Customer Reviews

Bowl Food: Comfort Food for People on the Move (Laurel Glen Little Food Series)

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I was delighted with Bowl Food from the moment my sister brought it home, with its adorable concept and full-color pictures for every recipe. I immediately flagged multiple recipes to try, and have found several that have become staples for dinner parties (the Sweet Potato Salad is particularly impressive when trying to win over non-vegetarians) and for every-day dinners as well (the asparagus risotto is a tasty recipe and easy for those making their first foray into risottos). There are plenty of vegetarian recipes (I'd say at least 25%) and many others can be converted to vegetarian with a few easy substitutions. However, be aware that the majority of these recipes call for time-consuming prep and exotic ingredients. This book as a whole is not for the everyday home cook with a fulltime job--it's for weekend experimentation. While some recipes can still be explored without all the prep if you have a good local market (for example, if you can buy paneer cheese instead of making it!), many require a search for ingredients you may have never heard of.

If you like adventurous eating and spending hours in the kitchen is sometimes fun for you, you'll like this book. If not, buy it for a friend who adores cooking, and then borrow it to copy down the quick and easy recipes.

This book is fantastic. With pictures for every single recipe, and over 200 dishes, it has become one of my favourites to flip through to decide what to have for dinner.

Recipes are easy to follow, have clear instructions for special ingredients, mostly can be prepared in less than an hour, and most rely on easy-to-obtain ingredients. Greatly appreciated that they wrote tips like to obtain 1.75 lbs pounds prepared squash, you'd need to by 3 lbs at the store. Several ingredients can easily be replaced with similar items.

Excellent variety of asian-inspired and mediteranian dishes. EVERYTHING has turned out really well in this book. I have not yet been disappointed.

This book was recommended to me by an employee at LA's famous Cook's Library bookstore, a haven for cooks and cookbook lovers. I had been searching for a well-rounded book emphasizing one-dish entrees for midweek cooking. Though the subtitle suggests just that (Comfort Food for People on the Move), many ingredients can't easily be found at supermarkets.

The recipes are divided into soups, salads, pasta, rice, wok dishes, curries and one-pots. For the most part, the recipes are inspired formulas featuring cuisines from many parts of the world, with a decidedly Asian bias.

I've prepared many of the dishes, but on weekends only, since most recipes call for at least one non-staple ingredient. During the week, the thought of having to stop at one or two stores on the way home in search of galangal, kaffir lime leaves, saffron threads, ponzu, brown bean sauce or mirin is a little overwhelming. The above mentioned ingredients and many others called for in this cookbook usually require a bit of searching, something I only have time for on a luxurious Saturday. That said, the recipes are quite good and appeal best to those with somewhat ambitious palates.

One more thing: Bowl Food is small (appx. 7.5" x 5.5") but is nearly 400 pages. The binding is so thick, it's impossible to keep the book open while cooking, which I find annoying.

BOWL FOOD:
Comfort Food for People on the Move.
Published by Laurel Glen of San Diego

Basic in concept, bowl food has been around for hundred's of years, just now moving into North America. Many primitive people used half coconuts or gourds to hold their food. Although we have evolved to the use of flat plates, knives, spoons and forks, we should no longer think of bowls as necessary only with breakfast cereals, stews, and soups. Bowls are no longer the exclusive domain of Asian cultures.

People have shortened time in their lives these days. When making most bowl foods,complete all your chopping to bite-sized pieces before cooking. Separate into piles which cook in similar lengths of time. Cooking time for most recipes is brief. A lite, balanced meal in just one bowl, nestled into the palm of your hand makes for a cozy time at the computer or TV. Forget knives, formal tables with chairs -- maybe use a pair of chopsticks to keep your expertise alive.

It should be noted Bowl Food is an edited compilation of recipes, a collection from many food professionals. Each turn of almost 400 slick pages reveals a full-color picture of the finished bowl while opposite stands its easily understandable recipe. This is an excellent way to eat a lot of fresh, barely cooked veggies and maximize your nutritional intake.

Bowl Food's Contents include soups, salads, pasta dishes, rice, wok-stir fry, curries also one-pots. Some selections:

§ Spicy Squash and Coconut Soup rather crosses the Asian with the sturdy squash.
§ Pea and Arugula Soup is a lite, quickly-made health meal.
§ Shrimp, Potato and Corn Chowder smacks of New England.
§ Ramen Noodle Soup with Roast Pork and Greens, utilizes left-overs in simple, easy Asian dish.
§ Crab and Spinach Soba Noodle Salad is a delicately flavored salad simply made.
§ Pasta with Seared Shrimp includes red chilies and capers.
§ Madras Beef Curry is simple and transforms skirt steak into a rich dish.
§ Chicken and Mushroom Pilaf blends mushrooms, almonds and yogurt.
§ Shrimp and Snow Pea Stir-Fry is light, tasty and quick to make.
§ Spicy Sausage Stew is but one of the "One Pots" dishes in Bowl Food.
§ Chicken and Asparagus Risotto marries distinct flavors into a well-balanced meal.
§ Tomato Bread Soup reminds us of Italy.
§ Caramelized Onion and Parsnip Soup smacks of root cellars of New England.

Review by Marty Martindale

I love this book it is full of great simple and easy recipes, easy and simple to make and very tasty:-)

I learned about this cookbook from my boyfriend's mom. The recipes are rich, delicious, and fairly simple to make. I love anything in a bowl and the fact that there's a cookbook just for bowl food makes me outrageously happy.

What can I say, I have had this book for many years and it is my go to book for occasions when I want something a little different. The recipes are never hard, but sometimes rely a little too much on obscure ingredients (who has Kecap Manis laying around???).

All in all, both my wife and I love this book and though we do not refer to it frequently it gets used quite often in our household.

I work full-time and go to school full-time and this book has been a lifesavor! It provides nutritious meals that are quick and most of them are great as leftovers! I highly recommend this book to any busy person!