Susanna Tee

My grown kids and I among us own three copies of *three* cookbooks in three different sizes, formats, and numbers of recipes, all entitled "Tapas" by Susanna Tee. And they're all the same, just one is more complete and the others less so to varying degrees. This is a different one! We've used the original so much that we recognize which recipes are not in there, and none of these are. Just to say, Ms Tee does not name her cookbooks with fanciful originality, so be aware.

She does, however, show more cook with exuberance and originality. The recipes in this cookbook are all new to me and I can't wait to get started. Seasonality will delay asparagus and scrambled eggs on toast (what a great breakfast) and tortilla with eggplants ("tortilla" = Spanish omelet in American Midwest parlance), but a lot of the recipes rely upon year-round staples like sun-dried tomatoes and potatoes, so we're good to go.

I have been impressed with the variety of vegetarian recipes in each of her Tapas cookbooks. In this book, approximately half the recipes are vegetarian and about half of the remainder are fish/seafood, so pescatarians are especially lucky here. show less

One of the most unusual cookbooks I have ever reviewed is “The Gross Cookbook – Awesome Recipes For (Deceptively) Disgusting Treats Kids Can Make” by Susanna Tee. Full of disgusting, revolting, generally plain old gross food, this is one of the most fun and unique cookbooks ever.

Before you dive into the gruesome ghoulishness, they do prepare you for what is going to come. Fair warning is offered in “Prepare To Be Disgusted”. The four “Revolting Rules” provide fair usage rules, show more there is an etiquette to this stuff too you know.

After that brief introduction, you are thrown into the deep end of the loathsome lusciousness. “Squiggly Jelly Worms” is the first recipe and comes with completely awful and yet awesome drawings and photographs of what your end result could look like. The well laid out recipes are very easy to follow with step-by-step instructions. You even get handy tips and warnings for when your child will need an adult.

The recipes aren’t the only thing in the book however, it also gives you a bit of an education with information about some of the exotic and unusual foods that are consumed around the world. Who knew that kids could gross themselves out and learn something new at the same time?

Many of the recipes in the cookbook are designed for maximum shock value. One of my favorites is the “Cat Poop In The Litter Box”. This recipe alone has many uses for shockingly disturbing gags, excellent holiday treats at Hallowe’en, and just plain old tasty snacks if you have a bit of a sick bent.

The graphics throughout the book mesh very well with the integrated full-color pictures consequently setting the atmosphere for a hilariously funny book. I don’t really think it could’ve been the same without such wonderful illustrations.

Care clearly went into the placement of the recipes throughout the book. The “Roasted Mice” recipe directly preceded the “Roasted Rat” Gross Planet information about the delicacy from Vietnam. Such attention to detail truly makes this a spectacular book.

The “Rules Of The Kitchen” finish up the book, along with “Cooking Lingo”. Both are essential go-to pages for a young cook.

A Completely MUST Have Book

This book is an absolute must-have for anybody who’s got a kid or is ever going to plan a Hallowe’en party. But truly it is not just I once a year book. Wet spaghetti in a bowl, for brains, and skinned grapes, for eye balls, was the best I did as a child in our summer Carnival “Mystery Body Part” tent. I can see that I probably would’ve used it often had I owned this book as a child. As an adult, I am unwilling to admit it how many, many times I will be referencing it.

Seems like everybody who looked at this book enjoyed it thoroughly, yet was grossed out at the same time. Exactly, I think, the type of reaction one hopes/expects to get from this book. Can I really can gush enough about this book? I doubt it. It’s probably the most awesome book I’ve ever reviewed, certainly in a class by itself. I love it to death. Hopefully, that won’t result from some of these recipes. ;o)

The full review can be viewed at The RecipesNow! Reviews and Recipes Magazine.

The review is in response to a hard copy of the book sent to me by the publisher in return for an honest review. show less

I've used this cookbook a startling amount in the month since I bought it, and nearly everything has been excellent. Cheese and olive empanadillas... Fresh salmon in Mojo sauce... Tuna rolls in roasted red pepper... Asparagus rolls in toast... Spinach & mushroom tortilla... mmm.

2020 update: It's still a classic. Many of the recipes are meatless, and it has become one of my favourite and best-used vegetarian (not so much vegan) cookbooks. It comes in many formats and it's difficult to show more identify whether the cookbook in hand is the "same", especially since the title is terse and many editions don't display the author's name on cover or title page and sometimes not at all. It's worth trying to find, though. Some editions are thick with many recipes in small print, some are larger in page size and thinner, but all have the same page design: recipe on a single page with colour photography of the dish and some steps in preparation. I bought a copy for each of my kids and ended up with four very different looking cookbooks, not all of which have all the recipes. But (almost) everything is good. show less

Every single recipe I have made from this book has turned out beautifully! This is a great everyday practical cookbook to have if you love baking muffins. Just get it!