Category: Penguin Canada

I was given the pleasure of reviewing a copy of Michael Smith’s Back to Basics cookbook. If you are not yet familiar with Michael Smith, he is the best selling author of six cookbooks and also the host of several Food Network TV shows including Chef Michael’s Kitchen, Chef at Home and Chef Abroad. Michael lives in Prince Edward Island with his family.

This has to be one of the neatest cookbooks I have ever read. It is loaded with large, mouth watering photographs and contains a great variety of recipes. The recipes are broken down into salads, chicken, beef, pork and lamb, fish, pasta, sides and baking. I love how Michael constantly encourages us to add a bit of our own personality to his recipes (which is so important in cooking!).

I love the way he writes his cookbook. I felt like I had him standing beside me and talking to me (no numbered directions in this cook book!). It gave me the confidence to experiment with his recipes and feel confident that they would turn out fantastic. 

I know that I love to have an idea of the types of recipes included in a cookbook before I purchase it so here are some of the names of the recipes that I fell in love with: Caribbean Braised Chicken with Sweet Potato Mash, Thai Chicken Broth with Sweet Potato and Cilantro, Pasta with Roasted Tomatoes, Bells Peppers and Goat Cheese, Tomato Basil Carbonara and so much more!

You can purchase the recipe book here.

Michael Smith’s Back to Basics is also featured on Penguin Canada’s December Daily Delight – have you been entering daily to win free books?  You can still enter here now.

Disclosure: I received a copy of the book in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.