Generally speaking, I look most fondly upon cookbooks that
feature a photo for every recipe. From Scratch by Michael Ruhlman, doesn’t have that. But I’m going to let
that slide in this case, because his book is such a fabulous resource that no
culinary library, serious or otherwise, should be without it. This wonderful
tome (it is weighty) teaches you how to cook from the bottom up; Ruhlman shows
you everything that you need to know in order to make 10 fabulous meals. Even a
seasoned veteran like me had never made mayonnaise, until now. As a
consequence, I feel as if I’ve never truly tasted mayonnaise.
Despite being a James Beard award-winning author, Ruhlman is no snob. He is
like your helpful grandmother who genuinely wants you to learn. He teaches you
in language that even the novice cook can understand, offers up dozens of
valuable techniques, and features 175 recipes in this beautiful book. To add to
its charm, there are wonderful handwritten and illustrated pages throughout.
The variety of dishes featured range from company-worthy elegance to hearty
comfort fare. Essentially, with this one volume, you can learn all the cooking
you will ever need. From snacks like cheese-filled potato skins, to sandwiches
like a “from scratch” BLT (yes you make your own pork belly/bacon and
mayonnaise), to roasting a chicken, baking rolls, and making beautiful,
restaurant-quality desserts, nothing is lacking here.
Another thing that I absolutely loved about this book, and have never seen
before, is located in the back just before the index. It is a recipe timetable
listing names of dishes followed by the page on which the recipe can be found
that fall into the categories of “less than 30 minutes,“ “about an hour,“
“1-1/2 to 2-hour range.“ So, if you are short on time, you can immediately turn
to this page, and find something delicious from these 42 quick recipes to have
on the table in half an hour. If, on the other hand, you prefer to take your
time and spend an afternoon in the kitchen, you have 9 recipes from which to
choose.
No matter the type of cuisine you enjoy, from French, to all-American, to
Indian, to Mexican, a little bit of each is contained within these pages. There
are indeed pictures, plenty of them, and the food looks so mouthwatering that
you almost feel as though you can grab a fork and dig right in.
Whether you are looking for a gift for newlyweds, your grandmother, treasured
friend, or even yourself, this book will be welcomed by everybody. Don’t miss
it.
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book
from Abrams Publishing Company as part of being a member of #AbramsDinnerParty.
This post contains affiliate links.
