When I first saw the title of this cookbook, I knew I had to have it. Poo is the author’s nick name. Her real name? Saiyuud Diwong. Anyway, who doesn’t love Thai food? I know my daughter and son-in-law, who is a chef and part restaurant owner, absolutely love Thai foods. So, this book will be a personal gift to them for everything they do, and have done for us, especially when we were sick with COVID last year. Sometimes, you really don’t know what to do or how to show someone how much you appreciate them. Well, this is it for me.

What I found out was this little cookbook is out of print and it’s obscurity has made it quite the collector’s book. I purchased the cheapest, a used 2nd edition at that, for $28.00 from Abebooks.com on March 15, 2022. Prices were all the way up to $268.00. So, good luck finding your own decently priced copy.

First thing I did was, unfortunately, devalued it by testing out some of the recipes and marking all in it….dating and making my personal notes along side each one. I even had my son and his wife and kids sign their names next to one recipe we all tried together. They happened to stop by while I was cooking, so they had to taste test, too, and give it a grade. Hey, it’s just a book!

One thing about this cookbook is you will definitely need an Asian market near by for a lot of these ingredients. We happened to have one about 20 minutes away, across the Rainbow Bridge. We even planned a day together to go and get ingredients. We love shopping there. She just had no idea I was getting ingredients for their cookbook, which I will gift to them next weekend on Easter.

The recipes are healthy and FABULOUS and are common dishes served on the streets in Thailand! Some are super quick and easy, some take time and effort, but worth at least cooking once. Only one dish didn’t pan out for us. That was the Massaman Curry (Gaeng Massaman). So far, I’ve tried 8 of the 42 recipes included, and hopefully, will have a chance to try a few more this final week before Easter. I need to head back to that Asian market for more ingredients.

RECIPES TESTED SO FAR

- [x] “Pumpkin in Coconut Milk “ - p. 94
- [x] “Chicken with Cashew Nuts” - 66
- [x] “Chicken with Basil” - p. 52
- [x] “Spicy Noodles” - p. 70
- [x] “Stir-fried Rice Noodles with Black Bean Sauce” - 58
- [x] “Leaf Bite” (Miang Kham) - p. 12
- [x] “Stir-fried Mixed Vegetables” -p. 68
- [x] “Massaman Curry” - p. 54 (YUK!) ( )