Great recipes - yummy
Rating:
5 / 5
My uncle, a culinary arts instructor, gave me this book when I first moved out on my own after college and commented to him that I didn't know how to cook. This book is full of great easy recipes. Some take more than 15 minutes (they start the clock once all the veggies are chopped, chicken cut into thin strips to cook faster, or some start with cooked rice), but all are relatively easy and tasty. Some of my favorite recipes are the black bean chicken soup, the curry one with fruit (I think I made it with apricots), the chicken corn skillet, and the stir fry one with the sesame oil and snow peas. I apologize - I don't have the book in front of me so I'm not getting the names exactly right. These recipes are good, easy, and many are reasonably healthy (or can be adapted, as someone said, to be more healthy). This book is far better than the celebrity Food Network 30-minute meal books. Also, this is a nice "gourmet: cookbook in that it occasionally requires an unusual ingredient, but most recipes don't require a trip to the store to search for really unusual and pricey ingredients. Many recipes involve things that a lot of people might have on hand. Also, some of the recipes offer a substitution suggestions (e.g. other vegetables that work well with the same sauces), which also makes shopping for them or cooking with what you have on hand easy.
fabulous recipes, fairly quick
Rating:
5 / 5
This is a GREAT cookbook. I own quite a few, and most are only useful for a few recipes, or only for one type of food, etc. But the most negative thing I can say about any of the recipes I've tried from this book has been that it was okay (and that was only one recipe!). Among my favorites are the black bean and peppers with chicken and rice, the pesto, pasta and grapes chicken salad (sounds a little strange, but is EXCELLENT), chili chicken and rice, and the black bean and chicken soup. This cookbook has inspired me to try some more ethnic cooking without being worried I'll completely mess it up! The recipes are mostly low to moderate fat, and often encourage the use of various beans, whole grains, etc. I've frequently substituted brown rice for other rices, whole wheat pasta for regular pasta, etc. with really delicious results.The only thing I will say is that the 15 minute part for a lot of the recipes I like most is pretty optimistic... but there are some that are genuinely 15 minute recipes (the chicken and corn skillet is a fast and tasty meal). Definitely try this cookbook - the recipes are fun, encourage you to experiment a bit, and are really good. It would make a great gift for someone who has mastered the true basics of cooking (how to pick out produce, boil water, grill plain chicken, etc.) and is looking for a versatile but fast set of recipes to enjoy.
Highly recommended!
splendid dishes, every time
Rating:
5 / 5
I have very much enjoyed using this cookbook! every single recipe I have tried is very good, and some are far superior to meals I have tasted in fine restaurants. the format is easy to use, the recipes are easy to follow. there are many tips that are extremely helpful. the book also lists calories and fat per meal, which is useful.
I will report that there are a few meals that take more than fifteen minutes to prepare, however the recipes are very fun to make. I wish there were more pictures, although those in there are very accurate to the actual results.highly recommended.
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