{"id":29403,"date":"2022-11-20T17:43:40","date_gmt":"2022-11-20T22:43:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thatorganicmom.com\/?p=29403"},"modified":"2022-11-22T07:09:33","modified_gmt":"2022-11-22T12:09:33","slug":"cook-what-you-have-milk-street","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thatorganicmom.com\/cook-what-you-have-milk-street\/","title":{"rendered":"Cook What You Have – Milk Street Cookbook Review"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

If you've ever stood in front of your fridge wondering “what to make with what I have,” then you are not alone! Answering the “what's for dinner<\/em>” question is a common occurence for many!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With food prices rising, many are looking for ways to cook tasty meals from what\u2019s on hand rather than creating elaborate menus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Food prices were up 11.4 percent for the year, the largest yearly increase since 1979.<\/p>Politico<\/a><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

That\u2019s why I couldn\u2019t resist sharing my review of Cook What You Have so that you can make a meal out of almost anything! You\u2019ll be skipping takeout after adding this cookbook to your collection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I already had Christopher Kimball\u2019s new cookbook on preorder before I realized it would help me cook from my pantry! I\u2019ve been using his Milk Street weeknight cookbooks<\/a> for years now; I\u2019ve grown to trust him to introduce me to new and delicious flavor combinations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We all have those favorite recipes we turn to time after time, right? Polls show that 60% of people eat the same seven meals weekly. Most cooked meal: lasagna. What? Come on! Life's too short to eat the same food every day! That's where a few cookbooks can come in handy. They keep you inspired and trying new foods. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I enjoy a good cookbook but fall in love when it helps me cook with ingredients I already have.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So how does it work?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Garlic<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Check Your Pantry Staples<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

To prepare a delicious meal, start by surveying your pantry. Hopefully, you\u2019re keeping it stocked with various shelf-stable foods like beans, rice, canned tomatoes, coconut milk, and condiments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re a home cook with a few years of experience, you might not need cookbooks anymore. However, Cook What You Have is a huge bonus if you enjoy experimenting with new flavor combinations or tasting dishes from other cultures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition, you\u2019ll want to make a note of the first couple of sections of this cookbook. These will become your go-to sections for \u201cHave this? Try that!\u201d ideas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Have This? Try That!<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The first section would typically be considered the contents of the book. Although, this section is way more useful than the ordinary contents of a cookbook. These pages divide up the cookbook into useful subsections like:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  • Canned Goods<\/strong> – all the recipes you can make with things like black beans and chickpeas.<\/li>
  • Shelf Stalwarts<\/strong> – Pasta-type dishes, along with rice or couscous.<\/li>
  • Cold Storage <\/strong>– Here\u2019s where you\u2019ll find dishes that use sweet potatoes and winter squash.<\/li>
  • From the Freezer<\/strong> – Your frozen veggies, seafood, and other freezer favorites are found in this section.<\/li>
  • Flour Powered<\/strong> – Think of this as your carb selection or bread box.<\/li>
  • Sugar and Spice<\/strong> – Desserts made with cupboard confections such as peanuts, brown sugar, and such.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n

    Why?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    For thousands of years, we have cooked what we have. The ingredients on hand always drove the decision of what to make, whther that was a haunch of venison, a bowl of chickpeas or a tangle of wild greens. The notion of eating what we want-selecting from a menu of desires, if you will-rather than what is available is relatively new. Christopher Kimball, introduction of Cook What You Have<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

    Milk Street Must-Haves<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    In this section, the author lists 25 ingredients he believes you must keep in your pantry. These are a little out of the ordinary, but nothing you can\u2019t find at your local supermarket. For example, capers, tahini, miso, and canned chipotles in adobo are a few \u201cstaples\u201d he recommends that the average American pantry might not have on hand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The ingredients suggested in this section effortlessly deliver tons of flavor and texture using high-impact, bold ingredients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    It\u2019s true. Watch this video where I prepare multiple dishes from Cook What You Have.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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