Julia Turshen

What a fantastic idea for a cookbook! It would make a great series, going to other countries as well and speaking with other grandmothers (bibis) there the same way it's done here in this book. However, I also appreciate this as a standalone, showcasing these specific, special African countries bordering the Indian Ocean.

These eight countries are Eritrea, Somalia, Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique, South Africa, Madagascar, and Comoros. Because they all border the Indian Ocean, they all had been show more the backbone of the spice trade. Which makes them all have rich and unique cuisines.

This book is also a wonderful mini-lesson in colonialism, culture, tradition, and history, because the recipes have as equal weight as the stories about and from the bibis themselves. Getting these recipes from the bibis makes them less about food that's trendy and Instagrammable, which is an unbelievable breath of fresh air. They talk about how important it is that food keeps their tradition and cultures intact. It all feels very genuine. And not only that, but the food sounds and looks delicious! This is one cookbook I'm going to have to buy when I have the money. show less

I'll admit, I got this book on a whim. And I was skeptical. It's an actress's cookbook. How good can it possibly be? Is it just another Hollywood blonde's foray into the next great venture, where the only reason it's selling is her name/face?

But it was at Costco (automatic win), and I had to remind myself that Paltrow already started to prove herself as a "foodie" when she did "Spain: A Culinary Road Trip" with my favorite chef EVER, Mario Batali.

So surely it couldn't be ALL bad.

And let me show more tell you, as a self-proclaimed foodie - this cookbook is a dream: for farmers' market addicts, for those on elimination or other special diets, for people who just want to eat fresh food and have it taste good.

This is your book.

It is not for those looking for new cocktail recipes or wine tips; the beverages section focuses on smoothies and other drinks that are actually, you know, good for you. ;)

(As an aside, if you do want a good cocktail book, I'd suggest the newly released Apothecary Cocktails: Restorative Drinks from Yesterday and Today. It's fantastic. And even well packaged.)

I've tried a couple of recipes from Paltrow's book so far, and have determined that any book that gets me to try cooked mushrooms - in ANYthing - has got something special. The recipe was for a many-mushroom soup; very flavorful, not as hearty as I hoped but great with a huge hunk of bread to dip in it. I also tried the chilled avocado-cucumber soup; while the picture got a general Facebook response of "Looks like baby food", it was quite tasty, and would be great during the summer. A fabulous alternative to those of us somewhat gun shy of tomato-heavy gazpacho. show less

I actually enjoyed the recipes in this book. This was a birthday gift. Gwyneth seems to know her stuff, at least a forward by Batali gives her some credibility ( in case you were doubtful.) While some of the intros about her VERY privileged life "we would go to Nantucket every summer and ride mopeds together...blah blah" were obnoxious and the adoring relationship between her and her father was perfectly reciprocal and, well, perfect ( eye roll), the recipes were not bad. Check it out.

Julia Turshen’s “Now and Again: Go-To Recipes, Inspired Menus + Endless Ideas for Reinventing Leftovers” is a wonderful and worthy follow-up to her “Small Victories: Recipes, Advice + Hundreds of Ideas for Home-Cooking Triumphs.” The idea behind “Now and Again” is that approachable recipes can be repurposed for other meals. The book is arranged by seasons, and each season has appropriate menus for entertaining. For instance, autumn includes menus for Rosh Hashanah and show more Thanksgiving dinners, spring has “Tortilla Soup for a Chilly Spring Evening,” and summer has menus for meals alfresco. The menus contain recipes, suggestions for preparing parts of the menu ahead of time, and a segment entitled “It’s Me Again,” where Turshen offers her ideas for reinventing the leftovers.

The book is thoughtfully composed and written. The recipes are elegant and special enough to serve company while also being down-to-earth and relatively straightforward to prepare. For instance, Caramelized Bananas with Sour Cream and Brown Sugar sounds like a restaurant dessert, but it only has six ingredients and can be made with minimal fuss and cooking. I also appreciated the inclusion of some lower carb recipes (due, in part, to Turshen’s partner having type I diabetes), such as Healthy, Happy Wife Cake and Confetti Meatloaf. As someone who is dealing with a low-carb diet, these options are a welcome addition.

Something I found especially enjoyable about the book was Turshen’s writing style, which is the perfect accompaniment to the excellent recipes and helpful tips. As someone who finds quite a few recipes online, I often find the commentary that proceeds the recipes to be exhausting. While some bloggers and writers do this quite well, others tend to associate rambling with being approachable and quirky. Turshen manages to find the perfect balance of friendliness and information, making her writing inviting and enlightening.

Like other works published by Chronicle Books, “Now and Again” is beautiful, and the design seems very well-suited to Turshen’s tone. The color pictures are lavish and stunning while also seeming homey. The paper is high quality and has a nice weight. While glossy pages might be more practical for use, the matte finish was nice and fit the book’s laidback approach.

“Now and Again” is by far one of the best cookbooks I’ve encountered in the past year. The content and physical qualities are well-matched, and Turshen’s recipes are accessible and user-friendly while still being distinctive and special. show less