I did not realize that this book is mostly about teaching men how to cook, which is good but having already known how to cook I decided to look for the positive out of this book. I did learn about smoothies which I was not up on and I thought some of the different recipes were good to try for something different at times. Overall a good book.

This book invites men to cook, though I think any sex/gender might enjoy this book. There are recipes for everything from breakfast to dessert and more. Some of the things to make include pumpkin spiced oatmeal, pineapple roast pork in a sandwich, oregano chicken with butternut squash, corn sauerkraut salad, sea salt caramel fudge brownies, and many more.

The book includes basic kitchen information, lots of photos and recipes that can easily be followed. So, get in there and start cooking.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Callisto publishing. All opinions are my own.

Manuel Villacorta is really taking a chance, naming his excellent cookbook The Essential Cookbook for Men: 85 Healthy Recipes to Get Started in the Kitchen, in that it is actually a cookbook for beginners and those who are unfamiliar with all things cooking and kitchens. And there are plenty of women who fit into that category.

In the beginning, Villacorta introduces the elements of kitchens along with equipment and gadgets that are essential for preparing meals, including a good primer on caring for knives and information on ingredients, how to shop for them, and making a grocery list. He even covers the basics of measuring and reading a recipe.

After the basics, (good for men, but also good for every new cook whether male or female), Villacorta presents mouthwatering recipes that are both easy and healthy. Villacorta is an award-winning dietitian-nutritionist and has authored several cookbooks on health and wellness. Although it is sometimes boring to eat strictly healthy, Villacorta has included recipes that are not only healthy, but are very appealing, even to those of us who are skeptical; these recipes are for dishes that real people actually want to eat. Favorites include Latinx-Style Fried Eggs, Sheet Pan Lemon Salmon with Zucchini (very simple – very delicious), Avocado Mango Salad, Sirloin Steak Mushroom Soup (minimal ingredients – maximum flavor), and a Pineapple Roasted Pork Sandwich. There are also delicious desserts, and a sandwich pictured on the cover that is awesome. The only thing this cookbook is missing is photographs. There are a few excellent ones, but only a few, and readers are left to their imagination as to what the dishes are supposed to look like.

All told, however, this is an excellent cookbook and will be used by everyone, even those who are experienced cooks. Easy recipes appeal to everyone, and even these recipes are supposedly geared to men, those of us who aren’t men appreciate the simplicity of preparation and healthful dishes.

Special thanks to NetGalley for supplying a review copy of this book.

A different kind of cookbook for those looking for a "how to" for men, young and old, that walks a beginner through steps on how to set up their pantry and kitchen. Then step by step instructions on how to prepare a basic rotation of recipes. I had by 20 something grandson look through and prepare a few of the recipes and he decide we will try all of them. A great book to help make anyone, man or woman, feel much more comfortable in the kitchen.

Do you want a cookbook that will show you how to cook when you have very little cooking experience? This is the book for you - you will learn how to buy, shop, prepare and serve food with very little experience!
You will be told how to buy and cook food that is easy to prepare, the first recipe is overnight oatmeal, by mixing oats, walnuts, prunes and cinnamon together, soaking it for 6 hours, and you have breakfast!
You can make a smoothie with carrots, milk, chia seeds, cinnamon and protein powder, and it tastes like carrot cake!
There is a recipe for a Pineapple Roasted Pork Sandwich that uses a boneless pork chop, pepper, a whole pineapple cut up, and 6 French Rolls that cooks in 12 minutes and makes 6 sandwiches. The Chicken Mango Wraps can be put together and enjoyed in 5 minutes!
There are some recipes that take a longer time to prepare, but most of them use ingredients that can be prepped and cooked in a few minutes!

The Essential Cookbook for Men has been written by registered dietitian-nutritionist Manuel Villacorte and designed for brand new cooks who are interested in great tasting food that is also healthy. The book includes a gear guide (essential tools), pantry essentials, a guide to the grocery store and how to plan a shopping trip, and even some tips on how to read a recipe.

The recipes are simple but the end result is tasty and unique, which doesn’t taste simple at all. From Basic Classic Pasta or steamed broccoli to Chicken Mango Rainbow Wrap or Sea Salt Caramel Fudge Brownies, the recipes are appealing and offer a wide variety of tastes. The colored photographs that are scattered throughout the book only help to reinforce the appeal of the 85 recipes that are included.

This cookbook and its recipes might not satisfy everyone, but it’s a good start for any cook who wants tasty, simple-to-make, and healthy recipes to add to their repertoire

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a copy of this book for review.