Review: Unneeded, Not Completely Organic, and Not From Scratch
Rating: 1 out of 5
Date: 04 2, 2012
I have some of the same issues with this cookbook as I did with the "Naked Scones" book.  There are ads for the author's other book(s) right at the beginning, I find the introduction to be a bit overstated, and the author claims that "while organic foods can cost more, it's very possible to eat organic on the cheap" but doesn't back the claim up.There is a hyperlinked table of contents but it doesn't work with the Go To Table of Contents command on the Kindle for PC.Just like the last book, the recipes themselves are, as far as I can tell, essentially regular recipes with some ingredients specified as organic. There is no reason one can't just use such ingredients in whatever one would normally cook.However, in this one, I have even MORE problems than the last one which referred to "prickly pear" muffins that used a regular pear!The recipe for Cranberry Muffins is identical to the Cranberry Muffins recipe available on Allrecipes; the author just went through and inserted the word "organic" and the like into the ingredient list.  1 teaspoon vanilla extract becomes "1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract"; 2 eggs becomes "2 eggs organic free range."  The next recipe calls for "organic vegetable/olive/coconut oil" and "organic ground cinnamon" and "organic vanilla extract."  I am actually surprised the word "organic" doesn't appear before ingredients like baking soda and chocolate chips.  OH WAIT.  The Carrot Apple Muffins call for organic baking powder and organic baking soda - but those ingredients aren't noted that way in other recipes!!  The "Honest Herbal Muffins" don't specify "organic" before the red pepper, but the green onions and green pepper are noted as organic.  Looks like the author missed an insertion.Then there's the "Deviled Ham Filled Muffins."  The author has "organic'ed" up this recipe which appears on Taste of Home and says "These are not totally organic, but they taste great!"  The author acknowledges that the can of deviled ham isn't organic...but what about the 2 cups of biscuit/baking mix?  With all the care to specify "organic spelt flour" and the like in other recipes, this is a jarring inconsistency.Then we have Cheesy Chili Corn Muffins.  Author says "This is yet another that is not fully organic, but delicious" and the first ingredient is "1 (8.5 ounce) package corn bread/muffin mix"!!  What happened to "made from scratch," "organic," and "healthy"??Ultimately, I don't see the point of keeping this book. The author promises one thing and delivers another in two recipes, and several recipes certainly appear to be just "regular" recipes with organic buzzwords inserted in strategic (and inconsistent) spots.Marg Ruttan's muffin book is a far better choice.  If you want them to be organic, just use organic ingredients.  It really is that simple.