Crazy Sexy Kitchen

Hi Cookbook Gatherers,

Yes, I admit, I own too many cookbooks and too many books on food.  Call it an endless quest for knowledge.  I enjoy reading cookbooks – yes reading them.  I read, absorb and mentally picture myself making the recipes.  My challenge is to go from the mental picture to actually making the amazing food I see.  I am usually missing ingredients and if I plan out a meal someone has eaten one of my ingredients.  So I improvise and create my own recipes from each cookbook.

With Crazy Sexy Kitchen, I did the same for a couple of their recipes but also enjoyed actually following the directions.  I also sourced several videos that gave me visuals to better understand the thinking or process behind the recipes.  Let me tell you how I discovered this cookbook.

I first heard of Kris Carr when I watched Hungry for Change – a movie about health and wellness.  I saw Kris on their website and thought who is this lady?  After reading about her, I took out her video Crazy Sexy Cancer – DVD and then her book Crazy Sexy Cancer Tips
from my local library.  And then I discovered and took out Crazy Sexy Diet
– the book the helped me really step up my eating approach and get into green juice.  So when I heard Kris was coming out with Crazy Sexy Kitchen: 150 Plant-Empowered Recipes to Ignite a Mouthwatering Revolution, I pre-ordered the book.  Kris Carr and Chad Sarno did a great job of offering online cooking classes that were available after you pre-ordered your book online (still available when purchase the book).  I was so excited I watched all the recipes before the book arrived and tried out several of the recipes and they are 10 out of 10 .  The book arrived when we were in Thailand so I did a happy dance when we returned and it was ready for me to open and enjoy.

Below is my review and here are some video reviews that include recipes from the book along with interesting discussions with Kris Carr to help you better understand who she is and her sassy style.

And a live segment with Kris Carr and Chef Chad Sarno on Better TV part 1 and part 2

What I liked

• The photography is beautiful – both the food and the location shots.
• The layout is strong, simple and uses white space well with a good mix of fun fonts that are not imposing.
• The tone is sassy, uplifting, conversational and cheeky.  I love Kris Carr’s writing style.  She comes across as a great girlfriend ready to help you.
• The information is easy to understand, clearly well thought out and fun to read.
• Every recipe is a taste sensation that pushes you to try new flavour combinations.

What I think could be improved

• As a vegan cookbook, many of the items are nut-based which is great if you can eat nuts.  I was super excited to share some of the food I made from the cookbook with my sisters until I heard that they were all sensitive/allergic to cashews.
• Pictures with every recipe – I can visualize what I am going to make better with a picture.  It helps me to want to make the recipe.  While the book does have full colour images, it appears that only 1 in 3 recipes have an image.
• If you already own Crazy Sexy Diet, the first 47 pages might be a bit of repeat but a freshen-up on your knowledge is always a good thing.

My favourite recipes

1. Beetroot Ravioli  (page 193)  Not sure what this is – visit Raw Aura in Port Credit, Ontario and order it.  I bet you will want to try making it too.
2. Cashew Cream Cheese (page 237)
3. Save the Tuna Salad on Rye (page 139)
4. Chickpea Crepe (Farinata) with Mushrooms and Artichokes (page 113)

Beetroot Ravioli with Cashew Creme Cheese

Chickpea Crepe (Farinata) with Mushrooms and Artichokes

Looking forward to trying

1. Hearts-of-Palm-Style Crab Cakes with Remoulaude (page 151)
2. Avo Toasts (page 117)
3. Fresh Citrus Olives (page 248)

I now own both Crazy Sexy Diet and Crazy Sexy Kitchen and I would highly recommend owning them to add to your wellness library.

May you find fabulous people who help you on your journey to wellness.

To Kris and Chad for a great cookbook.

Jo-Ann Blondin, your 9CupChallenge partner