Wicked Smart

Food52 Genius Recipes is part cookbook, part kitchen helper.  The recipes themselves are nothing to write home about, at least at first glance.  Things like roast chicken, coconut macaroons, and fried eggs are all recipes home cooks have made a million times. So many times, in fact, that I almost never look at a recipe.  Where Food52 differs is in the tips it provides.  Instead of just fying an egg, make a vinegar reduction to enhance the flavor.  Instead of using butter on your grilled cheese, coat it with a layer of mayo to keep it from burning.  These tips have proven themselves to be true, no matter which recipe I tried or what section of the book I was in.   When Food52 Genius Recipes first arrived, I immediately dropped what I was doing and proceeded to go through the beautiful pages one by one, writing down all of the recipes I was interested in trying. This book is so beautiful and well laid out I couldn't wait to try everything! Out of 100 recipes, I flagged 44.  I

I am the type of girl that loves to read about all of the gross stuff added to our food these days.  I am also the type of girl who loves to share what she reads and freak others out.  This book isn't overly disgusting, though it has it's moments.  The worst wasn't even something you put in your mouth, but rather that you put on your clothes (Fabric Softener).  Vegans, beware! I enjoyed how the chemicals were broken down into laymen's terms making it easy for everyone to understand what exactly they were and why they were used.  It's fascinating how many items are used to either counteract a negative component of another chemical or to work in conjunction with it.   I would recommend This is What You Just Put In Your Mouth to anyone who is interested in learning a little bit more about the chemicals surrounding them. I recieved this book from Blogging for Books for this review.