Friday Reads: How to Cook Everything plus win tickets to Mark Bittman in Seattle
Here’s the trouble with artichokes.
No one knows what to do with them. Eggplants suffer a similar dilemma.
When I’ve interviewed home cooks about why they end up relying on processed foods, it’s not necessarily because they are short of time or lured in the theory of convenience. More often than not, lack of knowledge of what do with something such as an artichoke or an eggplant or a whole chicken undermines their confidence in the kitchen. The path of least resistance leads them to a frozen dinner instead.
What I like about Bittman’s “How to Cook Everything” is that it’s a true reference guide. The content spans from the most simple tasks, such as how to core an apple or measure flour, to more ambitious efforts, such as preparing a rack of lamb or make mayonnaise.
I’m a read-cookbooks-in-bed type, but must admit I’ve got the app for this one, too. It’s more interactive and searchable and a decided value even at $9.99 for the iPad versions since you get all of the contents of the book, as this review from CNet notes.
All of this is leading up to one of the few giveaways I’ve done on my site.
Bittman will be in Seattle next month for the Seattle Arts & Lecture series on September 19th. His talk will be on “The Future of Food,” and the intersection of food, politics, the environment, and personal health. He’ll discuss “non-foods”, like soda, and their impact, as well as how policy pushes foods such as wheat, meat, and dairy, that may be in no one’s best interests.
Anyone who knows me will understand why I’m keen to promote such an event.
To help spread the word, I’ve got two tickets to give away. To enter to win, simply send me an email. Note if you’ll be in Seattle on Sept. 19th. If not, then you win the outside-Seattle prize — a copy of How to Cook Everything. I’ll draw a winner at random a6 5 p.m. Pacific time on September 4th. Please note, entry will enroll you in my newsletter if you’re not already on the list; you can always unsubscribe.
