This cookbook grew out of Alter’s lifelong love of cooking, the tips and recipes of her mother, and her own experience in a tiny kitchen with no stove. You won’t find the Thanksgiving feast here, but you will find recipes from appetizers to skillet suppers, with hints on how to stock the pantry. You can use these if your kitchen is tiny or as big as all outdoors.
I absolutely identify with Ms. Alter’s Gourmet on a Hot Plate. I, too, live in a tiny apartment, though I do have a oven. It’s 3/4 size of a regular oven and runs at least 50 degrees hotter than the actual temperature settings. Sometimes, I feel like I might be better off with a hot plate! The section where Ms. Alter writes about downsizing also resonates. Most of my pans and kitchen equipment currently reside in the bedroom closet, as there is no storage space in my kitchen. The minimalist list of kitchen necessities is a great starting point for anyone establishing or downsizing a household.
She is certainly correct in stating that:
“Simplicity may be the key to cooking in a small space.”
I’ve found that to be very true. When I read recipes that have too many steps or ingredients, I pass right by that recipe.
The conversational writing style of Gourmet on a Hot Plate is concise and enjoyable to read. Most recipes have a quick blurb or explanation that enhances the cook book. Ms. Alter encourages her readers to adapt the recipes for their own tastes. This is great for me. I hard pass on recipes with mushrooms and/or asparagus. It’s good to know that I can adapt the recipes to suit my taste.
The layout of this cook book is clear and easy to follow. From appetizers to main dishes, sauces and condiments, the majority of categories are covered. Desserts are missing. Maybe Ms. Alter is not a sweets person?
My favorite sections in Gourmet on a Hot Plate are Skillet Meals and Light Meals. I live for one pan meals (fewer dishes!). I’m also a recent convert to lighter meals. It’s nice to see a cook book focusing on smaller portions. The skillet suppers are heavy on the egg dishes. I’ve realize now that I should be eating eggs at more than just breakfast. I didn’t have time to test any of the recipes in this book, but the Shakshuka is on the top of my testing list. I keep looking at different recipes for shakshuka, but other recipes seem to be overly complicated or enough portions to feed 12. The recipe here is more my style, not too many ingredients and serves 2.
Overall Gourmet on a Hot Plate is a great cookbook for beginner or experienced cooks.
Gourmet on a Hot Plate is a sweet little cookbook for little kitchens, but the recipes can certainly be created in full-sized kitchens as well, all with a hot plate and a toaster oven. The main takeaway is that a cook doesn’t need a big kitchen full of gadgets and appliances to whip up satisfying meals for one, two, three, or more.
Many of the recipes are enhanced with personal anecdotes, advice based on experience and trial and error, and handy tips and suggestions.
Judy bookends her list of recipes, ranging from appetizers to sauces, with her personal journey that currently has her living in a 600-square-foot house with a kitchen just big enough to concoct a variety of meals, albeit with some adaption to a downsized lifestyle. A small kitchen calls for creativity, patience, and a willingness to modify old habits because according to Judy Alter, “Going from cooking on a large scale to a tiny kitchen required adjustments– in attitude, in appliances, in recipes.”
After the recipe list, Judy offers a few tips on stocking a smaller kitchen and some random cooking hints for both new and established cooks. All the recipes sound delicious and easy to make, but some I will definitely try include Natchitoches Meat Pies, Tuna Pasties, Curried Chicken Salad, Radish Salsa, and homemade Taco Seasoning! Those are just the tip of the iceberg because this cookbook for small kitchens is brimming with many basic, gourmet, and family favorite recipes. Something for everyone!
Note: I must say, I’m not a fan of anchovies, but Judy just may have convinced me to give them another go.