If you're anything like me, December fever has kicked in. You’re lazy; the anger builds up as you watch your friends and family take to their holidays while you slump over a mountain of end-of-year paperwork.
If you're anything like me, December fever has kicked in. You’re lazy; the anger builds up as you watch your friends and family take to their holidays while you slump over a mountain of end-of-year paperwork.
All you desire is to embrace the holiday spirit, kick back and be with family.
As you can probably gather I’m moody at this time of the year. Thankfully blogger and culinary guru Alida Ryder is here to calm my mood swings in a unique, foodie way.
Through personal accounts and reflections on the emotions behind eating and cooking, Ryder blends her Afrikaans culture and talents into a superb collection of practical but sophisticated recipes to suit any mood.
Cook from the heart: Food for every mood is a 240-page cook book with outstanding photography, elegant design and soulful narratives.
Ryder’s brilliant ideas make the eight chapters, each one focusing on a specific emotion, a delight to read.
Instructions are easy to follow and require simple ingredients that are readily available in local stores. Even the most inexperienced cook will find something to impress family and friends.
I miss my mother’s home cooking so naturally I was very taken with her chapter 'Nostalgia', which explores treasured family recipes full of memories.
This chapter takes you back to childhood when your parents would bribe you with food, or when you were rewarded with ice cream or sweet home-baked treats.
In the chapter titled 'Anger' readers are introduced to Ryder's award-winning chocolate peanut butter cake. You’ll want to try it!
I did, and it was the choclatiest, most delicious treat.
Other recipes I've taken a liking to include gnocchi with Gorgonzola cream and the honey-roasted butternut soup with croutons and feta cheese.
Ryder’s book is modern and trendy, which left me confident that instead of Cook from the heart joining the recipe books on my shelf it should join the books on my coffee table.
This way when guests pop around and indulge in that heavenly chocolate peanut butter cake they can take a sneak-peak at how it's done and jot down the odd recipe.
I’ll definitely continue using the book in conjunction with Ryder's award-winning food blog www.simplydelicious.co.za to cure my December-fever mood swings.
Cook from the Heart by Alida Ryder
Published by Penguin Books South Africa
Received from Penguin Books for review purposes
ISBN: 9780143538448
Format: Paperback
Recommended Retail Price: R250
Published: November 2013
Rating: 4/5
