Dinner in Minutes: Memorable Meals for Busy Cooks - Couverture souple

"What so many books promote (and often fall short of) this book delivers." The Arizona Daily Star

"As a busy mother of four, I am always on the watch for cookbooks that will provide fast, low-fat and delicious meals for my family. If the book includes extras -- menus, shopping lists and cooking tips -- then I become a faithful follower from the first moment I thumb through the pages, mentally cooking my way through the recipes.

So it is with real enthusiasm that I can say Linda Gassenheimer's "Dinner in Minutes" lives up to my idea of a cookbook for busy people. Gassenheimer's principles and recipes were developed over the years through her Miami Herald "Dinner in Minutes" column and through extensive writing, teaching and recipe development.

The principle, "fast cooking starts with smart shopping," forms the basis of efficiency and speed in the kitchen and Gassenheimer uses this concept by organizing the recipes into dinner menus complete with shopping lists and tips. Her complete list of staples coupled with general principles of food preparation making it easier for a novice to feel confident in the kitchen.

The recipes and menus are a pleasant blend of light and tasty flavors: Orange Chicken with Wild Mushroomsand Pureed Potatoes or Poached Salmon with Parsley Sauce, Fresh Asparagus and Dilled Baby Red Potatoes. The Steak au Poivre, Leek Vinaigrette, and Roasted Garlic Potatoes made a fast and attractive meal for an autumn night with guests.

Marinated Orange Slices as well as Peaches with Raspberry Sauce are among two of the twelve dessert choices in the book. Key Lime Cake and Blueberry Pie provide a slight variation in a fruit dominated selection. The Mocha Granita and Raspberry Sorbet can be made without an ice cream maker and Gassenheimer includes useful, appreciated tips on how to do so.

This is a cookbook I would reach for first when planning a week of menus. The recipes are easy to prepare with readily available ingredients. But most important, "Dinner in Minutes" lives up to its name." -- L.C. Wilgus ucook.com

A James Beard Award-winning collection of elegant, healthful meals that can be ready in 45 minutes or less, with complete shopping lists for each. Now with a new jacket! There is plenty of inspiration to rescue weekday fare from the doldrums in this eclectic collection of more than 250 recipes and 80 dinner menus, each one featuring an entree and one or two simple side dishes. Though recipes like Hot and Spicy Stir-Fried Shrimp and Pickled Carrot Salad and ethnic specialties like Chinese Garlic Steak and Oriental Peanut Noodles don't sound like fast food, each one can be prepared in 45 minutes or less. Gassenheimer provides complete shopping lists for each menu and a simple timetable for preparation.