Customer Reviews

Good Mood Food: Simple Healthy Homecooking

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

 

 

I'm usually dissapointed with my cookbook purchases; many dishes that look promising end up tasting just so-so, or have such exotic ingredients that are very difficult to find in my area. Not so with this book; every recipe I've tried has turned out very good. It is amazing how Donal can take very simple ingredients, and prepare them in such a way that ends up tasting complex.

Even though many of these recipes are posted on his blog, it is much more convenient to have them in a book form. Other than my having to translate oven temperatures, measurements, and some ingredients ("Rocket" is arugula, "Courgette" is zucchini) the instructions are very straightforward and clear. I use this cookbook more than any other I own, and my family and I have never been dissapointed with the outcome. Every recipe is a winner!

In "Good Mood Food: Simple Healthy Homecooking", Donal Skehan emphasizes the importance the necessity of paying attention to what you eat as a fundamental necessity for having good health. What we eat and in what quantities affects our mood, our sleep, our energy, and our overall mental health. That's why Skehan has created this 288-page compendium dedicated to recipes of dishes for all dining occasions from breakfast to lunch to dinner. There are invaluable chapters of recipes devoted to aiding the body in healing and the removal of toxic substances. Of special note is the chapter showcasing recipes for 'Sweets and Treats'. Profusely illustrated throughout, the thoroughly 'kitchen cook friendly', step-by-step recipes range from Oat Pancakes; Sesame Chicken Satay Skewers; Asian Steam Baked Fish Parcels; and Real Baked Beans with Ciabatta; to Prawn and Potato Basil Salad; Red Pepper Soup; Baked Pears with Spiced Honey; and a Bacon, Avocado and Sundried Tomato Sandwich. Of special note is the opening chapter offering basic information on storage and freezer essentials, basic tomato sauce, basic chick stock, growing herbs, and washing salad leaves. "Good Mood Food: Simple Healthy Homecooking" truly lives up to the promise of its title and is highly recommended for personal and community library cookbook collections.

One of my own personal preferences is that a cookbook include pictures of the finished recipe - and this book has lovely full-page color photos for each of the easy-to-follow recipes included. One negative is that it doesn't include nutritional information, which is always helpful for those of us trying hard to watch our calories or fat or carb intakes. But one thing to remember is that all of these recipes are healthy, and when eaten in the recommended portions, won't contribute to expanding your waistline.

Great recipes, personable writing. Lovely young man and yummy food. Amazon wants 20 words, but this was such an excellent cookbook it easy to say in just a few. Oh, I know ... I bet he has a fabulous mom who's a wonderful cook!

This book is perfect on so many levels!! Easy, healthful, reliable recipes. Fresh and amazing-tasting results. Beautiful photography. Great format with picture facing a one-page recipe. This was my best buy of 2010. I can't wait for Donal's next book!