The Haven's Kitchen Cooking School: Recipes and Inspiration to Build a Lifetime of Confidence in the Kitchen

by Alison Cayne

Named a Best Cookbook / Gift Book of the Year by Better Homes & Gardens , Library Journal , and Publishers Weekly

The Must-Have Book That Will Teach You How to Cook
Learning to cook has never been simpler—or more delicious—thanks to The Haven’s Kitchen Cooking School . Each of the book’s nine chapters centers on a key in the eggs chapter, readers will learn about timing and temperature while poaching, frying, and scrambling; in the soups chapter, they will learn to layer flavors through recipes like Green Curry with Chicken. The rigorously tested recipes—including wholesome lunches, dinner-party showstoppers, and delectable desserts—will become part of readers’ daily repertoires. Beautiful photographs show both the finished dishes and the how-to techniques, and helpful illustrations offer further guidance.

Genres: Cookbooks, Cooking, Food, Nonfiction, Reference, How To

384 pages, Hardcover

Published April 4, 2017

Reviews

[Chasity · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting cookbook in that it's teaching you to be intuitive in the kitchen. A lot of the recipes are not super specific but rather give you lists of things that pair well and gives you a certain freedom. I think this style really teaches you about food and cooking and helps grow confidence in the kitchen. It's exactly what I was looking for and it has been helpful and very educational. It teaches you a lot of basic skills but even people who already have knife skills and general kitchen knowledge still might find some of the stuff further on helpful. I would not consider this a recipe book as much as a book teaching you how to cook so be aware of what you're buying and I think you will be very happy.

[Endlesscribbles · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good cook book for someone wanting to learn how to cook or mastering new skills.

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Artisan Books and NetGalley provided me with an electronic copy of The Haven's Kitchen Cooking School: Recipes and Inspiration to Build a Lifetime of Confidence in the Kitchen. This is my honest opinion of the book.

With 384 pages and 100 accompanying photographs, The Haven's Kitchen Cooking School cookbook is a must have tome for beginners. There are nine chapters in the book, each focusing on a key lesson. With the recipes scattered throughout the sections, readers will be able to practice what they have learned. After mastering the basics, these new cooks will have the confidence to experiment and bring their own flair to their meals.

It is important to note that The Haven's Kitchen Cooking School cookbook is designed for those with no experience in the kitchen. With tips on how to read a recipe, setting up a work station, knife skills and terms, choosing the essential pantry items and equipment, the book is clear in its instructions. Although I am an experienced home cook, I found the recipes to be delicious and some of the tips to be quite helpful. In particular, the section on frying provided a lot of good information, useful as I do not often employ this method of cooking. With many simple and classic recipes, The Haven's Kitchen Cooking School cookbook is a worthwhile addition to any home cook's library.

[January Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great for those who either want to learn how to cook, or add to their skills! Very informative without being dull or boring.

[Jean MacLeod · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent how-to book for beginners. And plenty of information to satisfy the curious cook.

[DelAnne Frazee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Title: The Haven's Kitchen Cooking School - Recipes and Inspiration to Build a Lifetime of Confidence in the Kitchen
Author: Alison Cayne
Publisher: Artisan Books
Published: 4-4-2017
Pages: 384
Genre: Cooking, Food & Wine
Sub-Genre: Cookbooks; Instructions; Reference; Quick & Easy; Cooking
ASIN: B01L83TT04
ISBN: 9781579656737
Reviewed For: NetGalley and Artisan Books
Reviewer: DelAnne
Rating: 5 Stars


Starting with the very basics of how to read and follow a recipe to keeping your prep area safe and clean to actually prepare the dish making this book a great gift to a beginner cook. On to the explanation of the basic equipment and utensils most will need to keep on hand. The on to a more complicated dishes and how to adjust a recipe to the personal taste of an individual cook. So much information to make it simple and easy for the newer cook, but also a review for those who have years of experience, but may have forgotten.


Recipes offered are a wide variety of dishes to cover every course. None so difficult they can not be recreated with practice. My rating of "The Haven's Kitchen Cooking School" is 5 out of 5 stars.


Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01L83TT04/...

B&N Link: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-...

GoodReads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...

The Reading Room Link: https://www.facebook.com/permalink.ph...

Twitter Link: https://twitter.com/DelAnne531/status...

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book to review and I thought it was quite good for a novice cook who is really interested in making tasty and well-presented food AND is looking to improve their technical skill. The Haven's Kitchen Cooking School: Recipes and Inspiration to Build a Lifetime of Confidence in the Kitchen, contains a healthy balance of recipes and technical skill development. The content has a textbook feel but the pictures and the writing make it accessible for all.

I would classify myself as a home cook who has watched a LOT of cooking shows to improve my skill and who often reads cooking magazines for inspiration. The Haven's Kitchen Cooking School, while interesting, was a little too basic for me.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is more of a book to learn from than a place to go for recipes. Many of the lessons are good - I particularly liked knife skills - but when they got to actually cooking, it was pretty basic. Almost too much so - and there aren’t a ton of photos for the recipes.

Good for someone first learning to cook.

[Reggie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book because it explained WHY certain ingredients work together and WHY you're following a recipe or cutting something the way you are instead of the instructions themselves. Easy to understand and also expertly put together. It's clear a lot of time went into the construction of this book.

[Pearse Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A clear, inspirational, and comforting cookbook and introduction to cooking. There weren't so so many recipes I wanted to make, but they each introduced different techniques and skills that I'll use. I especially appreciated their section on fritters and fried foods, something that I'll definitely be using. I also love learning how to actually hold me knife and prep stuff in the right way. Haha!

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been cooking for over 40 years, and I truly enjoy it, so when I saw this book available on Netgalley as an ARC, I was immediately curious - how would I measure up to a cooking school book? Would I learn anything? Would I disagree with anything?

As it turned out, I LOVED it -4 1/2 stars!! A lot of the recipes were too gourmet for this home-cooking chef, but I especially loved the intros to every section, as it taught me all kinds of tips that I either agreed with or had been wondering if there were an easier way. Kind of funny, a few times I'd read the start of a section there'd be a french word I'd not recognize, which I'd look up only to find the definition in the following section! Silly me, you think I'd expect that.

Both beautiful and helpful illustrations, this is a lovely book. This would be a great book for any new or experienced cook wanting to learn the basics of being a great cook! Bon appetit!

Maybe I need to start watching cooking shows...but then I'd rather read than watch TV!

[Lesley Looper · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book because it gave some good advice about different aspects of cooking and tools, and outlined the instructions for recipes well. Recipes included photos, sometimes more than one per recipe.

[Penthesilea1623 · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great basic, how to cook, how to chop, what kitchen essentials you need book. It covers all the elementary steps, but making them interesting, and flavorful, and giving you what you need to build on those basics.

[Elana Boise · Rating 3 out of 5]

Was this fun to read and look at the beautiful pictures of food, yes. Did I make anything from it or learn any new skills, no. Sadly, this kind of cookbook is more of a flip through than anything else, but it did make me very hungry while I did!

[Naomi Smart · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are nine chapters and each Begin with a teaching recipe to build upon. I loved it so much I bought the book for my own use. I love cooking and this book has expanded my abilities ten fold.

[Jake · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great cookbook!

[Stacey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read the book cover to cover. Now it is time to go back through and complete each lesson as a test of my cooking skills. 9 chapters and 9 lessons. Let the learning/improving begin!

[cat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Worth it alone for my improved knife skills and killer chicken paillard!

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Haven's Kitchen Cooking School: Recipes and Inspiration to Build a Lifetime of Confidence in the Kitchen
by Alison Cayne, April 2017
Destined to become a classic, this cookbook is my new go-to gift for showers and weddings. Beautifully illustrated, The Haven’s Kitchen Cooking School is well organized and perfect for the beginner and experienced cook alike. Teaching essential skills for success in the kitchen with lots of gorgeous photos and step by step clear, concise directions. Charming illustrations of necessary kitchen tools utilized in the recipes is also a nice touch and I learned quite a bit reading through the tool descriptions. For instance, I really need one of these: “a ‘spider’ is the professional kitchen’s slotted spoon. A shallow wire basket secured to a handle, the ‘spider’ is a great tool for scooping items from hot oil when deep frying, or removing vegetables from hot water.” This combination cookbook-teaching manual is highly recommended for everyone interested in preparing food.

[Penmouse · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Haven's Kitchen Cooking School cookbook by Alison Cayne is an accessible cookbook for both novice and experienced cooks alike. The recipes are clearly written and illustrated making this a good book for learning how to cook. For more experienced cooks you will find recipes that teach how to prepare some of the newer ingredients such as Quinoa. I've cooked for a very long time, but I know little about cooking Quinoa. The Haven's Kitchen School cookbook Quinoa recipe explained how and why to rinse Quinoa for example.

You will find a "Teaching Recipe" (actually recipes) sprinkled throughout the cookbook. The Teaching Recipe will teach how to use a specific ingredient. For example you will find the Teaching Recipe Jose's Black Beans that clearly tells about how to prepare and cook beans. There is a black bean recipe that follows showing how to prepare a recipe once the beans have been prepped.

I loved the Basic Skills segment of the book as this section covers such things as how to read a recipe or how to use salt in cooking.

There are plenty of color photos illustrating techniques and completed recipes.

You will find some of the following recipes in The Haven's Kitchen Cooking School cookbook:

One-Bowl Meals --- a master recipe that shows how to use a variety of ingredients to prepare a one-bowl meal.

Multigrain Breakfast Porridge

Quinoa Broccoli Patties

Latkes

How to Spatchcock a Chicken --- Four photos illustrating how Spatchcock a chicken for cooking

Roasted Carrot Soup

Omelet

Frisse Salad with Poached Eggs

Butter Lettuce with Blue Cheese, Dried Cherries, and Candied Walnuts

Sautéed Green Beans with Garlic

Ceviche

Grilled Steak

Lamb Kofta

Sweet Chili Sauce

Habanero Hot Sauce

Pavlova

Poached Pears

Flourless Chocolate Cake to Commit to Memory

Fruit Galette

Recommend.

Review written after downloading a galley from NetGalley.

[Zibby Owens · Rating 5 out of 5]

This cookbook is perfect for people who may be afraid to cook meals, get intimidated by fancy recipes, or don't love to cook in the first place. The author makes it easy by breaking down each step of what is in the dish so that you feel confident in the meal by the time you finish cooking. The book is organized in an easy way that allows you to cross-reference different ingredients. You can take a meat and a sauce and pair it with something in the grain chapter. Even though there are three hundred recipes, it feels like you have a thousand new recipes because you can mix and match to create different variations.

I love that the recipes aren't so obscure, that they are things I would actually want to eat and dishes I can easily make. You can make chicken paillard and ratatouille and an excellent chocolate cake - that's a whole meal. The Haven's Kitchen Cookbook is not just a book with beautiful pictures of amazing food that I’ll never cook myself or pages of sculpted desserts that are impossible for any home cook to complete. It's accessible for anyone who wants to cook a delicious dish.

To listen to my interview with the author, go to my podcast at:
https://zibbyowens.com/transcript/ali...

[Belva W · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Haven's Kitchen Cooking School is part cookbook and part cooking manual, with the emphasis on the cooking manual. It has many useful tips and techniques for beginners, but even seasoned cooks could learn a thing or two from this book. The recipes included were not that appealing to me but I could definitely benefit from the instructional nature of the book. It contains many photos and step by step illustrations that are helpful in understanding the techniques and tools. The book is well organized and easy to follow. I think it would make a great wedding gift or a useful tool for anyone wishing to broaden their culinary knowledge. I was provided a galley of this book from the publisher via NetGalley.

[Katie Smith]

Not only does The Haven's Kitchen Cooking School contain delicious recipes, it provides you with all the tools and guidance to make them perfectly. I love that they start small, showing you the basics on how to cut, dice, and chop, but also the more technical on how to get a perfect risotto or a stunning souffle. This book will be a staple in my kitchen for many, many years to come.

[Jill · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you're like me, you watch all these cooking competition shows and just get more and more intimidated. I can read a recipe, and I have a few favorites that always make a winning dish. But the rest? It makes me want to order pizza and forget about the anxiety of trying to be a polished home cook. But I don't have to do that anymore, thanks to the amazing new The Haven's Kitchen Cooking School. 

This breakthrough technique for learning to cook offers beginners and intermediate home cooks a way to learn the most important kitchen lessons in a relaxed, painless way. With over 100 recipes (and more importantly, all the tools you need to create your own dishes), Alison Cayne walks you through step by step to give you confidence in your kitchen. 

After a quick introduction where you learn the basic kitchen equipment you need, pantry and refrigerator staples, how to read a recipe, how to season with salt, and how to set up a clean and organized work space, she drops you right into the boiling water. Literally, as she starts by teaching how to cook with purpose by showing you how to make a perfect bowl of rice. 

Each chapter focuses on a different type of food as well as teaching a specific technique. The chapter on vegetables teaches cooking with seasonality; the soups, on layering flavors; eggs, timing and temperature; fritters, mise en place; salads, composition; sauces, balance; and desserts, playfulness. She starts with a simple recipe she walks you through to teach you the basics, and then gives you all the tools you need to take those basics and build more skills.

The Haven's Kitchen Cooking School starts with poaching an egg and takes you though to a souffle. It introduces you to all the different ways to cook meat, to which cooking methods are best for different vegetables, for finding the right balance in a sauce and thus in a meal. And just as you get to mastering beautiful dinners, you get to go straight on through to dessert. With a perfect pavlova, an amazingly tart lemon curd, and the ultimate flourless chocolate cake, you can find the perfect end to the meal too. 

I know that it will take me a lot of practice to become the cook I want to be. But The Haven's Kitchen Cooking School will help get me there. And it can get you there too, far more effectively than just reading books of recipes or watching other people cook on television. This one is definitely a keeper. 



Galleys for The Haven's Kitchen Cooking School were provided by the publisher through NetGalley.com. 

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an interesting book for beginners, or even experienced cooks who want some good basic recipes to riff on.

[Teresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Haven's Kitchen Cooking School by Alison Cayne I love to cook. There are no boxed meals in my house, never has been never will be either. I also do not just make hamburgers and hot dogs, I love to add seasonings, fresh ingredients, and a lot of love to my meals, With that being said. I thought I was pretty handy in the kitchen as well, Who knew I was holding my chef knife wrong? It got the job done in the past but this book has taught me the proper way to hold it. I really did learn some from this book, as well as the 100 tasty recipes included for me to try. Each part of the book is wonderful. I love that it doesn't just tell you how to do something it shows you with the ton of illustrations. This is a great book for both beginners and those of us who have been cooking for decades.
 
I received this book from the Author or Publisher via Netgalley.com to read and review.

[Sharon M · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks so much for the opportunity to read and review this book!

This is a wonderful cookbook - while it may not have as many recipes in it as a normal cookbook, what sets it apart is the instructional and corresponding photos. I do a lot of cooking and this book showed me that I have been cutting onions the wrong way - who knew?

This would be a wonderful gift for newlyweds - lays out what you need as far as tools in the kitchen as well as stocking your pantry and refrigerator. All of the techniques are wonderful - even if you've been cooking awhile!

[Leith Devine · Rating 5 out of 5]

My thanks to Artisan and NetGalley for the ARC of this cookbook.

The Haven's Kitchen Cooking School cookbook is a great cookbook for both beginner and experienced cooks. It's the kind of cookbook that will be indispensable for first apartments and wedding presents.

I really liked how the book is laid out, starting with basic lessons on knife skills, important tools and equipment and pantry stocking tips. The recipes are laid out my type: Grains, Vegetables, Salads, Eggs and Desserts and more. The title above the chapters says "100 Recipes Worth Mastering", and I agree that mastering all those recipes would turn anyone into an accomplished cook. The Sauces chapter was especially helpful.

The recipes were varied in flavor and were from cuisines all over the world, which will make meals more varied and interesting.

The illustrations were very well done and extremely helpful. Not all illustrations in cookbooks are as realistic or useful as these are, and they will be appreciated, especially by beginner cooks.

I tried several of the recipes and they were great. Some of my favorites were:
Haven's Kitchen Bibimbap
Quinoa Broccoli Patties
Roasted Sweet Potato with Hazelnut Gremolata
Toasted Farro with Roasted Winter Vegetables and Tahini Dressing
Miso Balsamic Vinaigrette
Lamb Kofta
Sweet Chile Sauce
Peanut Sauce
Coconut Milk Tapioca Pudding

I highly recommend this book, and will be purchasing it in print.

[Christi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anyone who has known me for any length of time knows one thing about me: I don't cook. I remember my mom making me help her in the kitchen when I was growing up and it was pure torture. As I've grown up, and now have a family of my own, I do try to cook as much as I can stand but it's still a daily struggle.

I'm sure you're asking yourself, "OK, if you hate to cook so much then why are you reviewing a cook book?" Well, I'm glad you asked!

When it all comes down to it, I truly believe that the reason I "hate" cooking is because I've never been properly trained. That's where The Haven's Kitchen Cooking School by Alison Cayne comes in.

Each of the nine chapters centers on a key cooking lesson and takes you step by step through a cooking process that leaves you with no questions about that particular lesson. You learn everything from making one of the most "intimidating egg dishes" the Cheese Souffle to how to make A Bowl of White Rice. There is even a party about how to read a recipe and how to stay clean and organized while you cook.

For those, like me, who have always been fascinated with chef's and their knife skills The Haven's Kitchen Cooking School shows you the different types of cuts and how to hold and use a chef's knife! Amazing!!

Some of the lessons in the book are very basic, almost childlike, but I find that refreshing. I could see me and my ten-year-old diving in together to learn the basics of the culinary arts. The pictures are eye-catching and the entire book is very well laid out. I'm sad to say that as I write this review I have yet to try a recipe (though I have already started practicing the knife skills - I just had to!) but it's very high on my to do list.

I highly recommend this book for anyone, including the cooking haters like myself. For the first time in my life I'm actually excited about cooking!

*I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

[Justin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book, for free, in exchange for an honest review.

In my opinion there are two types of how to cook books: books that start with technique and books that start from recipes. This book is the latter. It is very well written and filled with gorgeous photographs. That being said, the actual tips here were either buried in recipes that didn't interest me or remedial (and I am an intermediate cook at best). The recipes in general were somewhat above average in terms of healthiness although the chapter on frying was fairly cringe worthy especially when the concerns regarding frying did not mention health.

All that being said I think if you are going to buy one cookbook and learn to cook from it this would be a good choice. If you already have several cookbooks you probably are better off saving your money and using it to buy a more tip centric book.