her voice is overall down to earth and rather endearing.
Her breakfast risotto sounds divine, as do a lot of other things (crab cake cobb sticks! roasted vegetable queso frittata! mocha coconut tiramisu!). There's a ton of great pictures, and I'd say most (if not all) of the recipes are accompanied by a photo of the finished product.
Made the roasted vegetable queso frittata in spring 2015, and I loved how loaded it was with vegetables. Perfect for brunch/lunch/breakfast for dinner.
Finally (in Jan 2017, almost 2 years after I first perused it) got around to trying her amaretto butternut squash soup with cinnamon toast croutons. It's a little on the sweet side, and is super cozy and perfect for a cold rainy day. It might sound a bit weird, but the tender squash goes really well with the crunchy almonds and croutons, and the freshness of the green onion.
Her breakfast risotto sounds divine, as do a lot of other things (crab cake cobb sticks! roasted vegetable queso frittata! mocha coconut tiramisu!). There's a ton of great pictures, and I'd say most (if not all) of the recipes are accompanied by a photo of the finished product.
Made the roasted vegetable queso frittata in spring 2015, and I loved how loaded it was with vegetables. Perfect for brunch/lunch/breakfast for dinner.
Finally (in Jan 2017, almost 2 years after I first perused it) got around to trying her amaretto butternut squash soup with cinnamon toast croutons. It's a little on the sweet side, and is super cozy and perfect for a cold rainy day. It might sound a bit weird, but the tender squash goes really well with the crunchy almonds and croutons, and the freshness of the green onion.
March 23, 2015
OMFG the pictures are to die for. I just stare at each page, turning them slowly and reverently, marking the "MUSTCOOKRIGHTNOW" recipes with a sticky note, until nearly every page is tagged. I usually buy baking cookbooks because it's more fun to bake than to make savory food but this cookbook change my mind.
So far, I have made the smoky chicken salad and the mushroom, leek and brussel sprouts pizza. I can't comment on the pizza crust since I made a cauliflower crust instead, but the toppings are to die for. I literally haven't been this excited for lunch this week since I made crockpot pulled pork about two years ago and overdosed on pork. I can't wait to make the short rib hash and I find myself contemplating which bread I should buy, because all of the toasts and grilled cheese recipes are calling to me in seductive, melty voices. I haven't bought bread in five years at least. What is the matter with me? Jessica Merchant happened to me.
Her love of food and creating delicious flavors and making food look beautiful really shines through. The commentary at the beginning of each recipe is pretty funny and adorable. I think she and I would be great friends.
So far, I have made the smoky chicken salad and the mushroom, leek and brussel sprouts pizza. I can't comment on the pizza crust since I made a cauliflower crust instead, but the toppings are to die for. I literally haven't been this excited for lunch this week since I made crockpot pulled pork about two years ago and overdosed on pork. I can't wait to make the short rib hash and I find myself contemplating which bread I should buy, because all of the toasts and grilled cheese recipes are calling to me in seductive, melty voices. I haven't bought bread in five years at least. What is the matter with me? Jessica Merchant happened to me.
Her love of food and creating delicious flavors and making food look beautiful really shines through. The commentary at the beginning of each recipe is pretty funny and adorable. I think she and I would be great friends.
January 7, 2015
This cookbook is truly a celebration of food, with beautiful recipes that are a great mix between delicious healthy recipes and more scrumptious treats. Half of the recipes were actually already vegan (which is great for me!), just because the author favors equal parts healthy with equal parts 'treats', which I appreciated. I also enjoyed the author's personal antidotes she included for each recipe; I thought she had a unique and entertaining voice that shows how much fun cooking can be, and made me want to check out her blog where her recipes originated from: How Sweet Eats. This is a great new cookbook!
Sarah M. / Marathon County Public Library
Find this book in our library catalog.
January 25, 2015
I got this as a gift. Every recipe has a little story attached, much like a blog, which is how the author got the cookbook deal. Sometimes the stories are cute, but not enough that I would seek out her blog. The recipes look good, but so far I have only tried two recipes, because I find many of the recipes have hard to find ingredients, where I live.
As for the recipes, the first, stuffed sweet potatoes, was pretty tasteless -- other than the sweet potatoes themselves (and a total failure with my husband). The second, baked eggs, had all the taste mixed in with the panko topping, and I thought it was good, but I would mix the herbs in with the eggs, skipped the panko and served it with whole grain garlic toast. For this one I had to search everywhere for fontina, but it didn't really add anything to the recipe. Next time I'll try a lowfat cheddar.
As for the recipes, the first, stuffed sweet potatoes, was pretty tasteless -- other than the sweet potatoes themselves (and a total failure with my husband). The second, baked eggs, had all the taste mixed in with the panko topping, and I thought it was good, but I would mix the herbs in with the eggs, skipped the panko and served it with whole grain garlic toast. For this one I had to search everywhere for fontina, but it didn't really add anything to the recipe. Next time I'll try a lowfat cheddar.
January 5, 2017
I have wanted to read this book since it was published I have been enjoying Jessica's recipes for a while from her blog. This book did not disappoint in fact it was even better than I had hoped. It has an amazing balance between indulgent and lightened up, comforting classics and new twists, and overall is just plain fun. The introductions to each recipe are really well done and enjoyable. I also loved the number of vegetarian recipes and recipes that could be made vegetarian. Though meat eaters should have no fear there is also an abundance of bacon and a good mix of other meat choices throughout the book. Overall I really enjoyed reading this book and looking at the mouthwateringly gorgeous pictures and can't wait to start making these recipes.
October 10, 2015
It's hard to review a cookbook, and I should probably wait until I've tried more of the recipes, but I can't help myself. Jessica's book is funny and charming, and the recipes here are so accessible. I made the creamy spinach and spiced chickpea stuffed sweet potatoes, the chili garlic salmon, and the smoky pineapple chicken salad. All three recipes were straightforward, easy to follow, thorough, and tasty. And the intros to each recipe are a huge bonus - this is the first cookbook I've ever read cover to cover.
September 26, 2014
This month our Cookbook Club started working out of this delightful book and it is now a big favorite for me.
Ms. Merchant opens each recipe with a light-hearted conversation about an ingredient, a memory or something that inspired her adding the dish to her book. I love how that little blurb makes the book more personalized.
All of the dishes we have tasted so far are fresh, creative and relatively easy to create.
If you love to cook, this is a MUST have on your bookshelf or kitchen counter.
Ms. Merchant opens each recipe with a light-hearted conversation about an ingredient, a memory or something that inspired her adding the dish to her book. I love how that little blurb makes the book more personalized.
All of the dishes we have tasted so far are fresh, creative and relatively easy to create.
If you love to cook, this is a MUST have on your bookshelf or kitchen counter.
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