The Chew – An Essential Guide to Cooking and Entertaining

I am a fan of ABC’s hit show “The Chew,” which means I was more than happy to agree to receive a copy of the new book, The Chew: An Essential Guide to Cooking and Entertaining, which was just recently released at the end of March. This book is a follow up to three previous best sellers and takes you on a fabulous food journey with the five hosts of the show – Mario Batali, Carla Hall, Clinton Kelly, Daphne Oz and Michael Symon.

I have not only been a fan of the ABC show, but have also been slightly obsessed with Mario Batali over the years. My favorite restaurant is Babbo in New York and I got to meet him one night (in his orange Crocs!) after we finished our amazing dinner. Carla Hall is one of my favorite contestants (EVER) on Top Chef and I saw her do a cooking demonstration live several years ago and it was a blast. I was absolutely thrilled when they both ended up on The Chew together. All of the hosts of The Chew have their own unique style and fun personalities, so this book blends all of that together with a variety of delicious recipes and useful entertainment tips to make cooking for family and friends easier than ever.

There are a few things that I really like about this book. The first is that way that it is organized into different sections such as Back to Basics, Comfort Classics and Guilty Pleasures to name a few. Each of the unique sections brings the recipes to life along with practical and creative tips from the show’s hosts and many of the favorites are handed down from the hosts’ families to ours. I also really enjoyed seeing the details and insights from the hosts alongside the delicious recipes. Some of the recipes in the book include:

• Lemon Ricotta Pancakes from Clinton Kelly
• “Blow Your Mind” Baked Chicken Wings from Daphne Oz
• Chicago Style Italian Beef Sandwich by Michael Symon
• Mrs. Batali’s Chicken Cacciatore by Mario Batali
• Cheesy Pull Apart Pesto Bread by Carla Hall

There are so many different recipes try, including cocktails like the Hot Toddy and incredible desserts like Dad’s Death by Chocolate and Rhubarb Berry Slab Pie. You are sure to find many new favorites in this book that you’ll be making for years to come. Whether you prefer to do something straightforward and simple such as the Banana Dippers or the Hazelnut Hot Chocolate (which would be perfect when cooking with kids) or something a little more complex like the Chicken Potpie with Cheddar-Chive Biscuits, there is something for everyone in this book. There are even many meals that can be made ahead of time or in a slow cooker for those of us that have busy lives and prefer to press the “easy” button whenever possible, especially on weeknights with homework, sports and music lessons (says the mom of an 11 year old boy).

Whether you want this book for yourself or a gift for someone else (or both!), it is a wonderful kitchen companion that will inspire and help turn an ordinary meal into something quite extraordinary.

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Disclaimer: Kristine has personally reviewed the product listed above. She has not received any monetary compensation for her review but did receive a free product to try out so she could evaluate and use it for her review. Her thoughts & opinions in this review are unbiased & honest and your opinions may differ. Please read our official rules for giveaways before entering. Two Classy Chics is not responsible for shipment of this product