Chapters cover the usual suspects – fish, shellfish, lamb, poultry, beef and pork with the mandatory chapter on vegetarian options. Honestly, vegetarians are not likely to be keen enough to buy a book of barbecue recipes but if you are catering for a group, some non meat options are helpful. The format is the main recipe (most with a photo) such as Hot and Sticky Summertime Chicken followed by four differently flavoured options. There are apparently 500 recipes and variants in all. Ingredients are store cupboard standards with nothing too out there or difficult to source though some fish will need to subbed because we have different options here.

Modern barbecues are multi purpose cooking appliances with a versatility that goes well beyond a mere hot plate, often with a price tag to match. This little hardback book may be just the ticket to extending the repertoire of food options to justify the expenditure. Family and friends will notice and enjoy the variety.

500 BBQ Bites by Paul Kirk (New Holland; ISBN: 9781741107203) reviewed by Abbie Jury.

First published in the Waikato Times and reprinted here with their permission.

Easy Organic Garden

This is organic gardening as carried out by a dedicated moon planter but easy it is not. The author subscribes to the why-use-one-sentence-when-you-can-use-ten school of writing. It is very long and wordy, filled with so much detail that even the experienced and knowledgeable gardener can end up seriously baffled. You need to be a believer to want this book. As it is in its second edition, there are either a fair number of believers out there or there is a thirst for knowledge on the topic of organic gardening. I suspect the latter but I am not convinced this book will give the answers.

I am very keen to see books which will separate the organic gardening concepts from faith and mystique. Psuedo science does not do it. Nor do sweeping statements. When I read statements like: “I must confess to not fully understanding the science behind this particular portion of moon-planting principles, but I do know it works in practice,” I start to worry. The author is referring to the changed polarities of yin and yang in Virgo and Libra. I get irritated by the careless use of the word chemical as a synonym for all that is bad and destructive in gardening. A chemical is simply a substance or a compound. In itself it is neither good nor bad. I raised my eyebrows at the claim that synthetic fertilisers lock up essential nutrients in New Zealand soils. Really?

I am all for sustainable gardening practice and I think it is all to the good that we are questioning some pretty dodgy habits. If you are willing to drill down into this book, it promotes good environmental practice, aimed at the author’s homeland of Australia. It covers both ornamental and productive gardening and even has a helpful section on bushfire season. There is just an awful lot of smoke and mirrors to get through first and the husband still doubts that it is possible to get a tomato crop through in our climate without a little non-organic intervention.

(Scribe; ISBN: 9781921372605)

First published in the Waikato Times and reprinted here with their permission.

Alice Tawhai writes about those marginalised on the fringes of New Zealand society. Snapshots of subcultures, as the back cover says. These are short stories, her third published collection. Each story is a well rounded, complete entity but they are a little too challenging to want to read more than one at a sitting. There is nothing cosy or comfortable about Tawhai’s writing. Each story has a central character and although usually written in the third person, we see their corner of the world through their eyes and their perceptions are often a little askew.

This is not writing for shock value. It is too well crafted for that. There is an underlying explanation and logic to the situations the characters are in, appropriate to each story. While there is a pervasive sense of darkness and a pretty heavy dose of ugliness, it is all dealt with in a matter of fact way. Prison, gangs, street life, domestic violence, racism, drugs and alcohol – there is no great tragedy, no searing expose, no magnified drama. In many ways, it makes the stories even more uncomfortable because they are individual interpretations of incidents and sequences which are disturbingly plausible. This may not be the New Zealand we want to see but Tawhai brings a powerful interpretation through strong writing which is impossible to ignore.

Dark Jelly by Alice Tawhai (Huia Publishers; ISBN: 978 1 86969 476 0) reviewed by Abbie Jury.

It is not without wider interest and humour. The dissertation on consumption (the Menton walk) was fascinating while the details on Robert Louis Stevenson (the Cevennes walk) were repellent. Her explanation of school hierarchy made me laugh out loud: “At high school, life became more serious. I was in 3P1. P for Professional. The girls in 3P2 would become nurses and primary-school teachers. In 3C for Commercial they would work in offices and do typing…. But the girls in 3P1 were destined for higher things. They did Latin and would go to university…. They would read Cranford and Jane Austen. They would become familiar with the habits of the rural gentry of nineteenth-century England.”

I found this book from one of our leading contemporary writers an absorbing and rewarding experience to read.

The Broken Book by Fiona Farrell (Auckland University Press; ISBN: 978 1 86940 576 2) reviewed by Abbie Jury.

The joy of the book is that, against all odds, Monica Searle survived and went on to live that very life with her husband for a further 40 years, not dying until July this year. Publishing the sketches in a small book format was clearly a mutual decision and the result is a touching affirmation of love, survival and simplicity. It is a wonderful book to give to any woman diagnosed with breast cancer but it may make a gift of love to any woman who is struggling with adversity in her life. There is such poignant charm in this little book of hope.

Les Tres Riches Heures de Mrs Mole by Ronald Searle (Harper Collins; ISBN: 978 0 00 744910 1) reviewed by Abbie Jury.

It is by an American so has a bit of a bias towards recent American history but there is detailed layer upon layer, joke upon witticism upon pun, line by line. It is hilarious and makes the perfect gift for somebody who has a Facebook presence and a reasonable general knowledge. I am looking forward to the Twitter parody which I am sure must follow in due course.

The History of the World According to Facebook by Wylie Overstreet (Harper Collins; ISBN: 978 0 06 207618 2) reviewed by Abbie Jury.

So all I can do is describe this book’s contents and style for readers to decide for themselves. It is the first cookbook from a young, trendy, Australian woman who is clearly trying to carve out a niche for herself. It is quite a personal book with encouraging commentary which includes quite a bit of sexual innuendo. We are talking the ooh la la, Folies Bergere style of provocation laced with modern woman. If you don’t know what the walk of shame is, then my advice is to bypass this book. You may not find the vision of wandering home in daylight “mascara down your face, panties in your handbag, feeling every bit the gorgeous, feckless, drunken It girl” quite as empowering as the author does.

Recipes are organised as meal menus. Eight chapters start with Like a Virgin (first dinner dates, birthdays, first anniversary and meeting the mates), progress through Love and Other Bruises (chapter 4), A Time for a Fuss, concluding with What the F*$k Should we cook for Dinner. There are 32 menus in all and the book is predicated on the idea that you cook a menu option rather than mix and match. It is food to share and food to impress designed for young women who are prepared to make an effort and to derive enjoyment from cooking for others. I would characterise it as modern cafe food in style – plenty of international flavours, good flavour combinations and a surprisingly large amount of baking, though more contemporary than classic. There is nothing too “out there” in the quest for originality and most of the ingredients will be readily available at a good, urban supermarket. But it is not spur of the moment cooking for quick meals.

Upon reflection, I think my aforementioned daughter was just a little too experienced and down to earth to relate to this book. Target market is probably younger, wannabe urban sophisticates who derive pleasure from preparing delicious food to impress and who are willing to make the effort to learn. I am not sure that this is a common breed these days but anything that encourages food preparation from scratch and eating well at home has merit.

Kitchen Coquette. The go-to guide for those random life scenarios when food is the only answer by Katrina Meynink (Allen & Unwin; ISBN: 978 1 74237 681 3) reviewed by Abbie Jury.

First published in the Waikato Times and reprinted here with their permission.

Every recipe is illustrated and there are over 100 recipes per book. The suppers encompass global flavours and fresh ingredients ranging from a classic Caesar Salad, through Fondue-filled Butternut Squash (yum), Thai curry, to Chicken Tagine with Preserved Lemons and Green Olives. Many are relatively simple and quick ideas to use on a weekday evening after work while there are slower cooked options for weekend meals. Ingredients are generally store cupboard and fridge standards and many of the simpler recipes don’t go beyond half a dozen different ones, plus seasoning.

The greens book is closer to a vegetarian cookbook. While some add meat or bacon, these could usually be replaced or omitted. It goes well beyond side dishes and salads. Many of the recipes could be lunch or dinner – Roasted Squash and Lentils with Harissa Dressing or Courgette, Smoky Bacon and Rosemary Clafoutis. There are some delicious flavour combinations and often achieved quite simply.

British cooking tends to be heavier on butter, salt, cream and rich pastries than contemporary NZ food (just watch Jamie Oliver or Rick Stein) and that is true of some of Annie Bell’s recipes. The pizzettas (that is mini pizzas as a kitchenette is to a kitchen) and pies are mostly puff pastry based. But it is easy enough to go for lower fat alternatives. These are useful books full of ideas for busy people who still enjoy turning out original and delicious food.

Gorgeous Suppers by Annie Bell (Kyle Cathie Ltd; ISBN: 978 0 85783 040 1)
Gorgeous Greens by Annie Bell (Kyle Cathie Ltd; ISBN: 978 0 85783 041 8)
Reviewed by Abbie Jury.

New Zealand has a special relationship with the Himalayas and its people, driven by Sir Edmund Hillary’s success in conquering Mount Everest and his subsequent charity and aid work in the area. He focussed first on schools but then on hospitals and healthcare from the sixties onwards. What this books shows is that the volunteers who staffed those hospitals, young doctors and their partners from New Zealand and Canada, were equally remarkable and special people. The majority of the book tells the stories of these intrepid volunteers, often from their very candid correspondence home to the sponsoring organisation, the Himalayan Trust. Working in one of the world’s most remote and inhospitable areas, they had to be enormously resourceful and resilient. Usually the only westerners, they forged relationships and personal friendships with the Sherpa people and the result is a privileged insight into the lives and culture of those people.

This could have been a worthy but dry book. It is anything but dry. Each person has a story worth telling and it is an absorbing read whether you work from beginning to end or browse randomly. It is a big book, beautifully presented as befits Craig Potton Publishers, with plenty of photographs documenting the times and the people.

The author is a New Zealand doctor and a mountaineer who has been involved with the Himalayan healthcare project from its inception. It should be noted that these remote hospitals are now run by fully qualified Sherpa doctors – the ultimate measure of success for any aid project.

Himalayan Hospitals: Sir Edmund Hillary’s Everest Legacy by Michael Gill (Craig Potton Publishing; ISBN: 978 1 877517 43 3) reviewed by Abbie Jury.

It is not simple food, though some of the recipes are simple enough. Sorrel pesto is not difficult as long as you have the main ingredient in the garden (it did make me want to grow sorrel). Asparagus and Ricotta Tart with Caraway Pastry introduced a new flavour combination, to me at least, and I am planning to try the Green Garlic and Almond Port Terrine which looks delicious. Each recipe has the preparation time detailed, which is helpful when planning to cook a new recipe. Most of it is good food to share with friends, rather than everyday meals for the family. You need a well-stocked pantry and some semblance of a vegetable and flower garden would be helpful too.

The author is a keen home gardener but not particularly experienced. The Husband looked at the photo on the front cover and commented that I did not look like that when I garden. That could be because I don’t garden wearing a pristine, long-sleeved white shirt and the digging pose did not suggest she had done a lot of it in the past. I quite liked the garden hints because they did not pretend to be comprehensive so were wonderfully random and eclectic. That said, there is a bit of a question mark over some of them (strawberries fruiting best in their second year and peas cropping more if you pick them frequently, for example). But the food is what matters in this book and the author is passionate about good food and the pleasure that can be achieved by taking the time and effort to prepare fresh food to share. That passion is engaging.

Now is the Season by Laura Faire (New Holland; ISBN: 978 1 86966 316 2) reviewed by Abbie Jury.

We all know we should eat more vegetables for our health. We should all eat a lot more vegetables and a lot less meat for the health of the planet too. This encyclopaedic book may be all you need if you are a little uncertain how to turn out complete meals which are vegetarian yet varied. I am pleased to report that lentils come more as dhal, not the dreaded lentil burger and there are no lentil sausages, or indeed marinated tofu. This is not trying to make vegetable substitutes for meat. It is taking a comprehensive approach to preparing and presenting food so omnivores may not even notice meat is missing. There are ten chapters and a couple of hundred recipes.

The author is an advocate for the tapas or meze style of shared eating with several smaller dishes of food available. However, he reassures us that preparing multiple dishes need not be a burden and gives us the wonderfully quotable comment: “In my house, food like this tends to be prepared and consumed in a sort of rolling relay, from meal to meal.” I was enchanted. We no longer have leftovers in this house. They are called tapas instead.

So to the recipes themselves. We tested several in two households. It is English so there are some variations in cultural habits. It would never occur to me to serve fresh radishes with a pot of semi soft butter and rather a lot of flaky sea salt. Could I ever look at the words Heart Foundation again with a clear conscience if I put that on the table? The cauliflower and chickpea curry and the macaroni peas were just a little bland for our tastes but it is easy enough to ramp up recipes once you have a feel for how they work. We also tried the River Cottage garlicky flatbreads, the cheaty Hollandaise and I had forgotten how delicious Upside-down onion tart (or onion tarte tatin) could be.

It is comprehensive. Ingredients are readily available. Instructions are clear. Results seem to be reliable. Presentation is in a large format hardback which opens flat, usually one recipe and photo per double page spread, but not glossy and glitzy. This is every day food for every day people. I will be keeping my copy on the kitchen shelf because I expect to use it often.

River Cottage Veg Every Day by Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall (Bloomsbury; ISBN: 978 1 4088 1212 9) reviewed by Abbie Jury.

First published in the Waikato Times and reprinted here with their permission.

There are just two or three words (one of which is the indefinite article) and one illustration per page in this book by a French illustrator and cartoonist. He trained in screen printing and that is clear in the flat, very matt, deceptively simple pictures. It is the subtle nuances which make this book so rich – a blind man juxtaposed with a distracted man (the latter is about to walk into a post). A hostess is hurrying on a page facing a cat burglar in a very similar pose who is definitely sneaking furtively. A sailor and a siren, a romantic and a prince, a friend and a bully – there is much to look at, talk about and laugh at in this book. It is not for very young children. I would be holding off until the five to eight age range but in the end, I suspect it is another of those books which will be appreciated more by older siblings and adults. It is, perhaps, a book for children to grow into but it is also a book for families which are visually literate and inclined to conversation.

People by Blexbolex (Gecko Press; ISBN: 978 1 877467 78 3) reviewed by Abbie Jury.

The Big Book of Words and Pictures by Ole Konnecke (Gecko Press; ISBN: 978 1 877467 87 5) reviewed by Abbie Jury.

The stories were originally written as short chapter tales, perfect for the newly independent reader aged about 7 upwards as well as for the reluctant reader of maybe 10 or 11 or, indeed, for family reading aloud. The problem with this collated edition is that it is a thick book to handle so it may well appear too intimidating for a reluctant reader. Added to that, while the illustrations are by Trevor Pye who has a wonderful track record, the decision to go with a very retro, black and white style makes it look old fashioned. So I do not think this new edition is well suited to the reluctant reader in presentation, even though the content is appropriate. It is perfect family holiday reading, however, and children as young as 4 will enjoy sharing in the listening.

Stories of the Wild West Gang by Joy Cowley (Gecko Press; ISBN: 978 1 877467 85 1) reviewed by Abbie Jury.

Two Little Bugs by Mark and Rowan Sommerset (Dreamboat Books. ISBN: 978 0 9864668 30) reviewed by Abbie Jury.