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The Crabby Cook

February 26, 2011 by Jennifer

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.

Filed Under: Food and Drink, Humor, Jennifer, Non-Fiction

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Comments

  1. Amy says

    February 26, 2011 at 5:53 am

    I like to cook and am (unfortunately) often crabby. Sign me up! (Does the first commenter ever win?!?)

  2. Jen B. says

    February 26, 2011 at 8:51 am

    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.

  3. Katrina says

    February 26, 2011 at 9:15 am

    Enter me, please! I’m always looking for more good recipes, and I, too, love cookbooks with humor and stories. Thanks!

  4. Sandra K321 says

    February 26, 2011 at 10:53 am

    This sounds so much like my family. I would love this cookbook.

  5. Carrie, Reading to Know says

    February 26, 2011 at 11:06 am

    I’m always up for trying out a new cookbook! Sounds like a cookbook with an interesting twist to it as well. Fun!

  6. karenk says

    February 26, 2011 at 11:55 am

    this sounds like a fun cookbook 🙂

  7. Just Mom says

    February 26, 2011 at 12:52 pm

    Sounds great – please enter me!

  8. Carol M says

    February 26, 2011 at 2:32 pm

    This book sounds like it was written for me! Thank you for the giveaway!

  9. debbie says

    February 26, 2011 at 3:27 pm

    I love cookbooks. I could always use some new recipes.
    [email protected]

  10. Jessica Harper says

    February 26, 2011 at 3:39 pm

    Thanks so much for the wonderful review! i so appreciate your support!
    Yours in crabbiness,
    Jessica Harper

  11. riTa says

    February 26, 2011 at 4:19 pm

    I most definitely qualify!

  12. Maureen says

    February 26, 2011 at 4:27 pm

    Would love to win this cookbook! Thanks, Maureen (jnomaxx at hotmail dot com)

  13. Carol Wong says

    February 26, 2011 at 5:46 pm

    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

  14. Jennifer says

    February 26, 2011 at 6:00 pm

    I love any kind of cookbook! This one sounds perfect.

  15. Linda Kish says

    February 26, 2011 at 6:39 pm

    I’d love to win this book.

    lkish77123 at gmail dot com

  16. Carolyn says

    February 26, 2011 at 7:36 pm

    I am a crabby cook. I’d love some help!

  17. Leigh says

    February 26, 2011 at 9:57 pm

    I’m not too crabby a cook; mostly a crabby cleaner upper. I am always looking for new recipes.

  18. Stephanie says

    February 26, 2011 at 10:10 pm

    I love cooking but I hate the work involved…definitely a crabby cook!

  19. jenna says

    February 26, 2011 at 11:49 pm

    I’d also love to win! Thanks!

  20. Linda Henderson says

    February 27, 2011 at 7:42 am

    I’d love to win this cookbook. I’m always searching for new recipes that everyone will enjoy.

    seriousreader at live dot com

  21. Ruthie B says

    February 27, 2011 at 9:14 am

    It makes me crabby just thinking about having to come up with something for dinner so hopefully this will help!
    Thanks for the chance!

  22. Ruth Hill says

    February 27, 2011 at 10:34 am

    Please enter me to win–sounds like a great read.

  23. jennifer orozco says

    February 27, 2011 at 10:59 am

    Please enter me into this drawing!

  24. Jessica T says

    February 27, 2011 at 4:49 pm

    Cool! Love Cook books! Thanks!

  25. Lanna says

    February 27, 2011 at 11:04 pm

    Love to have such a cookbook
    to inspire a good meal.

  26. LuAnn K says

    February 28, 2011 at 11:34 am

    Sounds like a good cookbook.

  27. Shari says

    February 28, 2011 at 12:22 pm

    I’m generally a very happy cook, but I can’t pass up the chance for a new cookbook! 🙂

  28. Martha says

    March 1, 2011 at 9:46 pm

    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!

  29. Natalia says

    March 3, 2011 at 5:22 pm

    Funny book!

  30. John says

    March 3, 2011 at 5:23 pm

    Would like to win for my wife.

  31. Staci A says

    March 3, 2011 at 9:18 pm

    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!

  32. Melissa P. says

    March 4, 2011 at 10:20 pm

    Nothing like a little humor while your cooking. Sounds great!

  33. debi jackson says

    March 6, 2011 at 2:40 pm

    Sounds great..I’d love it!

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