Two Cookbooks

Dinner here has been an unfortunate affair for months. I have had very little appetite, and very little desire to cook. However, Rob's schedule and TJ's bedtime often form a juxtaposition that is not conducive to eating out, and I can only serve crackers and bananas for dinner so many times before the menfolk revolt; and although TJ would happily live on hot dogs, cheese and ketchup, Rob is another story. And I do still have some standards. Things were grim and had to change; but NOTHING sounded good. I would flip through the cookbooks, but I'd already barfed up way too many of my standby-recipes during 1st trimester morning sickness (and I'm still not really over it) to want to try making them--or smelling them, even--again anytime soon. Then one day while hanging out with a friend she mentioned she had dinner in a crockpot at home. Hmmm. I'd almost forgotten about that thing. Not to mention, I only really had like 3-4 recipes that we LIKE that use the crockpot. This got me thinking, though; it was time to refresh the cookbook shelf. It's been a while since I've bought some cookbooks (well, it's been a while since I've cooked), and maybe some new recipes, never before regurgitated, would help us. I researched as only an obsessive, sleep-deprived pregnant woman can, bought the 4 new cookbooks that reviewed the highest, and here are the two that I've kept, used, and liked:

Okay, so since it was the mention of a crockpot that started it all, of course I jumped on this book. This is my first America's Test Kitchen cookbook, and I really like it, but it's also really different than I expected. My experience with a crockpot was limited to throwing something in, and plugging it in. To actually get good results, a little more is required. I did have to buy a new crockpot (which I also researched long and obsessively, buying and returning multiple types; I learned you get what you pay for) since mine is from my college days, sized for one to two people, and not programmable. There is definitely more prep--including pre-browning or microwaving, etc-- required for some of these recipes than I had ever planned on; however, it works for me, because I can choose when I do the prep, such as in the morning before I start feeling rotten, or during naptime. I do tend to feel the worst in the evenings, about when dinner needs to be getting started. Cooking BEFORE that happens is a nice compromise, even if I'm not necessarily eating until 8pm or so; and my men get dinner on time. Plus, it is SO nice to be able to stay late at the park and know that dinner is waiting. So I have to recommend this book. Just know that ATK does not cut any corners; the focus is on results, not on quick and easy prep. Every meal thus far has been delicious. The most common cook-time is 4-6 hours, so those who work full-time will require a programmable pot.

This is the other book I kept. A nice traditionally-organized cookbook of appetizers, sides, breads, desserts, meats, pastas, etc. I really like the ethnic influence (one of the authors lived in Brazil for 18 months), and the recipes are much more varied and lively than I had at first expected; Mormon moms are no longer all about Cream of Chicken soup and casseroles (sigh of relief). The recipes are accessible, easy to serve a family, usually not too much prep, and again, everything we've had has been really good. Plus, it's just fun to see what other families eat, and this book definitely provides a very real snapshot of real families with children and busy lives. So even if you have no interest in the book, totally check out their blog.