I’m the first to admit that the holiday season can be pretty rough on me. The prep. The cooking. The traveling. The overall stress of it. That’s probably why Happy Cooking by Giada De Laurentiis appealed to me so much. While I’m not a huge fan of Giada necessarily- I did have high hopes for this cookbook. Were they met?
Giada De Laurentiis, one of the most recognizable faces on the Food Network lineup, invites readers to get to know her as never before. The celebrity chef is back with nearly 200 new recipes and helpful advice on everything from hosting a potluck or open house to what to pack along for lunch every day. Drawing on the time-saving tips and healthy eating strategies that keep her functioning at the highest possible level in her roles as working mom, restaurateur, and tv personality, she has assembled a year-round roadmap to vibrant good health and delicious eating. Readers will be inspired to try new ingredients, new wellness practices, and create a wholesome balance between peak nutrition – and the occasional decadent indulgence. Featuring her New Year’s cleanse, homemade Christmas gifts, and ideas for every holiday, special occasion, and casual weekend in between, this is Giada’s 365-approach to cooking up a happy life.
So was this a hit for me? Not so much. I’ve actually owned some of her cookbooks in the past & they were quite nice. This one…isn’t as good. The recipes are lovely but it is the layout I have the most issue with. It feels…fake. It feels like an ode to Giada herself- like a celebrity & not a chef necessarily. I’m sure many will disagree but the staged nature was a turnoff for me personally. & so did lackluster photos. If you would like to check out Happy Cooking: Make Every Meal Count … Without Stressing Out by Giada De Laurentiis you can do so on Amazon here.
Have you ever been disappointed by a cookbook? What is a major reading turnoff for you? I think the biggest one for me is poor photography!
