Here’s my verdict for Eat a Little Better: Great Flavor, Good Health, Better World by Sam Kass.
To Read: Yes. Do you want to read stories about the author hanging out in the kitchen with the Obama girls or cooking for the president on Air Force One? Then you should read this book. Kass also writes about nutrition and food policy, but he doesn’t really hit you over the head with his opinions.
To Look At: Sure. The photos are fine, but this book definitely has that hipster vibe, where the photos are toned down and are more about ingredients than the recipes. There aren’t photos for every recipe, and there is only one photo of Michelle Obama. Oh well.
To Cook From: Yes. The recipes are quite simple. Kass believes in taking fresh ingredients and using spices and cooking techniques that will best highlight the ingredients. One section of the book that I found really interesting was called “Eat More Grains and Beans.” Kass takes a variety of beans and grains and provides four seasonal recipes highlighting each ingredient. Just like with vegetables I often get stuck in a rut with rice, quinoa, beans, etc., so I plan on trying out some of these recipes soon.
Overall, I found this book very compelling. The picture above is of a pasta recipe that Kass created for Senator Obama the night before his 2nd presidential debate in 2012. Obama raved about the dish, and, since the debate went really well, he started calling it “lucky pasta.” I need some lucky pasta in my life. LOL
My only real complaint about the book is that Kass is not a fan of the potato lobby, and includes no potatoes (except for sweet) in the book. Potatoes are one of my favorite foods, so I don’t think he should have left them out completely.
Despite the lack of potatoes, I will probably share some more recipes from this cookbook in the future. Let me know if any of you have read this book or tried out any of the recipes.
Have a good weekend!
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