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It's a jungle out there. With the number of TV chefs vying for our attention (along with all their attendant books), we really need to hack our way through the foliage to discover those worthy of our attention. With
Rachel's Food for Living, Rachel Allen moves effortlessly to the top of the pile, and this book (which accompanies a 13-part BBC prime-time series) does full justice to its video version. What distinguishes Rachel Allen from so many other chefs is the way in which she appreciates that food must be integrated into our lives, rather than just being fuel or a way of showing off our culinary skills. As Allen points out, food can be restorative, nurturing and emotionally fulfilling, even apart from its tastiness. As she reminds us, the ritual of eating may be formalised or spontaneous, and the appreciation of the way in which we can approach food in different ways is very much at the heart of
Rachels Food for LivingBut if all of the above sounds a little forbidding, it should be noted that the book here functions admirably as a guide to the best available food -- and leaving aside any philosophical underpinnings, there are over 100 delicious recipes included here, from Perfect Lamb Stew and Chicken with Lemon and Honey to Banana and Chocolate Bread and Butter Pudding. The recipes are presented in as user-friendly a fashion as possible, with full-page illustrations showing us just what we can aspire to in our own kitchens. When Allen says this book is filled with foods which have special meaning for her, her family and friends, it makes clear the personal nature of the recipes on offer here. But (in the end) such things dont matter: on a strictly utilitarian level, Rachels Food for Living really delivers the goods. --Barry Forshaw
Book Description
Rachel's Food for Living provides a brand new collection of mouth-watering and easy-to-follow recipes that celebrate life, love and cherished memories. These dishes draw inspiration from some of our happiest moments in life which involves delicious food, whether they be falling in love over a romantic meal, making bread with our grannies, spending Sundays with our families over the perfect roast or getting together with girlfriends to discuss the finer points of chocolate! Curl up on the sofa with a bowl of Creamy Coconut Prawns with Banana Raita, have fun teaching the kids how to make homemade pizza, treat your loved one to Arabian spiced rack of lamb and enjoy mouth-watering recipes such as mussels with garlic and breadcrumbs and lemon tart.