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The Pot and How to Use It: The Mystery and Romance of the Rice Cooker
A guide to the handy kitchen appliance, plus a range of recipes, from the Pulitzer Prize-winning movie critic.In The Pot and How to Use It, Roger Ebert--Pulitzer Prize-winning film critic, admitted "competent cook," and long-time electric rice cooker enthusiast--gives readers a charming, practical guide to this handy and often-overlooked kitchen appliance.While The Pot and How to Use It contains numerous and surprisingly varied recipes for electric rice cookers, it is much more than a cookbook. Originating from a blog entry on Roger's popular Web site, the book also includes readers' comments and recipes alongside Roger's own discerning insights and observations on why and how we cook.With an introduction by vegetarian cookbook author Anna Thomas and expert assistance from recipe consultant and nutritionist Yvonne Nienstadt, The Pot and How to Use It is perfect for fans of Roger's superb writing, as well as anyone looking to incorporate the convenience and versatility of electric rice cookers into his or her kitchen repertoire.
111 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 21, 2010
27 people are currently reading
205 people want to read
About the author
Roger Ebert
98 books399 followersRoger Joseph Ebert was a Pulitzer Prize-winning American film critic and screenwriter.
He was known for his weekly review column (appearing in the Chicago Sun-Times since 1967, and later online) and for the television program Siskel & Ebert at the Movies, which he co-hosted for 23 years with Gene Siskel. After Siskel's death in 1999, he auditioned several potential replacements, ultimately choosing Richard Roeper to fill the open chair. The program was retitled Ebert & Roeper and the Movies in 2000.
Ebert's movie reviews were syndicated to more than 200 newspapers in the United States and abroad. He wrote more than 15 books, including his annual movie yearbook. In 1975, Ebert became the first film critic to win a Pulitzer Prize for Criticism. His television programs have also been widely syndicated, and have been nominated for Emmy awards. In February 1995, a section of Chicago's Erie Street near the CBS Studios was given the honorary name Siskel & Ebert Way. Ebert was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in June 2005, the first professional film critic to receive one. Roger Ebert was named as the most influential pundit in America by Forbes Magazine, beating the likes of Bill Maher, Lou Dobbs, and Bill O'Reilly.[2] He has honorary degrees from the University of Colorado, the American Film Institute, and the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.
From 1994 until his death in 2013, he wrote a Great Movies series of individual reviews of what he deemed to be the most important films of all time. He also hosted the annual Roger Ebert's Overlooked Film Festival in Champaign, Illinois from 1999 until his death.
He was known for his weekly review column (appearing in the Chicago Sun-Times since 1967, and later online) and for the television program Siskel & Ebert at the Movies, which he co-hosted for 23 years with Gene Siskel. After Siskel's death in 1999, he auditioned several potential replacements, ultimately choosing Richard Roeper to fill the open chair. The program was retitled Ebert & Roeper and the Movies in 2000.
Ebert's movie reviews were syndicated to more than 200 newspapers in the United States and abroad. He wrote more than 15 books, including his annual movie yearbook. In 1975, Ebert became the first film critic to win a Pulitzer Prize for Criticism. His television programs have also been widely syndicated, and have been nominated for Emmy awards. In February 1995, a section of Chicago's Erie Street near the CBS Studios was given the honorary name Siskel & Ebert Way. Ebert was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in June 2005, the first professional film critic to receive one. Roger Ebert was named as the most influential pundit in America by Forbes Magazine, beating the likes of Bill Maher, Lou Dobbs, and Bill O'Reilly.[2] He has honorary degrees from the University of Colorado, the American Film Institute, and the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.
From 1994 until his death in 2013, he wrote a Great Movies series of individual reviews of what he deemed to be the most important films of all time. He also hosted the annual Roger Ebert's Overlooked Film Festival in Champaign, Illinois from 1999 until his death.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
February 10, 2011
"We don't want no stinking cookbooks."
This quote from Roger Ebert's witty, irreverent guidebook illustrates his no-nonsense approach to cooking, using the simplest of tools (the rice pot) and ingredients (brown rice, oatmeal, beans and such, enhanced by a few "secret ingredients"). This approach is far from refined or pretentious. It is, in fact, the antithesis of pretension. Ebert's opening salvo states, "This is a little book for people who would like to be able to prepare meals simply and quickly in a very limited amount of space -- not even necessarily in a kitchen." He then waxes poetic, imagining his readership:
"I am thinking of you, student in your dorm room You, solitary writer, artist, musician, potter, plumber, builder, hermit. You with a corner of your desk or table free. You, parents on tight schedules with kids.... You, teenager home alone. You, rabbi, pastor, priest, nun, waitress, community organizer, nurse, starving actor, taxi driver, long-haul driver. Yes, even you."
When I bought the book, I fell into the space-challenged category. I was planning a somewhat extended stay in Honolulu, and I figured I could save major bucks by preparing simple and healthy meals in my studio hotel room. As chance would have it, I was upgraded to a studio with a kitchenette; I had no need to rely on a rice cooker alone. Still, I found the book so utterly charming and practical that I read it straight through and promised myself that I'd put the "pot" through its paces on my next road trip, especially as I have a deplorable tendency to fall back upon junk food whenever I'm on the road. (The pot to the rescue!)
The Pot and How to Use it is quite short, a scant hundred pages including some ten pages dedicated to chapter titles alone. In fact, the sections actually written by Ebert are too short, by my lights -- a mere 50 pages or so, followed by another 50 pages of comments from readers of Ebert's popular online blog and a handful of recipes, mostly contributed by readers as well.
However, it's abundantly clear that Ebert, who by a cruel slap of fate cannot actually eat -- he receives all his nutrition by stomach tube since losing his jaw and voice to thyroid cancer four years ago -- has not lost his trademark candor and sense of humor. It's first noticeable in the subtitle of the book: "The Mystery and Romance of the Rice Cooker." Who, but Ebert, would have come up with that phrase? No one! The titles of the short chapters, too, are pure Ebert: "Your Soups," "Your Sauces," "Your Herbs and Spices."
Ebert on sauces: "A gourmet cook would never stoop to adding bottled sauces to menus, but I stoop all the time."
Ebert on using a rice cooker: "Whatever your gender, you will do this like a man, by refusing to read the instructions."
Ebert on cooking oils: "Always use oils very sparingly. Even my pals at Pritikin say you can use a little olive oil. That means a little, Chef Boyardee."
Chef Boyardee! He cracks me up.
If I have one criticism (and it's a biggie), it's that there is too little Ebert in this slim paperback and too damn much of his fans -- those blog-submitted comments and recipes are not exactly inspired. Not to mention that there are two prefaces -- why both an intro and a forward? Sheer padding! At $14.99, the book is an expensive proposition for what amounts to an extended essay.
My advice, and I'm sure, in his practical heart-of-hearts that Ebert would have to agree, is to go to the library. Check out and read The Pot and How to Use It. Then return the book, so that the wisdom of Ebert can be passed down through the ages.
This quote from Roger Ebert's witty, irreverent guidebook illustrates his no-nonsense approach to cooking, using the simplest of tools (the rice pot) and ingredients (brown rice, oatmeal, beans and such, enhanced by a few "secret ingredients"). This approach is far from refined or pretentious. It is, in fact, the antithesis of pretension. Ebert's opening salvo states, "This is a little book for people who would like to be able to prepare meals simply and quickly in a very limited amount of space -- not even necessarily in a kitchen." He then waxes poetic, imagining his readership:
"I am thinking of you, student in your dorm room You, solitary writer, artist, musician, potter, plumber, builder, hermit. You with a corner of your desk or table free. You, parents on tight schedules with kids.... You, teenager home alone. You, rabbi, pastor, priest, nun, waitress, community organizer, nurse, starving actor, taxi driver, long-haul driver. Yes, even you."
When I bought the book, I fell into the space-challenged category. I was planning a somewhat extended stay in Honolulu, and I figured I could save major bucks by preparing simple and healthy meals in my studio hotel room. As chance would have it, I was upgraded to a studio with a kitchenette; I had no need to rely on a rice cooker alone. Still, I found the book so utterly charming and practical that I read it straight through and promised myself that I'd put the "pot" through its paces on my next road trip, especially as I have a deplorable tendency to fall back upon junk food whenever I'm on the road. (The pot to the rescue!)
The Pot and How to Use it is quite short, a scant hundred pages including some ten pages dedicated to chapter titles alone. In fact, the sections actually written by Ebert are too short, by my lights -- a mere 50 pages or so, followed by another 50 pages of comments from readers of Ebert's popular online blog and a handful of recipes, mostly contributed by readers as well.
However, it's abundantly clear that Ebert, who by a cruel slap of fate cannot actually eat -- he receives all his nutrition by stomach tube since losing his jaw and voice to thyroid cancer four years ago -- has not lost his trademark candor and sense of humor. It's first noticeable in the subtitle of the book: "The Mystery and Romance of the Rice Cooker." Who, but Ebert, would have come up with that phrase? No one! The titles of the short chapters, too, are pure Ebert: "Your Soups," "Your Sauces," "Your Herbs and Spices."
Ebert on sauces: "A gourmet cook would never stoop to adding bottled sauces to menus, but I stoop all the time."
Ebert on using a rice cooker: "Whatever your gender, you will do this like a man, by refusing to read the instructions."
Ebert on cooking oils: "Always use oils very sparingly. Even my pals at Pritikin say you can use a little olive oil. That means a little, Chef Boyardee."
Chef Boyardee! He cracks me up.
If I have one criticism (and it's a biggie), it's that there is too little Ebert in this slim paperback and too damn much of his fans -- those blog-submitted comments and recipes are not exactly inspired. Not to mention that there are two prefaces -- why both an intro and a forward? Sheer padding! At $14.99, the book is an expensive proposition for what amounts to an extended essay.
My advice, and I'm sure, in his practical heart-of-hearts that Ebert would have to agree, is to go to the library. Check out and read The Pot and How to Use It. Then return the book, so that the wisdom of Ebert can be passed down through the ages.
December 24, 2010
This was a gift from a friend who enjoys reading Roger Ebert's reviews and journal. I also enjoy reading Ebert's writing, so this was a safe bet. I had read quite a bit of this already as the rice pot journal post that Ebert wrote in 2008 (?) which excited quite a bit of response which was fun to read. Roger Ebert has for many years done lots of complete meal/dish cooking in his rice cooker. This reads as an overall essay of the theory of such cooking. As such it is interesting and would be instructive to those who are not used to thinking of adapting their cooking techniques to a specific appliance. It also reveals Ebert's humor which I enjoyed quite a bit. The responses from readers are included and are worth reading also as they include questions and humor in response. At the end, recipes from fans are included. It is obviously short because of the source. I read it in about 20 minutes in and around family conversation in the living room last night.
It is what it is. If you like Ebert and his passion for something besides movies, you will enjoy it. If not, then not. I enjoyed it. It is only second to my favorite of his passions (besides movies) which is the Illinois-based Steak 'N' Shake restaurants.
It is what it is. If you like Ebert and his passion for something besides movies, you will enjoy it. If not, then not. I enjoyed it. It is only second to my favorite of his passions (besides movies) which is the Illinois-based Steak 'N' Shake restaurants.
Read
March 21, 2022I miss Roger Ebert. This is kind of a dumb cookbook, but to read
his words again was a joy.
his words again was a joy.
November 5, 2010
Roger Ebert wrote a blog post with the same title on how to cook with a rice cooker, and this is the extended, better edited version of it. One third of the book is him talking casually about how to cook different things in a rice cooker, one third is blog comments from the original blog post, and the last third is more formal recipes. Ebert is a great writer, so the first third is fun to read, but it doesn't work very well as a cookbook. By this I mean, there just aren't any recipes or techniques that make me say, "I have to make this right now." It's definitely worth checking out from the library just to see a cookbook so obviously written by a film critic. For example, one of the recipes is for "Ebert's True Grits!" after the John Wayne movie. On the other hand, it's just a recipe for grits, which is grits + water. Maybe if I'd never cooked before, this would be helpful. Otherwise....*shrugs*
(2 stars for the recipes, but Ebert says star ratings systems aren't helpful anyway, which is definitely the case in this review.)
(2 stars for the recipes, but Ebert says star ratings systems aren't helpful anyway, which is definitely the case in this review.)
January 26, 2012
The good parts: I was curious about rice cookers, and this entertaining slim book provided me with some useful answers. Roger Ebert is a charming, delightful and courageous man, and an excellent writer. His personality shines through this book, and if you are interested in Ebert the man, you might well enjoy this book from that perspective.
The downside: a lot of the book is written by other people, friends and people who comment on Ebert's blog. I didn't find that nearly so interesting as Ebert's own writing. Also I found the basic advice on rice cookers very... basic. And the recipes were of little interest to me, personally.
Bottom line: A lot of it is fun to read. It's an okay short and quick look at some of what a rice cooker can do, and why you might want to own one -- though you'd probably be better off looking at another book, or some blog posts, for that. For Ebert admirers, a worthwhile read, but you can read similar stuff at his blog. For Ebert fanatics, probably a must read, but well down the list of those.
The downside: a lot of the book is written by other people, friends and people who comment on Ebert's blog. I didn't find that nearly so interesting as Ebert's own writing. Also I found the basic advice on rice cookers very... basic. And the recipes were of little interest to me, personally.
Bottom line: A lot of it is fun to read. It's an okay short and quick look at some of what a rice cooker can do, and why you might want to own one -- though you'd probably be better off looking at another book, or some blog posts, for that. For Ebert admirers, a worthwhile read, but you can read similar stuff at his blog. For Ebert fanatics, probably a must read, but well down the list of those.
July 20, 2014
This book could be subtitled, "The zen of rice cookers." Reading Roger Ebert's thoughts about his beloved rice cooker and how it can be used to make *anything* is a treat for those of us who miss his wit and unique voice. The book is essentially split into three sections: 1) Roger's musings about the simple but profound usefulness of a rice cooker, 2) His blog readers' reactions to his rice cooker posts, and 3) Numerous recipes contributed by his blog readers. We've already established that Roger loved his rice cooker, but what about parts 2 and 3 of the book? They're equally charming, with readers asking questions accompanied by Roger's often pithy replies. The reader recipes in the third section of the book are varied and actually looked quite tasty. I enjoyed this book so much that although I read it via the Oyster Android app on my Onyx Boox T68 e-ink reader, I then bought a Kindle version to "keep."
April 13, 2012
Before going any further, I will admit that there weren't as many recipes as I'd have liked. I know some of that is due to differences between rice cookers' timing mechanisms and other related issues. Still. Essentially, it lets you know that you can use a rice cooker to make a variety of dishes (with rice! ... or noodles, or oatmeal, etc...) as one pot meals without using a stove. A lot of these, though, you can use a slow cooker for or cook on the stove in one pot. It is a nice tool for summer time cooking, though, when you wouldn't want to turn on the oven or stand over a simmering pot on the stove.
All that being said, I give it 3 stars because Ebert and the blog comments he's included are so entertaining. A great culinary quick-read. Recommended for people with rice cookers! :D
All that being said, I give it 3 stars because Ebert and the blog comments he's included are so entertaining. A great culinary quick-read. Recommended for people with rice cookers! :D
February 15, 2013
I picked this up at the library, because I'm thinking about getting a rice cooker. While the book was very enthusiastic about the topic of rice cookers, it wasn't for me. I like Ebert as a writer, but this book is for people who are just getting started in cooking (i.e., give it to your favorite college student). I've been cooking for the past 20 or so years--using real cookbooks and everything--and didn't see anything in this book that interested me, or would help me improve.
That being said, I'm 100% behind what he's saying: cook for yourself. Experiment. Stop overpaying for food loaded with crap. Even with the cheapest tool (i.e., the most basic model of rice cooker), you can do much more than you may think.
That being said, I'm 100% behind what he's saying: cook for yourself. Experiment. Stop overpaying for food loaded with crap. Even with the cheapest tool (i.e., the most basic model of rice cooker), you can do much more than you may think.
February 11, 2012
No, not THAT kind of pot! This book is 1/3 about how Roger Ebert came to know and love his rice cooker and his philosophy of food, cooking, and rice cookers, 1/3 blog responses to his rice cooker philosophy, and 1/3 recipes, with contributions from Anna Thomas, author of the Vegetarian Epicure books and film producer/director. It is clear that everyone involved with this book was having a ton of fun. I bought a rice cooker at the same time and plan to cook my way through the vegetarian recipes in it. The blog posts included are a hoot. The entire book is a hoot--read it, you'll like it.
April 23, 2013
Very quick and fun read. Ebert's humor is lovely throughout and I am tempted to buy a rice cooker. It might be wonderful for camping potlucks (we camp in a trailer with electricity.)
I am a very confident cook, but it offers such "you can't miss it" style tips that I'm still a bit concerned about making room in my cupboard for something I might not use. I already have an electric rice and veggie steamer.
5 Stars for the writing, offset by 3 stars for clarity.
Do read it if you like thinking about cooking or are feeling nostalgic for Roger.
I am a very confident cook, but it offers such "you can't miss it" style tips that I'm still a bit concerned about making room in my cupboard for something I might not use. I already have an electric rice and veggie steamer.
5 Stars for the writing, offset by 3 stars for clarity.
Do read it if you like thinking about cooking or are feeling nostalgic for Roger.
December 23, 2014
Roger Ebert, what a guy. He couldn't even EAT anymore and yet shared with us his passion for the rice cooker and its versatility. Wow! The book is a great and quick read, includes some fun recipes, but I believe it was really meant as inspiration for us to try something easy and different with simple cooking and use our own tastes and ideas! Loved the book!
April 30, 2013
Such a good book. It was a better blog, but I'm glad he published it so it could be read by others. As much as remember Roger Ebert as a fine film critic, this book is the piece of writing (in blog form) that made me want to read his words on a regular basis.
April 15, 2013
The rice cooker will cook more than rice. That pretty well sums up this book.
April 4, 2020
This is a silly little volume, and Roger Ebert was obviously well aware of that. I don't usually read cookbooks cover to cover (hence why this is the only review of one you will find here). However, this is not really a cook book (though there are a few recipes) as much as Mr. Ebert having fun trying to convince people to use electric rice cookers more. There is also sort of a warmhearted celebration of food here, with Roger just talking about how much fun preparing food for others can be. Sadly, when he was writing this he was no longer able to eat food, but he still manages to pass on his appreciation of it. So, a silly book, yes, but nice to be able to spend a couple of hours with Roger E. again (sometimes even a slightly naughty Mr. E.).
July 22, 2020
خب راستش نباید از یه منتقد فیلم انتظار داشتم که کتاب آشپزی خفنی بنویسه ! کتاب شاید میتونست خیلی بهتر باشه اگر تو مثلا آمریکا زندگی میکردم ولی چیزایی که اونجا خیلی ارزونه اینجا خیلی گرونن و برعکس. و اینکه خیلی از چیزا رو با برند میگه و من نمیتونم قطعا اینجا گیرشون. خلاصه که اگر تو ایران هستین گول عنوان وسوسه انگیز کتاب رو نخورید و فکر نکنید میشه با یه پلوپز راحت آشپزی کرد. البته شایدم میشه ! من قطعا نخواهم تونست ولی.
September 20, 2020
Less of a cookbook than I had originally been expecting, though there are some lightweight recipes at the end of the book. (I'd bought this since some medical issues in my family have inspired me to up my cooking game.) The writing is highly entertaining, if not as helpful in cooking as I'd hoped.
July 23, 2017
If you are expecting a cookbook with recipes, you are doomed to disappointment. If you are expecting Roger Ebert's voice, style, and attitude to ring through, you will be pleased. This slim volume is more about the attitude and philosophy of cooking rather than ingredients.
September 11, 2019
Roger's writing is always a pleasure and I thoroughly enjoyed the story of his experiences with it. I wish there were a few more recipes, but they are all over the web.
December 31, 2022
Mostly comments from some kind of web post? Love the idea but theres really no substance in this book. Boo!
March 8, 2016
This was a short, fun book that entertained me for at least an hour. I've always respected the late Roger Ebert's opinions, and getting this tantalizing view into his home life was enjoyable and a little sad after the fact. He wrote this love letter to rice cookers after his condition prevented him from eating on his own, and that makes it all the more touching.
But enough about that, let's talk rice cookers. I personally love my own rice cooker very much, and have for years, but I've always been a bit timid about cooking equipment. As a result, I've never used my rice cooker for anything but, well, cooking rice. This book is intended to help break one's shackles to conformity, and to free one's rice cooker to do any and all the amazing things it can do. I am bewildered by all the possibilities, and a little afraid of the disasters I might create in attempting to try some of these ideas, but Mr. Ebert does a wonderful job of encouraging trial-and-error and experimentation. "Every recipe is only a suggestion," he writes. These are just the words I've needed to hear for so long.
But enough about that, let's talk rice cookers. I personally love my own rice cooker very much, and have for years, but I've always been a bit timid about cooking equipment. As a result, I've never used my rice cooker for anything but, well, cooking rice. This book is intended to help break one's shackles to conformity, and to free one's rice cooker to do any and all the amazing things it can do. I am bewildered by all the possibilities, and a little afraid of the disasters I might create in attempting to try some of these ideas, but Mr. Ebert does a wonderful job of encouraging trial-and-error and experimentation. "Every recipe is only a suggestion," he writes. These are just the words I've needed to hear for so long.
May 7, 2013
I bought a rice cooker some years ago, in part because of numerous people saying "it's really versatile, you can use it for more than just rice!" I bought a small one and it didn't come with any recipes to give me a sense of what you could make beyond rice. I felt cheated. Rice in the rice pot takes longer than on the stove, so if I hadn't planned the menu ahead it wasn't necessarily convenient either.
Fast forward to 2013. I read in an Ebert obit that he'd published this book about rice cookers, so I got it from the library. And again, I feel cheated. As others have said: the format is roughly 1/3 paean to rice cookers; 1/3 entertaining blog comments; 1/3 pseudo-recipes. The thing is, the recipes that are not just a grain would be, quite frankly, easier in a crock pot or on the cooktop (e.g. require sautéing onions or meat, etc.). The ones that seem uniquely suited to the rice cooker are few and far between: rice pudding, oatmeal, salty tuna on rice.
Oh we'll, now I know - and I guess I'll keep looking for creative ideas for my rice cooker!
Fast forward to 2013. I read in an Ebert obit that he'd published this book about rice cookers, so I got it from the library. And again, I feel cheated. As others have said: the format is roughly 1/3 paean to rice cookers; 1/3 entertaining blog comments; 1/3 pseudo-recipes. The thing is, the recipes that are not just a grain would be, quite frankly, easier in a crock pot or on the cooktop (e.g. require sautéing onions or meat, etc.). The ones that seem uniquely suited to the rice cooker are few and far between: rice pudding, oatmeal, salty tuna on rice.
Oh we'll, now I know - and I guess I'll keep looking for creative ideas for my rice cooker!
January 26, 2015
A recent addition to my life has been a fancy rice cooker. The Pot (as Ebert calls it) has cooked up numerous cups of rice with minimal fuss. I heard rumors of rice cookers being used for more than just rice and was lead to acquire this short book that claims to explain the mystery and romance of the rice cooker.
This is a book that encourages its reader to experiment. The book starts with Ebert explaining why the Pot is the most important tool in your kitchen. He claims this magical device can be used to cook just about anything with minimal effort. Ebert fairly successfully convinces the reader that the Pot can be used for more than just rice.
There are some recipes in the book. They are minimal and more of guidelines. The book encourages you to be an explorer and try experiments and tweak as necessary.
It is unclear to me if the suggestions in this book will work with fancier fuzzy logic rice cookers. Ebert suggests getting one of the dumber ones.
This is a book that encourages its reader to experiment. The book starts with Ebert explaining why the Pot is the most important tool in your kitchen. He claims this magical device can be used to cook just about anything with minimal effort. Ebert fairly successfully convinces the reader that the Pot can be used for more than just rice.
There are some recipes in the book. They are minimal and more of guidelines. The book encourages you to be an explorer and try experiments and tweak as necessary.
It is unclear to me if the suggestions in this book will work with fancier fuzzy logic rice cookers. Ebert suggests getting one of the dumber ones.
October 31, 2010
I found this book to be just plain odd. First of all, it should be known that I requested it from my library without knowing it was Roger Ebert. I just wanted a book on things I could make with my rice cooker. Which I kind of got. Except not really. But kinda. I don't know how else to describe it. When I read the first half of the book, I just kept thinking it was really weird. And I might try to cook a few things in the rice cooker, but I'm not sure the recipes in the book, what few there actually were, are really going to be helpful.
December 14, 2010
Yes, THAT Roger Ebert. The man just loves his rice cooker, and this book is adapted from a post, or posts, on his blog about the topic. As such, the information is quite thin--lots of display pages and reprints of blog comments (not fun to read in a book form, by the way). I am thinking about getting a rice cooker now, and this did give me some ideas about ways to use it, but I wanted more. More recipes, more nutritional information, more information on whether a rice cooker would be redundant with my trusty Crock Pot...just more.
October 5, 2011
Roger Ebert is a funny man. Aside from the fact that he clearly loves movies, his writing style and general giddiness is one reason I love to read him. In this, he makes an argument for cooking with "the pot" by which he means a rice cooker. Apparently it's a one-pot cooking wonder. There's a line about men who cook in the introduction that slayed me and his argument was enough to convince me to buy a rice cooker, although I haven't done so at this juncture. Perhaps when I do get one, it won't die early on like the last one did.
September 14, 2012
This book is crazier than I expected.
It's not at all my style of cookbook. I prefer to have someone tell me exactly what to do... and then I change as much as I like. But I want to have a really specific base line. I don't have a great tolerance for screwing up when I cook, so I'm not one for learning how to prepare stuff "the hard way" as he recommends. This book was a short, interesting, and funny read.
Someone who's more into winging it in the kitchen might enjoy this book more.
I think the book would have been a lot better if it had just been co-written with proper cookbook person.
It's not at all my style of cookbook. I prefer to have someone tell me exactly what to do... and then I change as much as I like. But I want to have a really specific base line. I don't have a great tolerance for screwing up when I cook, so I'm not one for learning how to prepare stuff "the hard way" as he recommends. This book was a short, interesting, and funny read.
Someone who's more into winging it in the kitchen might enjoy this book more.
I think the book would have been a lot better if it had just been co-written with proper cookbook person.
February 19, 2016
The portions of the book written by Ebert are great and his interest and talent for writing shine through. Since this book is essentially an expanded version of a blog post about the same subject the rest of the book highlights comments to the article, his occasional reply, and some recipes in the back.
Since I didn't go into this expecting a cookbook, I'm happy to have read something written by Ebert. The rest of the book I could do without though and, since it's a rather short one, another reader's mileage will vary.
Since I didn't go into this expecting a cookbook, I'm happy to have read something written by Ebert. The rest of the book I could do without though and, since it's a rather short one, another reader's mileage will vary.
August 8, 2014
A fun and witty book by Roger Ebert. Or rather, a series of blog posts. Parts of the book were reader comments, and the last part of the book included recipes to use with a rice cooker. I sort of imagined this as an "Easy 5 ingredients" type of cookbook, but many of these recipes seemed to have too much going on for a simple rice cooker recipe. I prefer using a slow cooker, something I can prepare in the morning and have it ready by the time I get home from work. Or cooking….I like that too.
December 26, 2010
Interesting book focusing on Roger Ebert's lifelong fascination with a rice cooker. It makes me want to buy one but I'm not convinced it's the only cooking item one would ever need. It's interesting from a reader's perspective given that Roger Ebert can no longer eat and receives all of his nutrition through a G tube.
July 20, 2011
I've read the first couple of chapters and haven't seen an actual recipe yet, but have laughed several times. Also just have to be amazed that this book is written by a man made famous by his taste in films, and who also can no longer eat. But he still cooks. With a rice cooker.
The book was funnier than a normal recipe book, and while I didn't get too many new ideas I enjoyed reading it.
The book was funnier than a normal recipe book, and while I didn't get too many new ideas I enjoyed reading it.
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