Book Review – Home Cook

by Thomasina Miers (Guardian Books) ISBN: 9781783350964

The beautiful hard cover and simple title promise fuss-free cooking. From the first page to the last, Miers invites you to put on an apron and start cooking a meal for loved ones of all ages around your (kitchen) table.

Every other day I’ve been making another dish out of Home Cook. With over 300 recipes I had enough options: some well-known classical dishes with a twist, like Quinoa Porridge with Earl Grey Poached Prunes and Beetroot Fennel Seed Soup with Ginger Crème Fraiche (a new favourite). I also tried strawberries in Gazpacho and kale in Caesar salad.

The book is full of tips and tricks about reusing ingredients (‘why not try’ bonus recipes) and little anecdotes about her life. Love for Mexican food and for all the exotic ingredients shines throughout the book.

It’s all about comforting food and most recipes are kids oriented. (Chapters are called Feeding the Troops and Sweet Tooth). The pictures in the book are tasteful and the design is playful, but not all recipes have a picture. With so many recipes that’s understandable.

Home Cook is the fifth cookery book from this MasterChef winner, chef and food writer.

Pauline Vijverberg
4/5