sturlington's Profile

From: Hillsborough, NC US

Joined: March 11th, 2010

About me: I am an avid home cook. I am using this site to keep track of my favorite recipes from my cookbook collection.

Favorite cookbook: Fresh Every Day

Favorite recipe: Chocolate Brownies (Ad Hoc at Home)

Website:
simplycooking.wordpress.com


Latest review:

October 6th, 2012

Easy Cheesy Chili Chicken from Eating Stella Style: Low-Carb Recipes for Healthy Living

My husband enjoyed this a lot. It was easy enough for a weeknight, but I will have to tweak the seasonings some, as it was just a bit too salty for my tastes. read more >


recipe reviews (537)
book reviews (49)
useful review votes (414)

sturlington's Reviews


Search Reviews:

Cookbook Reviews

Ad Hoc at Home

By Thomas Keller
Artisan - 2009

April 20th, 2011 (edited 19th March 2012)

This is a beautiful cookbook filled with classic American dishes. The recipes, for the most part, are complicated, multi-step affairs, although there are notable exceptions. I usually like to cook simpler recipes, and if I do take more time with a recipe, I want it to be over-the-top delicious. I also don't like to cook with as much fat as many of these recipes call for.

Most of the recipes I tried turned out beautifully and deliciously. I have found that the simpler recipes were the more successful ones. Cod en persillade, marinated feta and tarragon chicken all come to mind. Some of the more complicated dishes were absolutely scrumptious to eat, but would have to be reserved for special occasions because of the fat content, such as the hash, chocolate brownies and garlic bread.

On the other hand, some recipes flopped, and were doubly disappointing because of the effort required to make them. Others were very complicated to make, and I have made simpler versions that were just as good, if not better. I'm thinking particularly of the blue cheese dressing and oven-dried tomatoes. These were the exception, rather than the rule, though.

As a whole, I enjoy looking through this gorgeous cookbook and cooking from it occasionally. But I tend to reserve it for special-occasion cooking or when I am in the mood to spend a lot of time in the kitchen.