Kitchen Confidence

What a beautiful book. This book is from a UK author, so measurements are in metric. It is only available for print by order in the U.S. There are a great variety of recipes, including some wonderful dessert recipes. The photos are beautiful, and the recipes are simple and easy to follow.

The Author is a culinary instructor and has put together some really good cooking tips and recipes with excellent pictures of some of the most basic recipes. This is perfect book for a new cook or a newlywed. Example: A basic recipe for muffins with tips on how to make them perfect. I learned a few new tips that I had to clue. Chili and scones were delicious.

I was very inspired by this book and have planned to make a lot of the recipes. It was easy to follow and looks to be a pleasure to use.

It’s always fun to find a cookbook with really different recipes. Kitchen Confidence by Catherine Sloman, British cooking teacher and food blogger, not only includes recipes that are decidedly different from the American norm, but introduces recipes that are very typical of those actually prepared and eaten in British homes. This book is meant to give those without much experience in the kitchen confidence to prepare good meals and be comfortable when preparing simple meals.

Anyone who has spent time in the UK, will recognize many of the dishes Sloman has included in this fun cookbook. Examples include a fabulous recipe for Toad in the Hole with Onion Gravy, Classic Kedgeree, Victoria Sponge, and Scones (fabulous and easy to make). There are also excellent recipes for Shepherd’s Pie (or Cottage Pie if beef is used), A Classic Fry Up, and a decadent Devil’s Food Cake with Malteasers Frosting. There are other recipes that aren’t so British too, such as a Ginger Stir-Fry, Salmon Chowder, and crispy-on-the-outside-soft on-the-inside Roast Potatoes.

While the recipes are in metric, they are easily converted to US measurements, especially for those with a good kitchen scale, which should be in any kitchen. There are also conversion charts online. Britain gets a bad rap for their food, with critics saying that their food is terrible; anyone who has tasted it and has eaten in some of the world-class restaurants located in Britain, will definitely disagree and the dishes in this cookbook prove otherwise. There are also beautiful photographs of every dish, which makes the book even better.

Anyone who likes the British culture and is willing to convert a few ingredients to metric, will enjoy this cookbook. The recipes are well-written and easy to follow, so anyone who want to add a little confidence to their kitchen experience should enjoy this book.

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

Kitchen Confidence is a great book for new cooks to have in their collection. Building confidence in the kitchen leads someone to be more comfortable in the kitchen. In turn it helps broaden a person's creativity and want to explore other foods and food related opportunities.