No Recipe? No Problem!

Awesome book! There are lots of tips and informations teaching you how to cook, lot's of freestyle ways to prepare food, what goes well with what, combinations, and recipes. There are lots of photos and the book is colorful and easy to read and follow. It's a great companion and a kitchen must have for everyone that struggles to think about what to make for lunch and dinner everyday. I received a free digital copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review

I honestly can’t get enough of cook books and recipe books, this one has to be one of my favourites so far, very clearly written and easy to read. I have always envied those who can cook without following a recipe, now with this book I can learn the hints and tips to achieve this myself.

This is a really well done book that teaches you the basic plan for making all kinds of recipes that you can then adapt to what you have. It's well illustrated and there are a whole range of contributors who offer wisdom and recipes. Chapters include things like soups, salads, vegetables, big proteins, pastas and grains, eggs, pizza and sheet pan meals. There is not information on baking, although the same principles can easily be adapted for baking (our kids' favorite snack is mix and match quick bread, which uses two cups of any fruits and veggies on hand like pumpkin, zucchini, apples, bananas, carrots, berries, you name it, spices adjusted to the flavors, and whatever flours we happen to have). It's also really designed for meat eaters and traditional American style tastes. I was a little disappointed it wasn't geared at least a little bit towards adapting recipes for special diets like vegetarian or gluten free, since that's one reason I learned to cook this way, but it doesn't really go into that sort of thing at all. Still, it's a fantastic guide and it's just packed with cooking information.

I read a temporary digital ARC of this book for review.

This book is a great idea—especially as we adjust to what may be called “the new normal”.The current time in which we are living has revealed many issues. One of those issues is there are many people who have little to no cooking skills. Enter this book—a way to do improvisational cooking! I love the author’s idea of using a group known as The Cooking Circle. This group consists of 14 improvisational cooks from different areas of the country who share cooking ideas and stories to help the reader feel encouraged in their own attempts at meal preparation. Not only are step-by-step instructions presented, but there are also ideas for avoiding food waste.

Honestly, the ideas in this book will work for all levels of cooking ability because there are times when shortages will make it necessary to come up with improvised recipes. In addition, there are wonderful suggestions to spruce up meals for even the most experienced cooks. So, consider buying a copy of this book for yourself as well as additional copies to give as gifts.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book provided by the publisher and Net Galley. However, the thoughts expressed are my own.

An excellent idea for a book! I immediately wondered what kind of information I would find in this book. I mostly cook without recipes, and I’m always open to new ideas. That’s what I was mostly looking in this book. It was nice to see that so many people have contributed with their own tips and ways of cooking.

I fully agree with the basic you should have at home, like beans, grains, herbs, and vinegar. Well, many more than that, but you get the idea. Pick the things you like, and keep what you can at home at all times, add some fresh ingredients, and voila! I actually make the best dinner when I have to think outside the box and use the ingredients I have at home on days I should go to the shop, but I’m too lazy. This book gave me some ideas what more I could have at home at all times, and some ways to build the foundation and sauces for new meals.

This is not your average cookbook....and that’s my favorite thing about it!
I read this title and instantly knew I had to check it out. I’m so bad at following recipes and I never to seem to find ones that I hold on to and make again and again. This book speaks to “chefs” like me! It’s organized into food groups- vegetables, pasta and grains, eggs, proteins, etc. there’s even a section for sheet pan meals, which are a must have for cooks like me, and my favorite chapter called, “toast toppers and their cousins” haha!
Every chapter has some awesome tips on how to cook that food in different ways. There are “essential techniques” (like sautéing) that are listed in the chapter with steps on how to do it, tips to do it better, and even types of foods that you can do it with. I love that about this book because sometimes I’m throwing a bunch of vegetables together and the list gives me a little glimpse of what vegetables I can put together in a pan to actually make a tasty meal.
There’s also some “freestyle” recipes too. The soup chapter has sections where you can just pick each component of the soup from the columns on the page, put it together, and cook it!
This book really lives up to its name— No Recipe? No Problem!!

As someone who's often stressed out by portions on recipes, this was such a refreshing book for me. Rather than focusing on different kinds of recipes, it teaches your techniques and ideas to using different types of ingredients and tips to cooking without a recipe. Wonderful and unique book that I highly recommend.

This was a very intriguing cook book, you won't find classic recipes listed, instead this is a collaboration of ideas, techniques and inspiration. I loved the free style cooking, the group collaboration and the ideas/inspiration.

Freestyle cooking:
What am I in the mood for?
What do I have on hand?
How much time do I have?

This is a brilliant look at cooking, I love the low waste approach. If you're looking to build your confidence in the kitchen this book is for you!

This is a great book for people like me, who cannot follow recipes. I have always struggled to keep to recipes as I always felt boxed in by them. This book gave a nice perspective on the advantages of not following recipes and how to do it smartly. I love all kinds of cooking tips, as I am woeful at it, and I loved how easy to understand this book was. I could see myself buying this if I came across it in a book shop.

I loved this book! It read a like you are having a conversation with the author and contributors. It also compares cooking to jazz. I have always said baking is science and cooking is art and this book really shows that. Great if you are an established cook and want to try something new or look at things in a new way, or great to help new cooks gain confidence in the kitchen!

What a great concept! I'm thinking this book will be a tremendous asset to anyone's kitchen/bookshelf, especially to young adults learning to fix food and to any cooking-challenged adults needing to feed themselves. It's especially useful if you want to skip the excessive calories of take-out or fast-food but eat flavorful meals. You can do quick (or complex) at home for a fraction of the cost and the results are healthy and flavorful. No recipes, just great ideas for making meals from what is in your kitchen or at the market. There are also ideas to combine your favorite ingredients in new ways. I actually found this book fun to read; it mimics the way I learned to cook but also taught me a few things. The main takeaway from this book: once you know the 'why' of combining ingredients, the 'how' is really easy. Get yourself a copy of this book!

Thanks to #netgalley and the publisher for the advanced reader's copy. I'm looking forward to seeing the final version.

I’m not quite sure what I expected with this, but found some really useful tips for making decent family meals we will all enjoy. All in all, if you enjoy cooking, especially if you like adapting recipes or just finding new dishes to try this will give you a good base to work from.