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Summary: Happy Days Hits Home
Review: Jamie Oliver's third cookbook doesn't disappoint! Fans of his previous two cookbooks will be pleased with his latest offering which showcases Jamie's signature fare: fresh, snappy, elegant dishes that are actually very doable in your own kitchen. Chapters cover salads, soups, pasta, fish, meats, breads, desserts, as well as some welcome sections highlighting roasted veggies, some fun options for cooking for and with kids, beverages (soft and hard), "Quick Fixes" which covers fast ways to prepare your favorite basic entrees, and "Comfort Grub" - an international jaunt through a selection of hearty, homey comfort foods. Aside from the great recipes and sharp photography, Jamie's charm, zest for life, and pure appreciation of food shine through on every page. Although I have known folks who cringe at Jamie's cavalier "handful of this, heap of that " style of measuring, I found that he has grown a little less ambiguous as time goes on and the recipes in this book reflect that growth and precision. Another small thing I found very helpful (as the wife of a vegan): the index of the book kindly flags vegetarian dishes, making it easy to sort quickly through options for restricted diets. Whether you're an old fan of Jamie's shows or a new convert, this is a great addition to any kitchen library.
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Summary: By gosh, it's actually a GREAT cookbook, too!
Review: Sadly, I think a lot of people pass off Jamie Oliver as a goofball celeb chef and never give his cookbooks a fair try. I found his previous works to be a little silly, a little wordy and maybe overly cutesy, but Happy Days with the Naked Chef is a fine, clever cookbook with a pile of challenging, fun recipes. The writing is a lot sharper and more focused this time and the recipes read more like traditional recipes. True, there are some bizarre Britishisms that you have to wade through, but I think Oliver did a much better job of internationalizing his chatty prose in order to clarify his thoughts. That effort is definitely appreciated when you get into the depths of a complex recipe like Beef with Morels and Marsala. If you're a fan of the show, you'll already have your own mental lexicon of Oliverisms to get you through. Non-viewers might need to visit his web site to uncover the meaning of some of the more extreme terms. Regardless of whether you watch Oliver's Twist on a regular basis, this is a genuinely engaging book. It's a great read, and has enough really inventive recipes to keep you busy for a year's worth of Saturday nights. Highly recommended!
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Summary: Lots of Fun! Very Informative! Easy to Follow!!
Review: Smashingly entertaining book brought to us by Jamie Oliver, host of The Naked Chef. Cracking Brits alike will shout "Bloody Outrage!" at how easy to follow this book is. It's an essential for pub-dwellers and a must for any fellow who needs/wants a "jolly good rogering." He freshens drinks left and right--with the accuracy of the British Navy! Rip-Rop Rangerous!! Scotland Yard can't even figure Oliver's secrets out, nor have the bobbies been disappointed by Jamie's stunning wife. Give it a read and jobbers aplenty will knight the queen over his mince meat pie kibbish and other pub quality favorities.
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Summary: Taste Inspired.
Review: This book is inspiration in the kitchen. Beautiful pictures. Easy to prepare recipes. Cute stories. Everything a cookbook should be is here.
Rating:
Summary: Taste Inspired.
Review: This book is inspiration in the kitchen. Beautiful pictures. Easy to prepare recipes. Cute stories. Everything a cookbook should be is here.
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Summary: WONDERFUL FOOD!
Review: This is a cookbook for people who like to cook, but aren't necessarily technically skilled. I find this book very entertaining and interesting. Jamie offers information on how to prepare and store different types of foods. I like that this book teaches you to become a more creative and less exact cook. Thumbs up!
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Summary: happy cooking with the naked chef
Review: this is a really fun cookbook and there is something for everyone here. For those who like Jamie Oliver's first two books, this is more of the same nice stuff - good rustic recipes that are tasty and some of which are very fast and easy to make. The recipes are a mixture of Italian, British fare from Jamie's childhood days, and a mixture of a few other cuisines. What is nice about this book is that there is also a section about cooking with kids and getting kids interested in helping with food preparation and to make meals more interesting and interactive for them (and you!). Also, at the end there is a section of drinks as well, some alcoholic (like the sidecar) and some non-alcoholic (like mango lassi). All in all this is a really nice book and it will make you realize that making your own bread, soups, tarts, etc is not really hard, and is really rewarding and fun. And... as a wife who cooks every day, it has given me a lot of fresh ideas for new meals. check it out!
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Summary: Scrumptious...
Review: This is absolutely the best cookbook I have ever owned. Usually I own a cookbook and prepare maybe one or two recipes before it sits of the shelf and begins to collect dust. Happy Days is chock full of simple, low fuss recipes that taste as though hours of work have been spent in the kitchen. Simple, accessible ingredients and winning combinations. A recipe has yet to disappoint me. For someone who's life is too busy for long hours in the kitchen and want flavorful recipes with flair and originality - this is the book for you!
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Summary: Smashing Success!
Review: This is truly an amazing cookbook--beautiful pictures to accompany the straightforward and no-frills (i.e. "naked") recipes from Jamie. He has a very approachable and non-intimidating writing style and even if you don't cook everything in here, you'd definitely want to read everything! Jamie writes with the same kind of energetic, youthful verve and charm he displays in his cooking shows. Kudos! Most of the recipes are very do-able for single-folk with little time, as well as dinner parties, both formal and informal. He also includes a wide variety of foods from breads to kids' treats, drinks to desserts, meats to veggies. There are recipes for those who are on the go and only have time to throw a bunch of things together on the fly; there are recipes for the foodie, who is willing to be adventurous, try something new, and be fancy. The pasta section is particularly incredible: some truly ingenious ideas and twists on classics. The Spaghetti with Salami, Fennel and Tomatoes is a meaty, fresh and tasty original pasta treat. And it only took me less than 30 mins to cook it with phenomenal results. His salads are spectacular as well--I cannot think of one so-so recipe. They are all delicious. This book is even better than The Naked Chef takes off, which was also excellent. And if you are not much of a cook, you'd want to have it just for the mouth-watering pictures alone. You can share it with friends who might just be inspired to cook from it, for you. :-)
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Summary: Positively Scrumptious! :)
Review: This recipe book is very aptly named and will certainly bring you happy days with recipes that are really great and totally simple. As Jamie Oliver has previously done in his other cookbooks, he has enchanted readers with delicious recipes, excellent photographs, funny stories, and enough Cockney to make you feel like a Brit.
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