The Cottage Kitchen: Cozy Cooking in the English Countryside: A Cookbook

No-Knead Country Loaf - I have only made one recipe and the quantities are so off, that I have been afraid to try another for fear of wasting my time and ingredients.First the recipe calls for a pinch of salt. A pinch is 1/8 of a teaspoon. That would make some very tasteless bread. Peter Reinhart recommends that you use 1/2 teaspoon of salt per cup of flour. Since the recipe uses 3 2/3 cups of flour, I used 1 3/4 teaspoons of salt. That is a far cry from “a pinch”.If you use 2 cups of water, plus 2 tablespoons you will end up with soup instead of bread. I thought this was just an error, so I tried 2 cups minus 2 tablespoons of water. It was still way too wet. About 1 1/2 cups of water was all I needed and I added other dry ingredients. So even that would be off without the extra ingredients. I still use the recipe as a guideline, but I also add 1 teaspoon cocoa powder, 2 teaspoons flax meal and 1/4 cup of hemp seeds. I also use more yeast than called for in the recipe.I bought the cookbook to try the Lemon Curd Sponge Cake, but baking cakes from scratch is not something I have a lot of experience with, so I have been afraid to waste my time and ingredients. It is rather an expensive cake to make and then possibly have to toss it out.It is obvious, at least with the bread recipe, that the recipe was not tried out before publishing. It makes me wonder if the rest are that way.I have had enough experience baking bread that I was able to recognize the mistakes and fix them prior to baking. I definitely would not recommend this cookbook for the novice cook. It seems to have too many errors.I am very disappointed because it could have been a great cookbook with a little more work and recipe testing.

I first picked up this book while roaming through my libraries section of newly added books. Glancing through this elegant book I immediately brought it home. As I began skimming through the pages, I realized how simple the recipes were, with the majority of the recipes containing no more than 8-10 easily found ingredients that one generally has in the pantry or fridge.I truly loved the book and preceded to look on Amazon to purchase it and was blessed by the Kindle gods (i bought it for $2 on Kindle). I now look forward to making these rustic, yet elegant dishes.

This is a beautiful book! Not only visually delightful but engrossing reading as well. As much as I appreciate the author's recipes and photographs, the big hook for me was her wonderful writing! Down to earth and honest, Marte's stories and writing style reeled me in from the first pages. She has such a fresh and inviting style, and has led such a fascinating life thus far, that I suspect she could also make it in the world of non-cookbook books as well. I do hope we will be hearing more from her, and soon! On whatever topic strikes her fancy. She is like a warm friend on a cold winter's day. And who is not happy with that?

This is a lovely cookbook for people who love cookbooks. While the recipes are good, the best part is the narrative and the pictures.

The author grew up in Norway, and moved to the English countryside after she finished at University. The book reflects both in wonderful Norwegian British fusion. Her photography is exquisite, full of charm and bold contrasts of rustic and posh, with an eye for very dramatic lighting. The food is delicious and interesting.Pictured below:1-2) Marie’s Meatballs – p 113, Brown Gravy – p 41, Parsnip and Cardamom Puree – p 114, and Cranberry Sauce – p 115. This dinner was divine. I usually make roast potatoes with Scandinavian meatballs and gravy, and adore the parsnip and cardamom puree. The house smelled amazing! In the gravy, she lists just a tablespoon of brown goat’s cheese. It’s optional, and everything will be wonderful if you skip it. I happened to have some in the fridge, so I thought I’d add a pic in case anyone’s unfamiliar and is cheese-curious.3) Orange and Clove Roast Chicken with Pears and Butternut Squash – p 213. Really yummy and the taste is so different. I love it when that much produce is packed in a recipe. On this one, I found that mine took a considerable amount of time longer than the recipe mentioned. I’ll probably move half the fruits and vegetables to a second pan next time to increase surface area, and try to decrease the time. That said, as long as you go with an internal temperature on the chicken to determine doneness instead of the time, you’ll have a lovely dinner.4) Baked Mont D’Or with Honeycomb and Garlic – p 83. I couldn’t get my hands on a Mont D’Or, so I had to go with another soft, flavorful cheese. I love the addition of honeycomb, garlic, and rosemary.5) Truffled Yorkshire Pudding – p 28, with Onion Gravy – p 29. Yum! It’s kind of like a savory Dutch baby.6) Ruby-Red Rhubarb Soup – p 120. My daughter smiled, “This tastes like Christmas.” It’s filled with vanilla bean and cinnamon.7) Tomato Tarte Tatin with Burrata – This one’s amazing. I love the contrasts of honeyed tomato with olives and a buttery puff pastry. If you can’t get your hands on Burrata at your store, it’s like mozzarella’s creamier cousin. The burrata’s awesome, but you could sub in really fresh mozzarella if you had to.Some others I have flagged to try: Fig and Pecan No Knead Bread – p 24 * Waldorf Salad – p 27 * Tarragon Butter Baked Scallops – p 33 * Chorizo Macaroni and Cheese – p 36 * Truffled Vegetable Toad in the Hole * Kale and Almond Soup – p 87 * Roast Potatoes – p 107 * Fennel and Potato Soup – p 116 * Caramel Popcorn – p 130 * Artichokes with My Mother’s Creamy Lemon Butter Sauce – p 144 * Summer Panzanella – p 163*I received a review copy to explore and share my thoughts on.

This is a wonderful and beautiful cooking book 📖 the wonderful recipes are complemented with the gorgeous fotografy, and her writing throughout the book. This is a book to cherish. Thank you @marte_marie_forsberg

The author writes so beautifully that I want to write down quotes from this book. Beautiful photography! I had read this book on my Kindle last year but I knew a hardback for my library was so needed. I love this book.

The recipes take me back to my home and roots. Most I have heard of, but there are some new ones I still have to try, and I cannot wait!

…this is the story behind, too.The background for a great cookery book, IMO, the recipes are mainly family handed down, much from her mother’s side of the family, reflecting the author’s earlier years, recalling childhood memories & traditions.Coupled with stunning photography, including black & white, and with a number of on-location shots, I find this book extremely hard to put down!📝 ‘…I slept with the windows open that warm summer, listening to the quiet sounds of the countryside, familiarizing myself with the songs of the English birds and the sound of the nearby trees rattling in the warm summer breeze. Was this really me? I wondered as Mr. Whiskey lay sprawled out next to my bed, enjoying the cool night breeze. There I was in a small cottage with a white picket fence, a garden, and a dog, dressed in an apron more often than a cocktail dress. Was this the new me? Or perhaps the me I’d always been, but I’d been running too fast to hear my own heartbeat? I discovered a newfound peace, and a slower way of life, yet perhaps I also discovered how little I knew myself…’The current ‘LOOK INSIDE’ facility above shows a fairly hefty chunk of the book so see if it is the style and layout for you. Some recipes are included in the preview along with the full, 4-page alphabetical INDEX at the back that benefits from italicised page references indicating culinary photographs, so you can see what you are aiming for on the plate, e.g. :‘BAKED PARTRIDGES WITH FIGS AND OLIVES’, on pages 228 & 229, which usefully provides an alternative recipe for me to help use up my treasured ‘Marsala’ that Father Christmas tends to bring me each year!ooOoo~ THE COTTAGE KITCHEN: COZY COOKING IN THE ENGLISH COUNTRYSIDE~ MARTE MARIE FORSBERG~ CLARKSON POTTER/USA~ 2017‘Printed in China’Measuring around 25.75 cm x 19.5 cm x 2.5 cm, the chunky cardboard cover is linen bound across the spine area and opens to 288 high quality, shiny pages, split over the 4 SEASONS + ‘AFTERNOON TEA', as per the CONTENTS pages at the front, just ahead of the INTRODUCTION.From the back cover:📝 ‘Share in a gorgeous, thoughtful life in the English countryside with irresistible recipes and captivating stories’ooOooOriginally from an island of the coast of Norway, well-travelled author & photographer Marte Marie Forsberg now calls an English hamlet her home and this book caught my eye, initially, with the gorgeous first plate alongside the title page inside, then with the instantly recognisable ‘Gold Hill’ (Shaftesbury, in Dorset) where setting down roots in the UK begins.I generally enjoy rustic writing within a cookery book, but this book changed the order of reading for me! Transfixed by the back story and Marte’s obvious passion for her homes in Dorset, then Wiltshire, I found myself skipping the pages of recipes, initially, just to find out what happened in the narrative at the start of each seasonal main section, including the introduction, literally, to the ritual of ‘AFTERNOON TEA’, that gets its own section, as seen through the eyes of ‘a foreigner’!Equally interesting are the short relevant paragraphs that open each recipe. I love the writing that whisks you right there to a ‘wonky cottage’ and goes on to introduce ‘Mr. Whiskey’, her four-legged companion:📝 ‘…He barked at me when I asked him politely to return to his basket. He ran away. He chased the neighbour’s cows and chewed up my grandmother’s sofa when I left him home alone. Clearly, we needed some time to get to know each other, My Whiskey and I, but we never gave up on each other, and luckily over time we forged a deep friendship, unlike anything I could have ever envisioned.’Starting with WINTER, each seasonal section opens with a colourful double page spread, the opening narrative and a summary page (cream coloured background) of all the dishes included in the coming pages, under the subtitles:~ STARTERS AND SIDES~ MAINS~ DESSERTS~ DRINKS AND JAMSEach recipe is clearly laid out with the capitalised title, the number of servings and that aforementioned, relevant opening paragraph that often describes the origins and has helpful advice. Next up is the list of ingredients that sometimes sources a, perhaps, harder-to-find item, e.g. Amazon!Recipes include TIPS, where relevant, and are handily cross referenced, at times, so if you need (and you probably will!) ‘My Mother’s Chocolate Sauce’ or the rather intriguing sounding ‘My Father’s Troll Cream’, the page number is right there to save flicking through or checking the index at the back.Sometimes, longer recipes spill over the page, e.g. 'ROSEMARY BREADSTICKS WITH HERB AND CARROT BUTTER', pages 92-94, and, inevitably, there is a little ‘white space’ dotted around, but I find it easy to forgive in a publication of this calibre, which has pride of place on my kitchen bookshelf.From ‘TRUFFLED VEGETABLE TOAD-IN-THE-HOLE’, serving 4, on pages 44/45:📝 ‘I’m partial to a good toad-in-the-hole, which is a dish I was introduced to after moving to England. The mixture of spiced sausages, like Cumberland sausage, all nestled in Yorkshire pudding, is a quick supper typically made on cold and dark days of the year, but I wanted to see if I could make it with vegetables and still keep it full of flavour.This vegetarian option is a delightful version of the more traditional one and is best eaten immediately.When you bake it, make sure not to open the oven door to have a peek, as the pudding will deflate.I usually serve it with a chilled cloudy dry cider, such as Old Rosie. For a more prominent truffle flavour, finely slice a quarter of a small black truffle and add it to the batter.’[24 images attached © MARTE MARIE FORSBERG/2017]

I love this book as it is like a story being told along with the beautifully described recipes! I love the look of the book cover as it looks lovely on my kitchen shelf. The recipes all look delicious but am yet to try them but they will delight I am sure anyone who loves good country food

Disappointing, thought it would be from the English countryside rather than an another interpreation of county heritage receipes, which should not be messed with in my opinion, it's what make these unique.

I’m working my way through the lovely recipes in this beautiful book. Marie is both a talented photographer and fabulous storyteller....this book is a joy!

Great recipes and beautifully pesented! Love it!

If you want to wrap yourself up in a world of Pride and Prejudice meets Hygge- of apples, hay, wood burning fires... the sounds of horses galloping, roasted roots and savoury stews.. warm blankets, little baby toes and happy tears, then you need to buy yourself the gift of The Cottage Kitchen.Hands down the most beautiful, heart felt and delicious book I have ever purchased. The recipes are from the heart, and fill the soul with nourishment. New recipes I’ve never tried, and others that feel as cozy, familiar and close to my heart as my grandmothers traditional recipes.I’ve sat here reading it with tears running down my face -how many cookbooks can do that?! I’m loving every page, and every recipe, fully.

So beautiful cooking book ! and so good.I tried the kale soup at first and the result was so so good ... never tasted before such a good kale recipe.Same result for the mother's bread and the rosemary bread stick. I am very happy, it's a must.Beautiful story about England country and ... she is going to be mamy soon! Congratulations !

This is one of the most captivating cookbooks I’ve ever read. The heart and soul in the stories and recipes is illustrated by the stunning images photographed by the author herself. It’s one I’ll treasure amongst my extensive collection.

Cuando la fotografía se combina con la cocina y el buen gusto el resultado puede ser extraordinario.

Another beautiful interesting book. I am very happy with it. Chris Joyce.

Love everything about this book! The recipes are fab. The writing is delightful and the photographs and styling are a masterpiece! Keenly looking forward to Marie's next book. I understand this is the first one. There has to be more. Such a fresh outlook. A talented lady!🎨

By far the most cosy and wonderful cook book read! love Marie's blog and instagram page, and this book won't disappoint. The stories and recipes are all original and lovely.

Interesting book with some lovely recipes, lovely photos as well

Great book thank you

英国からでしたので、ちょっと心配でしたがきちんと期日までに到着しました。迅速な対応有難うございました。料理本と言うよりも、アート感覚でかっこいい本です。到着してからずっと暇さえあれば眺めています。