Interesting premise for a cookbook, presenting recipes in a brand new way. Yes, it does have recipes even though it tries to deny it. It's helpful for the meal-every-night cook who needs a new way to present the ever-present chicken breast without having to search the store for maroons or some other obscure ingredient. Anyone who finds themselves cooking chops or steaks the same way every time will appreciate the book's simple ways to make pan sauces using things on hand. Don't worry if your pantry is not stocked like a television cooking show, the book has detailed lists and step-by-step organizational plans to achieve that goal. Some of the chapters are a little on the elementary side, but they are not insulting or boring to the experienced chef and they will be very helpful for the novice cook. The cookbook is organized by type of food and is easy to understand with clear instructions and just enough text to keep it interesting. Each chapter starts with a corney poem which is supposed to help you remember the cooking technique in the way we learned our ABC's by humming the "A-B-C-D..." ditty. Clever maybe, but I'm not a four-year-old anymore. It's a good buy and a good read, but it's not one of the books you refer to often. The ideal way to purchase this book is to share it with a friend. After one reads it, you can pass it on. But, don't tell anyone I said that!Read full review
I checked this book out of my local library, so had a chance to really read through it before buying. I like the base recipes which use ingredients most of us have on hand. The book then gives several variations to a base recipe. This mix-n-match approach gives the cook a wide variety of dishes. For example, the recipe for roast chicken wings (base) has five (5) various sauces. Book has a lot of pan sauces, salsas, relishes and butters which can be used with the base recipes. I cook a lot, and make everything from scratch. This book allows the cook to use basic ingredients and make supper fairly quickly. It is a real go-to book for me.
This book could have been titled "How to get food on your table when you've only got about 30 minutes", but indeed there are many books by similar titles. Pam Anderson brings several concepts of dishes together and then offers many varieties and allows you to see the many possibilities. She has a great sense of taste and for eating real and not processed foods. I've taught several friends "how to cook" and this is always the book we start with. Once you understand the basic principles of these dishes, you can get started on many variations and ingredients. She has very good taste and the food here is fresh and delicious. I would highly recommend this book for the beginner to the more experienced cook. Happy Cooking!
Pam Anderson has done all the research on the basics styles of cooking and gives you the wonderful information and the best and easy way to prepare delicious food. The methods are explained in detail and the ingredients are everyday items that you have easy access to. She understands how little time we have during the week to prepare a nice meal and she instructs how to save time and prepare a delicious meal. I have enjoyed this book for many years and I continue to buy as gifts for friends.
This is great for novice and experienced cooks alike. Tips and ideas to expand anyone’s repertoire
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
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