[.ca] Seriously Simple: Easy Recipes for Creative Cooks (ISBN 0811831949)

From Amazon.com:
Diane Rossen Worthington's Seriously Simple: Easy Recipes for Creative Cooks delivers on the promise of its title. The award-winning chef and author provides sophisticated flavor combinations while keeping the ingredients, and, most importantly, prep time, to a minimum. Chilled Summer Squash Soup with Basil makes a great starter course or light entrée; Grilled Lamb Chops with Cilantro-Mint Sauce yields a rich yet refreshing result with almost no work, especially with the use of a food processor; and the Summer Fruit Crisp (much less work than a homemade pie) includes a custard layer made with crème fraîche. Keeping with her theme of simplicity, Worthington has provided many suggestions for "advanced preparation" so that the busy cook can do some, or all, of the preparation long before mealtime. The most unique element of this cookbook is "the clever cook could" entry with each dish, in which Worthington makes suggestions for substituting ingredients and how to use the leftovers in savvy and tasty ways. Worthington's recipes will help shorten the work to get food on the table but should also increase the enjoyment while at it. --Teresa Simanton

Seriously Easy:
My sister bought this book for me, knowing that with two small children I don't have much time to prepare gourmet meals. This book gives some great ideas on how to prepare fabulous meals easily and with little time required. I especially love how the author includes "the clever cook could" section to most of the recipes which gives ideas on how one could serve any leftovers or jazz up the meal. The photographs are beautiful as well. I think this book would make a wonderful gift to anyone who loves to cook or just wants a change from what they usually prepare at mealtime.

Diane Rossen Worthington's Seriously Simple:
I own all of this author's cookbooks and love them all. But this one reaches a new height. The author understands what it means to live in a house where all cooking adults work but where no one is satisfied with restaurant or take-out food. She provides recepies that are in fact simple: marinades that are easy to make; combinations of ingredients that are immediately accessible; good healthy food that all members of the family are likely to enjoy. The recepies are for the most part easy, but they are also extremely elegant. Kids will love the simplicity and the great taste. Gourmets will admire the subtlety. A user-friendly, teriffic book.

Turn Yourself Into a Super Cook:
I love this cookbook. It has become my favorite and is nearly always on the kitchen counter at our house. It is easy to follow, provides great suggestions for stocking a kitchen (equipment, pantry, refrigerator, herb garden), instructions for staples (like her "seasoning salt"), and includes interesting recipes that are fun to share with family and always a hit with guests. The recipes are truly SIMPLE to follow, and make you look like a SERIOUS cook, even mid-week after a day at work - - hence, the title is apt. Try the ribs with hoisin sauce, the fish stew with chipotle sauce, lamb with goat cheese and spinach, the pasta with sausage and tomatoes, the dense, gooey chocolate cake cooked mostly on the stovetop, and many others.

This book delivers on its title:
Simple, extremely flavorful, and easy to modify recipes to personal tastes. You end up with dishes that look and taste like you ordered them from some nouvelle cuisine restaurant. I haven't made anything in here that didn't simply rock. Flavors actually sparkle. Wonderful attitude about cooking.

Seriously delicious!:
I love this cookbook! The recipes ARE simple, the flavors are wonderful. They're easy enough for everyday cooking, and delicious enough for guests.