Friday, July 30, 2010

Review and Giveaway: The I Hate to Cook Book 50th Anniversary Edition CLOSED



Thank you to Hachette Book Group for participating in the Bloggy Birthday Blowout Event on Goodie Goodie Gumdrops!

I'm may be a stay-at-home mom but I hardly fit the domestic stereotype. My house is cluttered and "lived in", far from impeccable. And my husband is lucky if I have a homemade dinner on the table once a week. It's not that I hate cooking. Once I'm actually making a meal, I think to myself, "now this isn't so bad". I actually enjoy making a dish with love and the feeling of satisfaction from nurturing my family. But the truth is I don't want to spend hours in the kitchen. I'd rather be spending quality time with my family. Or blogging, of course. I need quick, easy, pleasing meals that get the job done.

So, when I was offered an opportunity to review the I Hate to Cook Book, I couldn't resist.

Peg Bracken's classic I Hate to Cook Book was originally written in 1960, at the helm of the women's lib movement. She bucked tradition and confirmed what housewives from the world over had been ashamed to admit: it's okay if you'd rather be doing something else instead of hovering over the stove! With her deliciously simple recipes, a pinch of humor and a dash of wit, Peg Bracken charmed her way into kitchens and hearts. Fifty years later, her book still resonates with our modern generation. It's nice to know some things never change.

The moment I read the introduction, I knew I was in for a treat. No other cookbook has made me laugh out loud like this one:
This book is for those of us who want to fold our big dishwater hands around a dry Martini instead of a wet flounder, come the end of a long day...you're flattened by articles that begin "Of course you know that basil and tomatoes are soulmates, but did you know..." They can stop right there, because the fact is, you didn't know any such thing...Oh, you keep on buying cookbooks, the way a homely woman buys hat after hat in the vain hope that this one will do it...For one thing, they contain too many recipes. Just look at all the things you can do with a chop, and aren't about to!
Bracken gives helpful household hints and recipes for those times when you've committed to bringing a dish for a potluck or been on the receiving end of unexpected company. Whether you need a speedy supper, delightful dip or a droolworthy dessert, Bracken's recommendations use ingredients you probably already have on hand so you won't have to run any further than your pantry to pull it all together. I loved that many of the dishes were casseroles so they require minimal prep - leave all the hard work to the oven!

Here are just a few recipes that caught my eye:

I love chili and Tex-Mex inspired comfort food. So, this casserole particularly appealed to me. I would add a dallop of sour cream and maybe some chives to the final presentation but this is something that the whole family could love. Nachos with a kick.

Pedro's Special

1 lb. ground round steak
1 chopped onion
1 garlic clove, minced
1 8-oz. can of tomato sauce, plus 1/3 can tomato juice, beef broth or water
1/4 tsp oregano
2 tbsp chili powder
1 16-oz. can kidney or pinto beans with liquid
1 medium-sized bag corn chips
a bit of lettuce
more chopped onion

Brown together, in a little oil, the ground meat, onions and garlic. Stir in the tomato sauce, oregano and chili powder. Now dust off a good-sized casserole, grease it, and alternate layers of this mixture with layers of beans, and corn chips, ending with corn chips. Bake it, covered, at 350 degrees for 45 minutes, uncovering it for the last ten. Before you serve it, strew some shredded lettuce and chopped raw onion on top, for that Olde Tyme Mexicali look.


This sounds so easy, yummy and most importantly, impossible to screw up.

Turkey Divan

1 can condensed cream of chicken soup, thinned slightly with 2 tbsp sherry and a little heavy cream)
1 package frozen broccoli, cooked or thawed and drained
6 good-sized slices of turkey
grated Parmesan cheese

Put about 1/4 of the soup mixture in a buttered casserole. Put the broccoli in , cover it with slices of turkey meat, and pour on the rest of the sauce. Sprinkle the Parmesan generously on top and bake at 350 degrees, uncovered, for about 20 minutes.


If you're tired of serving your kids traditional grilled cheese, this alternative really jazzes it up. I would use whole grain bread for a nutritional boost.

Pizza Sandwiches

Spread one side each of two slices of bread with canned pizza sauce. For the filling, use a slice of salami, a slice of mozzarella or processed sharp cheese (the processed will melt better), and a sprinkling of garlic. Grill them in butter.


Not all of the recipes are up my alley (Ham-Lima Supper or Wild Rice and Chicken Livers, anyone?) but the majority of them are things I could see myself eating regularly. My favorite section of the book dealt with kids' birthday parties. With Nate's big party coming up in two weeks, I've stolen some of her tips, such as:
  • Most children will eat peanut butter on anything or in anything. Offer vegetables such as celery dipped in peanut butter. You can also spread peanut butter on rolled-out biscuit dough, spread jelly on top of it, then roll it up like a jelly roll, slice one inch thick and bake as usual.
  • Serve lemonade in clear plastic glasses with a drop of different-colored food coloring in each, which not only looks festive but tells each child whose is which.
  • In the summertime, freeze maraschino cherries inside ice cubes for the lemonade. (Okay, so I have a new-fangled icemaker but I'm still going to freeze the cherries themselves and use them as a pretty addition.)
  • Have a card table set up somewhere, with crayons and coloring books on it to occupy children until the party starts.
The only thing I didn't like about the I Hate to Cook Book is that there are no photos. It's not really necessary but I prefer to see a visual of something before I attempt to make it. Overall, I love the book and feel as though it was written just for me. It's not too often that I come across a cookbook that doesn't require me to Google some of the ingredients, so this is truly something special! I will definitely be returning to this book for years to come.

BUY IT: You can purchase the I Hate to Cook Book at most major book retailers or online at Amazon.com (ARV $13.44).

WIN IT: Not one - but two - lucky readers are going to win their own copies of the I Hate to Cook Book!

MAIN COURSE (MANDATORY ENTRY): Tell me why you want to win this book. Easy peasy! Remember to please leave your email address in your comment if it isn't visible on your profile to prevent disqualification!

SUGAR ON TOP (BONUS ENTRIES): To maximize your chances of winning, you may do any or all of the following. Be sure to complete the above mandatory entry or your bonus entries will not count! Remember to leave one comment per entry.

1.) Follow my blog and/or subscribe via reader or email. If you already follow and/or subscribe, that counts! (1 entry each)

2.) Follow me on Twitter and tweet about this contest. You may use the following tweet of come up with one of your own:

If you'd rather blog than cook, you need the I Hate to Cook Book by Peg Bracken @kris10chumley! 2 winners Ends 8/14 http://bit.ly/ccW4De

Just leave a comment with your tweet link. (1 entry)

3.) "Like" Goodie Goodie Gumdrops on Facebook. (1 entry)

4.) Become of fan of the I Hate to Cook Book on Facebook. (1 entry)

5.) Add my Bloggy Birthday Blowout event button to your site and leave a comment with the link to where I can find it. (1 entry)

6.) Add my blog button to your site and comment with the link to where I can find it. (1 entry)

Giveaway will end on August 14, 2010 at 11:59pm EST. Open to U.S. and Canada. Winners will be chosen via Random.org and will have 48 hours to respond to congratulatory email or prize will be forfeited and another winner will be chosen.

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of the above book from Anna at Hachette Book Group to facilitate my candid review. I was in no other way compensated for this post. The thoughts and opinions expressed in my review are solely mine. Your experience may differ.

105 comments:

Dana @ Lil Family Blog said...

I wanna win one!

DanaAlison13 at gmail dot com
LilFamily13.blogspot.com

Dana @ Lil Family Blog said...

I follow your blog in google reader!


DanaAlison13 at gmail dot com
LilFamily13.blogspot.com

Dana @ Lil Family Blog said...

I have your blog button on my sidebar!


DanaAlison13 at gmail dot com
LilFamily13.blogspot.com

Benita said...

Although I like to cook, there are days when I can't stand to do it. So, I'd like to win this book as motivation for those days.

bgcchs(at)yahoo(dot)com

Benita said...

Email subscriber.

bgcchs(at)yahoo(dot)com

Lisa said...

I want to win because I love to cook.

jerseygirl137 said...

Who wouldn't want to win this cookbook. Anything to make dinner time easier is the cookbook for me. LOL!

jerseygirl137(at)yahoo(dot)com

jerseygirl137 said...

Subscribe via e-mail.

jerseygirl137(at)yahoo(dot)com

jerseygirl137 said...

Following you on Twitter and Tweeted

http://twitter.com/jerseygirl137/status/20061481487

jerseygirl137(at)yahoo(dot)com

jerseygirl137 said...

"Liked" Goodie Goodie Gumdrops on Facebook as Sharon Rooney.

jerseygirl137(at)yahoo(dot)com

jerseygirl137 said...

Liked the I Hate to Cook Book on Facebook as Sharon Rooney.

jerseygirl137(at)yahoo(dot)com

aledol said...

I just read the review & interview w the authors daughter in People Magazine & I am so intrigued!! Thx so much for the chance!!

aledol said...

em

aledol said...

http://twitter.com/aleshamom4/status/20109165586

aledol said...

fb~

aledol said...

IHTC fB~

jerseygirl137 said...

Tweet

https://twitter.com/jerseygirl137/status/20131832719

jerseygirl137(at)yahoo(dot)com

walkabout said...

I would love this for my daughter who is the laziest cook around
rally_thade17@hotmail.com

walkabout said...

I subscribe
rally_thade17@hotmail.com

jerseygirl137 said...

Tweet

http://twitter.com/jerseygirl137/status/20214746731

jerseygirl137(at)yahoo(dot)com

jerseygirl137 said...

Tweet

http://twitter.com/jerseygirl137/status/20297762309

jerseygirl137(at)yahoo(dot)com

Birdson said...

I just love any idea of the fact someone ELSE hates to cook just like me.... thats why I need to read this book ... to feel normal...birdson@roadrunner.com

Birdson said...

FB fan of I Hate To Cook Book / Birdie Skolfield birdson@roadrunner.com

Unknown said...

I wanna win, because I don't wan't to be the stay at home dad who's kid's are unhealthy because dad can't cook!
simo3458@hotmail.com

aledol said...

http://twitter.com/aleshamom4/status/20286299886

jag said...

I think my friend's mom had this book when we were young. It would be great to check out all the recipes.

aledol said...

http://twitter.com/aleshamom4/status/20434539799

MOMFOREVERANDEVER said...

have moods where love to cook but getting to the point where I am hating

Jamie said...

I like to cook, but I'm too lazy to make super complicated meals, so this looks like it is a good book for me.

Jenn S. said...

I want to win because I love to cook but never have much time. Would love some easy, quick meals.

Krystal said...

I would like to win so I can learn some new, hopefully easy recipes.

krystal2110@hotmail.com

Krystal said...

following on twitter @luckykrystal and tweeted http://twitter.com/LuckyKrystal/status/20490888547

krystal2110@hotmail.com

mverno said...

i want good quick recipes mverno@roadrunner.com

Suburban prep said...

I would like to win so I can be in the know about perhaps changing my mind about cooking. I would love for some of the things that I cook to work out.
msgb245 at gmail dot com

malinda said...

Love to cook...

malmort01 at optonline net

malinda said...

follow you on twitter
malinda1971

malmort01 at optonline net

malinda said...

like you on fb

malmort01 at optonline net

Darcie K. said...

I am always at a lost as to what I cook. This would be great.
dmkayes@gmail.com

Darcie K. said...

I follow via Google Friend Connect!
dmkayes@gmail.com

Darcie K. said...

I subscribe via email!!
dmkayes@gmail.com

Darcie K. said...

I am a facebook fan/Like! (Darcie Kayes)
dmkayes@gmail.com

Milena Barrett said...

Because I hate to cook!

Milena Barrett said...

Following you on GFC

Milena Barrett said...

Following on Twitter

Milena Barrett said...

following I hate to cook on Facebook

Milena Barrett said...

liked you on Facebook

Tammy said...

Because I cannot cook.Need I say more.
tjfirth@yahoo.com

Alicia said...

Because I love cook books but hate to cook.

Thanks for the giveaway >^..^<

bloggyig at gmail dot com

Alicia said...

gfc follower

Thanks for the giveaway >^..^<

bloggyig at gmail dot com

Alicia said...

http://twitter.com/PoofyLoofy/status/20662598587


Twitter follower as @PoofyLoofy

Thanks for the giveaway >^..^<

bloggyig at gmail dot com

wildcat32 said...

I want to win because I hate to cook and my family is tired of my making the same meals over and over again.
monster6236 at gmail dot com

wildcat32 said...

follow and tweet http://twitter.com/5memb/status/20706345382
monster6236 at gmail dot com

Chrissyb said...

I'd like to win so I can learn to cook new meals at home! love to expand our cookbook library!
transamws602(at)yahoo(dot)com

Chrissyb said...

e-mail subscriber
transamws602(at)yahoo(dot)com

Unknown said...

I'd totally love to win this because I have the original one! And I didnt know they remade it but Id love the win the new one and add it to my collection - mom@crazysuburbanmom dot com

Susan Fobes said...

I get tired of the same old recipes time after time, so I love getting new cookbooks.

Teresa said...

My husband is the main cook, and when he finds a full time job....I have to cook,lol. I need all the help I can get
mstlee2000 @ hotmail.com

Teresa said...

I subscribe via reader
mstlee2000 @ hotmail.com

Chrissyb said...

http://twitter.com/lilbabybootie/status/20843620703

Misusedinnocence said...

I do hate to cook and would love to add this one to my collection.

misusedinnocence@aol.com

shelley said...

I hate cooking. This book sounds like it was made for me!!

jerseygirl137 said...

Tweet

http://twitter.com/jerseygirl137/status/20929371435

jerseygirl137(at)yahoo(dot)com

Chrissyb said...

http://twitter.com/lilbabybootie/status/20937038256

jemr2 said...

I need to win this! I hate cooking!

jemr2 said...

I'm a google follower!

jemr2

Julie Donahue said...

My family would thank you for this book!

Unknown said...

I'd love to win because i hate to cook but it's healthier and cheaper than eating out so i'm trying to learn to love it

givegalore at gmail dot com

Unknown said...

I follow your blog through google friend connect.

givegalore at gmail dot com

Chrissyb said...

http://twitter.com/lilbabybootie/status/21022832027

Rhonda said...

I would like to learn some easy deliscious recipes that I can make for the family after work.

rhondastruthers atyahoo.ca

justicecw said...

I would love to win because I am lazy in the kitchen and I like easy! thanks, justicecw@hotmail.com

justicecw said...

I am an email subscriber
justicecw@hotmail.com

justicecw said...

Follow on twitter and tweeted at http://twitter.com/justicecw/status/21028104416
justicecw@hotmail.com

justicecw said...

I am a GFC follower
justicecw@hotmail.com

jerseygirl137 said...

Tweet

http://twitter.com/jerseygirl137/status/21055577729

jerseygirl137(at)yahoo(dot)com

Mommy 2 Monkeys said...

I want to win because the title is totally me... I hate to cook.

rah267 said...

higgs.rachel@gmail.com
I want to win because I am always looking for new cooking tips

Chrissyb said...

http://twitter.com/lilbabybootie/status/21116861314

msrodeobrat said...

i want to win this because during the week i hate to cook!
addictedtorodeo at gmail dot com

jerseygirl137 said...

Tweet

http://twitter.com/jerseygirl137/status/21147075773

jerseygirl137(at)yahoo(dot)com

jakiesmom said...

i'd love this cause i hate to cook, but would like some easy recipes to try
nannypanpan at sbcglobal.net

jakiesmom said...

e-mail subscriber

jakiesmom said...

gfc follower

Anonymous said...

Quite honestly, there are days I don't feel like cooking-so love to try the recipes

aunteegem@yahoo.com

Anonymous said...

follow your blog

aunteegem@yahoo.com

Anonymous said...

email subsriber

aunteegem@yahoo.com

Anonymous said...

like u on fb-Julie Laws
aunteegem@yahoo.com

Anonymous said...

like I hate to cook on fb-Julie Laws
aunteegem@yahoo.com

Anonymous said...

Being I work everyday and my fiance works 3 days from home, i'd LOVE For him to make me dinner, but he hates to cook. Wouldn't this book be perfect :)

cwboylver17@aol.com

Amy said...

Following you on twitter - ageloudi926 and left a comment

Amy said...

I am a fan on facebook
cwbylver17@yahoo.com

PEMom said...

I want to win because I need to use it to teach my husband to cook.

PEMom said...

I tweeted and follow you...

http://twitter.com/klundine/status/21167699517

PEMom said...

I follow you on fb.

PEMom said...

I'm a fan of the I Hate to Cook Book on fb.

saturdaynightfever said...

I would like this for my cookbook shelf!

edgenemmers@gmail.com

Tylerpants said...

This sounds a fun, easy to read cookbook with no strange ingredients...makes life easier for me when I cook! tylerpants(at)gmail.com

Tylerpants said...

I'm a subscriber. tylerpants(at)gmail.com

mail4rosey said...

I want to win because I hate to cook!

msurosey@yahoo.com

Andie said...

I'm just learning to cook so a cookbook would be greatly appreciated.
andie.v107(at)yahoo(dot)com

trixx said...

I'd love to win this as I'm not the biggest fan of cooking...I hardly have time after a long day at work!

trixx said...

I subscribe via email.

Sand said...

I'd love to win this book because it sounds like a good one!

cman said...

I want to try some new recipes :)

Mary said...

I grew up with a mother who cooked with Peg Bracken's little cookbook in her hand. My favorite recipe from the book was her chili. I went looking for the book in her house last week -- Mom died in July -- but alas I couldn't find it. It was a great little cookbook -- Mom hated to cook but she loved to eat and she taught us to love everything about the kitchen. Isn't that funny? We all cook.

Blog Widget by LinkWithin