THE TAKEAWAY. Ripe is a cookbook full of liberated fruits and vegetables. “Fall in love with us because we’re smart, vibrant, and hilarious,” they’re not afraid to say. “Yeah, we’ve got antioxidants, but get over it already and have a little fun.” Maybe I’m a tad biased by the fact that author Cheryl Sternman Rule is one of my favorite food writers, but I can’t really imagine a better premise for a produce cookbook. Nor, frankly, a better execution.
THE DIRTY DETAILS. First things first. This book was organized by Roy G. Biv, that guy from elementary school who was obsessed with prisms and rainbows. 30 fruits and vegetables, 75 recipes, 150 colorful photos, all arranged across the spectrum from red to purple and, ultimately, white. (Is white the absence of color or the totality of it? Who cares? It’s delicious!) The recipes themselves are highly attainable yet creative, and the headnotes and section introductions are a pure joy to read.
THE LOVELY AUTHOR (& PHOTOGRAPHER). Author Cheryl Sternman Rule is the voice behind the popular food blog 5 Second Rule, named the Best Culinary Blog of 2012 by the International Association of Culinary Professionals (IACP). We’re all lucky to be getting to know her now, before she becomes the official Voice of Our Generation and/or takes over the world using only clementines and her own opposable thumbs. Paulette Phlipot, who shares responsibility for the beauty of this book equally with the author, is an award-winning food, travel, and lifestyle photographer. I’m just learning of her work through this project, and I’m looking forward to being bowled over by a lot more of it in the future.
YOU HAD ME AT…. Cheryl says, “If you’ve never cooked with bok choy, and you think you think your life has been fine, I’m here to tell you, as gently as I can, that it hasn’t. It hasn’t been fine at all. There has been something missing, and that thing is bok choy. First, bok choy has a hilarious physical appearance. It looks like me on a rough morning.”
HOW TO GET IT. For a chance to win a copy of Ripe, leave a comment on this post before July 13 at noon Eastern time that fills in the blanks: If I were a liberated fruit or vegetable, I’d want to be a _____ because _____. (i.e. “If I were a liberated fruit or vegetable, I’d want to be a leaf of kale, because then everyone would be asking if I’m the new bacon. And you knowz I am, bitchez.”)
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If I were a liberated fruit or vegetable, I’d want to be a cucumber because who doesn’t want something long, firm and thick? ;-)
If I were a liberated fruit or vegetable, I’d be a peach, because I’d be the taste of summer.
If I were a liberated fruit or vegetable, I’d want to be a Okra, because who doesn’t want ladyfingers?..
If I were a liberated fruit or vegetable I’d be a cherry, because who doesn’t want to be popped?
Love that you highlighted this cookbook – it’s a favorite of mine. The vibrant pictures just make me happy and every recipe I’ve tried has been outstanding. So hear, hear! :)
If I were a liberated fruit or vegetable, I’d want to be a peach because I could drip down your chin in a delicious stream of sweet summer.
If I were a liberated fruit or vegetable, I’d be a colourful one, because fifty shades of squash are way better than fifty shades of grey.
If I were a liberated fruit or vegetable, I’d want to be a garlic scape, because as many of them as possible are liberated from the farmer’s market when I’m around.
if I were a liberalized f/v, I’d be a peach because who doesn’t want to be just peachy?
If i were a liberated fruit or vegetable, i’d want to be a watermelon because one bite into this sweet water from heaven, i can feel the rush straight from my mouth to my toes :)
If I were a liberated fruit or vegetable, I’d want to be a blueberry, because everyone would want to cook with me, because I’d be delicious and nutritious!
If I were a liberated fruit or vegetable I would want to be a watermelon so that I could be carved into whatever I wanted to be!
If I were a liberated fruit or vegetable, I’d want to be arugula because I’m surprisingly spicy yet always classy.
Looks deelish, and as always, I love your synopsis. Ahhh… If I were a liberated fruit or veg, I’d be a blueberry because then I could be the headliner of an oh-so-corny-yet-endearing song about me and pie… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oNw2UShKQfk&feature=related
If I were a liberated fruit or vegetable, I’d be a sweet potato because a spoonful of sugar helps the vitamins go down!
If I were a liberated fruit or vegetable, I’d want to be a tomato because I come in so many shapes, sizes, and colors and people don’t know if I’m a fruit or vegetable!
If I were a liberated fruit or vegetable in be a Garlic Scape… There misunderstood, odd looking, overlooked and ever a little weird like me!
But their flavor makes it all worth it.
If I were a liberated fruit or vegetable, I’d want to be a pomelo because they ate the bestest!
Are the bestest, are.
If I were a liberated fruit or vegetable I’d be the hipster fruit. Don’t worry, most people haven’t heard of it either.
If I were a liberated f/v, I would be a broccoli romanesco because that is nature’s brilliant way of showcasing the beauty of fractals (making me, as a vegetable, as nerdy as I am now). :)
If I were a liberated fruit or vegetable, I’d want to be a mango because there’s nothing better than hanging out in the sun all day and becoming fleshy, juicy and versatile.
If I were a liberated fruit or vegetable, I’d be a dragon fruit because I’d look flamboyantly, outrageously gorgeous, and taste fabulous!
If I were a liberated fruit or vegetable, I’d want to be a passion fruit , because I would keep getting sweeter even when old and wrinkly
If I were a liberated fruit or vegetable, I’d want to be rhubarb, because I am tasty in both sweet and savory dishes. Oh, and who doesn’t love the flavor combination of strawberries and rhubarb in the summer?
If I were a liberated fruit, I’d want to be a lemon because every day is brighter with a zing of yellow.
If I were a liberated fruit or vegetable, I would be a chile pepper, because I can come in all shapes, sizes, colors, flavors and heat levels, and still I am just a chile pepper. to be equal and diverse at the same time.
Looks like a great book. If I were a liberated fruit or vegetable, I would be a zucchini. Then I would be long, lean and green! And, super tasty and versatile too. I’m loving your blog. Thanks for all your hard work, ideas and recipes. :-)
If I were a liberated fruit, I’d want to be an heirloom tomato, because then I could be really, really old and still be considered beautiful by most people in the world.
If I were a liberated fruit or vegetable, I would be a winter squash because I would like to be that first sign it is time to get cozy …
if I were a liberated fruit or vegetable, I would be a banana because I would blend well
If I were a liberated fruit or vegetable, I’d want to be celeriac because then I can stump for myself as a delicious vegetable — I’m too underrated!
If I were a fruit, I would be a Cherimoya. I would be yummy, delicate and creamy-tasting. I would be a different looking fruit and not easy to get. I would be oh so special and a treat for the taste buds.
If I were a liberated fruit or vegetable, I’d want to be a pineapple because I’d be tough on the outside but oh-so-sweet on the inside.
Comments are now closed. Thank you for all the creative and funny entries! I’ll notify the winner soon.