I was personally bummed by this cookbook because I adore Claire Robinson endlessly. What's not to like? She's friendly, relatable, likeable, and I've always liked her cooking show. Whenever I watch her, I can't help but think... five ingredients? This woman and I need to become friends in real life. But then I got this cookbook and I made some of her recipes (Easy ones by the way, supposedly foolproof), and I didn't love them. I made the "Polenta fries with roasted tomato sauce" and the "Spicy citrus mozzarella bites". At that point, I had the ingredients for her "Mushroom carpaccio" but I was so afraid of another recipe/cooking disappointment that I ended up talking myself out of it and not making it. I used the ingredients for something else instead. So, honestly, I was disappointed. And I didn't think I would be. I don't like writing a negative review for someone I like so much. Maybe my taste profiles are decidedly different from hers? Maybe it's human error on my part? Maybe I'm an idiot who somehow found a way to fudge these recipes somehow? I hope so. I don't know. I want to give her every benefit of the doubt, but needless to say, I was disappointed. I love this cookbook! I borrowed it from the library and think I now have to buy it. Too many recipes I want to try! I love that it is 5 ingredients really goes along with wanting to simplify. The pumpkin seed dried cherry trail mix is addicting. The ricotta thyme spaetzle (pg 181) is great. I've always bought spaetzle when making a German dish and my husband has never gone for seconds. He went for seconds and I was amazed. The kids liked them too.
What do You think about 5 Ingredient Fix: Easy, Elegant, And Irresistible Recipes (2010)?
I love Clair Robinson's show - but didn't really find any recipes in this book that I HAD TO TRY.
—chelz
it's obvious she doesn't have kids, but I want to try her recipes anyway.
—rania
