Full disclaimer; my pal wrote this book. That doesn’t mean it isn’t great though. It is.
So Hannah (or Hannah the Planner as I always call her in my head – she and I met when we worked at possibly the most toxic place on earth and she was a planner) is pretty amazing at everything she turns her hand to. Interiors? Yep, well she has had more than one house feature in a home magazine and seems to make a good profit on any bricks she lays her hands on and does up. (Sorry to say that she has just sold her London home so you missed out on that one).
What about restaurants? Yes well she’s done that too and the food was ace and again, the interior was ace too. So that’s another string to her bow.
And photography – yes. And recipe writing – yes. Styling – yes. Blogging – yes. Basically she’s a real renaissance woman and I admire her for it. She had a portfolio career before there was even a name for it. She’s a tonic and she’s a powerhouse of energy and gumption.
Penguin got in touch with her last year (or maybe even the year before) and asked her to write a book about Buddha Bowls and then shoot the recipes too. Oh and style it. And source props. So, being Hannah (the Kitchen Alchemist on Instagram) she did. And I have a copy she sent me to review.
Buddha Bowls (£6.99) is absolutely how I want to eat but, to be frank, lack the imagination on a week night. But this book is small and nifty and makes you want to sear tofu and marinate aubergines in miso. It’s packed full of punchy flavours and stuff that is Good For You in capitals but without being hempy and worthy. Nobody wants that do they?
Hannah’s dips and dressings are of note. I have eaten them many a time and she has generously included most of her favourites in this book. There’s avocado lime crema, bang bang dressing, chipotle yoghurt, tahini goat’s yoghurt, smoky carrot sauce. I could go on.
Here are two of my favourite recipes that are included:
This is beetroot falafel.
And this my friends is Bang Bang Halloumi. There is nothing I like more than halloumi with a side order of chilli. Other recipes that have caught my attention include Shiitake ‘Bacon’ and Eggs, Thai Style Tofu, Sweet and Sour Tofu, Cumin Carrots and Eggs, Charred Corn and Spiced Chickpeas and Miso Aubergine. But to be fair it’s hard to choose, there are 50 bowls of deliciousness.
Do you want a copy of the book? I have 3 to giveaway. All you have to do is head on over to my Instagram post and follow the instructions. (Sorry if you don’t have an Instagram account but this is where Hannah is active on social media and when giveaways happen there has to be something in it for the person giving the stuff away, like a follow or a share. Obvious point but I often get a lot of messages moaning about stuff like this).
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