Off The Shelf: Cooking From the Pantry

by Donna Hay, Con Poulos (Photographer)

In Off the Shelf, Australia's bestselling food writer Donna Hay shows you how to fill your pantry with convenient and basic ingredients. Save time with these easy to put together recipes -- for everyday meals or special occasions, and especially when unexpected guests arrive. Off the Shelf is packed with the information and inspiration to create a great meal at short notice -- anything from a simple pasta dish or the slippery slurp of Asian-inspired noodles to a tempting berry tart. All you need is a well-stocked pantry and a handful of fresh ingredients. An essential handbook for everyone who loves to cook and to eat.

Genres: Cookbooks, Cooking, Food, Nonfiction, Reference, Foodie

192 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2001

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.

Donna Hay is an Australian food stylist, author, and magazine editor. Her food, recipes and styling focuses on basic ingredients, simply prepared and beautifully photographed – hallmarks of her work which have set the benchmark for food publishing worldwide and inspired a whole new generation of cooks.

Reviews

[Terri · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars. Love this book.

[E G Melby · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wish this wasn’t a library book. I’d like to cook a BUNCH of recipes from this one.

[Rhonda · Rating 4 out of 5]

A solid cookbook of recipes for a decent meal made from ingredients I frequently already have on hand (or have most of, anyway). They are generally quick meals as well, just 30 - 60 minutes. The Beef & Caramelized Onion Couscous was very good. As was the Thai Caramelized Pork Salad. But both were very sweet. The basil and mint salad that went with the pork was the highlight of the dish - such an interesting and crispy flavour/texture. The Green Olive Chicken Bake was ok, but the chicken was dry - same with the Balsamic and Tomato roast chicken. Sides like the Marinated Chickpea Salad was very good and very quick.

[Ali O'Hara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fantastic cookbook - great tips and recipes, simply and beautifully presented. Each section starts with a few tips on related methods and ingredients, and concludes with a 'short order' section of quick recipes. The recipes are different and appealing, ranging from pastas with a few ingredients to lamb. There is a photo of every dish - yay! The recipes are generally more 'foodie' than Betty Crocker, yet relatively simple.
Beautiful cookbook, well organized, very appealing recipes. I've copied a number of more simple ones (like pasta with wilted rocket and ricotta) until I buy my own copy. There are recipes in this book would be great for quick dinners, as well as having company or bringing a dish to a gathering.

[Katherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the most beautifully designed and photographed cookbook I've ever seen. I read it over and over again for inspiration and to salivate over the pictures and dream about my concoctions turning out as perfectly and artfully as Hays's. The recipes are simple and always tasty. Today I had the crisp rice omelette and yesterday the Thai carmelized pork. Both were smashing. And the best thing is that it really is about cooking from the pantry. Nearly all ingredients are basics, and the rest are fresh and easily accessible.

[Deb · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of my favorite Donna Hay books (that I need to pull out and cook from more often) with easy recipes and ideas, many which can be made with ingredients from a well-stocked pantry. Full of Donna Hay's well-stylized and beautiful food photos. I just made the Cannellini Bean and Fresh Tomato Broth--an easy, homey soup. Here's a link to the recipe: http://kahakaikitchen.blogspot.com/20...

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite "cooking from the well-stocked pantry" cookbooks. Donna Hay was a food stylist, so each recipe comes with a photo of the finished dish, and all recipes have about 6 or fewer ingredients. Everything I've ever made from this book has been delicious and easy.

[Elisabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, she says off the shelf, but I dare you to have these ingredients on your pantry shelf. That said, wonderful simple recipes, easy to follow, and relatively easy to find american ingredients for the australian ones.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

All of Donna Hay's books are amazing. Check out her magazine as well. Very easy to read and beautiful photos.

[Karen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Coffee table book, very nice photography, yuppy recipes/recipes for two? Not suitable for family cooking and that's what I do most of the time.

[Shirley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very specific info for rices

[Wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

good advice on what to keep in the pantry.

[Marianthi · Rating 1 out of 5]

Pretentious to believe most of these items are in a pantry

[Marian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful cook book with complete menu ideas. The food looks lovely and healthy.

[Leslie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great recipes but I doubt most people would just have a lot of these ingredients in their pantry.