Cooked

Michael Pollan is one of my favorite authors. It's no secret that I like to read and I go back and forth between fiction and non-fiction. There are things that I always look for in books that I read and one of those is an author that makes his reader feel that he is taking them on a voyage of discovery about things that sometimes are overlooked in their everyday lives. Michael Pollan is one of those writers. I can't think of any other author that I have read that has taught me as much and helped develop my interest in doing things myself and becoming more self-sufficient than him. I strongly recommend his books and think that if you have even the slightest interest in cooking, or eating for that matter, that you start with Cooked. Here, he discovers the enduring power of the four classical elements—fire, water, air, and earth— to transform the stuff of nature into delicious things to eat and drink. Apprenticing himself to a succession of culinary masters, Pollan learns how to grill with fire, cook with liquid, bake bread, and ferment everything from cheese to beer. It is his most recent book but serves as a great introduction to his work. Please check it out.

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