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How To Eat - The Pleasures and Principles of Good Food
by Nigella Lawson
John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
ISBN 0-470-17354-1
Published June 2007 - Softcover - 474 pages - $19.95

This is the first book I've read of Nigella Lawson's, and I was eager to see what all the hoopla was about.  (I've not seen her television shows either.)  Happily, I learned that Ms. Lawson is "...not a chef.  I am not even a trained or professional cook.  My qualification is as an eater."  And I must add, she says that many of these recipes "...are derived from other writers," and "From the outset I wanted this book to be, in part, an anthology of the food I love eating and a way of paying my respects to the food writers I've loved reading."  Nice sentiments, and she doesn't stint on telling what she loves to eat.  You don't have to feel guilty about what you like to eat.  There is plenty to read about the hows and whys of Ms. Lawson's likes and dislikes.  Her contents include: Basics, etc.; Cooking in Advance; One and Two; Fast Food; Weekend Lunch; Dinner; Low Fat; Feeding Babies and Small Children, followed by a Glossary, Sources, Bibliography, Acknowledgements, and an extensive Index.  There is so much helpful information throughout this book, so don't only zoom in on the recipes.  I fancied these recipes: Moussaka (a Lebanese not Greek dish); Butternut Squash and Pasta Soup; Gooey Chocolate Pudding (sounds yummy); Lemon Chicken; Ham Cooked in Cider; Garlic Chicken Wings; Spinach, Bacon, and Raw Mushroom Salad (check this one out!); Sweet-and-Sour Cabbage, and Beet Soup.  What I appreciated was Ms. Lawson telling us it's okay to cook and eat what you know and love, not what's fashionable.  And, not to be afraid of trying new recipes.  Anyone wishing to get organized, do read the "Basics" section - it's very helpful.  And, this is probably the most eloquent and sophisticatedly written cookbook ever.  Her vocabularly is unsurpassed.  Have you ever used the word "tautologous"?
Not illustrated.  No nutritional guides.  See my review of another Nigella cookbook, Nigella Express.
Conclusion - A very interesting and informative book.  If you can cook, or if you want to cook, you should read this book.