Shut Up and Cook!

Recently I committed myself to a 21-day low-carb challenge. Following the challenge I not only had lost 11 pounds but felt great. I decided to continue eating this way. The thing about eating low-carb is that it requires you to get creative in the kitchen. As someone who enjoys cooking, although not difficult, it can sometimes feel daunting to find/try new things.

Reid's book provided a new spin (to me) on some of my kitchen staples. From the Load 'em Up Vegetable Stir-Fry to the Fry-Free Veggie Spring Rolls I was able to stick to my low-carb choices (or easily modify) and try something new. My favorite was that there were also a few snack recipes. As a big fan of parsnips I was very excited to see and try the parsnip fries!

This is a great book if you're looking to teach an old dog, or cook, some new tricks.

You've got to try the Non-dairy Strawberry Ice Cream!
Whilst I was not particularly keen on the title of this book, the recipes it contained were definitely inspiring.
Having the book on my Kindle meant that I could bookmark those that caught my eye and then select what to cook that day.

Unfortunately, not every recipe is illustrated, hence the four, rather than five stars, but there are a good number of vegetarian choices and all of the recipes are dairy free, which suits my family. I also liked that ideas for on-the-go snacks are marked with a little plane icon.

So far I have tried the Non-dairy Strawberry Ice Cream (even without an ice-cream maker my daughter declared it the best ice cream she had ever tasted!) Also, the Avocado Carrot Salad - though I think I'd reduce the cumin a bit next time, and the Black Bean Burgers.
Next on my list to try are Gypsy Girl Guacamole, Avocado Kale Smoothie and The Hollywood Bowl

There's quite an extensive introduction, which I confess I skipped, but it does include a useful list of the less common ingredients.
So, at 15% the recipes begin with Breakfast (9 recipes), then Vegetarian (23), Poultry (9), Lamb and Other Meats (3), Fish (4), Dressings and Sauces (6), Soups (6), Pizza (3), Snacks (11), Desserts 14), Drinks (5), a grand total of 93 options, many of which are vegetarian and dairy-free.

I love that Reid created a resource that simply provides healthy recipes without all the negativity toward the foods she has reduced or eliminated (meats, nuts, gluten, etc) which can be off putting to many people. These recipes are unique and refreshing- from the Porridge to the Hollywood Bowl the recipes are vibrant and flavorful. Reid also included many interesting facts about what makes the ingredients good for you and how it can affect your health. The intuitive moments in which Reid made this come across as a personal journal at times not only lets a reader get to know Reid more personally but also provides personal inspiration.

Beautiful pictures, easy to understand recipes- this makes a great cookbook for anyone who is a little scared to start cooking. I love the author's philosophy of cooking...... get over your fear of making mistakes & just have fun in the kitchen.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.

Shut Up and Cook is a vibrant book full of information and recipes designed to make healthy eating more understandable and less confusing. There’s so much information in the press today about what’s good or not to eat, but this book sticks to the useful info. There is quite a long introduction which I have to say I didn’t read all of – I skipped through to my favourite bits: the recipes!

The dishes themselves focus on combinations with options that are free of foods which can often cause allergies or upset in people. Some meats and animal products, such as poultry and fish, are included but there are plenty of vegetarian options too, and options without eggs, dairy etc.

Many of the recipes are easy to adapt and they’re mostly pretty simple and easy to follow, using many staples which you’re liked to have in your cupboard along with some generally easy to find fresh ingredients. The ‘load em up’ veggie stir fry, for example, is an easy weeknight dinner and there are some tasty desserts that look really delicious but also pretty healthy, which is always tricky to find. There’s a section on vegetable crisps which inspired me, as a huge crisp fan, to try some different variations, and some interesting spins on other classic dishes too, which I really liked.

I really liked the images in this book – not every recipe is shown as an image which is a shame, as I always like to see what the final dish should look like – but the ones that are included are really lovely, which makes flicking through it and noting down recipes that I’d like to try a far more enjoyable experience!

I imagine this would be perfect for someone just starting out in learning how to cook, or perhaps more specifically how to cook healthily. There’ll be plenty of options for every type of diet, whether you eat meat, dairy, eggs etc or not. I personally don’t have any issues with any types of foods, but it must be useful for those who do to have some other options without troublesome ingredients.

I love to cook and I love to cook healthy for my family. I have been looking for books lately that will not only give me new and tasty recipes but recipes that are healthy and do not taste like cardboard.. I want my family to enjoy my cooking as much as I enjoy cooking for them. There are tons of recipes in this book that are not only healthy alternatives but taste great. I tried a few recipes out this book already. They are actually easy to make and some are simple alternatives and you won't miss any of the bad stuff in the normal cookbook recipes. I also learned a few things from this book about healthy cooking.

Healthy recipes with wonderful ingredients for the modern generation..........

A great collection of healthy recipe that won't scare people away. These use items that can be found at any grocery store and many of them are quick and easy to make. Great to add to any collection.

I thought this was a great book for people who don't always cool but always have wanted to. The organization was easy to follow and the recipes were interesting without being overwhelming.

A friendly, easy to read recipe book for the whole family. Great photos with easy methods. The ingredients are all simple and easy to find which is a huge plus! Have made a few recipes from the book already including the blueberry muffins which were delicious! I look forward to trying more soon.

A beautiful book with gorgeous photos. Lots of fresh and tasty ideas for revitalising your diet and adding plenty of vegetables. I personally do eat both gluten and dairy, but this book contains many wonderful ideas for those who prefer to avoid them. As a UK reader I did find some of the ingredients and measurements challenging, but this would not affect American readers. Suitable for anyone seeking to improve their diet, with recipes suited to children as well as adults.

Some great recipes to follow. Nice and straightforward. Great book!