Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #7297 in Books
• Published on: 2009-03-03
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 336 pages

Customer Reviews

The first cook book that ever made me cry
Molly Wizenberg is the author of the wonderful Orangette cookery blog recently rated in the Times top 50 cookery blogs - wonderful not only because it makes you actually get off your backside and cook the recipes but also because she writes beautiful, personal, poetic prose about food and its associations for her. Every recipe comes with a story, usually about family or friends, often funny, occasionally very moving, particularly when she writes about her late father. The book is written in a very similar way to the blog - an introduction of a few pages then a recipe. As a result there are not a huge number of recipes in it but the writing is so good that I would be happy to read it without the recipes at all, and indeed was very annoyed that when I finished it, I had to hand it over to my other half (who is equally addicted to her writing) and so couldn't immediately begin it all over again. We are thinking of getting a second copy to avoid fights.

The one thing perhaps worth noting is that the writer is American and the recipes therefore use American measures and vocabulary.

"Orangette" in print at last.
Like "Dancing badger", I also follow the delightful Orangette blog, and it is wonderful to have this book at last. I read it inside a day, and have already cooked the cabbage in cream (delicious) which reinforces my view that water is the enemy of brassicas; either fry/griddle them, or braise in cream. The eminence grise in the book is Molly's late father Burg, who comes alive again through Molly's writing and who was the inspiration for many of her culinary adventures. Luckily we also learn how she met the wondrous Brandon (he read the blog, readers, and the glass slipper fitted!) And now I am going to make the banana bread with chocolate chips and crystallised ginger for my husband's birthday.......

Love this book
I first came across Molly's Orangette blog via The Times Best Food blogs feature that ran earlier this year. Since then I have worked my way through her archives, guzzling down her delicious writing, and making many of her recipes (all of which have worked well and been added to my 'must make again' folder). I had dithered over buying her book (I'm not entirely sure why!)but finally bit the bullet, and really wish I had done so sooner. A wonderful, moving memoir combined with some really great recipes. I made the french lemon yoghurt cake, (the recipe which led to something pretty life changing for her)for my grandfather's 93rd birthday lunch, and it went down an absolute storm. If you are a fan of Orangette, buy this book. Unlike books written by other bloggers, there is little repetition of tales, and any that you may have read before are featured here in far more detail. I really cannot recommend this book enough, it is full of warmth, good writing and great food. What more could you ask for?