Generally, I don’t trust anything Gwyneth Paltrow has to say about the world around us. She’s pretty disconnected from it, for all intents and purposes, so when Goop says something is “easy”, I think I probably need a personal chef, a team of assistants and millions of dollars for that to be the case. That’s why I’m not all that into her new cookbook, It’s Easy: Healthy, Delicious Weeknight Meals In Under 30 Minutes. I also don’t trust “30 minute” cookbooks, since I find the recipes generally take, like, double that time. With Gwyneth, I’m going to imagine it’s about 2 hours.
Here’s the synopsis for the book:
Gwyneth’s fans have been asking for a cookbook that will help them get healthy, yet wonderfully delicious meals on the table during hectic weeknights. So, finally, this essential cookbook features over 125 recipes that can be made in under 30 minutes that are surprisingly tasty and contain little or no sugar, are low in fat, and many have no gluten.From Chocolate Cinnamon Overnight Oats to Chopped Salad with Grilled Shrimp and from Quick Sesame Noodles to Chicken Enchiladas, you will find dozens of recipes families will love. They will be of the same quality as those in IT’S ALL GOOD, but can be pulled together in the time it would take to call for takeout. And because every family needs some pasta or pizza now and then, Gwyneth includes recipes for easy takes on those favorites too! Plus, since it is so much healthier and economical to bring lunch to work and school, there will be a special section on “Lunchbox ideas” made from dinner leftovers and easy-to-throw-together lunches! So before you reach for the phone for take-out (often with too much fat and sugar), open this book and find the solution for healthy, yet delicious meals every night of the week.
The first issue here is that fat = flavour and you need it in your diet, so I’m not here for the low fat, shit. Low/no sugar? Perfect. Gluten-free? Eh, if it means grain-free or wheat-free, I’ll go with it, but not if it’s gluten-free because it’s been filled with weird franken-flours.
There are so many good cookbooks in this genre, so I doubt this’ll be anything of note, to be honest, though I would take a look through it… I just wouldn’t buy it. I can’t wait to see the kids’ lunch ideas – I guarantee you it’ll be shit most kids would feed to the stray neighborhood dog and then spend their allowance on a school lunch.