Beat That!
Written: Jul 19 '01
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Fun to read, good recipes
Cons: Not for beginners
The Bottom Line: If you like to read cookbooks, buy this book.
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| claire8346's Full Review: Ann Hodgman - Beat That!: Cookbook |
If you're a cookbook reader, buy a copy of "Beat That!" right way. Ann Hodgman's writing is funny, entertaining and practical. There aren't many pictures in "Beat That", the layout is ho hum, but this book's writing will keep you laughing and perhaps, experimenting with more of the book's unbeatable recipes.
I'm an avid cookbook reader. In fact, I devour cookbooks, cooking magazines and the food section of the paper like a monster. Sadly, I do not have enough time or energy to actually *try* new recipes every night and usually find myself experimenting with new ones only on weekends or holidays. Maybe that's why I like to read recipes so much.....so when the time comes to do the actual cooking, I'll have the best resources (recipe, ingredients, inspiration) on hand.
Which brings me to why "Beat That" is such a great book. In "Beat That" Ann Hodgman takes basic recipes and presents the secret formula for making a particular recipe unbeatable. For instance, she describes an thin, chewy chocolate chip cookie recipe who's secret ingredients are walnut oil and a little corn syrup, a key lime pie that uses citric acid for some extra tartness and an out of this world molasses cookie which gets it's "dance in your mouth" texture from the use of lard. In essence, she has collected the best-of-the best everyday recipes --pot roast, apple pie, lasagna -- with a secret something that makes the the best. She also throws in some unique recipes such as licorice ice cream.
What some people might find as a flaw in this book is that Hodgman uses a lot of hard-to-find ingredients. For instance, she recommends Demerara Sugar as the topping of the molasses cookies, malt syrup in her bagel recipes and specific brands of flour. However, if you live in an urban area near a Central Market or Dean and Deluca type gourmet store, you shouldn't have any problem rounding up a few specialty items. Also, Hodgman lists mail order sources in the back of the book. Of course, since this is an opinionated book built on the pretense that these are the *best* recipes, you shouldn't be too surprised to find that some things do have unique ingredients.
Another thing to know about this book is that it is not for beginner cooks. In one ham glaze recipe, Hodgman gives the recipe for the glaze and says consult "The Joy of Cooking" for how to actually cook the ham. This is no big deal to the average cook who's cooked a ham or two in her life and has a few basic cookbooks around the house, but for the beginner cook, this could be a bit intimidating. Also, beginner cooks often need pictures which this book doesn't have.
I recommend this book to anybody who likes to read about food, likes playing with recipes, and has a sense of humor.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
claire8346
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Location: Austin, Texas
Reviews written: 12
Trusted by: 3 members
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