Book Review - Real Women Eat Chiles

Real Women Eat Chiles
Jane Butel
Northland Publishing
194 pages
$21.95 US

The title doesn't do the book justice. It's filled with the history of chiles along with women's stories of how chiles have impacted their lives.

Chiles are so good for you (see pages 13 and 15) and you can get everything from mild to tears streaming down your face varieties.

For the secrets of cooking with chiles, there is a whole section to help you unravel the mysteries. And then my favourite part, the recipes. And they're good ones - Black Bean and Goat Cheese Chalupitas; Spicy Beef and Potato Salad with Hot Red Chile Dressing, Lamb Chops with Jalapeno Jelly and Chile-Seared Salmon with Sweet Pear Pineapple Salsa.

The recipes are easy to follow and most involve few ingredients. These are recipes that you can actually use. And these are dishes that you can have on the table quickly.

There are plenty of full-page colour photos to feast your eyes on and make you hungry, but you'll be most excited about making sumptuous meals that are easy to prepare. But don't worry - your secret is safe with us.

- Stephanie