The Naked Chef Takes Off by Jamie Oliver (2/3)

I love Jamie and his thoughts about veg and home cooking.

In this book though everything is so... Italian? Well I don't like pancetta or Parma ham, honestly, I don't like any cured, hard meats. But most of the recipes have them, which is a little sad for my home cooking.

And since I have worked in quite a few kitchens now already, some of the things were familiar to me already (but that is not a bad thing, I just got a bit more inspired to do something like that at home as well).

Nevertheless, there were few good tips (not particular recipes, but tips and advises) that I stored in my mind and will definitely use.

I enjoyed bread and pizza chapter (perhaps because I have always made it like that (thanks, mom)), veg as well, though I thought that is it a little to short, would have loved it, if there would be a bit more stress on it. And funnily enough I liked the fish chapter (although I do not eat fish and the fishes in the pictures looked a bit sad) I have always improvised when I had to cook fish and seems that I have done the right thing.

I enjoyed the recipes in here and have had trouble deciding what to make first! I borrowed it from the library and I would like to buy a copy.

One of my sisters was given the British version (I acquired an American version from an op shop) around 2001 & I remember pouring through the pages, looking at what seemed new & innovative food.Times change & cafe style food is hugely popular in my country (New Zealand) When I flicked through the pages some of the recipes seemed a bit obvious - for example, beefsteak tomatoes, basil, ham and mild cheese on thick toast. In summer that is a usual lunch in my house. (& why, oh why, do I seem to be the only person in the world who loves beefsteak tomatoes? Even Jamie has a wee dig at them! They make a great sandwich base!)

On my second flick through I found fantastic fish pie I decided it would work with our local cheap but usually tasteless hoki fish - & it did! The hoki was very fresh & the hot mustard added a bit of bite, the nutmeg some sweetness. My husband (& I'm starting to realise he is turning into one picky eater!) doesn't normally like hoki but he said he would be happy to eat this dish every week! Inspired & encouraged I made a couple of the sides last night. The baked beetroot was an absolute unqualified success & I will now make it again & again. I really liked the steamed spinach with coconut rice - but that was a lot of calories for a mild (but delicious) result. That one might be a one off.

This early Oliver work doesn't have so many of the vanity photos that drive me n  crazyn in some of his later works. & he looks so ridiculously, endearingly young in this book (he gives his age as 24, but he looks waaay younger than that!)

If you can pick this book up secondhand or from your local library, I would recommend taking a look. I have at least a half dozen other recipes I want to try.

More yum.

Fantastic cooking book. I also love Jamie!!!!! Great easy to make delicious recipes!

Zelfgemaakte chocoladetaart op mijn verjaardag!! :)

Prachtige gerechten ook, maar al die ingredienten...bijna onmogelijk te verkrijgen jammer genoeg.

Lovely and easy recipes that made my mouth water :)

For a book now 24 years old, I was stunned and the relevance of the recipes and how fresh it still felt. This is primal Jamie at his most invigorating and vital. Some of the prose has dated but the cooking is top notch.

The Naked Chef Takes Off by Jamie Oliver (3/3)

This is a re-read for me -- Thanksgiving is next week! This book taught me how to make the bomb baked chicken with lemon, I highly recommend it. A little more free-form than most cookbooks, but lots of fun and great pictures.

Even if you're not a fan of Jamie Oliver, this book has a good range of basic recipes and lots of ideas for informal entertaining, although there's a bit too much of the 'pile it all on a plate and invite everyone to share' approach.