The Bonne Femme Cookbook: Simple, Splendid Food That French Women Cook Every Day Hardcover – October 28, 2011

I actually bought this book several years back, but came across it on a search for something else and thought I'd leave a review. This author is American, and she has visited and lived in France since she was in high school. This duality of understanding brings an excellent balance of authenticity with ease of use and simple ingredients that translate well to the American kitchen. I have been to France twice and have purchased several French cookbooks over the yearsm - some have proven useful while others have ended at library book sales or in thrift shops. I have never been tempted to move this one on, and know I would keep it if I was forced to narrow my entire cookbook collection down to a dozen books. Simply put: the recipes work, the ingredients are readily available, and the number of steps are pared down to the minimum needed but not less. It never disappoints. Possible con: there are no photos of recipes (although there are charming French sketches throughout). Personally, I do not mind this lack of photos and have found that some cookbooks with lucious, glossy photos can lack substance with the actual recipes. However, I thought I would mention it in case that is important to someone else. I saw she has an updated version of this with new recipes and photos. I am definitely going to get it as well, but I will always keep this version I am reviewing, and I would still recommend it to others, especially for the price.

Choc full of hundreds of approachable recipes for American cooks to bring French flavors to their table. These are not fancy recipes that require chef's skills to master, but every day meals that French home cooks would prepare. Don't have the exact ingredient specified in the recipe? She suggests alternatives. The only negative might be the lack of photos, but that wasn't an issue for me. As another reviewer stated, If you need photos, the newer version has nice pics but fewer recipes. I made the Tarragon Chicken with Rice Cremeaux for dinner last night and they were both outstanding! I will be using this cookbook often.

It's no exaggeration when I say that this has quickly become my favorite cookbook (among a pretty hefty collection). I turn back to it time and time again, and I have yet to run across a recipe that I didn't really enjoy. The best part is that it has provided me with an array of quick dinner options that I can whip up using ingredients I already have on hand. I've always gotten frustrated when trying to meal plan because when I'd go to the store with my well planned out shopping list, I'd find that the produce I needed either wasn't available or just didn't look as fresh and appetizing as some other options. Now I can easily shop the way I prefer - just go pick out what looks great and/or I could get for a good price, confident that I'll be able to find a great way to prepare it using the basics I always have on hand plus inspiration from this cookbook. This is especially true for the wonderful selection of simple vegetable side dishes; the pastas; and the saute, deglaze, and serve chapter. Some of those recipes are so flavorful that I find myself choosing to make them even when I have the time to make something more involved for dinner. In fact, never thought I'd find a way to enjoy pork dishes until I tried the Pork Chops with Orange and Thyme recipe, which is now in my regular rotation. I also have a toddler, and though admittedly he does have a pretty adventurous palate for his age, I've been amazed at how he's scarfed down anything I've made from this book so far.My critiques of the cookbook are minor and certainly not enough to dock a star from my rating. I will mention that there really are no pictures, which could be a hindrance for some, though it really doesn't bother me at all. Also, the author obviously has a much better-stocked bar than I do. The book does make use of a pretty wide variety of types of alcohol for deglazing, many of which I don't keep on hand and would have a hard time finding in my rural area. Still, I've found plenty of recipes to keep me busy just with the simple red and white wines I always have on hand.

After cooking many of the recipes from this cookbook I can't recommend it enough. It is, perhaps, one of the best cookbooks I have ever purchased. The recipes are practical for everyday home cooking for people with average to above-average home cooking skills. It uses simple, easy-to-find and mostly cheap ingredients. The flavors did exactly what I wanted-they took me back to my time in France and the home cooking I experienced there without fussy restaurant techniques and unusual ingredients. How practical are the flavors and recipes? I am the home cook for my family which includes an 8- and 6-year old. I seamlessly made 3 different 3-course meals using only recipes from the book each time (and cooking them for the first time too) in less than 1 1/2 hours. When I cooked some of the dishes a second time, I was able to cut that time down further. My children and husband LOVED the food. My parents came to dinner, they LOVED the food. I enjoyed cooking it.With this cookbook my family and I have rediscovered the "joie de vivre" of French eating: lingering at a table, conversation over excellent food, slowing down, smaller portions but more courses, children enjoying real food.