Comfort Food Fix: Feel-Good Favorites Made Healthy

by Ellie Krieger    (Find this book)
Bringing sensibility to sensory pleasures, this accessible, health-minded cookbook is a welcome resource in a burger and bacon-obsessed moment. Recognizing that there are good biological and emotional reasons why we seek out starchy, hearty, creamy dishes to sate ourselves, dietician and Food Network star Krieger (The Food You Crave), sees no reason why anyone should have to give them up wholesale. The goal, then, is to reduce fat, sodium and sugar without sacrificing flavor. Krieger avoids using artificial sweeteners and egg replacers instead, she relies on what she terms the 15 Fix Factors to make her recipes healthier. These include substituting low-fat milk, evaporated milk and Greek yogurt for cream; baking breaded dishes instead of frying; adding smaller quantities of real, extra-flavorful cheeses and employing trimmed lean cuts of meat. Mango Stuffed Challah French Toast is lightened up with light ricotta, low-fat milk and nonstick cooking spray for a calorie savings of 150, while chicken parmesan loses 210 calories with light bread crumbs, egg whites, nonfat milk and part-skim mozzarella. With a nod to the cultural relativism of "comfort food, " Krieger's repertoire runs the international gamut, from Easy Cassoulet to Kasha Varnishkas to Banana Pudding with Vanilla Wafers. Krieger's simple, time-conscious recipes with easy-to-find ingredients will satisfy sophisticated eaters and down-home palates alike. Photos. (Oct.) Copyright 2011 Reed Business Information. -- Publishers Weekly

Can It, Bottle It, Smoke It: And Other Kitchen Projects

by Karen Solomon    (Find this book)
Have you ever wanted to . . .
Bottle your own soda? Press your own tofu? Smoke your own cheese? Boil your own bagels? Ferment your own miso? Can your own tomatoes? Roast your own coffee?
"Can It, Bottle It, Smoke It" walks you through a slew of satisfying culinary projects to stock your larder and shower your friends with artisan foods and drinks, kitchen staples, and utterly addictive snacks. Karen Solomon--veteran food writer, kitchen explorer, and author of "Jam It, Pickle It, Cure It"--brings forth a new collection of 75-plus recipes for condiments (Plum Catsup), cereals (Cornflakes), crunchy snacks (Tortilla Chips), beverages (Soy Milk), and more. Whether you're a beginning or seasoned home cook, you'll be inspired to pump up the power of your pantry.
With detailed instruction on essential techniques, time commitments for each project (from 20 minutes to 2 hours to a weekend), and labeling and wrapping tips, "Can It, Bottle It, Smoke It" will help you get creative in the kitchen. So leave the grocery aisle's mass-produced packaging and mystery ingredients behind and join the urban homesteading revolution as you whip up a bevy of jars, bottles, and bags full of outstanding hand-labeled eats.  -- Publisher Marketing

Jamie Oliver's Meals in Minutes: A Revolutionary Approach to Cooking Good Food Fast

by Jamie Oliver    (Find this book)
I'm going to show you how to put a whole meal on the table in a matter of minutes! Not just one dish, a whole spread of beautiful things. If, like me, you love food and have hungry mouths to feed when you get home after a long day, then allow me to let you in on a totally revolutionary new way of cooking. In this book I'm going to show you how to make a complete meal in the time you'd normally spend on one dish. What you'll be able to achieve in 30 minutes or less will absolutely blow your mind. It's certainly blown mine! This is not about compromising on quality. It's about being organized, working fast, and using shortcuts and clever tricks to put insanely delicious plates of food on the table in no time. Each of the 50 meals inside has been carefully written so there's no messing about-just good, fast cooking. I've created complete menus of foods that go beautifully together and planned recipes in a really unique, easy-to-follow way. This kind of cooking is all about using every minute wisely, having fun, and reclaiming your kitchen for the job it was meant for. You might think it can't be done, but I promise you it can. Have a look inside to see the sort of meals you're going to get. Once you start cooking this way, not only will you absolutely love it; you'll never look back.  -- Publisher Marketing

Joanne Fluke's Lake Eden Cookbook

by Joanne Fluke    (Find this book)
Jam-packed with recipes from her beloved Hannah Swensen Mystery series, Fluke's most recent work is simply superb. Delores Swenson's 4th Annual Christmas Cookie Exchange luncheon is coming up, and her daughter Hannah, part owner of popular Lake Eden, Minnesota bakery and coffee house The Cookie Jar, is busy putting the last minute touches on her catering menu. While preparing the food, her phone rings with friends and luncheon guests requesting copies of Hannah's recipes. Everyone in town, it seems, believes she makes the best of everything and wants to learn her secrets. At the last moment, Hannah decides to make a quick recipe book for everyone at the party. Fluke uses her experience to guide readers through an afternoon with the gals, comparing notes on their favorite Hannah Swensen recipes and telling stories about friends--Andrea, a disaster in the kitchen; Winnie, who learned the true size of a cocktail the hard way; and Gladys, who, despite her best efforts, can't escape the Minnesota cold for a California dream. As the women skim through the cookbook together, their stories and the recipes meld with stunning ease. "Hannah's Notes" appear in each recipe, lending personality to simple instructions. Newcomers and longtime fans of Fluke will find plenty to enjoy in this latest dispatch from Lake Eden. The characters are incredibly lovable and the community quickly welcomes readers into a world of friends, fun, and of course food. (Oct.) Copyright 2012 Reed Business Information. -- Publishers Weekly

The Apple Lover's Cookbook

by Amy Traverso    (Find this book)
The Apple Lover's Cookbook celebrates the beauty of apples in all their delicious variety, taking you from the orchard to the kitchen with recipes both sweet (like Apple-Stuffed Biscuit Buns and Blue Ribbon Deep-Dish Apple Pie) and savory (like Cider-Brined Turkey and Apple Squash Gratin). It offers a full-color guide to fifty-nine apple varieties, with descriptions of their flavor, history, and, most important, how to use them in the kitchen. Amy Traverso also takes you around the country to meet farmers, cider makers, and apple enthusiasts. The one hundred recipes run the spectrum from cozy crisps and cobblers to adventurous fare like Cider-Braised Brisket or Apple-Gingersnap Ice Cream. In addition, Amy organizes apple varieties into cooking categories so that it's easy to choose the right fruit for any recipe. You'll know to use tart Northern Spy in your pies and Fuji in delicate cakes. The Apple Lover's Cookbook is the ultimate apple companion.  -- Publisher Marketing

Taste of Home Baking

by Reader's Digest    (Find this book)
Packed with over 780 home-tested recipes for every conceivable baked good, home bakers will never be at a loss for ideas with this voluminous collection on their shelf. Smartly organized in a three ring binder with tabbed sections and page protectors, readers in the mood for a particular sweet can find relevant sections quickly and easily. Once there, they'll find a litany of choices: 10 chocolate cakes, 17 cupcakes, 40 cheesecakes, and so on. Emphasizing practicality over novelty (all recipes are reader-submitted), the editors focus on breadth rather than depth (singular recipes for certain items instead of multiple variations), giving readers plenty of options. Those pressed for time or unsure of their abilities will appreciate the "Almost Homemade" section, with its jazzed-up cake, pudding, and brownie mixes as well as riffs on refrigerated cookie dough, and the brief but useful tips on everything from kneading yeast breads, filling cupcakes, and troubleshooting puff pastry will encourage experimentation while easing fears. Given the book's scope, this is one home bakers can grow with. (Sept.) Copyright 2011 Reed Business Information. -- Publishers Weekly

The Slow Cook Book

by Heather Whinney    (Find this book)

Whether you use an electric slow cooker or a more traditional oven or stovetop, slow cooking is a wonderful way to prepare wholesome, home-cooked food with the greatest of ease.
Celebrating slow cooking in all its forms, "The Slow Cook Book" includes 200 recipes ranging from typical slow-cook dishes-hearty, warming stews and pot roasts-to more surprising fare such as cakes.
Showing two methods of slow cooking for each recipe -- one using an electric crock pot and the other using a combination of traditional pots, pans, stovetop, and oven -- "The Slow Cook Book" demonstrates step-by-step techniques and provides everything you need to become a slow-cook expert.   --  Publisher Marketing

Everyday Raw Express: Recipes in 30 Minutes or Less

by Matthew Kenney    (Find this book)
Many people love the philosophy behind and benefits of eating raw, but often the recipes take hours or even a period of several days to prepare. Everyday Raw Express offers delicious soups and smoothies, pastas and wraps, entrees and desserts all prepared in 30 minutes or less.
Matthew Kenney is a chef, restaurateur, caterer, and food writer. He has appeared on the Today Show, the Food Network, and numerous morning and talk shows. Matthew splits his time between New York and Maine.
Raw food in 30 minutes or less!  -- Publisher Marketing

Top 100 Pasta Dishes: Easy Everyday Recipes That Children Will Love

by Annabel Karmel    (Find this book)
Who doesn't love pasta? For most kids--and their parents--pasta is the best food in the world. It's tasty and nutritious, it's easy, quick, and economical to cook--and, even better, it comes in lots of fun shapes! Here is Annabel's ultimate collection of one hundred pasta dishes, with a section for babies (it's a good way to introduce texture) and toddlers (it's great for fussy eaters), plus a huge variety of quick and easy recipes that older children will enjoy and that will become family favorites!
Filled with color photos, simple instructions, and clear notes on cooking and preparation times, plus symbols throughout to show which recipes are suitable for babies and younger children, and which recipes are suitable for freezing, this is the ultimate pasta cookbook for families everywhere. With Annabel's help, dinnertime can finally be fuss free!  -- Publisher Marketing

The Casserole Queens Cookbook: Put Some Lovin' in Your Oven with 100 Easy One-Dish Recipes

by Crystal Cook    (Find this book)
Crystal Cook and Sandy Pollock make a mean Chicken Pot Pie, elevating the classic recipe with white wine and fresh tarragon. Their recipe won them such a following in Texas that Bobby Flay took notice and challenged them to a Throwdown. It turns out that the Casserole Queens, as the duo is known, are much more than one-hit wonders of the one-dish dinner. They have built an entire business around revamping the ultimate quick-fix dinner for modern tastes.
In "The Casserole Queens Cookbook," they share their fresh, updated, from-scratch recipes for traditional dishes. Tuna Noodle is brought up a notch with a homemade cream sauce and a kick of cayenne pepper; Halibut Enchiladas with Salsa Verde are surprisingly light and vibrant; Mandarin Meatloaf has a sweet orange flavor that recharges a beloved weeknight staple. There are home-style desserts, like Gooey Apple Butter Cake, and great brunch dishes, such as Frenchy Toast Casserole. The Queens have thought of everything, providing advice on scaling and freezing casseroles so that anyone can stock the freezer with go-to dinners.
With 16 pages of color photographs, plenty of expert tips, and lots of style, "The Casserole Queens Cookbook" is the home cook's handbook for making tasty meals any night of the week. -- Publisher Marketing