Basic Information:
Hardcover, 240 pages
Published April 8th 2014 by Clarkson Potter
Book Cover Blurb:
Never again let the question, “What’s for dinner?” stump you. The Chopped Cookbook features secrets for combining pantry staples to make exciting meals.
If you’ve ever looked into your fridge, hoping for inspiration to strike, let The Chopped Cookbook help you shake up weeknight dinners. Just as each basket on Chopped has many tasty possibilities, so, too, do the contents of your refrigerator. By showing you how to spin your favorite ingredients into 188 fun, doable, and delicious recipes—including go-to guides for making salad dressings and pan sauces, four-ingredient market baskets that can go in many tasty directions, and ideas for ways to reinvent pasta dinners—the culinary masterminds at Food Network set you up for mealtime victory every night.
INTRODUCTION:
I matched this cookbook from my local library. Of course, I’ve mentioned my obsession with Food Network’s Chopped. It’s the one show I watch on Tuesdays. So, it’s only natural that I would devour any cookbook ant cookbook based off it. So, here we go, my first review of a cookbook. Is it normal to be a little scared?
“Use what you’ve got to cook something great.” That’s the line that intrigued me. Now, don’t get me wrong, I love cooking. What I don’t love about cooking is running to the store to fetch something I need for a recipe. So, if I can find a way to utilize stuff already in my pantry, I want to do it. This book was a saving grace almost. The “Chopped Cookbook” contains recipes from salads to desserts. (If you don’t mind, I think I’ll skip the salads and go straight to dessert.) Also, there are little snippets included in the book like how to cook pan sauces and what to look for when buying vegetables.
The book does a great job explaining each dish and how it’s prepared. It doesn’t explain what it means, for example, to chop. It’s an easy knife skill, but for someone new to cooking, it would be nice to have a section explaining that skill. If you’re not familiar with most cooking terminology, you’ll need Google on standby.
I loved the way the chapters and recipes were organized and displayed. The pictures within the cookbook were absolutely gorgeous. There were pictures for almost every recipe, and they were stunning. One would expect near perfect pictures of the completed recipe in a cookbook, right? Well, we got some in here.
The instructions were easy to follow, despite the lack of terminology explanation. I enjoyed their layout, and formatting. The whole cookbook is colorful, and the recipes are no exception. If you’re tired, just looking at this book is like a shot of espresso. There’s orange, yellow, and red everywhere. And that’s not necessarily a bad thing.
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Alas, it is that time of year once more. The season of giving, or otherwise known as my favorite time of year. However, while I rejoice in the presence of family and butcher various Christmas carols, I’m confronted with a unique dilemma. What about gift giving? I have a few writers in my extended family, and seeking out gifts for them is tough. I know you guys must experience the same problem. Maybe you need a little help with extending your Christmas wish list. If either of these problems plague you, never fear, for I have scoured the depths of the interwebs for your convenience. See, I’ve always got your back.
I was tagged for this 
(*DISCLAIMER: I RECEIVED THIS PRODUCT FOR FREE AS PART OF THE INFLUENSTER PROGRAM, IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW. NO OTHER FORM OF COMPENSATION WAS GIVEN, AND ALL OPINIONS EXPRESSED IN THIS REVIEW ARE MY OWN.)
Hey ya’ll, I’m back with another post for the 
Writing Abby 