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How to Cook Without a Book: Recipes & Techniques Every Cook Should Know by Heart
by Pam Anderson
Reviewed by Cheri Sicard
It may seem ironic to own a book titled
How
to Cook Without a
Book
but it makes good sense. This is, bar
none, the best basic how to cook book that
I've ever come across. But even though the
recipes may be simplistic, nearly
everyone, from complete novices to
experienced cooks can benefit from reading
it.
How many times have you stood in front of
a full refrigerator, the daunting task of
preparing dinner at the end of a busy day
still before you? How many times, despite
the variety of ingredients in that
refrigerator, have you said to yourself,
"there's nothing to eat?" How many times
have you given in went out for fast food
instead of preparing something
nutritious?
Often finding herself in the same
situation, despite the full refrigerator
AND a cookbook collection that numbered in
the hundreds, author Pam Anderson (no, not
that Pam Anderson) said she realized that
we didn't need more recipes, we needed to
cook without them. Says Anderson "Give a
man a recipe, he eats a meal. Teach a man
to cook, he eats for a lifetime."
After acquainting us with how to keep a
well-stocked pantry, freezer and
refrigerator, necessary for improvising
impromptu meals, the book breaks cooking
down to its basics. You'll learn essential
techniques, tips and recipes that can be
altered to fit almost any cooking
situation or ingredient list. There are
chapters covering salads, dressings,
soups, omelets, sauces, pastas, stir fries
and other Asian foods, saut*s, searing,
roasting, vegetables, side dishes,
appetizers and desserts.
Each chapter begins with a mnemonic rhyme
- a culinary cue card that helps you
remember the techniques&emdash;and ends
with an "at a glance" summary. A
step-by-step narrative that teaches the
hows and whys of each technique. Readers
are then given a recipe, in its simplest
form, which puts the skills learned to
use, then expounds on variations and ideas
for expanding beyond the original
themes.
The main objective of this book is to help
readers put satisfying, healthy weeknight
dinners on the table in rocket time with
as little mess and clean up as possible.
There are no wasted movements, as the
author takes you literally, step-by-step
through each process. Once the basic
techniques are mastered, it can take as
little as minutes to prepare an entire
meal.
This book would be an excellent addition
to everyone's cooking library, regardless
of experience or age. It would also make a
terrific gift. It's literally one size
fits all. In fact, I would go so far as to
say, schools should consider making "How
to Cook Without a Book" required reading
for ALL graduating high school or college
students. Whatever other skills these
students may lack, they would always eat
well.
About the Author:
Cheri Sicard is the editor of
FabulousFoods.com,
home of 7 great free email cooking and
recipe newsletters!
Happy Halloween
Make some fun and festive treats this Halloween with your little goblins. But don't leave yourself out in the graveyard with nothing to munch.
Here are some Halloween recipes that are not only for the kids. We've included some for hungry parents as well...so come join in some deliciously
scary fun!
Happy Halloween
