New Cookbooks at the Library

Robin delivers the goods, laying out weekly prep and menu plans for getting the food from the grocery store to your dinner table with a minimum amount of time spent over a hot stove. Most recipes serve 4 but many have instructions for doubling - "Morph Into Another Meal." Fun, adventurous, global, and easy, check out her "20 Fast Meals from a Rotisserie Chicken", "12 Pantry Pastas", and the other fast meals from leftovers. Prep and cooking times are generally 30-45 min. A feast for the imagination as well as the belly, browse through the detailed Table of Contents while munching on Nacho Napoleons. For a preview of several recipes from this book go to: www.robinrescuesdinner.com.

Restaurant owner Mai Pham demystifies the techniques and ingredients of Asian cooking including how to buy and cook the right kind of noodle. These recipes will require you to buy exotic ingredients and a few new cooking utensils, but you will be rewarded by acquiring the ability to cook Korean Barbecued Short Ribs, Pad Thai, Vietnamese Spring Rolls, and Coconut Fudge at home. BTW, an excellent recipe for Dashi is included.  Do not neglect to read the section on fish sauce, that funky and addictive Southeast Asian seasoning.  Revelations await!

Everyone loves a secret and Douglas reveals copycat versions of many a fast-food joint’s famous secret recipe as well as signature dishes from restaurants A to Z. There’s Fried Chicken from Church’s and KFC, Junior’s Cheesecake, pancakes from IHOP’s and Perkins, an extensive list from the Olive Garden, Red Lobster, and Macaroni Grill. Also included are P.F. Chang’s, Outback Steakhouse and Taco Bell. This method of “eating out” will not break the budget. Low-fat alternatives and nutrition conscious substitutes are suggested.

Why this cookie book over all the others? Let’s start with the sublime, like the down home Brooklyn Heights Brownies dense, rich, and glazed, or the continental Hazelnut Jam Sandwiches, Boyle has a cookie for every mood, every occasion, and in every shape including amy-oes and the timeless  whoopee pie. If you don’t really like to bake, quick fixes like Midnight Brownies made with Midnight Milky Way bars will satisfy the need with little effort. Basic recipes and techniques will help the beginning cookie-maker make the perfect cookie while experts will be challenged by Two-Toned Tuile Corkscrews and Lattice-Toped Linzer Torts. Be tempted!

Not just your run-of-the-mill pickle book, in addition to the standard dill recipes you will find recipes for Sweet and Tangy Pickled Grapes, White Balsamic and Pepper Pickled Strawberries, Martini Olives, Apple-Onion and Ale Relish, and much more. The recipes are designed for small batches, 8 oz. and pint jars.