Review & Giveaway: Jessica Seinfeld's Double Delicious

 

Recently, Harper Collins sent us a copy of Double Delicious!, by Jessica Seinfeld, to review. It's her follow up to the controversial Deceptively Delicious, which many criticized as being unoriginal at best, and, at worst, rehashed content from other cookbooks.

We say, isn't that what all cookbooks do? Very few recipes are 100% original. You can Google just about any darn combination of ingredients on the planet and find a multitude of concoctions utilizing them.

But we digress. We really like Double Delicious!. Firstly, it's spiral bound. Which all cookbooks should be. Secondly, the retro graphics and colors are easy on the eyes. And fun! Throughout the book are sprinkled short quotes from Seinfeld's husband, Jerry –- some New Yorker who really likes burgers -- her three children and nutritionist Joy Bauer.

The photos are bright and unpretentious (featuring paper napkins!) and the design makes the book highly flippable and easy to follow.

What about the recipes, you ask? Yes, we have something to say about those, too. We made three of them in our "test kitchen": Chicken and Biscuits, Black Bean Burgers, and Sesame Beef with Broccoli. Most of Seinfeld's Mealtime recipes incorporate her philosophy of utilizing as many whole foods as possible, usually with the addition of a vegetable purée. For this reason, we cannot give the book a 1/2 assed rating. If you do what we did, though, and make several cups of purée at once to keep in the fridge, the entrees suddenly seem a lot less daunting. And more nutritious.

We loved the Chicken and Biscuits, made with carrot purée, whole wheat flour, and low-fat buttermilk, among other things. Our husband, who likes foods that are a little less "comfort" and a little more Asian, preferred the Sesame Beef.

The combinations of flavors in this book were fabulous. Seinfeld gets her seasonings just right and is not afraid of a few (low fat) dairy products. She strives to focus simultaneously on healthfulness and convenience.

And now for the exciting news! We have two copies of Double Delicious! to give away. Simply leave a comment on this post by Saturday, December 4th at 10 pm PST. We'll randomly choose two comments and announce the winners on Sunday, the 5th.

Good luck!

Update: The winners of Double Delicious! are Diep and M&Co. We'll be emailing you with details.

Comments

[Kay]

I just bought the Deceptively Simple cookbook for my grandkids and am looking forward to this new cookbook.

[kim parker]

looking forward to the cookbook !

[Debra Errico]

I just bought her first one for my sister and after looking at it realized I want one too!

[Annie]

Ohhh I would love to try her recipes, thanks!

[Kim Tucknott]

I always believed that if you give you kids lots of food choices and opportunities to explore food that they would always be good and healthy eaters. THEN I HAD KIDS!!! True they started this way, but then the "phases" started. You know the "I don't eat anything orange" or "I don't like bananas cuz the have strings on them" or may lates from my 5 year old, "Mom. Jenny told me that chicken IS meat so please just make me a pb sammie for dinner every night." So I a learning to grate all my veggies and make fruit smoothies. The help would be appreciated!

[jess]

i'm always looking for more strategies for cooking more healthfully and packing more nutrition into the foods i make for my currently picky three-year-old and myself.

[Caroline]

What a great ides for a cookbook!

[Tammy]

Sounds like a great giveaway. I'd love a new cookbook!

[Jill in Vermont]

I'm always on the lookout for new recipes.

[Cindy Cumming]

I love it! Who needs the Soup Nazi when you've got great new recipes like these?? :0)

[Haylie]

Pick Me! Pick Me! My kids are terribly picky, and i would love to get them eating better foods. thanks for the opportunity!

[Heidi Mueller]

I liked her first cookbook...right up until I got lazy with the purees. I'd like to give her second book a shot though!

[Amanda]

I've always wanted to try her cookbooks! Sounds great!

[Diep]

"healthfulness and convenience" that's the combo I'm looking for!

[Bethany]

I have a copy of Deceptively Delicious, but haven't had a chance to try the recipes. I got it with sneaking more veges in on hubby than I did with picky-eater children in mind. :D

[Wendy]

who doesn't need more ideas for cooking?!

[laura @ alittlebarefoot]

sounds good to me!

[Karla]

Jessica's cookbook Deceptively Delicious was awesome. The Peanutbutter & Banana Muffins are the best. I like them with the carrot puree rather then the cauliflower puree, but they're both pretty good. I bet this book is just as good. Yummy. :D

[Cindy]

This would make an excellent addition to my kitchen... ;)

[Lisa E]

I'm always up for new methods and great cookbooks!

[Chrissy]

OMG I totally need this! My husband eats like a child and I'm always trying to sneak good foods in to his meals. I'd like to spend a lifetime with him, this would help! thanks for the consideration :)

[Jimmie]

You know, I've been reading you guys for years and years and years and I have never entered a giveaway. What the hell, here it goes!

[M&Co.]

How many blogs do you have?

[Jen Bowman]

I loved Jessica Seinfeld's first cookbook, and I am excited about this one. Good luck to me!!!

[Kari]

I can't say i've tried adding vegetable purée to many things. I've got a great new blender though so maybe now is the time.