Undercooked Round Up (with some delicious fully cooked recipes!)

Welcome to the Undercooked round up.  

We all read Dan Adhoot's memoir and how he let searching for the perfect culinary experience control his life (which may have been a dumb way to live).  Adhoot is a comedian and some found his essays hilarious and some found his tales bittersweet and a few didn't find him really funny at all.  Regardless, we outdid ourselves when it came to the food.  

Wendy from A Day in the Life on the Farm was first up and went out there for her inspired-from dish.  

This memoir is all about food and how Dan obsesses over food to the point that it affects his relationships.  I also obsess about food, the difference is that for Dan food seemed to be all about control and/or power.  For me, food is all about love and/or comfort.

Adhoot mentions offal a couple of times in the book and even serves fresh elk heart to his hunt-mates in the wilds of New Mexico.  This prompted Wendy to make a beef tongue dish (that does look delicious and festive because she posted in December!)

Beef Tongue Vinaigrette

Culinary Cam was next up.  She enjoyed the book!  

I devoured Undercooked in, pretty much, one sitting. I started it when I went to bed; then I woke up and finished it. And I talked about it all through breakfast. This memoir was hilarious, self-deprecating, and wonderfully written. I loved this book and I laughed out loud more than a few times.

Camilla focused on three memory/meals that Adhoot writes about: gnudi, Gougères, and chickpeas (via falafel).  Check out her recipes for both gnudi and Gougères and her commentary on fresh garbanzo beans.  

Amy was not in love with the book. 

I was slightly underwhelmed but I think it’s largely because I was unfamiliar with the author.  Since he is a foodie (and comedian), a lot of food is mentioned (including an undercooked risotto).  Most of the food is very foodie and very fancy and I really had no interest in attempting a home version.  Ultimately, I decided to go with his Persian (Iranian) heritage and made a lavash.

Amy's Cooking Adventures Crispy Lavash

Cook the Books co-host Claudia describes the book as the following:

A very personal, sometimes light-weight romp about his obsession with eating, frequently at high end restaurants, all over the world, to the detriment of any personal relationships, and how he got that way.  As the sub title of his books states "How I let Food Become My Life Navigator and How Maybe That's a Dumb Way to Live".  Well, duh.  It was at times funny, though often in a sad sort of way.  An enjoyable read for the most part.

She was also taken with his early kitchen experience of making a soufflé but ultimately, she decided to pull from Adhoot's Persian culture and make Khoresh-e Ghormeh Sabzi (Persian Herb, Bean and Lamb Stew).

Co-host Simona from bricriole listened to the audio book and didn't find Undercooked  to be a laughfest.  She enjoyed a few of his essays, especially the one about his grandparents:  "When Adhoot describes the grandparents' relationship, he holds his usual jokes and finds moving words. I felt I was finally listening to the person, not the comedian."  She also appreciated his essay about moving home during the pandemic, a time which food helped that relationship heal.  

For her inspiration, she went back to Adhoot's heritage but pulled from a Jewish-Italian cookbook and made Spinach Pie with Pine Nuts and Raisins (Tortino di Spinaci con Pinoli e Uvetta).  I love her photo of the ingredients.

Delaware Girl Eats was taken by Adhoot's essay about his travels in Italy and Parmigiano risotto.  She "was inspired by this story having been to Northern Italy several times and had the opportunity to taste the real thing in trattorias, not the US adaptations.  Enjoying a true Italian master dish in its home environment was life changing…. I chose to make a variation on the dish using mushrooms and peas as key ingredients but believe me there are tons of great ingredient combinations.  Yum!  A really great mid-winter dish."

Mushroom Risotto with Peas

I also did a risotto but I was inspired by the "undercooked" dish.  

In the namesake chapter, “Undercooked,” Adhoot and his then fiancé score a reservation at Osteria Francescana. The couple struggled with whether or not they have the audacity to actually send back crunchy risotto at the absolute Numero Uno restaurant in the world. On the exact day that it was announced the best restaurant in the world. What would you have done?  And, if you knew the chef would send out a passive-aggressive “filet of mackerel” as a replacement?  Would that help you make your mind up to keep mute?

Here's my Butternut Risotto with Chives and Tomato Powder.   

I'm not sure who was the last person to post, me or Deb.  There's the whole Oklahoma/Hawaii time difference to calculate.  I'm glad that Deb was able to post her thoughts on the book and repost a delicious sounding soup:  Persian Adassi Lentil Stew.  

While she enjoyed the book, she may have pegged Adhoot's personality:  "I think he's a good storyteller and I enjoyed his humorous essays. He's a very bad boyfriend and I don't think I would want to hang out with him (he seems both judgey and needy and very high pressure to go to a restaurant with)."

That's all folks!  Thanks to all that participated and posted some really delicious food. Please consider joining us for the February/March round of Cook the Books.  Simona (briciole) is hosting the graphic novel Relish: My Life in the Kitchen by Lucy Knisley (April 2013).  Can’t wait.

December/January Pick: Undercooked by Dan Adhoot

Welcome to the holiday season at Cook the Books.   I'm hosting the December/January round.  It never occurred to me to pick a holiday themed book.   I guess I should have considered some holiday classics or a holiday cookbook.  Instead I selected Undercooked: How I Let Food Become My Life Navigator and How Maybe That's a Dumb Way to Live by Dan Ahdoot (March 2023).   

I chose Undercooked after listening to the “Eating with Funny People” episode of Splendid Table where comedian Dan Ahdoot and his new book were featured. Undercooked is a compilation of essays regarding his connection with food and his family and his relationships.

From the publisher: Despite an impressive résumé as an actor and writer, Dan Ahdoot realized that food has been the through line in the most important moments of his life. Growing up as a middle child, Ahdoot struggled to find his place in the family until he and his father discovered their shared love for la gourmandise. But when the tragic death of his brother pushed his parents to strengthen their Jewish faith and adopt a strictly kosher diet, Ahdoot and his father lost that savored connection.

To fill the absence left by his brother and father, Ahdoot began to obsess over food and make it central in all his relationships. This, he admits, is probably crazy, but it makes for good stories. From breaking up with girlfriends over dietary restrictions, to hunting just off the Long Island Expressway, to savoring his grandmother’s magical food that was his only tactile connection to his family’s home country of Iran, to jetting off to Italy to dine at the one of the world’s best restaurants, only to send the risotto back, Ahdoot’s droll observations on his unconventional adventures bring an absurdly funny yet heartfelt look at what happens when you let your stomach be your guide.

I hope you enjoy.  There is a lot of humor in this book (along with the sadness mentioned above in the publisher's blurb).   I've only read the sample version on my Kindle but I can't wait to pick it back up.

Debra, Eliot's Eats

Deadline for contributing your post is Wednesday, January 31, 2024.  Just comment below with your link.  

The City Baker's Guide to Country Living: The Roundup

As mentioned in my original pick overview, for The City Baker's Guide to Country Living, the novel truly did sound the double horn: foodie fiction, with good plot and character driven writing. I really enjoyed this book.  It was a lovely break from the normal working routine around here, as is every good book.  It's why I read!  

So, away we go with Roundup time!  An online dinner party, where we all contribute a dish.  Sort of like a virtual potluck. Though you could almost call this one a dessert potluck.  All are the creative and inspired posts from our current book selection contributors, just teasers here.  Be sure to go to the various links and check out their whole posts.  In order of appearance we have: 

Camilla, of Culinary Cam, who came in with three dishes, two in the dessert category; Pumpkin Pie Creme Brûlée and Lattice topped Apple Pie, and in appetizers, Savory Popovers! Wow! Winners all.  She commented: "This is a quick, breezy read that's perfect for the season. As you can imagine, there is a lot of food in this novel." And in her post as well.

Next, Wendy, of A Day in the Life on the Farm, brought us a delicious dessert, some very delightful sounding and looking Apple Pie Cookies!  I think I would (will, as they are on the TBM list) like these a lot!  She had this to say about the book: "It is a fun easy read, perfect for picking up on a quiet weekend as it only takes a day or two to read."

I, Claudia of Honey from Rock, came up with a dish of Stuffed Mini Pumpkins, inspired by the protagonist's Pumpkin Creme Brûlées baked in mini pumpkins, which I made into a savory version, and filled with a tasty mixture of mushrooms, Swiss chard and several different cheeses.  About the book, I mentioned that it was "A fun, food filled and romantic light read. Nothing too serious, but still encouraging for anyone wanting to begin again, or starting a new project in a new place. I enjoyed it and found lots of delicious cooking inspiration."  

Then Cathy of Delaware Girl Eats, arrived with, yes, a delectable dessert, Apple Cranberry Bundt Cake, which sounds so good!  I am more than ready for some.  Right now!  She remarked about the judging of desserts that took place in the novel, "Thank goodness I didn’t have to go through that process because in the end desserts are judged on so many personal factors like memories they evoke and just plain tastiness." So true.

Next, predictably with another dessert, we have Amy of Amy's Cooking Adventures who brought us Mini Cherry Pies.  Oh boy!  We're certainly getting some yummy sounding treats.  She thought the book was "Ultra sappy but engaging." Hopefully, her pies made it all worthwhile, they do look very good.  

The famous Marge of The Intrepid Reader and Baker, fame also brought us a dessert, Apple Turnovers! They look amazing! She said about the book; "I read it while I was on holidays and I thoroughly enjoyed it. With some books you know from the first chapter that it is your kind of book, and this was one of those books."

Then Simona of Bricole came along with a very interesting post and a savory dish of Farrecchiata with Cheese.  It's about a virtually unknown type of legume made into a version of polenta.  She says: "I don't have a sweet tooth and we don't eat dessert at home, so I looked for inspiration elsewhere, namely in the weather: it's cold in Guthrie in the winter, and it snows a lot. Growing up, my father would describe a cold day as "polenta day," a not-so-subtle hint to my mother to prepare one of his favorite dishes." 

And,  to round things off, Debra of Eliot's Eats brought us a lovely Harvest Salad, with a Maple-Balsamic Vinaigrette, inspired by a Harvest Dinner Salad mentioned in the book, only with fresh apples.  Perfect for our virtual feast!  She observed that "The City Baker’s Guide is a tale about simple living in a small town in Vermont with a happy ending.  Yes, it could be a Hallmark movie…but you know something? I think I would watch it."

Finally, just under the wire, Deb of Kahakai Kitchen arrived with a comforting Creamy Potato and Spinach Soup, inspired by the weather in the New England town, as was Simona.  She says, "Overall, I enjoyed this story as books where starting over in a small town/community or starting over, in general, are my jam, especially where food is involved. I do admit to not liking Olivia much when the book started, but she grew on me as the story continued."

That's all folks!  A marvelous selection of dishes, thanks all of you who contributed, though if I missed anyone, please let me know.  Now, stay tuned, Debra of Eliot's Eats will be heading up our next pick, for December/January: Undercooked: How I Let Food Become My Life Navigator and How Maybe That's a Dumb Way to Live by Dan Ahdoot.

October/November Pick - The City Baker's Guide to Country Living

It's that time again!  A new selection here at Cook the Books Club!  The City Baker's Guide to Country Living, by Louise Miller.  A new one for me as well.  I only recently heard about this novel so haven't read it yet, but am definitely looking forward to getting into the book along with you all. From the reviews, it sounded the double horn: foodie fiction, with good plot and character driven writing. 

Review from the Library Journal: 

"Flambéed" is an apt description of both Olivia's career and personal life. The pastry chef for a four-star Boston dinner club flees in the aftermath of a meringue pie mishap. Worse yet, she's been jilted and humiliated by the club's president after she is exposed as his side interest. Nursing a wounded ego and a serious craving for a slice of key lime, Olivia lands in Guthrie, VT, home of her longtime best friend, where she astounds herself by accepting a job at the local inn. An embittered spinster and county fair ribbon winner who lost the only thing that really mattered, a wise elderly banjo player, and Martin, a charming, bespectacled man with a checkered history of ditching town, all school Olivia in the art of small-town living. VERDICT Mix in one part Diane Mott -Davidson's delightful culinary adventures with several tablespoons of Jan Karon's country living and quirky characters, bake at 350 degrees for one rich and warm romance. Fans of Jeanne Ray and Judith Ryan Hendricks will enjoy this lighthearted love story that's as homey as a slice of prized crumb apple pie."

I  hope you enjoy the reading and will join in with our Foodie Read party for this selection. Please remember to comment below with your link.  Deadline for contributing your post is Thursday, November 30, 2023

Aloha,  

Claudia, Honey From Rock

Love & Saffron: The Roundup

Happy October! I'll be rounding up our Cook the Books August/September selection Love & Saffron: A Novel of Friendship, Food & Love by Kim Fay. I'm so glad so many of you enjoyed the book and the friendship between Joan and Imogen. It certainly inspired some delicious dishes!

Amy of Amy's Kitchen Adventures said,  "This is one of those books that is simply "ok". There's nothing wrong with it (yes, Immy's storyline was very predictable and Joan's was a bit odd) but it's not a super captivating page turner either." For her dish, Amy said, "Of the more “exotic” (for the time at least) recipes mentioned in the book, Jamaican Jerk Chicken stood out. A few months ago, Hubs and I took a long overdue trip (just us, no kids) to Daytona Beach, FL. After an afternoon  of beach walking, we had dinner at a beachside restaurant with deck seating and live music and I ordered a Jerk Chicken Salad. It was delicious and perfect after walking for a few hours! With the further inspiration from the book,I decided to recreate that salad at home!"

Camilla of Culinary Cam said, "I devoured Love & Saffron in a single sitting. It had delicious prose and embodied the spirit of a true friendship between two women in a sisterhood that they chose. I figured it was the perfect opportunity to revisit a few dishes that I made for one of my very best friends." Camilla's saffron-infused dinner included Savory Ricotta Cupcakes with a Saffron Salsa,Whitefish B'stilla and Saffron-Cardamom Ice Cream. Check out all the photos and recipes on her post.

Wendy of A Day in the Life on the Farm said, "Let me start off this review by saying I LOVED this quick, easy read. It is perfect for the dog days of summer. It is written, for the most part, in a series of letters that span through the years. These letters foster a close friendship between Joan and Imogen even though there is a 30-year difference in their ages." Wendy made Joan's Quesadillas, saying, "As a bonus, the women share recipes with each other, and thus the author shares recipes with the readers. One of these recipes was Quesadillas provided by Joan to Imogen. These quesadillas, like the others, are easy to make, budget-friendly, quick, and delicious. I would recommend both the recipe and the novel."  

Claudia of Honey From Rock said, "It was also a reminder of the friendships in my own life, those I communicate with daily.  Particularly a good friend of many years, just recently more closely reconnected with. We now email back and forth about what we're cooking, planting, research of the various aspects of it all, and food we're experimenting with; occasionally visiting local farmers markets, and sharing meals. Claudia's Ulu and Deconstructed Kebabs came from the following, "Immy was lamenting her many trips to the big city wasted, eating Dick's burgers when she could have been relishing shish kebab at the Turkish restaurant. So, that's what I made last night with some boneless lamb sirloin steaks. Only in my version, deconstructed like my kitchen, the meat was left in largish pieces!  I believe in simplifying when possible. Also instead of the pita bread side, breadfruit was substituted."

Debra of Eliot's Eats enjoyed the book saying, "You can see there is a bit of international flair along with 1960s staples like those sad jello molds. Both Joan and Imogene are adventurous epicures who spur each other on to try new things. It was interesting that garlic, limes, tortillas and other things we take for granted as staples were hard to find. Or how very few people even knew about Mexican food." Debra chose a recipe from the book saying, "I had to try one of the Mexican recipes and I had lofty plans to make carne asada and the One-Bean Salad. Time was once again my enemy so I went only with the salad with a few modifications. This recipe is listed in the back of the novel. “The one-bean is the pinto, which is fundamental to Mexican cookery. Nopales are tender portions of cactus that are sold fresh or canned in little green dice in Mexican markets.”

Marg of The Intrepid Reader said, "I don't participate in Cook the Books all the time, but this month I was able to read the book, and it is a case of reading a book that I might not otherwise have read! When I started this book, I knew straight away that I was going to enjoy it! And I did!  There were a number of recipes shared in the text, as well as mentions of specific dishes but in the end we decided to go with a dish from a cuisine rather than a specific dish. Throughout the story, there was discussion about the influence of Mexican flavours so we decided to make a version of Beef Enchiladas from the Recipetin Eats: Dinner cookbook that we are still cooking so many recipes from!"

Cathy of Delaware Girl Eats liked the book and the mention of Julia Child in one of the letters, saying, ”This characterization of Julia and her groundbreaking program cracked me up in that it was so dead on." For her contribution, Cathy made Mini Citrusy Cheesecakes, noting, "Although the cheesecake recipe isn’t mentioned in the book, I felt Julia deserved some acclaim. So below is an adaptation of mini-cheesecakes inspired by my friend and partnered with Julia’s usual wisdom."

Simona of briciole said, "During the course of the novel, Joan starts exploring the food scene of Los Angeles and Imogen's husband learns to cook, aided, in part, by a friendship that develops between him and Angelo Pellegrini, whose The Unprejudiced Palate ("a book on bread and wine in relation to life") was a Cook the Books Club's selection some years ago. ... There are a number of foods mentioned ... and some recipes, none of which I wished to replicate. Instead, Joan's love story with Mateo and her appreciation, through him, of Mexican food, reminded me of a dish I had wanted to make for a while: chimichurri. I thought it would be great on Francis's (Imogen's husband) omelettes. Except that, once I re-read the article that sparked my interest, I realized the sauce is from Argentina, not Mexico: too late, my mind was set and Chimichurri it was."

Finally, at Kahakai Kitchen, I enjoyed this book and found it an engaging read. For my book inspired dish, I ended up going with curry. Joan wrote, "At Stanford I was drawn to students from India because they cooked up little pots of curry in their rooms." I too am drawn to the smells of a delicious curry and I love how easy it is to knock one together. I decided on an old favorite, Aloo Gobi Matar which is simple potatoes, cauliflower and peas in a dryish simple tomato curry, served with rice. 

I believe I captured everyone's entries, but if I missed anyone, please let me know. As usual, I wish we could have a Cook the Books potluck and try all of these delectable-looking recipes. Thank you for joining in this round!

For our October/November, Claudia from Honey from Rock will be hosting with The City Baker's Guide to Country Living by Louise Miller. We hope you join us!

Happy Reading and Cooking!

DebinHawaii
Kahakai Kitchen