The Minimalist Kitchen

February 5, 2018
In her first cookbook, Coleman, creator of the food blog The Faux Martha, exhibits an easy approach to organizing the kitchen and cooking. Coleman aims to separate the minimalist from the “stodgy and austere” and largely succeeds, though it is a surprise to discover that a list of “essential tools” for the minimalist kitchen includes items such as tortilla warmers. The author excels when providing tips: a clever dough-stacking method results in extra-flaky biscuits and scones, while scrambled eggs are finished off the burner to avoid overcooking. Ideas for reusing leftovers are also practical: beef tacos are made with the remains of the roast on the following page. Coleman even includes some throwback meals such as pasta with vodka sauce and a chicken Caesar salad. The chapter on drinks features cold-brewed coffee, ice tea, and lemonade, as well as a pair of smoothies, and a margarita and sangria. A dessert chapter covers such familiar though satisfying items as chocolate chip cookies and peach cobbler. Plenty will appeal to those who—like the author—have young children and are on the hunt for swift, simple, palatable fare.

March 15, 2018

For full-time blogger and former graphic designer Coleman (thefauxmartha.com), a minimalist kitchen has only the essentials. After advising readers on how to pare down clutter-prone areas and streamline shopping, the author shares 100 recipes (e.g., pesto garden pasta, quinoa burgers, roasted banana cream pie) well suited to omnivore families. These can have anywhere from three to 20 ingredients and include many make-ahead and weeknight-friendly options. Colorful full-page photos and practical tips accompany all recipes. VERDICT Coleman's concept of minimalism--underscored by images of her immaculate home--will interest cooks who dream of a functional, organized, and stylish living space. Though it may strike some as paradoxical, particularly when calls to own less are followed by urges to acquire a cloth tortilla warmer and name-brand storage containers.

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