Customer Reviews

Anne Willan's Cook It Right

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I used to cook a lot, but got away from it for many years -- eating out in restaurants while I pursued a career. I read an article about Anne Willan in our local paper, and had to try one of her books. I'm not ready to make the fancy French dishes (although I would like to eat them) so I decided to buy a simple book and practice the basics again.

Ms. Willan explains many basic recipes in this volume. This is a nice cook book to give a new cook, or it might be a housewarming or bridal gift. I gave it to myself. I especially like the photos that show how things should look. There are photos of how things shouldn't look too, with explanations about why you got the results you did. I recommend this book if you're beginning for the first time, or beginning again.

This book is unique in that the pictures show different states of properly cooked, under or over cooked foods. Also gives tips how to salvage any mistakes that have been made. I have been cooking for years, and learned alot just from flipping through the pages.

This is the best cookbook I own. Although not all of the ingredients are available where I live, I still rely on this cookbook for everyday cooking and for entertaining. The recipes are simply delicious and always turn out well. And if by chance the dish does not, Anne Willan has included quick fix tips with easy last-minute solutions.

Great photography clearly shows when something is undercooked, overcooked or perfect. A wonderful visual training guide. There are so many recipes that are my favorite. One my guests always ask for is the Classic American Cheesecake (page 293) served with Chocolate and Stout Sauce (page 138). Both are easy to prepare. You do have to make the cheesecake a day in advance as it has to be left in the oven 12 hours after baking and turning off the oven. It is worth the wait, a smooth and creamy cheesecake everytime!

Anne Willan's Cook It Right This book is a fabulous substitute for calling your mother. When our grandmothers and mothers are wonderful cooks we not only tend to take it for granted, but we often fail to better our own cooking skills with the struggles that come from personal failures and successes. Often we forget to ask the most obvious questions because we think they will always be around to answer our questions. Anne Willan's cookbook is there to answer our questions and 'looking over our shoulders telling us what we need to know'. Not strictly what I think of as a cookbook of recipes, rather a how to book. Actual photos of the over cooked and the under cooked and examples of how it should look when cooked correctly.

If you are an adventurous and or an experimental cook, this book will be frequently helpful prior to and during cooking especially when you are cooking for a large gathering of company. Use it to forestall a problem or to solve one.

The previous reviewer who lauded her cheesecake recipe is absolutely correct. The cheesecake recipe is masterful in its simplicity and consistently bakes up perfectly. Also among other selections the souffle recipes on pages 105 and 225.

But be aware, there are a minimum of recipes in this book.

However, what this book does offer that is more helpful than the specific (and exquisitely wonderful) recipes is technique, how-to 'Cook It Right'. For example page 109 has:
a list of thickening agents for sauces
a list of proportions for white sauce whether thin, medium, thick or binding
and a description of Creme Fraiche and how to make your own homemade version.
Along with a Gratin recipe, on the same page.
Conclusion: this book is crammed full of helpful information for the cook who is interested in mastering the craft.

And the pictures are beautiful and so . . . so . . . helpful!

Take a risk and cook that recipe you have always been dying to try. But read this book beforehand and keep it nearby.

I just love this book, use it often and on occasion give it as a gift to a few special lovers of the cooking process.