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Title: Yum-o! The Family Cookbook
ISBN: 0307407268
Author:
Rachael Ray
Publicate Date: 2008-04-29
Publish: 2008-04-29
List Price: $22.50
Average Customer Rating: 3.5
Format: Hardcover
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Amazon Lowest New Price: $9.00
Amazon Lowest Used Price: $10.55
Amazon Merchant Price: $9.00
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| Customer Review: |
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1: Yum-Oh Book
Book was very good - just arrived damaged. Had to return for a replacement.
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2: So far, so good!
My wife and I bought this cookbook to help teach our eight-year-old son how to cook and to encourage him to eat better. He might not be your average kid because he loves Rachael Ray and enjoys watching the Food Network, but so far we are pleased with the book.
Within the first week of getting Yum-O, he picked out two recipes (Sukiyaki Stir-Fry and That's Shallota Flavor Spaghetti) and insisted on doing all of the steps himself. We did slice the beef for him for the sukiyaki, lifted some heavy pots and pans, and stood over his shoulder as he cooked, but otherwise he needed little help.
I agree with other reviewers that some of the recipes do have a large number of ingredients, but if your family enjoys spending time in the kitchen together, I recommend this book. The fact that most of the recipes seem to be fairly healthy is just an added bonus.
The only reason I am not giving Yum-O five stars is that, frankly, I don't see my son eating many of the recipes here. Though he loves watching cooking shows, he is a very picky eater. Anything with tomatoes, green beans, or peas is going to be a total non-starter with him.
If we can get another dozen or so recipes out of this book and get our son to complain a little less about what's for dinner, the money spent will have been well worth it.
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3: Yuck-O!
Rachael Ray's exuberantly titled "Yum-O!" is geared towards families, and a portion of the profits goes to her anti-obesity campaign. Noble cause, good idea... but does it work?
"Yum-O!" is a melange of recipes. They're rather complicated,have too many ingredients (not exactly economical),and her condescending directions for the "itty-bitties" (little ones) are either minimal or inappropriate. Either kids hardly participate, or they're doing difficult stuff. To Ray's credit,there are recipes from her young fans,such as fish tacos, pancake tacos with fruit salsa, and chili lime chicken, which are actually easy and delish. There are some genuinely good recipes like sweet and spicy sesame noodles, peanut butter and jelly French toast, and Buffalo chicken chili. It's a mixed bag. Some good,some mediocre, some horrific. Ray gets cutesy with "More peas if you please penne","Penne-wise pumpkin pasta" and "Chili cheese dogs in beach blankets."
Now,for the bad. There's a worshipful attitude to whole grain pasta. It doesn't cook well,doesn't cook well either,and tastes awful. There are also some stomach-churning food combinations. Brocco-cheese burritos? Ham and cheese macaroni with asparagus? The "special ham cheese sandwich" has pickle juice. The "inside-out turkey burgers with O-Rings" is,um,creative. With high food prices, Ray's multiple ingredients,as well as her emphasis on meat and dairy, don't help (there's even Gruyere) They don't help the waistline either. Her unholy food combinations is enough to make one a vegan like Moby.
"Yum-O!" shows that one celebrity in the kitchen ruins the soup. Ray was better when she started out. When it comes to easy,kid-friendly dishes,try her original "30 Minute Meals" instead.
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4: amazing!!!
The rachael ray yum-o cookbook is just amazing! !! It has recipies for every member of the family and they are really easy to cook. I already tried some and my family is very pleased.
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5: Everyone can use a little R+R...?
I was just watching Larry King the other day and at the very end of his interview with Joy Behar (whom I love!) he plugged Rach's new book "Yum-O! The Family Cookbook." (Oh, I bet Joy just loved that.) ...Silly me, I had no idea Rach had a new book out but I had to pick it up because Rachael Ray is one of my favorite TV personalities. This cookbook is enjoyable, because like its author, it's cute and lively and full of spice. Rach also has it peppered with a slew of creative and "easy-looking recipes."
OK, can we talk about the white elephant in the room, now? I love Rach but her recipes are generally way too difficult to prepare. Because they always have way too many ingredients and just never come out correctly or in less than 30 minutes. I am a true domestic artist who loves keeping my home looking impeccable and who also loves cooking and putting on casual dinner parties as much as I can. Unfortunately, I have never tried a single recipe that I would ever have the nerve to serve to my friends or family.
Why do I like Rach, though? Rach is just such a loveable loser. I like her personality and her zest for life. I like her determination and the way she's the first to admit that she isn't perfect. I also enjoy some of her ideas. That's what I take the most from books such as this. For example, I love her idea of a "garbage bowl." And, I like how she promotes the idea of making things ahead and washing veggies when you first bring them home because this does save me time.
Truth be told I am not crazy about Rach's daytime talk show. It just seems way too rushed and overproduced, Rachael is trying desperately to appeal to the waspy-0prah-market. But it seems like she's trying to do 10 different things at once and none of it's working out. When I went to her show last year to watch a taping it was a very surreal experience. Because everyone behaved as if it was some huge Broadway production. I really believe Rach's best show was $40.00 a day. It just fit her personality so well because she is so bubbly and outgoing. I really enjoyed that show very much because even though Rach's tips were useless it was still rather entertaining and rather comical. But if they bring the show back in today's economic climate they should change it to $10.00 a day!
Getting back to cooking, what I like to do with books like these are simply skim them for ideas and tips. I also like to take recipes that have more than 10 ingredients (like the majority of the ones inside here) and try to simplify them. Who has the time to be stuck in the kitchen or stuck shopping for all that stuff?
For quality recipes (that really!! do work) I recommend anything by Martha Stewart . (BTW I understand there is a definite hatred...the likes of Crystal Carrington & Alexis Colby...between Martha & Rachie Ray!) And I also very, very strongly recommend anything by Chris Kimball / America's Test Kitchen . ...Remember, you are what you eat!
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