I’ve never understood the obsession people have with posting pictures of the food they eat on Instagram. Then again, I don’t really understand the obsession with documenting one’s life in photos. (I clearly don’t have an Instagram.) However, almost everything changed when I read Tara O’Brady’s Seven Spoons. Her photos are gorgeous and her comments on the recipes she’s created are insightful. I don’t even like cooking, but I made a few of Tara’s recipes. (Spoiler: even with my sucky cooking skills, they were pretty good. Tantalizingly tasty, even.)
Seven Spoons is the much-anticipated debut from the author behind the popular food blog Seven Spoons. From distinctive, crowd-pleasing recipes like plum macaroon cake and roasted peaches with glazed sesame oats to the engaging essays and stunning photography, it’s clear that Tara O’Brady is truly a master of the kitchen and of writing about her experiences in the kitchen. O’Brady lives and breathes the kitchen; her warm prose is, as Saveur describes, “like pulling up a seat at the table of an old friend.” And friendly O’Brady is as she presents her eclectic collection of distinctive, mouthwatering recipes.
I nearly burned down my house once baking a loaf of bread. Or rather, attempting to bake a loaf of bread. However, my failure was due more to my carelessness than the recipe I followed, but I’m happy to report that I got into no mishaps while trying out a few of O’Brady’s recipes. Her avocado toast recipe is stellar, and her blackberry buttermilk whole grain scones delectable. While I got a little annoyed by the complexity of some recipes, I still believe that the complexity added another level to the food I made. Like, who cares if the roasted carrots took me forever to make? They were actually pretty good.
My main complaint stems from my lack of experience in the kitchen and my lack of motivation to actually cook more; I feel like O’Brady’s cooking tips and advice are largely unnecessary. After all, amateurs in the kitchen like me are just trying to plow through the recipe, while seasoned cooks don’t need the advice. Also, if readers are anything like me, they’re mostly reading the cookbook for the pretty photos, not the advice on how to stock a cupboard.
That being said though, I would definitely pay for this cookbook over seven spoons, any day. (Terrible pun, but I’m not apologizing!)
Rating: 7 out of 10
Publisher: Random House (April 21st, 2015)
Length: 296 pages (Hardcover)
ISBN #: 9780449016305
Source: Blogging for Books
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