Seven Spoons

March 15, 2015

Canadian food writer O'Brady's debut cookbook resembles many a blog-turned-cookbook in that it includes an autobiographical introduction, an unnamed boyfriend-turned-husband, a gradual reformation of cooking habits, and a promise that its recipes are authentic and approachable. Likewise, recipes such as savory steel-cut oats, chia pudding, and avocado toast recall versions attributable to other culinary influencers (e.g., Mark Bittman, Heidi Swanson, Melissa Clark, Nigella Lawson). O'Brady is most successful when deviating from the norms of this genre. She has a knack for incorporating global flavors in unexpected places--white miso in hummus, for instance--and her Indian recipes (e.g., chaat tostadas, specialty restaurant lentil kofta curry) really shine. VERDICT Recommended for fans of O'Brady's blog (sevenspoons.net) and readers who'd like a globally influenced home cooking collection.

Copyright 2015 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.