Wednesday, October 3, 2012

Review : Have You Eaten?

Masterchef is the one show on television that will make me down tools, stick the phone on silent and basically hide away on the sofa for an hour.  I especially love the versions from Down Under because they totally revolutionised the tired old format and made the show even more exciting.  This is where Billy Law comes in. You see, Billy was one of the contestants on Season 3 of Masterchef Australia where he may not have won but he has written the most exquisite cookbook entitled "Have You Eaten?".  This is a very Irish saying which Mammies all over the country utter as soon as they hear your key in the lock, but Billy is Malaysian and apparently Malaysian Mammies are very like Irish Mammies and like to feed you.


It probably wasn't the best idea to read this book on an empty stomach and with a bare cupboard but it will fill your heart with joy at the range of recipes to suit all skill ranges from beginner to slightly more familiar with a kitchen.  I would have sold my soul for a slice of his Breakfast Pie which is an ingenious take on the Full Irish, crammed full of rashers, eggs and a bit of spinach to offset the puff pastry.


A very polarising recipe in the book is for... Marmite Chicken.  You'll probably love it or hate it.  Even though I can't stand the stuff, I think I might give this one a go...

 
The one that really caught my eye was a charmingly titled dessert called "Life is like a box of Chocolates".  It's very rich and decadent and full of hidden surprises thanks to a layer of assorted chocolates.  It looks like Rocky Road at first glance but there's a lot more to this cake than meets the eye and I think this will become a very special celebration cake in our house.


In conclusion, this is a book full of varied recipes and there really is something for every palate within.  I love it!

This blogpost is part of a Blogtour and the very charming and lovely bloggers below are taking part - why not read what they thought too...

Have You Eaten? by Billy Law, £25 hardback and is published by Hardie Grant, available at

Blog Tour
Monday 1st - JungleFrog Cooking
Tuesday 2nd - English Mum
Wednesday 3rd - ME!
Thursday 4th - Milly Cundall
Friday 5th - Bread et Butter


Win a copy of Have You Eaten? thanks to Hardie Grant Books. For more details, simply follow Hardie Grant on Twitter . UK residents only (sorry lovely Irish readers!).




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