In honor of the release of the Food Network Magazine’s first cookbook (referral link), Food Network threw a huge party over in the kitchens at their office over Chelsea Market, and yours truly was lucky enough to be invited to attend. Here’s a shot into the kitchens as all the many people who help make Food Network what it is are busily cooking goodies for us to sample.
I just love seeing party displays of crudites. This was a cute one – in a basket, almost like it was just picked from the garden for you to eat.
The first dish I got to sample was a lamb chop, impossibly soft and succulent. A little difficult to eat with just a fork and no knife, but it was so good I didn’t pay any attention as I got down to business.
Next up was a spinach & goat cheese stuffed chicken breast. I’m not usually one for white meat, but I found this preparation managed to cancel out the tendency of white meat to dry out and instead kept it moist and very flavorful.
There seems to be this trend of mixing carrot and ginger. I’m not a huge fan of ginger, so this rarely ever appeals to me, but floating beneath the surface – it’s hard to see in the pic – were little cubes of tofu. The chewy yet crisp squares were a bit of a revelation to me, and I set out to recreate these a few weeks later to top a salad… which worked excellently. Perfect accompaniment.
Croque monsieur mac & cheese (who’d have thought?) – creamy, cheesy and yet another excellent dish.
At this point, the president of Food Network said a few words about how rewarding it was to work on such a great cookbook, and then introduced the woman who put it all together. Then the food continued…
Bacon tomato cheese toasts – I had to stop myself from continuing to eat these. Yum!
Microwave fudge that takes less than 10 minutes to make. I’m not even joking.
Last but not least, peanut butter banana mousse. Another less than 10 minute dessert.
A little bit about this cookbook: we all got copies to take home with us, and as I flipped through it, it struck me how much I love it. As I’ve been buying more cookbooks here and there, I’m learning what makes a good cookbook, what makes a bad cookbook, and what makes a cookbook something I want to pay money for. If you think about it, with the internet and its plethora of cooking blogs and websites, why should anyone pay for a cookbook? Honestly, you can find just about anything and everything on the internet. So when I actually spend money for a cookbook, I have a certain list of criteria to make me happy.
First, I love pictures. I do not like cookbooks without pictures. I understand it makes the book more expensive, but I really like to see at least the end product, what I’m sort of aiming for. I especially like this because there are a lot of dishes I have never eaten in my life but I will attempt to make anyway. Like pot roast – the first time I made that, I didn’t know what I was trying to make. That’s just how I am – I’ll get in my head to try making things (mapo tofu and soondubu another two dishes I’d never eaten before I cooked them at home), and I’ll go do it. So I like cookbooks that include photos of what theirs looked like at the end.
This cookbook has photos of every single recipe.
That’s really my biggest criteria. The last two cookbooks I bought with my own money were Everyday Food: Great Food Fast and Everyday Food: Fresh Flavor Fast (both referral links). They have photos of everything, a tips section, it’s clearly laid out and everything is fairly simple to follow and create. Of course, everyone is at different levels of cooking comfort. Maybe that’s too easy for you, and that’s fine.
Flipping through Food Network Magazine: Great Easy Meals, though, aside from having lots of colorful, bright photographs, has a couple of other really nifty features that make me love it passionately.
There’s a thumbnail table of contents. I was informed this is a feature of the magazine as well, and I totally love it. The table of contents isn’t just a bunch of words and then the page number; there’s a small box with a miniature photo of the dish and its name, along with corresponding page number. You can just scan the page and think “hey, that looks interesting” and stop to look at that. People are visual creatures, and this totally plays into that.
Speaking of which, these same thumbnails are scattered throughout the recipes as well. Why? Because on the bottom of some recipes, there are a few cross-referenced suggestions, such as: “If you’re making this, try serving it with one of these!” above three separate thumbnails (with recipe name and corresponding page number, of course) for more recipes.
But that’s not all – sometimes the thumbnails reference the recipe itself. Perhaps you bought fresh parsley to make that recipe – I do this occasionally – and realize you have wayyy too much leftover at the end. The bottom might say “Use leftover parsley in…” and again, three thumbnail photos to other recipes that also call for fresh parsley. This is immensely helpful for someone like me, who just doesn’t always know how to use leftover/excess fresh herbs. Totally awesome.
Those features aren’t available for every recipe, but where that’s absent, a handy tip is printed to help you get it done better, faster, easier.
I seriously love this cookbook.
There’s also a 10 minute desserts section – the end has a bunch of recipes for dessert that each take 10 minutes or less to throw together (though some of them need chilling time, or whatnot). I mean, really! How much better could this be?
If I hadn’t been lucky enough to receive a copy of this cookbook, there is no question that I’d have purchased it myself. I’ve already gifted a copy to FeistySis because I love it that much.
You may be wondering why I’m going on and on about this cookbook now, right? I mean, so what. Am I trying to sell you copies? Do I want you to buy the book? Well, sure, and use my affiliate link if you do 😉 (I’ve actually never sold a single thing through them, I think. It’s not like I have ever been paid by Amazon, haha.)
But no, really… it’s because… THIS IS A GIVEAWAY!!!
Food Network was kind enough to provide five – that’s right that’s five copies of Great Easy Meals for me to offer to you, my dear readers!
How do you enter?
Just comment below telling me why you want to win this cookbook. That’s it. (Use a real email address, though, because I’ll be emailing the winner.)
And on May 20th, I’ll use random.org to pick a winner, randomly!!!
Good luck and happy eating!!! 🙂
The usual applies: members of Feisty Foodie Family – both relatives and writers – are ineligible for this contest. Open only to residents of the 48 contiguous states.
The other usual: I received no monetary consideration for this post, though I attended this event courtesy of Food Network. I express my honest opinions within – I absolutely adore this cookbook – and you are free to take that as you will.
meg says
I want to win because I need all the cooking help I can get. Pictures would definitely aid the cause.
T.C. says
5 books? Yay! I like food porn so the cookbook sounds like it will be great stuff! *DROOLS*
Mmm fudge!!
Maria says
I love cookbooks but hate when there are no photos of the completed dish. What is it REALLY supposed to look like? This slop on the plate can’t be it. lol.
Feisty Foodie says
Congratulations Maria! You won a cookbook. I’ll be contacting you shortly for your mailing information. Thanks for entering!
david says
I want it for the microwave fudge! My wife loves fudge. I do not like going through all the trouble to make it. Being able to make it in the microwave and in 10 minutes would make both of us happy.
Nicole says
I would like this cookbook because I have to get back into the kitchen. Four and a half years of grad school combined with a full-time job meant little time for cooking. I just graduated last week, so I now I have time again and I really want to get into a habit of making a nice dinner to have with my husband instead of reaching into the freezer for something to microwave each night. But now I’m a little lacking in ideas and motivation. Some new recipes might help out with that!
Sile says
I love cookbooks that have pictures of the finished dish. Something about seeing the finished product makes me more likely to want to try making it. What foodie can resist good food porn? 😀
Plus, if those things you photographed are in the book, I’m already salivating. Always looking for new and impressive looking meals that are “fast”.
Adri says
Wow, sounds like such a great cookbook! I am also creating a collection of cookbooks recently, and would love to add this to my collection. I love trying out new dishes to cook and eat!
aimee says
I want to win it because you’re so enthusiastic about it Yvo! That’s enough for me!!
Nicole says
i love cookbooks….and I love the pictures in the cookbook….plus I love what comes out of the Food Network kitchens.
Feisty Foodie says
Congratulations Nicole! You’ve won a cookbook. I’ll be contacting you shortly for your mailing information. Thanks for entering!
Diana says
That cookbook sounds fantastic! I would like it because I also love to buy cookbooks that have pictures of each recipe, looking at what catches my eye is really what helps me narrow down what I want to cook.
Erin says
I am just learning to cook (or rather figuring it all out) and this book sounds like it would be just right for me. The pictures (and the helpful suggestions you mentioned) might actually encourage me to branch out and try new dishes to make.
Monique says
One, im jealous.
two, i want that cookbook
great coverage of the event!
Corinne says
I want a bacon and tomato cheese toast right now!
I’d also like to win this book because I love cook books and I love photos of food and I love simple meals.
Whole lotta love over here…
Shayna says
Sounds like this cookbook serves two purposes: Amazing recipes AND food porn. Of course, it’s hard to go wrong with anything Food Network 🙂
Hope you enjoyed the event!
Jenn says
I want to win this cookbook for 2 reasons. You’ve been chatting about it for some time now and I want to see what all the fuss is about.
Second, I’m in a cooking slump and could use some inspiration.
Feisty Foodie says
Congratulations Jenn! You won a cookbook. I’ll be contacting you shortly for your mailing information. Thanks for entering!
Goats says
Can’t hurt to throw my name in–I want to make that fudge!
Sophia says
I want a cookbook to compete against the hordes of takeout menus that’s my typical default. Love to cook but lack the will, so pretty pictures fit the bill. (/rhyme)
Zen Mandala says
I want to win because I’m intrigued by the 10 Minute Desserts.
hnahk says
i want i want i want!! but with such a glowing review…i might just purchase if i don’t win 😉 btw, do you have a tablet computer – i was just recently gifted with one for my birthday and is curious as to how cookbooks translate (i.e. pictures, layout, ease of use) and that sort…
melissa says
Haha, I’ve been eyeing their cookbook, curious about what’s inside. I’m so with you on pairing recipes with pictures. I want it for the food porn.
And I’m really intrigued by the 10-min fudge. Have you tried it?
Cindy Xie says
Hi Fiesty Foodie! I love your blog 🙂 I want to win the cookbook because I’ll be graduating college in 15 days and in my year off before I decide what to do with my life, I would like to spend time cooking for my friends and family. I love to cook, but rarely get time to do it.
janieishme says
I have too many cookbooks that offer me the unpleasant opportunity to “use my imagination” and guess at what the dish is supposed to look like. I completely agree with the need for a photo accompaniment for every recipe but I’ve never found one. This would be wonderful!
Ruth says
I love a cookbook with pictures it is not the same without it
Lindsey says
I want this cookbook because I am trying to save money by eating out less and this will inspire me! I also often don’t have a ton of time to cook, and these recipes sound super flexible.
What a fantastic event!
Feisty Foodie says
Congratulations Lindsey! You won a cookbook. I’ll be contacting you shortly for your mailing information. Thanks for entering!
danielle says
I have been watching food network since it first aired when mrs. Fields (yes the cookie lady) had a show….I still cannot fathom how she baked with such long nails, but anyway, I would love to win this cookbook because I am a huge food network fan and have been a fan since the the very beginning. 🙂
Amy says
Easy meals, yes! My go to meals have been to stir fry whatever is in the fridge. Kinda boring.
Jenifer says
I want to win this cookbook because I am a working mom, who after getting home at 6pm, needs quick, easy, and satisfying meals to feed my family.
Hungry says
Okay, I don’t want the cookbook but wanted to leave a comment instead. So here it goes: 10 minute fudge?! Woah…
Cookie says
I really really hope I win one of the books.
Cooking is clearly not my forte and I’d probably benefit from a quick and easy cook book.
Lkpnyc says
You had me at ‘photo of every recipe!’
Sara says
Photos + Tips + Easy = <3
Carol says
I love that you looked thru the cookbook and pointed out the best features. Also the fact that Foodnetwork recipes are always a great choice when having that ” wonder-what-to-cook-tonight ” feeling. I need some inspiration with a new cookbook for the Spring!
goodfoodetc says
I love cookbooks. I like pictures, I like thinking about the food in them, I like handy cooking tips that I can use more generally…
K says
I love cookbooks with photos too! Sounds like it’d be a great everyday resource in my kitchen.
melissa@IWasBornToCook says
Because cookbooks are FUN! 🙂
James says
I just finished breaking up and moving, and I have no cook books at all. :'(
beth grossman says
A picture is worth a thousand words!! would love to get a copy of this!!
Cindy Waffles says
I would love to add it to my cookbook collection! Cookbooks are great for recipes, inspiration, and makes a great picture book too.
Andrea says
Two words: food porn! Let’s be honest though: the real reason I want it is because the hubbers and I love Food Network and if we are graced with this lovely win in our hands, there’s a pretty good chance I can goad him to make all the things in in for me to EAT!! Nom nom nom…
skippymom says
Me! Me! Please, I want to win too. 🙂
I want to make those bacon, tomato toasts. YUM
And you seriously need to get to Virginia so either Pooldad or I can make you some awesome white meat chicken [either grilled or fried] that is juicy and yummy.
I am so making the spinach/goat cheese chicken. mmmmm
cathy says
OHHH I LOVE COOKBOOKS WITH PICTURES AND COOKBOOKS
alyssa says
Wow what a great contest!!!
I would love to win this cookbook because i srsly need some great recipes in my arsenal. I also always hesitate when buying cookbooks, they all seem the same after awhile. The last cookbook i bought was Tosca Reno’s “Eat Clean” cookbook. Healthy and *easy to prepare but also cuz it was recommended to me by some foodie friends who also like to cook. Ive read ur blog for quite awhile now and i trust and respect ur judgment. Id def go and buy the cookbook anyway since i do want more simple recipes, perhaps a bit decadent. But figured id enter ur contest anyway. Im moving out into an apt with my fiance in a few months and i am a bit apprehensive about what to make for us ( don’t laugh). I can def get by on my limited repetoire so to speak but id just like to evolve/become better and become more familiar with using certain ingredients and spices etc.
carmen says
i want this cookbook b/c i love to cook, love the foodnetwork, and love cookbooks (esp ones with lots of pictures!)
Feisty Foodie says
Congratulations Carmen! You won a cookbook. I’ll be contacting you shortly for your mailing information. Thanks for entering!
allison says
I want to win because this cookbook sounds great! I’m currently 9 months pregnant (baby can come at anytime now) and it sounds like this cookbook will make cooking with a crying newborn a little easier. The pictures and thumbnails sound awesome!
Jessica says
I want to win because I love cooking
kcijones001 says
I want to win because I’m a highfalutin’ a$$hole and they win contests.
Than you.