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Book Review: Paula Deen’s My First Cookbook — 14 Comments

  1. Thank you for sharing the link to Food Politics. My husband has type 2 diabetes and is insulin dependent. He definitely falls into the “genetic factors” side of things because, when he was finally diagnosed, he weighed less than 110 lbs and is 6′ tall. Even now, he has not regained all of the weight he lost and is very slender. Needless to say, Paula Deen has been a discussion in our home and I know he will want to read this article. I’m very curious about the writer’s suggesting that the ADA is funded by drug companies. I was disappointed that there wasn’t a link to this and am now off to research this. If you or someone else knows where I can find more information about this, I’d appreciate it.

  2. Great review. I’d never heard of fried butter balls – just the thought of it made my arteries twinge. I wonder if Jamie Oliver will come out with a cookbook for kids in the near future. He really should. He came to Toronto recently and Ward and I were fortunate enough to get tickets to hear him speak. He is very impassioned about good, healthy food for children, and he’s a very funny, down-to-earth speaker, as well. I’d love to see a book by him for kids!

  3. I’m not sure I like the idea of making Paula Deen the poster girl for what’s wrong with the food politics in our country. I’ve read some of her cookbooks, tried a few of her recipes, and watch her Food Network show occasionally. I guess I missed the Fried Butter Balls and those other evil dishes. Most of her food is very tasty looking and rather healthy looking. What I like about her is that she encourages people to cook their own food and have fun doing it rather than eat fast food. Most of us know to skip the excess butter, cream and sugar. We all make our own choices as to what goes in our mouths. It’s not Paula’s fault.

    • Good points, Margot! We don’t have cable so I’ve seen very little of Paula Deen. I mostly know her from what makes the news, so the most outrageous acts, not the normal everyday things.

  4. Well written, Joy. I also liked the article by Marion Nestle, I had not heard of her before. I find it incredible that Paula Deen actually accuses her critics to be elitist. That argument is so easily refuted! My grocery bills are quite low, and my fridge and pantry is always stocked with a variety of wholewheat grains and fresh vegetables & fruit. But yeah, preaching to the choir here 😉
    I am just glad that she is not getting the support of her fellow celebrity cooks.
    Nothing wrong with making tasty, butter & sugar laden goods once in a while, but definitely not on a daily basis.

  5. Thanks for all the Paula Deen links. Why would someone actually make and eat fried butter rolls or use dounts has hamburger buns. I was surprised Deen never endorsed a brand of butter. Though I wonder if its because the companies were taking in the whole picture and it wasn’t worth the risk.

  6. Paula Deen intrigues me. I don’t have cable, so I haven’t actually watched any of her shows but it does seem off for someone who promotes generally unhealthly meals to be advertising those kinds of drugs. On the other hand, she encourages people to cook and I’m sure as a once in a while thing her food is fine… either way, I won’t be buying any of her cook books. I love that you went out of your way to find this and talk about it though! 🙂

  7. Thanks for sharing this review and the links! I think what bugs me most about the Paula Dean thing is that she found out she had diabetes and then spent a couple of years not telling anyone about it, continuing to promote her show and recipes without acknowledging the role her food probably had in her diagnosis. It’s too bad this book didn’t have a healthy eating page in it.

  8. People are buying it otherwise she wouldn’t be on TV with the cooking shows and all that. But she’ll fade away soon. You don’t hear of all Emeril all the time any more. Food Network likes to overexpose their stars. And I am sure she makes a lot more money hawking drugs than she would selling healthy recipes. I’m with you, I prefer Mollie Katzen for kids and for anyone. She had a cooking show, too.

  9. Pingback:It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? | Joy's Book Blog

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