THE LAZY GOURMET

Recipes for the adventurous home cook looking to take their meal from ordinary to exquisite.

Donovan (Campfire Cuisine: Gourmet Recipes for the Great Outdoors, 2006) and Gallin have a mantra: “Cooking a great meal can be just as easy as cooking a crappy meal!” While their cookbook won’t transform that quick weeknight mac and cheese into a multi-course masterpiece, it will allow wannabe chefs to whip up mouthwatering dishes guaranteed to impress guests. The book is divided into two parts: “The Basics” lists must-have ingredients to keep on-hand and provides simple cooking tips, from softening butter to storing appliances, but “The Recipes” is where the fun begins. Snacks, small plates, soups and desserts are all on offer, ranging from Savory Blue Cheese Shortbread to Pistachio Ice Cream with Strawberries and Balsamic Syrup. The recipes may sound exotic, but each has been tested by volunteers with no culinary training. The language is straightforward and free of confusing cooking terms, and the most complicated piece of equipment required is a food processor. Recipes are often followed by detailed instructions on how to “Make it ahead,” suggestions for side dishes to “Serve it with,” or alternate ingredients for cooks looking to “Change it up.” Some recipes, however, may be too lackadaisical for even the laziest of gourmets—e.g., a recipe for Basil Leaf and Goat Cheese Wraps that instructs readers to set out the ingredients then direct "diners to take a basil leaf and wrap it around some cheese.” A collection of easy-to-follow recipes that demystifies gourmet cooking.