Review - The Desperate Housewives Cookbook
Posted by Freya Erickson on Paper Palate.
First things first. I have never watched Desperate Housewives. This review of The Desperate Housewives Cookbook (hereafter referred to as TDHC) will be based purely on the usability of the book and the success of the recipes, based on my own experimentation.
What I know about the show is that perhaps some of the leading ladies should eat some of the recipes featured in their cookbook. However, personal gripes aside, TDHC is actually a well thought out book with sections devoted to each character and therefore to suit cooks of various tastes and ability in the kitchen.
Each character has at least two sub sections devoted to starters, mains, desserts, romantic occasions, kids foods etc which makes the book easy to navigate.
Overworked Mom, Lynette, has lots of cheap and cheerful recipes: meatloaf (see my successful version of this dish here), Buttermilk Fried Chicken, Stovetop Pork Chops and so on. They are old school dishes that secretly have their place in most peoples kitchens (and hearts).
Gabrielle, the flirty Latina, has a spicy selection of Mexican recipes and, for the health conscious, a low fat section too. The Black Bean soup is particularly tasty and the Tamales are fiddly but worth the effort.
You would expect that Man Eater Edie has more things to think about than cooking and her luxurious (but scant) recipes reflect her seductive nature: Oysters Poached in Champagne and Cream, Ambrosia, Camembert Baked in Its Box.
Aspirational Bree has the most complex recipes: Bree’s Two Step Braised Duck, Chicken Cutlets Saltimbocca, Lobster Risotto with herb oil, but everything is within the capability of the slightly more experienced cook. These are recipes designed to impress the husbands boss.
Finally, walking kitchen disaster Susan has no less than four sub sections of recipes, none of which you would imagine she cooks herself but certainly wishes she could. Starting with Foolproof Macaroni and Cheese (the subject of an episode of Desperate Housewives where Susan apparently manages to simultaneously burn AND undercook the dish) and working through more homey dishes like Noodle Casserole, Meatballs, Sloppy Joes and Easy or Easier Coleslaw, these are dishes for busy people who enjoy comfort food.
What TDHC sets out to achieve is a combination of usable recipes whilst keeping the hardcore fans of the show happy. This may limit the appeal of the book because many people don’t like gimmicky cookbooks. However, it would be a shame to see this book relegated to the reduced bargain bin section of the bookstore as it does have many sound recipes. Taking elements from each section, you can produce several decent meals and I feel that the ‘pick and mix’ feel of the book is part of its charm.
Book available from Amazon.co.uk
