Who
thought a cookbook would be moving? Well, I was moved by the
dedication in this one. Chris Toy has dedicated this book to his
adopted parents, Alfred and Grace Toy. He was the first baby adopted
from Hong Kong to the United States in 1958 through the International
Social Services. As we celebrate following Christmas Eve services
each year at a local Chinese restaurant in honor of our adopted
granddaughter, this particular cookbook took on extra meaning. Chris
Toy has been teaching Asian cooking for over three decades near Bath,
Maine, and I appreciate that he is sharing his expertise with us
through this cookbook, helping us to recreate our restaurant
favorites at home. Toy in his introduction tells us that these
recipes are both seriously easy and cheap. That's good news!
Chapter
One, The Chinese Home Kitchen,
includes valuable information on stocking one's pantry and essential
and helpful kitchen equipment. Then it is on to more than eighty-five
recipes from dumplings and egg rolls to meats, noodles and desserts.
Most of the ingredients will be easy to find; some may require
visiting the local Asian grocery. The directions are specific and
easy to follow. Unlike most of the cookbooks I have reviewed lately,
there are no nutritional facts or food sensitivity information for
each recipe. Some may wish for more photographs of the finished
products, but most of us can visualize these from our favorite
restaurants. I say this cookbook is a keeper, and will inspire many
meals to come.
I
am grateful to have received a copy of this cookbook from RockRidge
Press in exchange for my honest opinion. I was under no obligation to
provide a positive review, and received no monetary compensation.
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