This is my favorite claypot cookbook, even though the author has the annoying habit, shared by many recent cookbook writers, of not specifying exact amounts for some of the ingredients, such as salt, pepper, and butter. Lump of butter? Salt and pepper to taste? Authors, please stop being so coy. Just tell me what you used when developing the recipe, and I'll adjust your suggestions as need be. Other than that flaw, there are some tasty recipes in this cookbook that I use over and over again. Bridget Jones's 'shepherd's pie' (spelled 'sheppards pie' for some reason) and 'cumin potatoes with peas' (I also add sausage) are a couple of my husband's favorite dishes. If you are looking for vegetable recipes, the 'rich vegetable ragout' is a standout. It uses seven different vegetables (leeks, celery, potatoes, carrots, parsnips, cauliflower, and chick peas) cooked in cider and topped with a mixture of bread crumbs, cheese, and sesame seed. I like to use this recipe for Thanksgiving because I can make it a day or two ahead of time. I've never used the dessert recipes, because they shouldn't be cooked in the same clay pot as meat dishes, but some of them sound interesting: 'caramelized rice pudding;' 'pineapple & pear crunch;' and 'impressive bananas.' I'm thinking about investing in another clay pot (slightly smaller than my current model) just so I can try some of this author's desserts. If they're as good as her main dishes, they should be yummy.
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