You guys! One of my coolest author friends is here today. Here’s the thing about Hillary Manton Lodge…she can write and cook.
And I don’t mean cook like stick the Pop-Tart in the toaster (mmm) or follow the instructions on the mac ‘n’ cheese box. She can cook. Don’t believe me? Here she is ON TELEVISION teaching people cook. And we’re lucky enough to have her here today with some cooking tips for beginners plus a recipe that looks easy (and de-lish) enough even I might try it.
But first…first I need to tell you about her book. Hillary’s new book is Reservations for Two. It’s the second in her Two Blue Doors series and it. is. delectable. Seriously, once I fell into this book and Juliette’s continuing story, I couldn’t stop reading. It’s contemporary story with the perfect historical twist in the form of letters from WWII-era Paris. Those were my favorite parts of the book.
Hillary writes with the perfect mix of wit and sensitivity. There’s something very genuine, authentic to the way she layers in emotion. And absolutely the only downside of this story is reaching the end and realizing you’ll have to wait until next year for the rest.
So get the book!
And now, without further ado, here’s Hillary… (oh, and make sure to make it to the end of the post. Because there’s a giveaway and a special treat!)
Tips for Beginning Cooks:
- Pick a reliable recipe. This is why I’m a fan of cookbooks over internet recipes – you’ve often got a higher level of expertise and editing. If you do pick a recipe from Pinterest or what have you, look for recipes from reliable blogs, like Smitten Kitchen or TheKitchn.com, or recipes from AllRecipes.com with strong reviews.
- Read your recipe all the way through. Twice. I say twice because half the time I think I’ve read it through I actually haven’t. The idea is to avoid surprises.
- Make sure you’ve got your ingredients and kitchen equipment. Grocery shop, raid your pantry, dig up your pots and pans. And if you’re having trouble locating an item – or think you might – call ahead to a grocery store and ask if they carry it. It’s easier to call ahead than it is to drive to three different grocery stores looking for harissa.
- Start with a tidy kitchen. Cooking in a messy kitchen is like writing a book in the margins – it can be done, but it’s not easy. (Note from Melissa: UM. YES.) Make sure there’s counter space, and if you’ve got a dishwasher, make sure it’s mostly empty.
- Prep your ingredients. Check your recipe – does it call for something to be chopped or softened or stirred? Follow the directions and set your ingredients out around your workstation. Use cereal bowls, if you need to, to keep things separate. Having your ingredients set out is called mise en place, and it just helps you stay on top of things as you cook.
Now WHAT should we cook? Why not this:
So the last-minute frittata recipe in Reservations for Two is a great recipe for all kinds of cooks. The frittata itself is great for breakfast, lunch, and dinner – all that changes is whether you’d serve it with a green salad or buttered toast and fruit.
And you can mix up the filling ingredients all you like – the important part is simply having enough eggs to cover the top. The great thing about a frittata is that you can kind of clean out the fridge with it. While some kind of onion and starch is always a good idea, any kind of stray vegetables and ends of cheese can be thrown in as well. They’re traditionally served at room temperature, but they’re very good still warm from the oven.
1–2 tablespoons butter
1 onion or 2–3 shallots, diced fine
6–8 small fingerling potatoes, peels on, diced
salt and freshly ground pepper
1 1/2 roasted red peppers, patted dry with paper towels and diced
2 handfuls of fresh spinach, washed, dried, and rough chopped
1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves, or 1/2 teaspoon dried
Pinch red pepper flakes
8 eggs, lightly beaten
1/3 cup whole milk
5 ounces mild cheese, such as fontina, grated
Preheat the oven to 400°F.
Melt 1–2 tablespoons butter in an oven-safe sauté pan or cast-iron skillet, using medium heat. Once the butter has melted, add the onions and sauté until translucent. Add the potatoes and season with salt and freshly ground pepper, stirring until the potatoes have browned. Cover and reduce heat to medium-low, and allow potatoes to steam until just cooked through, for about 5–7 minutes.
Add the roasted red peppers, tossing them with the onions and potatoes until they’ve dried. Add the red pepper flakes, thyme, and spinach, allowing them a moment to blend with the vegetables and butter.
Pour the eggs into the pan, and stir just enough to evenly distribute the vegetables. Sprinkle cheese on top.
Allow to cook for 3–5 minutes, until the frittata is set along the bottom and sides but is still liquid at the center.
Place the pan in the oven and bake for 5–10 minutes (time will depend on the amount of moisture remaining in the vegetables). The frittata is done when the eggs have set across the top and the edges have pulled away from the sides of the pan. Allow the frittata to set for five minutes.
Serve with a salad and rustic bread if you’re partaking for lunch or dinner. For breakfast, serve with fruit and toast. Leftover frittata can be reheated or served cold.
Serves 6.
Shiloh Time!
This Hillarypalooza post would NOT be complete without greetings from possibly the cutest dog in the entire world—Hillary’s Cavalier King Charles Spaniel named Shiloh. Hillary, our friend Rachel McMillan and I may have named our made-up girl band after Shiloh. (And no, I’m not sure why we have a made-up girl band…we just do! And we rock it.)
Is he not the cutest dog you’ve ever seen in your whole entire life???
Comments 67
I do cook and I generally really enjoy it. I completely agree with Hillary about the online recipes. I’ve had a couple turn out okay, but the majority of them have been a flop. Cookbooks are much better. My favorite recipe for a beginner would probably be something like chili soup. It’s very hard to mess up, if you follow the directions. Plus, you can’t really over cook it and the leftovers are great (important for a single girl)! Though you may be eating them for a few days. 🙂
I’m going to go check out Hillary’s books now! Thanks for the giveaway!
~Sarah
Chili soup sounds great! I’m such a huge fan of leftovers 🙂
I do quite a lot of cooking 🙂 but nothing fancy!
Nothing wrong with that!
I love to cook and read, although in recent years, my time in the kitchen has been limited causing less cooking to be done that is not fast and easy. I love making easy rice dishes that taste amazing, or salad creations as well, (which is not really cooking), The difference between a plain rice dish and an outstanding one is the right spices, herbs and cooking methods, I have found. I also have come up with some creative ways to use potatoes as we have an abundance of them!
Thanks for the entry chance! I loved the first book and am guaranteed to love the second one as well. martha(at)lclink(dot)com
Martha – I’ve found there are definitely “cooking seasons” in which spending a lot of time in the kitchen is fine, and others where quick and easy has to be the way to go! Sounds like you’ve got a knack for spicing up simple meals! Hope you enjoy Reservations once you get your hands on it 🙂
This was really interesting to read. Thank you for posting the helpful tips for cooking! I am still a beginner since I haven’t practiced my cooking much haha. Also, Hilary’s books look interesting 🙂 thank you for posting this giveaway!
Oh this sounds like such a good book, I can’t wait to read it!!! 🙂
Thanks, Abby!
this was amazing. so much shiloh! so many tips! best hillarypalooza ever!
Melissa is the very best of blog hostesses!
I love to cook and bake. My favorite thing to cook is probably popcorn chicken. I love to bake just about everything! Thanks for the chance to win!
Popcorn chicken sounds tasty! Thanks for entering the giveaway 🙂
I haven’t done much cooking in the last few years since my daughter took over cooking. She LOVES it. She loves to try new recipes and she is great at it 🙂 I do occasionally still cook, but not nearly as much as before.
That’s so great that your daughter loves being in the kitchen so much!
I love to cook. For me, it’s a form of therapy. However, teaching full-time with a family, having easy go-to recipes makes life a great deal easier. Made a frittata this weekend. 🙂
Having go-to recipes definitely makes things easier! That’s one thing I find I have to be mindful of – keeping a stash of recipes in one place for days when I can’t figure out what to make.
I love to cook, but baking is my strong point. My kitchen tip is….PINTEREST! My cooking has improved a lot since I discovered food blogs and
Pinterest. I am a picture person, and most of the time I wouldn’t even try a recipe if I couldn’t see a picture of the end result.
Pictures are totally helpful, I completely agree!
Ok, I am not a good cook. I love to eat, but can’t seem to get the joy of cooking that others do. Maybe, its because I hate to clean up the mess afterwards. However, i do feel joy and pride when I do make a masterpiece every now and then. Sounds like a great book. Can’t wait to read it.
I hear you about the mess, Dana. I’ve really worked at cleaning as I go, immediately rinsing bowls (because dried food is the worst), and keeping a garbage receptacle (usually a paper or plastic produce bag) for kitchen scraps. It helps to take the edge off. But I’ve absolutely had recipes where I feel like the end result is good food – and a disaster area kitchen!
I must try to make this frittata recipe! And I cannot wait to read Hilary’s new book 🙂 Thanks so much for the chance to win it!
Thanks for stopping by, Susan!
I love to cook and bake and read and travel- so a book involving food, Paris, and a great review looks amazing! My biggest problem w/ cooking is too much multi-tasking! I can’t tell you how many things I have burned because I was going to quickly run do one thing 🙂
Oh no! Multi-tasking while cooking is tough stuff. Thanks for stopping by, Linda!
I cook as much as I can. My favorite things to make are casseroles. Its a good way to sneak in the veggies because its all together.
That’s absolutely true, Merry! In that way, I think a frittata is kind of the original casserole – you can stick all sorts of odds and ends into it!
I am cooking challenged! Melissa, I enjoyed reading this fun post. Thanks for sharing. Have a blessed week. 🙂
Thanks for stopping by, Caryl!
Thank you so much Melissa for hosting Hillary on your blog today. I’m not much of a cook but with a recipe I can make it happen. I may just have to try this yummy recipe with my family.
Congratulations on your recent release Hillary. I would love to win a copy. The setting during WWII in Paris is just what I like. Also your little doggie, Shiloh, is a cutie.
Blessings to you both for an awesome week ahead.
Thanks so much for stopping by, Rebecca!
I am not much of a cook but do like to try new recipes once in a while. Don’t really have any tips or favorite recipes. I do like to read about cooking – does that count? Thanks for the tips and the giveaway.
Totally counts, Ellen – if we travel vicariously, why can’t we cook vicariously? Thanks for stopping by!
I used to cook a lot more than I do now. I am a vegetarian, so I love the frittata recipe. I do make a “blender quiche” that is similar; just has a crust! Sounds like a fun book!
Thanks, Rebecca! Thanks for stopping by!
I do quite a bit of cooking with four kids and a husband to take care of. My favorite tip is to prep/cook dinner at lunchtime so the after school rush is easier (or after dinner the previous night if you aren’t home at lunchtime.)
Smart tip! Thanks for sharing!
Yes, I cook since I have 8 kids 🙂 So my advice is to teach your kids how to clean, then that earns them the privilege of learning to cook and bake!
That’s genius, Danielle!
I am the main cook of the family, so yes I’ve done many, many meals over the years! And baking is my favorite hobby 🙂
Love all these tips included in here. I have one cookbook in my cupboard, an old Better Homes & Gardens recipe book. It’s my go-to book of all time! You can tell I’ve used it quite a bit by all the dried flour or whatnot on the pages, lol!! I would not give it up for the world. If I do want an online recipe, I go to Allrecipes.com. Found quite a few great recipes that have come out good! Maybe I’m picky, but I like the tried and true!
Thank you for the chance to win a copy of “Reservations for Two”, looks like a great book. And your King Charles Spaniel is just the cutest!! Such a sweet face.
The Better Homes & Gardens book is a classic! And it’s good to be picky, if you’re going to be using time and ingredients on a recipe. Thanks for stopping by! And I quite agree about Shiloh 🙂
I love cooking and baking! I usually end up baking when I’m bored or stressed which is not good! I loved this blog post! 🙂
Glad you enjoyed the post, Alex, thanks for stopping by!
The books sounds wonderful! As does the Frittata. And how do you have a made-up girl band? 🙂
Well……….the girl band is a long story. We were goofing off on Facebook and one of the three of us said we should be a girl band, and then it wound up being named after my dog….actually, I guess it’s a short story 😉
Thanks for stopping by!
I seem to cook only what my husband will eat.. Plain meals.. meat & potatoes/vegetables. No good recipes here… I’d love to read this book!
I hear you, Dianna – my husband isn’t an adventurous eater, either. When he travels is when I break out the Moroccan recipes!
Thanks for commenting!
I cook every day for my family. Sometimes happily and sometimes not. Depends on what is in my pantry! I have a unique recipe for Shepherd’s Pie that was handed down from my mother. It involves ground beef, tomato soup, mashed potatoes and corn. My kids love it and no one, other than my mom and siblings makes it this way and I have never seen it in a recipe book/cook book. I loved Table by a Window and would love to win a copy of Reservations. Thanks so much! Blessings.
That does sound unusual, Tina – I’ve never heard of Shepherd’s Pie with corn. Glad you enjoyed Table, hope you enjoy Reservations just as much 🙂
I’m so excited about this book! Can hardly wait to read it.
I cook occasionally. Would do more if it was for more than just me. My specialty is desserts. I love finding new recipes and turning them into favorites.
Blessings,
Andrea
andrearenee2004@yahoo.com
Sounds like fun, Andrea! Thanks for stopping by!
I cook. But, I mainly cook out of necessity, not pleasure. I would much rather someone else cook for me. And, clean up the mess. Actually, if someone would just clean up the mess, I probably wouldn’t mind cooking. Your puppy is adorable and I cannot wait to read you book! <3
I’m totally with you about the cleaning up! I think kitchen elves would be super helpful 😉 Thanks for commenting!
That frittata look so yummy!!! I can’t wait to try the recipe.
Thanks, Sandy! Thanks for stopping by!
Great blog post! I don’t mind cooking, but do it more out of necessity than anything else. I’d much rather do the dishes and let someone else cook the meal. I’d love to read the book; thanks for the chance.
Thanks for commenting, Vickie!
Our daughter was diagnosed with Celiac disease a month ago-so cooking has changed substantially for us. I’m really appreciating America’s Test Kitchen and http://www.artofglutenfreebaking.com I guess I’ll be tackling some recipes I always thought I would be too lazy to attempt (puff pastry for example). Good thing I enjoy cooking. Well, really, I enjoy eating-and sharing of course! 😉
Thank you for writing a great book Hilary. It has been a welcome focus during a very tough week <3
Let me start by saying that I love love love your books!! I’m very excited to read “Reservations for Two”!
My favorite cooking tip is clean up as you go! After I have fixed a meal for my 3 sons, husband & mother-in-law, the last thing I want to do is spend an equal amount time cleaning the kitchen back up. I always clean as I go and it saves so much time in the end and I have time to relax & enjoy my family!
Thank you for this opportunity to share ideas & a chance to win your new book!
Best of luck with your gf cooking! It’s definitely a challenge- thankfully, techniques and mixes have gotten a lot better over the last five years. And I’m so glad you enjoyed the book! Hugs!
I do the majority of the cooking at my house 🙂 I love Mexican and southern food! That is what I most like to try when doing new recipes.
My favorite recipe right now is making cookies. I am trying to fine tune it because to me it is too sweet. I am trying a recipe with using applesauce in addition to sugar. My plan is to decrease the amount of sugar in the recipe. I love experimenting with foods since I am a visual person.
I rarely cook, but I love to eat. My best kitchen tip is to marry a man that cooks. That’s what I did, and I very thankful that my Prince Charming is also Chef Charming. ☺
I love to cook! I always hung out in the kitchen with my mom when I was a little girl, she taught me most of what I know. I’m always looking for new recipes to try. My favorite to fix is cheddar ranch chicken. It is easy to fix and really good!
I do a lot of cooking but it is down-home cooking. Meat, potatoes and other simple foods.
Connie
I enjoyed A Table by the Window and am looking forward to getting my hands on the new book!
I like to cook but not to bake. Anything I bake is a disaster! I like cooking Chinese and Thai food such as Pad Thai and Beef and Broccoli. My best tip is to make sure you have everything you need before you start preparing your dish.