Book review: Cook from the heart according to your mood

ALIDA Ryder loves food. She feels it nourishes the soul and she finds her peace and inspiration in the kitchen and offers recipes for every mood. Her newly published recipe book, Cook from the Heart (Published by Penguin), expresses this special relationship with food and her love for cooking.

The easy-to-follow recipes will add some punch to you repertoir. There is Beer & Bacon Mac & Cheese, Gnocchi with Gorgonzola Cream, Linguini with Broccoli, Anchovies & Lemon and Marinated Eggplant/Aubergine Salad, among the mix.

This recipe book is not divided in the usual way with startes, mains and sweets, but rather according to mood (which I think women will related to and enjoy).

Ryder confesses to being an emotional eater and has reflected this with the titles of chapters: Happy, (Blueberry Flpjacks); Celebrate (Champagne Cupcakes with White Chocolate); Nostalgia (Devilled Eggs With smoked Salmon); Tranquil (Coconut Curry mussels); Anger (Chilli Prawns); Love (Duck Salad with Cherry Dressing) and Lazy (Chicken & Sweet Potato Hash With Fried Egg).

The book is illlustrated with beautiful images of the finished dishes, tempting the reader/cook to go straight into the kitchen and start cooking.

Ryder’s first book, Simple & Delicious, was published by Penguin South Africa in 2012. Apart from her expertise in the kitchen, she is a food stylist, photographer, award-winning blogger and the mother of twins.

Within a year after starting her blog she had already gained great success and had won two awards at the SA Blog Awards 2010 for both Best New Blog and Best Food & Wine Blog.