Starting from Scratch: A Book Review and Giveaway Post

Last week’s winner is sure to love the book she won. Email me your info and I will get the book out.

#9: I read to read . . and for book club . . and i love the stephanie plum series :)

Posted by: Julie | September 21, 2010 at 08:09 AM

I was in Costco browsing the books (I might have ended up buying one) and this book caught my eyes.

Appealing cover, no? It looked both intriguing and somewhat familiar. Hmmm. Perhaps that’s because it was sitting in my leaning tower of books to be reviewed.

I really love books that incorporate recipes into them—as this one does in a natural way since the narrator is her mother’s daughter; and hence, a cook. Learning to cook and bake from my mother is a memory and a life skill I will cherish. I hope my children will say the same one day: Grownup Girl already does.

A warm, simple in a comforting way, and intelligent family story I would call it a lovely read. I am predisposed to enjoy mother-daughter tales with all the complicated layers that entails; this novel did not disappoint.

Did your mother teach you to cook? Are you teaching someone to cook? Leave me a comment and I’ll pick a winner next week.

Thanks to Ashley at Touchstone/Fireside Publicity for the chance to do this review/giveaway.

Comments

[patti]

OMG, No! She had wanted to be a nutritionist, and the only hold-over by the time I came around was; "You must drink a big glass of milk and eat a big scoop of cottage cheese with every meal." And I am lactose intolerant. The only seasonings she believed in were salt and pepper, mostly salt. My Dad is the one who encouraged creativity in the kitchen. He taught me that I can do anything, just follow the recipe the first time you try something new.I'm teaching my son how to cook.

[Heather]

She did. In an every day, learn by watching, way. What I remember most, though, is baking with my grandma. She had more time to stop and explain it all, I suppose.

[bipolarlawyercook]

I've already read this one in the advance reader's copy, so I will opt out-- but I can vouch that it's good! And I learned to cook from both my Mom and my Dad-- and both of them learned to cook from Julia Child on PBS, so I learned to cook the Mastering the Art of French Cooking way, mise firmly en place.

I'm much more improvisational now. And they raise their eyebrows at my pad thai with tofu, though they admit that they like it, even if it isn't french food with butter, which is still pretty much the basis for what they cook when it's not "50's American Jello."

[Smalltown Mom]

Mostly I learned to cook on my own, but I've taught my sons a thing or two.

[busy bee suz]

My Mom worked so much when I was a kid, I don't remember her cooking at all.
I am TRYING to teach my girls and they do love cooking. But they really love eating!!!
This book sounds great.

[Bramble]

I looked @ cooking as a implied "woman's job" growing up and was determined I wasn't being trapped in that role. Funny, a few years later and I am on the phone asking my Mom how to make EVERYTHING! She was a great cook and flew by the seat of her pants quite often. I have her ability to open the fridge and "conjure" up a creative and spontaneous meal that everyone (usually!) likes! Through trial and error I became a decent cook and don't resent the chore now, though at my house it is an equal opportunity job. My husband is a great cook and between us, Shaggy Haired Boy seems to like cooking when he's in the mood. No telling about the rest but Wonder Boy sure likes to help! As for my Grandmothers, lets just say overcooked everything was ALWAYS on the menu!!!Maternal Gram canned and baked well and that was always a day well spent in her kitchen and I still use some of those recipes!

[Gina]

I started reading cookbooks for entertainment when I was about ten. My mother and grandmother did not teach me to cook they just allowed me to do what I wanted and answered my questions (and hushed my grandfather when he groused about my less than perfect attempts.) I guess I have followed the same routine with my kids. Zane is a very good cook but the girls don't seem to have any ambition beyond brownies and cake.

[Life As I Know It]

My mother taught me how to bake...a good pie crust, the perfect cookie, an angel food cake for birthdays, and truly, the best banana bread ever.

Hoping my boys pick up a little of my baking, too.

[Fannie]

I didn’t “teach” my girls to cook per se but they certainly spent a great deal of time with me in the kitchen. They would ask a question from time to time. I would throw out an observation here or there. Precious Oldest is in her first apartment and finds herself amazed at her cooking capabilities. She figures she learned by osmosis!

[Kay]

My parents divorced when I was very young and I grew up living with my Dad. He was an excellent cook and never followed a recipe. That is pretty much how I cook also. But I do love spending time in the kitchen and cooking. I think my boys enjoy it also, but they are more into the grilling!

[kellyg]

My mom did not know how to cook when she got married. And has always thought she was not a good cook. Her goal with her kids was to make sure we at least knew how to read a recipe and how to use measuring cups/spoons. We each had to pick a night and plan dinner. At first it was just helping mom cook but after awhile mom started helping us and leaving the majority of the actual "doing" to us.

And yes, I am teaching my kids how to cook. I've never shoo them out of the kitchen when I cook if they want to hang out with me. I tell them what I'm doing and usually get them to help me measure out what I need. Or I'll have my oldest read the recipe to me. Like my mom, I want to make sure they aren't intimidated by the cooking/baking process.

And to always have a plan B if plan A doesn't work out.

[Mama Hen Em]

My mom is a TERRIBLE cook! However, I have been lucky to have married into a family of AMAZING cooks and every family get together revolves around food! Over the years I have had to become a good cook in order to not be embarrassed! I'm teaching my girl that cooking has more to do with simply eating and am lucky that she LOVES to spend time in the kitchen with me!

[Brightside-Susan]

My mom learned to cook on her own so she made sure she taught us all how to cook and bake. I have been teaching my kids the same. They always take to the baking the most! But they know that if they can read and follow directions they can cook. I get calls from the college kids sometimes with cooking and ingredient questions and I have seen how much more adventurous they have grown over time. I love that.

[kcinnova]

My mom taught me how to fetch ingredients and sometimes stir the concoction. It was my husband who taught me to bake and sew! (His mom was a 4H leader and he has 3 sisters.)
I'm encouraging my boys to think of recipes as chemistry lab instructions, but I'm still smiling over the time my oldest called me to ask, "How long should I boil the water?"

[Amy]

The only thing I wanted after my grandmother passed away was her cookbook. It's a ratty, fabric-covered Betty Crocker-esqu binder full of 5x7 lined pages that she painstakingly typed her recipes on. A few pages even have line drawings - so I know hoe to assemble the Easter bunny cut from an 11x9 cake. I use it frequently so in a way I think she's still teaching me to cook. Now, even though she doesn't know it, I have a similar cookbook started for my daughter. I write in some family recipes and some new ones she asys she loves. So, someday she can choose betwen her great-grandmother's pumpkin pie and a meatless lasagna from Real Simple she loved when she was 8.

[Mrs. Tuna]

My mom ran a catering business on the side and while my friends never leave my house hungry, the rest of my family relegates me to peeling potatoes and washing dishes.

I started a humor blog after my mom recently passed away to remember everything about her. She taught me how to eat drink and be merry and view a meal as the perfect time to be with family and friends. Please read this particular post in memory of her.

http://workingwomansguidetodinner.blogspot.com/2010/06/dont-tell-your-brothers-and-sisters-but_15.html

[Susan]

Yes, my mother taught me to cook, without recipes. Just a little of this and a little of that. She always was "doctoring" things up a bit. My daughter has now left home, and always calling me. "Mom, how do you make this or that". So for Christmas a couple of years ago, I made her a homemade cookbook. With things like meatloaf, tuna salad, baked beans, spaghetti, which I make from scratch with no recipe. She loved it! Now all those recipes from my mom that are just in my head are written down.

[MIME]

My mom is a great cook---the only 'prepared' food she buys occasionally is a cake mix in a box & then she adds extra ingredients. I've never had much interest in cooking, so my kids have become pretty good cooks out of necessity!

[Violet]

Timely question! My parents were here this weekend and I tried a couple of new recipes. My dad complimented my cooking, as he usually does, and I replied, "I got it from my parents." My mom said that was interesting, since neither I nor my two younger sisters cooked with her (or my dad, who is a great cook/griller/recipe fiddler) much when we were growing up.

I think the main things I learned from my parents are to measure accurately and follow a recipe obediently...the first time. Those two things almost always guarantee a good outcome.

My family is wont to critique the food during a family meal. It is never a criticism, just a sharing of our experience of the dish and how it might be improved the next time.

[Owlfan]

My mom is a good cook, though she claims not to like it. Growing up, once we were in middle school, my brother and I each got a night to cook. My mom claims she figured my brother would make mac & cheese every week, but he didn't. It started with more help from my mom and evolved into us doing all the cooking. I'm trying to do that with my boys, but I find that they wander off during the cooking.

I have definite fond memories of cooking with my grandmother. I often spent spring break with her, while my parents worked and I remember making cream puffs with her. And sticky buns at Christmas. makes me hungry...

[Ashley]

My mother didn't really teach me to cook. So I'm teaching my daughter. She loves to bake and cook and I let her. It's a mother-daughter activity for us. One day she'll be able to out-cook me and I'm anxious for that day. ;)

[exhausted]

My mother didn't teach me how to cook, she didn't like cooking. My dad taught me all of the basics, and my grandmother filled in all the baking gaps. When she died, my dad gave me all her cook books... boxes of them. Sheer joy!

[Julie M]

My mom was a great cook. I don't remember her really teaching me, but I must have picked it up somewhere. I think I taught my kids the same way :)

[Angi]

I learned to cook from my mom and both my grandmothers, all of whom inspired and encouraged me in the kitchen. Now, I hope to be a little bit of that to my own kids now that they're old enough to help in the kitchen. How lucky am I?

[magpie]

I totally learned to cook from my mother. I still like cooking with my father. And now we're teaching the kidlet...

[another sue]

My mother was a food service director - responsible for planning meals for hundreds. I learned next to nothing from her. Sigh

[Nancy Kaiser]

I love to cook and made sure that I taught my sons to cook.

[viagra online]

I ordered the book this morning off you guys with the added quilt kit!!!I will be busy wont I especially when the other son said he wants one too.Oh dear!!!The joys of it all.Look forward to starting it.Take care.