The Hip Girl's Guide to the Kitchen: A Hit-the-Ground Running Approach to Stocking Up and Cooking Delicious, Nutritious, and Affordable Meals – Master Techniques from Preserving to Baking

by Kate Payne

The author of The Hip Girl's Guide to Homemaking shows you how to love your kitchen and learn to make creative, delicious food without breaking your budget. You can become a confident cook—even if the drawer with the take-out menus is the only part of your kitchen you currently use! Kate Payne shows you how to master basic cooking techniques—boiling, baking, and sautéing—and simplifies the process of fancy ones, like jamming and preserving, dehydrating, braising, roasting, infusing, and pickling. With this straightforward and fun guide, you can stock up your kitchen with the ingredients, tools, and appliances you'll actually use. You'll also learn how to decode recipes and alter them to make them gluten-free, dairy-free, or vegan. The Hip Girl's Guide to the Kitchen includes advice and instructions on how to make both classic meals and foods that are typically bought, such as yogurt; ice cream; flavored salt; oil and vinegar infusions; kimchi; aioli; jam; granola; bread; and fruit leather—even liqueurs, iced teas, and vegetable juices. With fun line drawings, sidebars full of tips and tricks, and lists of resources, Kate Payne sets you up for success and shows you how to unlock your inner kitchen prowess.

Genres: Cookbooks, Nonfiction, Food, Cooking

352 pages, Paperback

First published April 15, 2014

About the author

Kate Payne is the blogger and author behind forthcoming book, The Hip Girl’s Guide to Homemaking (HarperCollins, Spring 2011). She lives in Austin, TX and hosts food/jar swaps and invites friends over often to watch and participate in canning adventures. She posts small-batch canning recipes, gluten-free baking projects, DIY cleaning ideas and other creative home improvisations to her blog.

Reviews

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

So I figured this would be a good cookbook for anyone who wants to cook nutritiously and deliciously while maintaining a budget. It's a very delicate recipe that could go either way and Kate Payne found a perfect balance that was great.

Kate touched on everything and anything. Whether it was an intimate party for canning to a dinner party with several people. I always had an idea as to what my ideal kitchen should and would have, but she took it to a whole new level and explained her reasoning as to what would be needed and why. I loved that she referenced books that she uses all the time, and some of which I already have which is great!

Now as always, there were points, while good, that gave me pause. But that's due to personal concern or the ability to find alternatives due to my location. Outside of that, she is very informative and knowledgeable without making one feel like they are being lectured to. She was also very funny. Even things, such as canning, she was very good at.

There were no pictures and not many recipes, but that's fine because what she lacked there was made up more by what she wrote about for helping you live on a budget while getting the most for what you chose to put on the table.

I received this book through a Goodreads giveaway.

[Julie H. Ernstein · Rating 4 out of 5]

Four and a half stars for this puppy! A Hip Girl's Guide to the Kitchen is part advice column, part reference guide, and part cookbook. It's power-packed with a stunning amount of information on everything from CSAs, strategies for buying high-quality foods on a tight budget, information on retailers' packaging practices in relation to GMOs and other content information, kitchen and pantry organization tips so that you're always ready to rock a meal, and oh so much more. It's a marvelous resource for home cooks of any level of expertise, and would make a perfect gift to anyone who is just setting up his/her kitchen and home. In closing, I should note that I won this as a First Reads Giveaway. I mention that because while I didn't pay for this book, it is definitely one I'd have put in my basket when browsing the cookbook section at my local bookstore. It's attractive, durable, well-organized, and something you can easily pick up and read a chapter of from time to time and then before you know it you're acting on some of Payne's excellent suggestions. Best part, she's never preachy--just highly informative and inspires you to know more about your foods and want to invite a bunch of friends over and get busy in the kitchen.

[Emily Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book from a Goodreads first reads giveaway. I wish I had gotten this book 8 years ago, when I was getting out of college and getting into my first apartments and starting out in my first real kitchens. It's a great resource for info on all the basics of cooking and setting up your kitchen with the right tools for the job. I have learned much of what she writes about piecemeal along the way, and it would have been great to have this resource all in one place when I was starting out (like how to care for cast iron or nice knives, and how to store or freeze certain foods). It covers a wide breadth of subjects in a fun, accessible way, and I liked the little graphics and site-note tips. I've decided to give the book to my younger sister-in-law who has just gotten her first apartment with her fiance and I think it will be perfect for her.

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won this book on Goodreads! That did not influence my high rating. I think this book is going to be a great reference book for me.
Kate Payne and I are interested in a lot of the same things, DIY, frugality, good food... So, while I've know about a lot of things in this book, it will be a good place for keeping handy references close.
I did try making the fruit scrap vinegar with peach pits and peels. It's sitting on my counter and I'm really enjoying it for dressings.
Now I have a batch of 'any vegetable pickles' in the refrigerator.
I would highly recommend this book for anyone just starting out trying to figure out cooking/kitchens and also for old timers like me.

[Melissa Fry Beasley · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Hip Girl's Guide to the Kitchen is awesome!!! For starter's it is a very pretty book. (which is of course the most easily noticeable characteristic) I found myself wishing Kate had made this book a set including matching recipe box and cards. How lovely! Hip Girl's would make a great wedding or housewarming gift and is perfect for the beginner cook and even includes offerings for us who have experience. This was fun, and an all around good book. I am happy to be a proud new owner thanks to the goodreads giveaway.

[Hollil1 Koster · Rating 5 out of 5]

this is a very accessible guide to reducing waste, using what you have, making things from scratch. I requested this book after watching a talk Kate gave at Texas Book Festival, and I've been so inspired to create. I have already made the maple-banana nut bread and vegan cream sauce. I'm determined to add stocks and preserves to my repertoire as well. Kate really makes you believe you can do it, and it is true. Cooking from scratch is not much harder than opening a box of mix, in most cases. I'm looking forward to reading her first book, on homemaking.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wasn't sure what I would get from this book, as someone comfortable in the kitchen, but I really like it! I made quite a few notes and will be trying Kate's apple peel vinegar, bitters and kimchi recipes soon. My own hip trick: if you know someone going off to college or a first apartment, this is a perfect gift.

[Glenda Lynne · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are lots of great ideas and much good information in this book. I know I'll be referring back to it over the years many times. It's clearly laid out and easy to follow, and I felt like I was in the kitchen with a person who could save me lots of time and trouble with her handy hints and experience.

[Lisa Urso · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent resource with lots of information. The chapters all stand alone, so if you need to look up some information about canning or entertaining, you can just go to that one section without having to comb through the entire book.

[jen8998 · Rating 4 out of 5]

A compendium of useful kitchen tips and hints written in an entertaining style.