Big 50 for THE I HATE TO COOK BOOK! Review & Giveaway

This cookbook was firs published in 1960. You know, way back when people used butter. Real butter. On everything and had no clue what cholesterol was.  I was mighty curious about it, so I signed up to do a review and giveaway. It is a nice size hardback 50th anniversary edition, with a forward from Peg's daughter, Jo Bracken. In the forward Jo talks about growing up with a famous mom in 50's & 60's and other snippets about her mom Peg. I swear, I don't think I have ever laughed and teared up in a forward before!

The book was written during a time when women were expected have a full dinner and desert on the table for their family every night. Guess what? Even back then some women would rather fast forward the cooking and be enjoying cocktail hour with everyone else. The I Hate to Cook Book is full of easy recipes meant to get nice filling dinner on the table, while still being able to enjoy a cocktail! Recipes like: Skid Road Stroganoff, Pedro's Special and Tia Juana Tamale. It reminds me alot of growing up, we weren't well off by any means and grandma and mom both cooked alot of hearty dishes to fill up a hungry family. 90% of the time the ingredients are items you can easily find in your pantry, although Peg does seem to have a strange obsession with pimentos. Maybe it was a 50's thing? 

My favorite part of this book is by far the anecdotes and the "tips" in every chapter.

"Do your ice-cube trays stick?" they ask, knowing full well they do. "Then put sheets of waxed paper underneath them, or oil their bottoms with cooking oil." But everyone knows you either give them a good tug or a good kick, if you can kick that high...Sticking ice-cube trays are not, I repeat, a problem. They are merely a fact of life, like dilatory streetcars or hair-colored hair." pg 172

In another chapter preface she describes how to con your husband into loving store bought rolls in a way that totally reminds me of the Rice Krispie Treats commercial where the mom puts flour on her face and pretends to work hard. While many references in her book are outdated (like um hello--microwaves!) it will still transcend the generation gap and I love the snarky comments she peppers throughout the book!

I would recommend this to anyone, seasoned cook or beginner, man or woman who would rather drink a cocktail than make cocktail weenies! Unless you happen to be a health nut or vegan:)

  

BUY IT

The I Hate To Cook Book will be released on July 26th and is available for pre-order on Amazon.com

WIN IT!

Two of my readers are going to win their very own copy of The I HATE TO COOK BOOK, 50th Anniversary Edition by Peg Bracken.

Mandatory Entry: Like I Hate to Cook Book on facebook and let them know @Carrie's Rambles sent you! (must be completed or all bonus entries will be discarded)

BONUS ENTRIES
(you may complete as many you like or none at all!)

~Follow Carrie's Rambles on Google Friend Connect +1
~Like Carrie's Rambles on Facebook +1 (leave user name)
~Share this giveaway and leave me a link +2
~Subscribe to Jo Bracken's Blog (Peg's Daughter)
~Sign up for my emails +2
~Grab my button and tell me where I can find it +3
~Blog about this giveaway +5
~add me to your blogroll +2
~enter any of my other giveaways +1 each
~Follow ME on twitter and tweet this giveaway +1 each (up to 3x daily)
you may use this sample tweet:

#Win the 50th anniversary edition I Hate To Cook Book
@yorkiemomma  http://bit.ly/cSvTKX Ends 8/12 2 Winners!

Contest ends on 8/12 at 11:59 pm. Winners to be drawn by random.org and notified by email. Winners must respond within 48 hours or a new winner will be drawn. Open to US only must be 18 to enter.


disclaimer: I received a copy of the book in order to review. All opinions are my honest opinion and in no way altered because I received free merchandise.