Jessica Seinfeld, author of two New York Times bestselling cookbooks returns with her new book – The Can’t Cook Book
Are you smart enough to dodge a telemarketer yet clueless as to how to chop a clove of garlic? Are you clever enough to know how to forward an email but don’t know the difference between boiling and baking? If you are basically competent, then Jessica Seinfeld’s new book The Can’t Cook Book is for you.
If you find cooking scary or stressful or just boring, Jessica has a calm, confidence–building approach to cooking, even for those who’ve never read a recipe or used an oven. Jessica explains how to prepare deliciously simple food – from Caesar salad and roasted asparagus to lemon salmon and roast chicken. Each recipe explains upfront what the challenge will be and then shows exactly how to overcome any hurdles in easy–to–follow, step–by–step instructions.
Elegantly designed and richly illustrated with gorgeous photographs and Microsoft tags linking to videos of Jessica cooking in her own home, The Can’t Cook Book is perfect for anyone who wants to wean themselves off take–out meals and processed snacks and become empowered in the kitchen.
The Can’t Cook Book, written by Jessica Seinfeld, is a brand new release from Simon & Schuster.
Available in paperback where all good books are sold for $29.99. Also available as an ebook for $17.99.
Not sure if I should have been insulted to get this for Christmas, but it is sooo goood! The roast pork tenderloin was the first one I cooked, and there was not a scrap left - even the fussiest of relos ate the lot (complained the whole time but ate it).
I would highly recommend this for cooks and non cooks alike, but especially for those kids moving out on their own for the first time
"Mum do you know I really have trouble cutting onions at school, when we have cooking class," my daughter tells me. I said, "I'll teach you how to do it properly." -
"It's okay Mum, I was reading 'that book,' you know the Can't Cook Book (with smirk & giggle), and I know how to do it now."
My family really enjoyed the Herb-Roasted Beef with Potatoes & Carrots, and I enjoyed the simplicity of cooking it. It will definitely become a staple meal in this house.
We tried some of the recipes over the weekend with great success. The slow-cooker Lasagna was so easy to make and the taste was delicious. The kids helped me make the Broiled Honey-Nut Bananas and they were gone within 10 min of them being ready. Highly recommend this book, easy to follow with real food that everyone will eat.
Partner and I have just read through the book, and let's just say we are in love with the recipes and can't wait to try them. I can finally cook some easy to do recipes, and can finally say I can cook in stead of I can't cook, I habe a bub on the way aswell and could cook some of these recipes and freeze them but all in all great book and can'twait to try them!
gorgeous easy to follow no more annoying my mother
Great easy to follow step by step recipes and food that everyone eats. I will be no longer calling my mum to find out how long to boil eggs, I think she will be very greatful haha. The can't cookbook looks basic but is great straight to the point and very detailedi love it I will be highly recommending this book to every one I know. Thanks
I have read this book right through and am very impressed. It has some awesome easy recipes in it and step by step instructions. I am going to buy a copy of this book for my non cooking son who I am sure lives on take away
Had my first glance through the book and was pleasantly surprised at the contents. Lots of easy healthy food ideas are contained in it . I have written my shopping list to make some over the weekend and will get back to everyone on how successful i was but i am pretty confidant we will be eating well this weekend, I honestly think even hubby will be able to cook something from the book..
I went and bought this book as I was not selected to review. I can't cook, won't cook and my partner is in charge of cooking anything past the easy recipes. I have had so much funny trying these out they are really great and definitely ok for the terrified like me!
First impression was wow when I opened the book I found great recipes in the first couple of pages loved the section were it shows and teachers you how to chop things properly the recipes were easy to make and follow and tasted great was a bit hit in my family thankyou I'm a good chef they now tell me.
I received the book yesterday & going through it, there are so many simple recipes I am going to being trying out. Love the simplicity of it's teaching elements, a basic that will be used in my kitchen for many years in teaching my children many elements of cooking. It is set out in a lovely, easy to read, and easy to understand format with clear pictures. I will post a longer review after we have tried a few different processes using this magnificent addition to our kitchen.
For kids wanting to get into the kitchen or for beginner cooks Jessica Seinfield's 'The Can't Cook Book" is for you. No more excuses as she guides you through the world of cooking explaining how and what utensils are used for, the different methods of slicing and dicing and finely so simple step by step recipes that a five year old could follow.
The Can't Cook Book by Jessica Seinfield makes it so very easy for anyone to prepare a simple meal in the kitchen. Broken down into different sections explaining about utensils, methods, and recipes this book is great for the novice or even for getting the kids into the kitchen with a easy to do but tasty recipes.
This book is amazing. It has showed me so much that I tjeought I knew how to do and I can do it better, the meals are easy to follow and simple which I love. Even my 5 yr old can read the recipes to me and tell me if. Am doing it in wrong order. I have passed this book on to a mumma friend who hates cooking and she said it is amazing.
The Can’t Cook Book, written by Jessica Seinfeld is really very good! The recipes are my style of cooking simple, easy but also incredibly tasty. The first couple of chapters give a good overview of kitchen tools, terminology and know how's for the beginner cook. Excellent for both cooks and non-cooks, it would also make an excellent gift for those leaving home who don't yet know their way around the kitchen,
I have used only a few recipes, it's alright. Can't say I would have bought it if I wasn't going to review it. I don't know. There's just something missing.
Having made about halve the recipes now i would highly recommend. Most are very practical and so so easy to make that even my hubby and kids have done some.Everything you need to know is contained in the book with many pointers that even i did not know so it has helped me greatly.
A tongue in cheek book, that was both entertaining and funny at the same time. This is a great one of a weekend casually hanging on the deck chair with a wine, and a few biscuits and cheese. A good one to motivate you into your next session in the kitchen.
Loved this book. We have this book on display in the kitchen so our teenagers can cook more often when I am out. They have learned a lot and say cooking is fun. I teach English to new migrants and cooking is a great way to learn what's what in your kitchen. We use this book as a learning tool. Fully recommended as a gift for Kitchen Tea.
Not sure if I should have been insulted to get this for Christmas, but it is sooo goood! The roast pork tenderloin was the first one I cooked, and there was not a scrap left - even the fussiest of relos ate the lot (complained the whole time but ate it).
I would highly recommend this for cooks and non cooks alike, but especially for those kids moving out on their own for the first time
Ok, after my initial review I've re-read this excellent cookbook a couple of times now and have tried a few of the recipes which for me is very adventurous. My favourite recipe so far would have the be the Baked Egg Noodles and Cheese dish, the instructions were easy to follow and the meal came together pretty effortlessly, best of all it tasted delicious and my husband was not only impressed by my cooking but loved it too. So I am very happy with this book, it has many recipes a reluctant cook like me can try without worrying about mucking it up so now I can start cooking some meals and give my husband a break from his main cook role. Would definitely recommend this book to anyone who feels less than competent in the kitchen.
The book is very well organised. I love the How-To section and I gained quite a knowledge of how to prep/slice/chop onion etc. Each receipe is clearly written in a page and instructions are clear. Tried a few receipes and enjoyed them. A book highly recommended to those can’t cook.so many more dishes in the book i cant wait to make and try.
"Mum do you know I really have trouble cutting onions at school, when we have cooking class," my daughter tells me. I said, "I'll teach you how to do it properly." -
"It's okay Mum, I was reading 'that book,' you know the Can't Cook Book (with smirk & giggle), and I know how to do it now."
My family really enjoyed the Herb-Roasted Beef with Potatoes & Carrots, and I enjoyed the simplicity of cooking it. It will definitely become a staple meal in this house.
I am really loving this book. It's so practical and helpful. All the questions you've ever wondered about cooking but felt embarrassed to ask, it answers them and shows you exactly how to do things. Full of great cooking tips and lots of recipes which I am so eager to try! Great book!
First impression was wow when I opened the book I found great recipes in the first couple of pages loved the section were it shows and teachers you how to chop things properly the recipes were easy to make and follow and tasted great was a bit hit in my family thankyou I'm a good chef they now tell me.
The book is very well organised. I love the How-To section and I gained quite a knowledge of how to prep/slice/chop onion etc. Each receipe is clearly written in a page and instructions are clear. Tried a few receipes and enjoyed them. A book highly recommended to those can't cook
We tried some of the recipes over the weekend with great success. The slow-cooker Lasagna was so easy to make and the taste was delicious. The kids helped me make the Broiled Honey-Nut Bananas and they were gone within 10 min of them being ready. Highly recommend this book, easy to follow with real food that everyone will eat.
For someone who doesn't really like to cook this book was exactly what I was looking for. I really loved the great pictures and found the set up very user friendly. I liked the look of the book and the use of the spiral binding. I especially liked the 'How to' section at the front and managed to learn some new techniques! The only problem I had using this book was the fact that it is made for the American market. I had to use Google a few times to find out what some of the ingredients were and having to convert some of the measurements for example from ounces to grams was very time consuming. Thank goodness for the conversion charts at the back of the book. Overall I found this book easy to use and very helpful when it came time to work out what to feed my family.
Partner and I have just read through the book, and let's just say we are in love with the recipes and can't wait to try them. I can finally cook some easy to do recipes, and can finally say I can cook in stead of I can't cook, I habe a bub on the way aswell and could cook some of these recipes and freeze them but all in all great book and can'twait to try them!
My daughter who is a keen cook, loved this book and it was easy for her to follow the instructions by herself and produce a fantastic meal at the end. So win win she gets to cook and I get to spend some mother/daughter time with her while we do this.
gorgeous easy to follow no more annoying my mother
Great easy to follow step by step recipes and food that everyone eats. I will be no longer calling my mum to find out how long to boil eggs, I think she will be very greatful haha. The can't cookbook looks basic but is great straight to the point and very detailedi love it I will be highly recommending this book to every one I know. Thanks
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Article
‘Trust Your Intuition’: How To Advocate For Your Child In Hospital
Mother’s instinct is a funny thing. At home, we trust it without question. But put us in a hospital setting with an unwell child, surrounded by doctors, nurses and monitors, and suddenly we start doubting ourselves.
What if I’m overreacting? What if I’ve got it wrong?
So we stay quiet, even when we know something just isn’t right with our child. I’ve been there myself – when my usually ‘tough’ son was doubled over with stomach pain. I was told in the emergency department that it probably wasn’t his appendix. But I knew he wouldn’t have begged me to take him to hospital unless it was serious. Because I know him better than anyone. Turns out, it was appendicitis.
It’s a really common place for parents to land. You’re grateful for the care your child is getting, but at the same time, you feel this huge responsibility to speak up if something doesn’t feel right.
Here’s the thing though: that instinct you’re feeling? It matters more than you might think.
Why your gut feeling matters more than you realise
According to Paediatric Nurse Unit Manager, Canterbury Hospital, Leticia Jackson, parents bring something to the hospital that no test or machine ever could.
“Parents often say they ‘just know’ when something isn’t quite right with their child, and in a hospital, that gut feeling is incredibly valuable,” she explains.
Leticia Jackson, Paediatric Nurse Unit Manager, Canterbury Hospital
While medical teams rely on observations, tests and equipment, parents know the little details. The way your child usually smiles. How they react when they’re tired. What’s normal for them.
So when something feels “off”, even if everything looks okay on paper, it can actually be an early warning sign.
“When parents trust those instincts and speak up, this creates a powerful partnership that can sometimes catch a problem before it becomes an emergency,” Leticia says.
Worried about speaking up? You’re not alone
A lot of parents hesitate about advocating for their child.
You don’t want to come across as difficult. You don’t want to question the people caring for your child. And sometimes, you just don’t feel confident enough to push the issue.
Leticia gets it.
“It is completely understandable for parents to feel hesitant,” she says. “No one wants to be seen as difficult or to second-guess the hardworking people caring for their child.”
But here’s a helpful way to look at it: you’re not challenging the medical team, you’re helping them.
Parents are the constant. Staff change shifts, care for multiple patients, and rely on snapshots of information. You’re there the whole time, noticing the subtle changes.
“Our medical team doesn’t view a concerned parent as overreactive, but as a partner,” Leticia explains. “Your voice matters.”
Remember, we know our children better than anyone.
What to do if you’re worried: the Raise It process
If you’re in a NSW public hospital or health service and you’re worried about you or your child’s condition getting worse, there is a clear process you can follow called Raise It.
Raise It is designed to help patients, carers and family members get help fast if they’re worried about a change in their loved one’s condition.
Here’s how it works:
Talk: Start by speaking to a nurse, midwife, doctor or health worker about your concerns.
Ask: Still worried? Ask to speak to the nurse or midwife in charge and request a Clinical Review.
Call: If you’re still concerned, you can escalate further using the Raise It process to get urgent attention from a senior health worker.
You don’t need medical knowledge. You don’t need to be certain. If you feel something isn’t right, or your child is getting worse, Raise It. You just need to speak up.
What should you actually look out for?
Sometimes it’s not one big, obvious sign. It can be small, subtle changes that just don’t sit right.
Things like:
Changes in breathing (fast, laboured or noisy)
Skin looking pale, mottled, or developing unusual rashes
Your child being unusually drowsy, floppy, or hard to wake
Confusion or behaviour that’s out of character
Pain that isn’t improving with treatment
Or simply that feeling that your child is getting worse
And sometimes, it’s just that gut feeling you can’t explain.
That’s enough.
“You are helping us, not bothering us”
If there’s one message Leticia wants parents to take away, it’s that you aren’t bothering the medical team, you’re helping them.
“In my years as a Nurse Unit Manager, I can say with absolute certainty that many critical changes in a child’s condition have been identified first by a parent. While our clinical staff are highly skilled at performing regular observations and interpreting data, parents are the only constant presence who truly know their child’s baseline behaviour, personality, and what is normal for them.
“I have seen numerous instances where a parent’s insistence that their child is “just not themselves” – despite vital signs appearing relatively stable – has prompted a deeper clinical review that uncovered everything from early signs of sepsis to a life-threatening respiratory crisis.”
The Raise It process exists because healthcare teams know how important parents are in keeping children safe.
“Speaking up doesn’t mean you don’t trust the team,” she says. “It means you’re partnering with us to make sure nothing gets missed.”
And if you’re still worried about being judged?
“Whether your concern turns out to be something or nothing, your instinct to raise it is always valid.”
Even as a healthcare professional, when I took my soon to the ED when I was concerned, I felt awkward about speaking up, worried I was making a big deal out of nothing (even though i would never tjink this about a patient’s family if the roles were reversed). The message in this article is so important. Always stick to your guns. Always speak up and advocate for your kids – they can’t do it for themselves.
And honestly, some medical staff are idiots. I vividly remember the night two doctors huddled over my son’s lung x-rays. I hadn’t been allowed to accompany him to have them taken as I was pregnant. They finally told me solemnly that they were preparing to do emergency surgery as there was something in his lungs – “we don’t know what it is, but it’s definitely man made”. I took one look at the x-rays and asked if they’d taken off the battery packs for his cochlear implants, which were pinned to the back of his shirt, before the x-ray. And of course they hadn’t, and of course that’s what appeared to be in his lungs. Honestly!
I have learned many times to always listen to your gut and speak up when you don’t think something is right. This article was a great read, our kids are our world and if we don’t feel they are getting the right help, and we feel it, we need to speak up.
You should never second guess yourself when it comes to yours or your childs health- or anyones for that matter. Go with your thoughts. It is natural to want to protect a loved one especially when it comes to health situations, and the feeling you get when you think you didnt do enough to advocate or fight for them…it is not a kind or nice way to feel. Many people have ended up being heartbroken and picking up pieces for years because of feeling they didnt do enough.
A very good and informative article. I have read so many stories about mums just knowing when things are not right and demanding second and third opinions until they got the right answer. Sometimes mums just know. It is our job as care takers of our families. Listen to your gut!
Years ago, I spoke up for my 14-year-old daughter, but my concerns weren’t fully listened to. I’ve always wished I had pushed harder. She was sent home without much testing, and two days later, she passed away.
So, if you ever have concerns—no matter how minor—please speak up and keep advocating. Trust your instincts; they are there for a reason.
This is so important for parents to know how to raise it further if they don’t think their child is receiving the medical support they need! I know this article refers to the NSW system but other systems have similar procedures just with different names. I know in QLD it’s called Ryan’s Rule.
It’s so important to follow your gut instincts and express your concerns indeed. I have never hesitated to advocate for my children in various situations and I don’t care what other people think about it. Not all doctors and medical staff appreciate it when you question them, I’ve experienced that it may result in angry indignant responses.
How true this is! While nurses and doctors are the medical professionals doing their job on the daily, we know our children better than anyone and what is ‘normal’ for them. I would always speak up if I had noticed any changes in my child’s health and encourage other parents to do so too. No question is silly!
This really is such an important issue and a good topic to discuss with people, I am often surprised that people are worried about being judged. This is not something I care about; the priority is for the care and health of everyone is my family. Parents know their children and need to work with health professionals for the best outcomes for their children.
This is such an important issue to raise, and no one should ever feel ashamed, nervous or that they are being OTT for advocating for their kids, themselves or loves ones in hospital. In QLD we have Ryan’s Rule. A three step process where your concern will be escalated if they believe the patients condition isn’t improving or is worsening.
I have never been afraid to advocate for my children and partner and extended family and also friends. It is so important to listen and to trust intuition. When people have not listened, I have persevered and kept on with insisting on care and making sure they truly listened and took action.
5:51 pm
Briliiant!
I would highly recommend this for cooks and non cooks alike, but especially for those kids moving out on their own for the first time
1:46 pm
Fantastic book, a great teaching tool
"It's okay Mum, I was reading 'that book,' you know the Can't Cook Book (with smirk & giggle), and I know how to do it now."
My family really enjoyed the Herb-Roasted Beef with Potatoes & Carrots, and I enjoyed the simplicity of cooking it. It will definitely become a staple meal in this house.
2:11 pm
Easy cook book
5:10 pm
hubby and I are in love... with food
10:12 am
gorgeous easy to follow no more annoying my mother
8:32 pm
Catchy title. Love it
3:46 pm
First glance a winner
1:57 pm
FANTASTIC COOK BOOK!
Thanks
5:01 pm
Fantastic easy to follow and make recipes
10:27 am
Absolutely love this new staple in my kitchen
7:16 am
Guide for the notice cook
12:18 pm
Easy to follow recipes
7:22 am
Excellent book
4:02 pm
For cooks and non-cooks
11:08 pm
It's a Cookbook.
5:02 pm
2nd review
8:26 pm
A book with fun and food.
7:24 pm
Teenage Commonsense Cooking
5:51 pm
Briliiant!
I would highly recommend this for cooks and non cooks alike, but especially for those kids moving out on their own for the first time
6:11 pm
Final Verdict - Love it!
3:36 pm
Fantastic book, a great teaching tool......
1:46 pm
Fantastic book, a great teaching tool
"It's okay Mum, I was reading 'that book,' you know the Can't Cook Book (with smirk & giggle), and I know how to do it now."
My family really enjoyed the Herb-Roasted Beef with Potatoes & Carrots, and I enjoyed the simplicity of cooking it. It will definitely become a staple meal in this house.
10:14 am
So practical!
5:01 pm
Fantastic easy to follow and make recipes
4:57 pm
Never think I can cook
2:11 pm
Easy cook book
11:24 pm
Drew me in immediately
5:10 pm
hubby and I are in love... with food
12:43 pm
My 10 year old daughter loved it
10:12 am
gorgeous easy to follow no more annoying my mother
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