Sunday, November 6, 2011

The Sunday Book Review, November 6, 2011: A Homemade Life

Madame L loves the whole idea of memoirs that include recipes, and this one, "A Homemade Life: Stories and Recipes From My Kitchen Table," by Molly Wizenberg, is as good as any.

But one thing Madame L does not love about this book is the kind of recipe instruction that says, "Using a sharp knife, cut the bread into pieces," because Madame L believes that anyone who writes a recipe book should assume his/her readers are smart enough to use a sharp knife to cut their bread. 

Another thing Madame L does not love about this book is the kind of recipe instruction that says, "Using a steel blade in the food processor, cut the walnuts into small pieces..." because Madame L does not have a food processor. (And if she did she would have the brains to use the machine's steel blade to cut up walnuts.)

One final reason Madame L does not love this book is that she did not find one recipe in it that she actually ever used to make anything.

Madame L did like the stories about the author's family, the stories behind the recipes. 

Madame L has read many books of this genre without once finding one that had even one recipe she liked so much that she tried it.

Dear Readers, would one of you please write a memoir with recipes? Madame L happens to know that all her Dear (Gentle) Readers have great recipes, interesting families, and a knack for writing. 

2 comments:

AskTheGeologist said...

I'm against steel blades for food processing. I recommend instead tearing the bread into pieces using your teeth. Same with walnuts.

Then you're already half-way to your ultimate objective - and as a bonus, no dishwasher use is required.
~~~~~

Ellen said...

Write a memoir with recipes, huh? Interesting idea. I'll have to think on that one!