• ellabee on October 17, 2022

  Christmas gift 2008. Last cookbook to enter the house before EYB influx.

• IvyManning on September 03, 2010

  The mixed fonts in this book are so annoying that I get sea sick every time I pick it up. Recipes are either too easy, or just too weird. Annoying all around.

Notes about Recipes in this book

• Cuban black bean stew

  • consortiumlibrary on June 13, 2014

    Will make again. Recipe calls for smoked ham hock, but only simmers it 20 minutes, which isn't near long enough to dissolve hock's cartilage etc. (the best part!). Instead of hassling with cutting meat off bone, as called for, I used 1 generous pound of ham, cut in 3/4" chunks. Used 2 red peppers instead of 1 green & 1 red. Served with stir-ins: fresh cilantro, raw onion, chunked avocado tossed with salt and a little lime juice (so good), lime wedges, pan-fried slivers of ham, and rice (an important addition). Lime juice caution: I used juice from 1 1/2 limes (recipe called for 3) and it nearly overpowered all other flavors. I can't image what it would have been like with 3, but I suspect not good. I doubled amount of stock (homemade) and am glad I did. I hate having to skimp on sauces/juices. NEXT TIME: add some kind of hot ingredient to soup as it cooks. Recipe calls for hot sauce on the side, but I would have preferred it cooked in the stew.

• Smoky and spiced Dutch split pea soup

  • Cheri on January 01, 2011

    This was ok. Richard didn't like it - because it was split peas

  • imaluckyducky on February 04, 2022

    4.5 stars. A really easy and full-flavored rendition that reminds me of my grandma's Dutch split pea soup. Added chopped and cooked ham steak because that's what we do. Will make again!

• Jerry Traunfeld's tarragon chicken breasts with buttery leeks

  • Cheri on March 26, 2011

    Nice served with a brown/wild rice blend

  • twoyolks on November 14, 2020

    The chicken was fine, if it took longer to cook than specified. The leeks were the best part of it. The sauce was very thin.

  • Nancith on August 27, 2014

    Very moist and tender chicken, with a nicely flavored sauce.

  • ChefGrumpy on October 23, 2022

    Excellent and easy. Although I usually add some cornstarch to thicken the sauce.

• Oven-crisped pork, peppers, and greens

  • Cheri on March 31, 2011

    pork dried out. Don't cook over 20 min. Omitted greens, just couldn't do it. Turkish Almond Sauce to accompany (same page) was excellent - will make that sauce again, but probably not the recipe

• Turkish almond sauce

  • Cheri on March 31, 2011

    Loved this. Substituted chopped parsley for the cilantro (didn't have it). This is a great veggie dip. Served over crispy pork & peppers. It was the only thing that saved the dish overall.

• Almond-turmeric potatoes

  • Cheri on March 26, 2011

    Did not use almonds, which would be ok to add. Can make a mess of the pan, watch it

• Sweet roasted butternut squash and greens over bow-tie pasta

  • gastronom on December 08, 2013

    Excellent combination. 2nd time around, used chopped kale and pecorino. Roasted just squash with oil and salt. Meantime, slow sauteed minced garlic in olive oil; set aside. Quickly sauteed chopped sage; set aside. Cooked chopped kale with a little chicken broth while pasta cooked. Added garlic and sage to kale then cooked pasta. Added sufficient roasted squash; served in individual bowls , topped with grated pecorino. Doubled amt of squash; saved half for another use.

  • ellabee on August 07, 2014

    p.169. A fall-winter staple for us, halved (flavor and texture changes in storage, not for the better).

  • mcvl on October 01, 2017

    Easier: Pan-roast the squash chunks and escarole. I like the taste of this.

  • Bloominanglophile on November 05, 2013

    This is an easy weeknight dish. I would add more greens, next time.

  • Bloominanglophile on November 01, 2015

    Just served this again, and it was delicious freshly made. Have to agree with Ellabee, though, that as leftovers this really wasn't very good. Make only as much as will be polished off!

  • hourlongshower on September 27, 2016

    Had only a 1.5 lbs squash so halved the recipe. I subbed out kale for escarole, parmagian and swiss for asiago, and dried herbs for fresh. It was a really nice balance of sweet and savory, but you can't really taste the half and half. I think next time I'll sub it out for melted butter or brown butter.

• Spring vegetables and white beans scented with fresh bay

  • Laura on May 08, 2012

    Pg. 147. I had all of the ingredients on hand and the recipe contained many of my favorite foods, so I was surprised that I didn't care for it very much. It wasn't bad, it just wasn't much of anything. And there was just too much broth in the finished product. It was more like a soup than a vegetable dish. On the other hand, it was very quick and easy to put together and nutritious. I must admit that I did not use the Cheater's Homemade Vegetable Broth. I used WF brand chicken stock, so that could have been the problem.

• Green apple, cheese, and chard oven omelet

  • Laura on December 16, 2011

    Pg. 97. This is the first recipe I've cooked from this book and it's off to a good start! We really enjoyed this, although I don't think I'd characterize it as 'healthy,' given all the cheese. It's certainly not low calorie or low fat. However, it is easy to put together and really tasty. The only change I would make would be to increase the amount of nutmeg -- the flavor didn't really come through with only 1/8 tsp. I'd definitely make this again.

  • Emily Hope on January 27, 2011

    This is a pretty easy and healthy weeknight meal--the apple is a nice and unusual touch. Try with different cheeses.

  • Churchim808 on June 12, 2022

    Made this and had to substitute mustard greens since the grocery store was out of Swiss chard and subbed mild cheddar for the Muenster since I had some to get rid off. The flavor of the apples was really subtle and I agree that it could use more nutmeg.

• Farmhouse minestrone

  • Laura on December 31, 2011

    Pg. 56. This is a variation on the 'Simple Garden-in-a-Pot Soup' on the previous page. While there are far better minestrone recipes, I do like how healthy this one is with the addition of chard and spinach. And while I can't see myself making this again, if I did, I would at least double the beans -- they pretty much disappeared. Also, the mother recipe indicates that this feeds 4 as a main course. We found that it serves way more than 4 -- we had leftovers for days -- which was actually good because, like many tomato-based recipes, this one improved with the passage of time.

  • sck on March 03, 2014

    I really liked this minestrone, esp with the ribollita variation.

• Pan-browned scallops on a bed of bacon and Brussels sprouts

  • Laura on February 08, 2013

    Pg. 234. This was very good and very easy. I'd make it again any time. The recipe says it serves 4. I made the full amount of brussels sprouts (1 lb), but only cooked 6 scallops because there were only 2 of us. We managed to consume the entire pan.

  • Waderu on May 17, 2014

    We don't eat meat and I didn't have brussels sprouts. So I seasoned asparagus and portabello slices with olive oil, smoked paprika, smoked black pepper and garlic salt and grilled them. Once cooled I chopped them up and added them to the pan with the scallops after they had been seared. Served with wild rice. Turned out great.

• Old-time bittersweet hot fudge

  • linagirl7 on January 14, 2010

    This fudge is so easy and everyone is always impressed. On vanilla ice cream, it is just heavenly. Also, a tablespoon or so of dried lavender is delicious!

• Scallion-dill pilaf

  • PennyG on September 18, 2011

    I was looking for a way to use some dill and wanted a rice side dish. This was nice, though I wouldn't classify it as a "pilaf" myself. Nice flavors - could be widely varied. I would make this again.

• Dark and moist gingerbread

  • ellabee on December 25, 2015

    p.310. Made in the afternoon as a treat for myself in this year's rather lean celebration, with the bonus that it wafted a very Christmas-y aroma through the house, a nice addition to the cedar. Taste and texture even better the next day.

  • CGNE on February 05, 2012

    The cake tuned out nicely. It was moist and flavorful. The gingerbread was rather light and fluffy, more like a cupcake. I would hold up to a whipped cream topping, or I can see making it into a layer cake or cupcakes too. I'd make it again without any changes. Lynne- CGNE

  • CGNE on February 13, 2012

    I too made this cake and found it to be very moist and also like the consistency of a cupcake. I really enjoyed the spicyness that came from the cloves and black pepper. I took some into work and got many compliments. Rich-CGNE

  • michalow on February 24, 2018

    Wow, this is good. I used part whole wheat flour and otherwise followed the recipe exactly. Served warm with sliced fresh pears. Yum.

• Sweet and hot chicken salad

  • ellabee on December 23, 2016

    Loosely based on / inspired by this recipe: Thinned a couple of good glugs of Thai peanut sauce with dashes of sesame oil and a few more of rice vinegar, plus a teaspoon-plus of soy sauce. Used to dress shredded cooked chicken breast and chopped/sliced bell peppers, radishes, scallions, celery, and finely shredded cabbage. Served on bed of shredded lettuce, garnished with coarsely chopped cilantro and finely chopped peanuts.

• Summer zucchini pasta

  • ellabee on August 07, 2014

    p. 174. Great way to use the last third of the baked feta (Smitten Kitchen).

  • Bloominanglophile on August 28, 2014

    I made this pasta for my mom, who just loved it. It is quick, simple, and the leftovers were just as good the next day. I did cut back on the amount of feta--do add to taste.

• Edna Lewis's sugared raspberries

  • Lindacakes on September 24, 2011

    Simple and good stirred into yogurt.

• Melting greens

  • lorloff on February 05, 2017

    Great Swiss chard recipe. Quick easy delicious. Used chipotle rojo from the Qaxacan market.

  • Waderu on October 27, 2013

    layered the greens (used chard and beet greens) with cooked farro and Orange cumin vinaigrette from The Gourmet Cookbook: More Than 1000 Recipes by Gourmet Magazine Editors and Ruth Reichl.

• Cumin-cinnamon-scented chicken

  • Waderu on September 11, 2010

    I cooked this with skinless and boneless thighs - probably didn't need to go the 30 minutes. Ike and Gil loved it.

• Tomato-cheddar-packed turkey burgers

  • Emily Hope on December 04, 2011

    These were excellent, and, as advertised, not dry at all. I used ground chicken thigh meat as the grocery store was out of turkey and this substitution worked well--I wonder if I might even prefer it to turkey. I used a bit less oil than recommended for the onions and put in about a tablespoon of mayonnaise, which was great though probably not necessary. The raw burgers are extremely delicate and a bit tricky to shape and flip. Would definitely make again. Served on ciabatta (a bit too chewy for the burgers) with avocado on top, and coleslaw on the side.

  • Geminichef on September 14, 2013

    Really, really good! I cooked them on a cast-iron griddle on my grill, they were too delicate for the grill grate itself. This kept the smoke and mess outside.

• Lynne's retro garlic bread

  • Emily Hope on September 11, 2011

    Although it's no surprise that garlic bread is delicious, this one is exceptional. Cooking the garlic gently on the stove ahead of time tames the bite and brings everything together. I've made giant pans of this for dinner parties, and it always disappears.

• Spring grill of asparagus and scallion salad

  • TrishaCP on May 27, 2018

    This is a delicious side- I used a combination of scallions and green garlic. The sauce is absolutely delicious, and would probably work well with many types of veggies. (I replaced the heavy cream with sour cream.)

• Thai cantaloupe salad with chile

  • TrishaCP on August 28, 2019

    This was a really nice salad that depends on the quality of the ingredients used. We used a very ripe haogen melon from our CSS rather than a cantaloupe and a Fresno chile instead of a jalapeño. It would certainly also be delicious as written if you have a nice cantaloupe.

• Green beans with lemon, garlic, and Parmigiano gremolata

  • apattin on November 24, 2022

    Different cooking technique. Beans come out very silky, tender.

  • Larkspur on July 20, 2017

    If I don't have a lemon I leave it out and it's still very tasty

• Shrimp stir-fry with chickpeas and greens

  • meowingmyrtle on June 10, 2011

    I rarely buy shrimp, so 1 1/2 pounds of sustainable shrimp was expensive for a so-so dish. My boyfriend wasn't fond of the olives with the mix, and I thought it was screaming for something to balance out the flavors. Once I squeezed some lemon juice on, it tasted better. Still, I wouldn't make this again. I've had shrimp in many more delicious iterations, and this one just didn't make the cut. I will say that brining the shrimp beforehand was a great idea, and I will apply that again elsewhere. It made them firm and juicy.

• Scandinavian spiced meatballs with caramelized apples

  • CGNE on February 15, 2012

    Very tasty, the spices and fruit add complexity and savoriness. Unfortunately, the meatballs were a bit dry. Could it have been that I made them smaller than called for in the recipe (1" instead of 1-1/4")? I wanted them to be more appetizer than main course. Perhaps some bread or bread crumbs would help with the texture. And a bit more salt would help with the flavor. IMPORTANT: the prep time was much longer (perhaps twice) than anticipated. Rich -- CGNE

• Rustic jam shortbread tart

  • CGNE on January 22, 2012

    I only had a 12" tart pan, would recommend to double the recipe next time as it came out quite thin. Easy enough to make, needed to cook the crust for a lot longer than indicated. Use really good quality jam as that is the main flavor. I served it with sweetened whipped cream. Lynne- CGNE

• Old-time summer tomato soup

  • twoyolks on September 06, 2021

    A bit too acidic for my taste.

• Curried cauliflower cream soup

  • hillsboroks on November 05, 2014

    This is a lovely simple soup with loads of flavor! I followed the recipe exactly except for the addition of a thinly sliced carrot with the onions at the beginning. The finished soup was complex in flavor and delicious. I am looking forward to reheating leftover soup tomorrow to see how it improves.

• South of France tomato soup with young chèvre

  • Wende on June 23, 2021

    This is not the best tomato soup recipe I've ever used... until the goat cheese is added and then it becomes sublime. My husband asks for it repeatedly.

• Roasted chicken breasts with preserved lemon

  • Wende on June 23, 2021

    This sounded like a great recipe but it did not pan out. I love preserved lemons and always have my own or store-bought ones on hand. This recipe did not really capitalize on them as it claimed. Pretty disappointed.

• Pork tenderloin pan roast with black olives and orange

  • Wende on June 23, 2021

    This is pretty good. Care must be taken so the pork doesn't dry out - the sauce is delicious but can only make up for dry pork so far.

• Simple garden-in-a-pot soup

  • minervasowl on December 14, 2012

    This is the recipe which taught me that the secret to truly hearty, satisfying vegetable soup is portobello mushrooms, tomato paste and paprika. It also lends itself easily to variation (so that you can use up whatever is in the fridge or has grown particularly well in the garden).

• Lemon-garlic roast salmon on new potatoes

  • Nancith on December 02, 2017

    My omnivores declared this delicious! The salmon was flavored wonderfully with the lemon & garlic & the potatoes velvety soft. I used salmon fillets since my grocery didn't offer salmon steaks. They worked fine, but if thickness varies greatly on the fillet, you might have to watch your timing to avoid drying them out. An easy recipe to make for few or many.

• Filipino-style chicken adobo (chicken in tart garlic sauce)

  • Nancith on July 03, 2019

    Even though I totally forgot the long marinating time for this dish & only got in 3 hours, my guys rated this dish very highly. Perhaps because of the short marination, my dish didn't look much like the photo. The chicken didn't brown & the sauce was not so dark & thick looking, even after reducing. My expectation is it will be better when prepared as directed!

• Smothered broccoli with peppers, onions, and raisins

  • Nancith on March 22, 2021

    This simple dish was so satisfying! Nothing fancy about the ingredients or the method, but it was certainly tasty, and that's after forgetting 2 of the ingredients (rosemary & red pepper flakes). It was really nice over Israeli couscous as a main for me & a side for hubby. Definitely one to keep in the repertoire.

• Greek pot-crushed potatoes

  • Nancith on June 29, 2015

    Yum! These potatoes are a delicious alternative to plain old potato dishes. I used more olive oil than called for only because they seemed a bit dry, but the flavor was outstanding, and outside of a bit of chopping & slicing, did not take much time to prepare.

  • skvalentine on November 22, 2022

    These were so good. Really excellent flavor. Like the other commenter, I used more oil than called for.

• The true fettuccine Alfredo

  • Nancith on May 29, 2015

    Wow, talk about rich! But very good. Certainly not a dish to make often, as it is loaded with butter, whole cream & Parmesan, but as a once-in-awhile special meal, definitely will make again. I substituted Romano cheese, since no Parmesan was around.

• Warm white bean salad with fragrant garlic and rosemary

  • Nancith on October 28, 2019

    So simple, but so delicious! Fragrant, garlicky, savory & filling. I used panko (too lazy to make my own breadcrumbs) which worked well. Had to use dried rosemary which is not nearly as nice as fresh, but will do in a pinch. On my list for quick weeknight meals.

• Big tomato sweet-sour salad

  • mkhayes on February 06, 2014

    While I like this well enough with the green tomatoes, I love it with a mix of yellow, orange & red tomatoes--I guess I just like all the sweetness.

• Pineapple-ginger sorbet

  • tarae1204 on February 26, 2023

    Flavorful and easy.

• Almond chutney chicken in lettuce roll-ups

  • Kinhawaii on August 28, 2019

    Love this salad, have made it every so often for years, sometimes I don’t have all of the ingredients but what I love about it is the lemon & almonds & chutney. Usually dump everything on the lettuce & don’t bother with the roll ups.

• Oven-roasted chicken cacciatora

  • Greenboatgb on December 30, 2018

    Recipe pages include two other variations. I've added cauliflower to roast with the curry-spiced version.

  • MsSpicy on November 11, 2022

    I've made this delicious recipe three. Every time it turned out wonderfully. I've taken it to parties twice and its been a big hit.

• Plumped ginger-caramel shrimp

  • ChefGrumpy on October 23, 2022

    What's not to like. Caramelized sugar, with gingery, salty, garlicky, chili pepper hot sauce. Oddly, the online recipe has sugar in the brine which is missing from the book.

• Jane and Michael Stern's broccoli casserole

  • ChefGrumpy on October 23, 2022

    Easy and quick comfort food. Sometimes I reduce the sugar. Also add cayenne to give it a bit of oomph. It is in the regular cold weather rotation even though it is a bit high fat.

• Iced cantaloupe soup with jalapeño and basil

  • MissKoo on May 21, 2020

    When the weather is hot and steamy, there is no better soup than this one. It goes together in a blender or food processor in minutes. Having a perfectly ripe melon is key. The color and flavor are exquisite, and it's an unexpected and delightfully refreshing first course. It's become a standard in my summer rotation of soups. Terrific for a summer brunch.

• Cheater's homemade broth

  • MissKoo on June 22, 2020

    Use this recipe frequently when I have time to amp to up flavor of low-salt canned stock. I throw in a rotisserie chicken carcass from the freezer when available. Favorite stock recipe is still the brodo from The Splendid Table (p. 66-67), but that's a winter project as it cooks on the stove all night in a 20 quart stockpot.

• NPR by T. Susan Chang

  Best Cookbooks of 2008: ...the most user-friendly general cookbook currently on the shelves. Streamlined but never austere, a generous number of these recipes became instant classics in our household.

  Full review

• Boston Globe by T. Susan Chang

  ..full of instructive recipes such as plumped ginger-caramel shrimp.

  Full review