Review of Kitchen Chaos to Culinary Bliss

[Seetha E]

[Following is a volunteer review of "Kitchen Chaos to Culinary Bliss" by Mary Lummerding.]

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5 out of 5 stars

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Many of us may have noticed the shift from home-cooked meals being the norm to a culture of frequent dining out. Globalization, online influencers, and sheer convenience seem to favor this change. Eating out offers enticing options sans the hard work, but it can negatively affect both health and finances.

In Kitchen Chaos to Culinary Bliss, author Mary Lummerding shares her own experience of eating out too often before finally realizing that it was not a sustainable practice. She acknowledged the need for change. While I find the actual cooking aspects manageable, it is the planning, preparation, and cleanup thereafter that are daunting when not done in an orderly fashion. It is precisely these aspects that the author addresses in detail by offering strategies to make the process more efficient and thus more enjoyable.

Her warm, encouraging tone reassures readers that they are not alone in their struggles. She then demonstrates how seemingly insurmountable tasks can be simplified and made less stressful. I also appreciate that the author emphasizes the importance of first identifying the motivations for cooking at home. She then delves into various methods that she has successfully put together to not only cook healthy meals but also to make them economical and sustainable.

Some of her key suggestions include ensuring the availability of ingredients and tools/equipment. She also suggests sticking to simple recipes that align with the available ingredients, tools, and skills one has. She encourages planning and prepping to help save time and bulk buying when frequently used ingredients are available at a discount to save money. Her insistence on maintaining a tidy kitchen and acknowledging the physical and mental benefits of cooking at home instantly reminded me of my mother.

The book concludes with a collection of simple recipes, making it a practical and perfect guide for beginners and mid-level cooks. Look out for ‘A Dash of Mary’ that comes up intermittently. I would recommend a restructuring, as some points were repetitive. I did notice a few minor errors. Neither of the above-mentioned points detracts from the value it offers. I gladly rate it five out of five stars.

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Kitchen Chaos to Culinary Bliss
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[Gerry Steen]

Eating home cooked meals is healthier and cheaper. I like to have leftovers from supper for my lunches during the week. I find that meals often taste better the next day when the leftovers are reheated. This review points out that the author has helpful suggestions about planning, prep, and clean up. Doing these tasks more efficiently will take away the temptation to order out or eat out. Thank you for this review.

[Priya Murugesan]

The author rightly says that prep work for a meal is very important. If it is done regularly, the change over to home cooking will be very easy. Thanks for your detailed review!