For a long time I thought I was the only crabby cook I knew. While I complained my way through daily cooking for my picky family, I envied my friends who seemed so Martha Stewart-y, all rushing around recipe-swapping and table-decorating, searing tuna and braising beef cheeks.
Can you relate? Do you appreciate the humor? If so, rush out a check out a copy of Jessica Harper’s The Crabby Cook Cookbook: Recipes and Rants
This is one of my very favorite kind of cookbooks — a la Ann Hodgman — the kind of cookbook that is a joy to own even if you never try a single recipe. Each recipe is prefaced by an essay talking about a food quirk of one of her family members that she has to work around, or a recipe failure, or a triumph. They are funny and relatable.
But in addition to these humorous rants, there are a lot of really great recipes. I will caution those of you who absolutely hate cooking and/or are not confident cooking from scratch that these recipes are not of the “5 ingredients or less 30 minute meals.” Some of them take a good bit of preparation, a lot of them call for several spices and creams and broths. But I think that Harper’s intent is to provide you with some recipes that will have broad appeal and will be worth the effort that you take preparing them.
I think I have the same attitude as this crabby cook. I don’t mind cooking. I actually enjoy it and think that I’m fairly proficient in the kitchen. However, it is a daily grind and requires much of us. In addition to dinner, many of us are providing breakfast and lunch in some form or another for our family. These categories are covered too.
I’ve tried 4 of the recipes in this book, and have 2 on the menu for next week. All have been a success.
If you are looking for healthy, family-friendly recipes, this is a great place to start. If you don’t like cooking, but enjoy reading about cooking, then having this book on your kitchen shelf will help you feel just a bit more domestic.
You can also check out the Crabby Cook on You Tube. Click over to my blog to take the tongue-in-cheek quiz: Are you a crabby cook?
I have good news, sure to put a smile on the crabbiest cook’s face — we have a copy of The Crabby Cook Cookbook to give away (U.S. addresses only). Please leave a comment if you’d like to win. We’ll announce the winner on March 9. The Giveaway is closed.
We have several giveaways still open. Check out our current giveaways. Don’t miss a thing: Subscribe to our feed or follow us @5M4B on Twitter.
Jennifer Donovan is a cook. And she’s often crabby. So I guess that makes her a crabby cook. Read more confessions at her blog Snapshot.
I like to cook and am (unfortunately) often crabby. Sign me up! (Does the first commenter ever win?!?)
I will follow any recipe if it can get any of my 4 children to eat some vegetables! I’m tired of making an involved dinner just to sit down and be told “I don’t like this!” I guess we all can relate, and thus, the market for this type of cookbook.
Enter me, please! I’m always looking for more good recipes, and I, too, love cookbooks with humor and stories. Thanks!
This sounds so much like my family. I would love this cookbook.
I’m always up for trying out a new cookbook! Sounds like a cookbook with an interesting twist to it as well. Fun!
this sounds like a fun cookbook 🙂
Sounds great – please enter me!
This book sounds like it was written for me! Thank you for the giveaway!
I love cookbooks. I could always use some new recipes.
[email protected]
Thanks so much for the wonderful review! i so appreciate your support!
Yours in crabbiness,
Jessica Harper
I most definitely qualify!
Would love to win this cookbook! Thanks, Maureen (jnomaxx at hotmail dot com)
I used to love cooking but have chronic pain now so I am very selective when it comes to choosing recipes. I would love to win this cookbook.
CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com
I love any kind of cookbook! This one sounds perfect.
I’d love to win this book.
lkish77123 at gmail dot com
I am a crabby cook. I’d love some help!
I’m not too crabby a cook; mostly a crabby cleaner upper. I am always looking for new recipes.
I love cooking but I hate the work involved…definitely a crabby cook!
I’d also love to win! Thanks!
I’d love to win this cookbook. I’m always searching for new recipes that everyone will enjoy.
seriousreader at live dot com
It makes me crabby just thinking about having to come up with something for dinner so hopefully this will help!
Thanks for the chance!
Please enter me to win–sounds like a great read.
Please enter me into this drawing!
Cool! Love Cook books! Thanks!
Love to have such a cookbook
to inspire a good meal.
Sounds like a good cookbook.
I’m generally a very happy cook, but I can’t pass up the chance for a new cookbook! 🙂
Martha Stewart I’m not! However, I do know how to make a great beef stew, so my family has to deal with the crabby part as part of the whole deal! ;-D Would love to win this book!
Funny book!
Would like to win for my wife.
I’m usually a crabby cook. I try to love it, but all my mishaps in the kitchen seem to annoy me more than anything else!
Nothing like a little humor while your cooking. Sounds great!
Sounds great..I’d love it!