Simply Organic: A Cookbook for Sustainable, Seasonal and Local Ingredients by Jesse Ziff Cool
Not sure how to make the switch to organic? This is a wonderful place to start.
Jesse Ziff Cool is a passionate advocate for organic, sustainable food. But she doesn’t beat you over the head with it. She’s a cook, a mother and a very down-to-earth soul (in more ways than one).
She knows she was blessed to be raised in a family where a love of real food was fostered. She knows not everyone has access to organic or even fresh produce.
Her aim with this book is simply to share some of the wisdom she has garnered over 35 years in the organic food business and encourage you to get into the kitchen and go for it.
She engages the reader with a little of her history, tells us the reasons why organic and sustainable food are so important and then lets rip with page after page of mouthwatering recipes.
This beautifully designed book is divided neatly into seasons, for eating fresh produce at its peak is at the heart of Jesse’s cooking philosophy. Try steamed bok choy with water chestnuts in spring; fresh corn bites with tarragon in the heart of summer; pork chops with dried berry-port sauce in autumn; or a heartwarming chicken vegetable soup with noodles in winter.
None of the recipes are terribly long, some only have a few ingredients, and Jesse offers variations on how to spice up or alter many of the dishes, depending on what’s available. There are also useful tips galore, from how best to wash leeks to making the perfect granita.
Each section is broken up with an inspirational story from others who share this cook-come-food-advocate’s passion. Learn a bit about the Seeds of Change, hear how Paul Newman’s daughter Nell started Newman’s Own Organics, and sample the delights of an organic winery.
If this doesn’t inspire you to buy the best food you can afford and actually cook it, nothing will.
