Fresh & Fast: Inspired Cooking for Every Season and Every Day

by Marie Simmons

Overview

Fresh food is more convenient than packaged," writes Marie Simmons, who proves her point by providing more than 200 recipes, many of which can be prepared in less than half an hour. Seasonality, ease, and freshness are the hallmarks of dishes like Lemon and Basil Chicken, Spicy Marinated Shrimp, Green Beans with Basil and Mint, and Apple and Ginger Crisp.

Product Details

BN ID:	2940000971420
Publisher:	HarperCollins Publishers
Publication date:	05/01/2004
Sold by:	HARPERCOLLINS
Format:	eBook
File size:	79 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.

About the Author

The winner of a Julia Child Award and two James Beard Awards, MARIE SIMMONS is a cooking teacher and the author of more than a dozen cookbooks, including Sur La Table'sThings Cooks Love, Fresh & Fast,The Good Egg, and 365 Ways to Cook Pasta.She was a columnist for Bon Appétitfor eighteen years.

Table of Contents

	Introduction	8
	Appetizers	11
	Soups	42
	Sandwiches	66
	Pasta	91
	Poultry and Other Meats	112
	Seafood	138
	Grains and Beans	164
	Salads	192
	Vegetables	232
	Desserts	298
	Index	345

Editorial Reviews

Life is too short to waste on a bad meal, suggests Simmons, coauthor (with Richard Sax) of Lighter, Quicker, Better. Drawing from her syndicated weekly newspaper column, she sets about to liberate home cooks from the processed tastes of convenience foods. Some 250 recipes showcase fresh ingredients in such uncomplicated dishes as Quick-Chilled Cumin-Scented Fresh Tomato and Corn Soup, Oven-Roasted Halibut with Herb Citrus Vinaigrette and Crystallized Ginger Ice Cream wtih Red Plum Sauce. Cooking times can run to close to an hour (as in Honey-Glazed Orange and Rosemary Chicken or Sesame Brown Rice Pilaf with Garlic and Vegetables), but preparation times are generally 10 to 15 minutes. The pasta recipes feature streamlined, tried and true combinations (e.g., Penne Rigate with Asparagus, Prosciutto and Mushrooms). The chapter devoted to sandwiches proves that a little attention and ingenuity can lift this common luncheon fare to full dinner status: Pan-Grilled Smoked Turkey, Fontina, Bacon and Avocado; Sliced Pork Loin Sandwich with Fennel, Garlic and Roasted Pepper. Side boxes review basic techniques and suggest recipe variations. Straightforward directions, generally short, affordable ingredient lists and suggestions for staples make this a valuable collection for novice and veteran cooks who want to prepare tasty, preservative-free meals. The Good Cook/BOMC and Better Homes & Gardens Cook Book Club main selection. (July)

Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly

Simmons, a cookbook author and food writer whose syndicated newspaper column is called "Fresh and Fast," asserts that "life is too short to waste on a bad meal," and the 250 easy recipes presented here should allow any busy cook to avoid such a fatewithout spending much time in the kitchen. Many recipes took fewer than 30 minutes from start to finish; a few that call for marinating or slower cooking, for example, are for "When You Have More Time," but even many of these require little hands-on preparation time. The recipes are simple but full of flavor: Brushcetta with Braised Escarole and Garlic, Pork Loin with Fennel and Garlic, Melon and Berries with Lime Syrup. Simmons also offers many suggestions for variations and alternatives and other tips to make life easier. In short, this is real food for real people. Highly recommended.

Library Journal

"I cannot think of a more encouraging and rewarding first cookbook for those just starting out in the kitchen." Cooks Illustrated

From the Publisher