Cooking in Real Life

by Lidey Heuck

[annieb123]

Originally posted on my blog Nonstop Reader.

Cooking in Real Life is a casual "everyday" cookbook with appealing recipes by Lidey Heuck. Released 12th March 2024 by Simon & Schuster on their Simon Element imprint, it's 288 pages and is available in hardcover and ebook formats. 

This is a graphically appealing, well written, and accessible cookbook with an array of everyday recipes to appeal to most tastes. The author has included an abbreviated pantry and ingredients list, but the recipes take up the bulk of the content. They're arranged thematically: Snacks & Drinks, Salads & a Few Soups, Chicken Beef & Pork, Fish & Shellfish, Veggie Mains, On the Side, Desserts, Breakfast & Brunch, and Dressings Sauces & Extras.

Ingredient measurements are supplied in imperial (American) standard units with some metric measurements in parentheses. The nutritional information is not included. Each recipe includes a header with a short description of the recipe and approximate servings. Extra tips or recipe alternatives are listed in the recipes. The recipes themselves are fairly straightforward and are made for the most part with easily sourced ingredients. The photography is abundant and clear and the recipes are illustrated simply and clearly.

This is a large collection of recipes and even allowing for the fact that some of them are very similar to others in the same category, this will keep readers going for ages. There are many simple and healthy "everyday" recipes. 

This would be an excellent choice for public library acquisition, home use, gift giving, and a great "care package" moving out gift (bundled with cooking supplies and housewares) to newly fledged young adults living on their own for the first time.

Five stars. 

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.