Customer Reviews

The Instant Cook

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I can't understand why Marianne Hagan hated this book. Nowhere in the introduction does it say it's for beginners. The recipes are simple and easy, but you DO have to have be able to do more than boil water. I tried around a dozen recipes and had no problems whatsoever. All the ingrediaents are listed and what's especially helpful is the fact that the author lists different variations for some of the recipes. For example: her recipe for Carmelized Lime Fish suggest using scallops, or salmon, or even shrimp; four for the price of one!
The recipes are simple and the pictures are yummy. Buy this book without hesitation.

Donna Hay is a best-selling cookbook author from Australia whose signature style is beautiful, close-up, simply presented photos of food, plus easy, quick recipes. Her whole thing is the food--it should be easy to make (she likes Asian and Mediterranean flavors and a minimum of ingredients) and you should be able to see what it looks like without all the distraction of fussy napkins, utensils, flowers and stuff. Her books are over-sized so the photos are easy to see and the recipes easy to read. And her recipes are great; I've tried at least a dozen and they all work and all taste delicious. Thai Sticky Chicken was a huge hit in my house, and so easy.

I first saw this cookbook while browsing in a bookstore. It was a beautiful book. Once I opened it, I knew I liked it visually due to so many color photographs and it's beautiful design.

This book is not only visually beautiful and thoughtfully designed, but every single recipe has a photograph! I really liked that. And the focus is completely on the food - nothing else!

The recipes are straight forward and don't call for many ingredients that I don't already keep in stock regularly. They are easy to prepare and full of flavor. The presentation is outstanding, too.

I'm not a plan ahead, casserole type cook at night. I like to whip it up an hour or less before eating. This book does the trick and the reviews from my family are fantastic; even my 13 year old daughter loves them.

I have even entertained at a dinner party using her recipes. The salads are really outstanding. Overall, although her recipes are simple, the effect is powerful. Fresh approach to cooking.

I can't say enough about Donna Hay and the art director of her cookbooks. Visually yummy!!!!!!!

I've only had this cookbook for a week and I've already made four of the dishes to much success. The recipes are simple but full of flavor. It's not a book that's going to hold your hand and teach you how to boil water, but a book that will show you successful combinations of flavors that lead to a delicious meal.

I especially liked the recipes that had variations and showed how simple changes in ingredients could make a completely different meal. It's prompted me to make slight variations to the recipes based on ingredients I had on hand. Recipes are well suited to entertaining as the finished recipes are unique, easy to prepare and the beautiful photos show how to simply and elegantly plate the dishes.

I first discovered Donna Hay's work about two years ago, and I just love her books! The simplicity is blended with her amazing creativity, and every recipe is a knockout! I have always loved simplicity, and I love how it shines through in this book, and isn't lost with the goal to prepare amazing dishes fast. Donna Hay has another winner with this one!

Donna Hay's books are always beautiful and full of yummy food - simple versions of different recipes. It seems a little unfair, however, for the publisher's review to take exception to the Australianisms in it - it's written by an Australian, for heaven's sake. Australians are used to looking up ingredients they are not certain of from American cookbooks, I am sure American readers are smart enough to do the same - and might even have fun learning something. Also, the reviewer who complains about bringing to a simmer and not being told to peel the ginger: simmer is not the same as boil, it is gentler, and of course you peel the ginger, why do you need to be told this?

I own three Donna Hay cookbooks, all of which are excellent, but this one is my favorite. I really appreciate her approach to cooking: sophisticated food with easy-to-find ingredients on a short list. This book is particularly good with variations on many of the recipes. The styling of this book is gorgeous with photos of each recipe so you know what you are making. Being someone who likes good food, but doesn't necessarily love spending hours in the kitchen, I appreciate her real life approach in this book. It's okay to cheat and use store bought pastry dough. Really, it is. Seldom do such short cuts appear, but they do crop up occasionally. Readers should know that in case it's a put off to their style of cooking.

This book has really opened me up to some new flavor combinations that I wouldn't have thought to do. Delish!

This is the best cookbook in the known universe for busy mums. When my stepdaughter came to live with us at 15, I bought this book, as I was about to be a first time mother. Panic. What does one feed a 15 year old? And where would I find the time with my busy full time job to cook healthy food every night? But this book saved me. The recipes as simple, well written but best of all really really yummy. It combines simplicity with gourmet sensibilities - fresh ingredients combined elegantly. And most of the recipes take no more than 1/2 hour from go to table. I love Elizabeth David, but of course one needs to find several hours and often a wild boar to make her dishes well. I love Nigella, who is less complex than David, but not nearly as easy and practical as Donna Hay. Jamie also makes wonderful food, but unlike Donna, his cookbooks require one to read an awful lot (at least the last one I got). In contrast, the wonderful Donna has huge writing, huge photos for every recipe (I often refer to them so I know what she meant it to look like) and simple instructions. Combine this, heat that and voila.

there are so many cookbooks out there but this one has 2 important qualities. The content is easy and there are no long processes in my busy life to deal with. The recipes are very well tested and the book is lovely to look at too.

I have not tried her other books yet but intend to do so. BA. NYC NY

I have a lot of cookbooks and this is one of the best I have. Donna Hay in this book uses just a few ingredients to create amazing dishes. I love it and have made many of the recipes. I especially love the Bread and Butter pudding and have made it several times and everyone always comments. Little did they know that it was simple!!