If you've got a family and cook everyday, then the works “quick” and “smart” will be appealing ones. Squeezing good home cooked meals between all the other activities that seem to multiply is no easy feat, so a cookbook that promises, as quick smart cook does, simple food fast, is a cookbook that catches my attention. The book is from the same team that has created the successful ABC Delicious magazine, and Valli Little, the author, is the magazine's food director. This book lives up to its name, with 120 recipes that span the three meals of the day, including soups, desserts, low-fat treats. Although there is definitely a restaurant savvy to these dishes, with high quality ingredients, and a beautiful presentation, none of them are complicated, and all can be whipped up in less than an hour. Some in much less time.
Though the recipes are simple to create, they aren't mundane. Most have enough of a twist to provide a novel quality to the food. For example, Egyptian baked eggs is a just an easy baked egg dish, but the inclusion of cumin, garlic, paprika, butter, and minted yogurt, makes these a really fancy meal when served with turkish bread. A Greek Salad Frittata uses up leftover feta and olives in a novel way that makes a fancy (10 minute) meal for a drop in guest. The book has a multicultural flavour, which has almost become a signature of good Australian cooking. There is a definite Asian influence with Chinese, Vietnamese, sitting alongside Spanish soup, Roast Vegetable instant fondue (what a great idea), French inspired goat cheese jalousie, or Italian Rotelle pasta. Most of the dishes rely on great ingredients to make them work, so a fresh butcher, fishmonger, or deli will definitely be put to work if you've got one nearby. If not, the vegetarian section contains some really novel meal ideas that won't leave vegetarians feeling left out, from Kumara Galettes worthy of The Greens to a White Bean & Coconut Curry to die for (or live for). There is a whole section on using mince, and another one on low-fat cooking (the steamed eggplant with tofu and snow peas is really easy and tastes great).
Article comments