COOK LIKE A ROCK STAR

A popular Food Network personality offers detailed recipes to help home chefs rock the kitchen.

Known best for her upbeat persona and edgy look, Burrell has appeared on the Secrets of a Restaurant Chef and battled alongside Mario Batali on Iron Chef America. In her first cookbook, she begins with the twin principles of preparation and comfort, assuring readers that any home chef can "rock out" and prepare delicious meals for family and friends. “Being a rock star in the kitchen means taking control, having fun, and thinking of cooking as entertainment,” she writes. She starts with recipes for piccolini (“Think of them as Italian tapas”), such as Figs Stuffed with Gorgonzola and Walnuts, Oyster Mushroom Chips and Eggplant Cakes with Ricotta. Appetizers like Parmigiano Flan give way to entrees as diverse and exciting as Duck Breast with Dried Fruit and Vin Santo, Seared Crispy-Skin Black Bass and Braised Cabbage Stuffed with Sausage and Fennel. Recipes featured in the chapters on Pasta, Sides and Desserts are equally varied and mouthwatering. Throughout,  Burrell adds expertise and advice for both novice and experienced chefs—e.g., her warning about preparing risotto: “Brace yourself and really whip the hell out of the rice—the Italian word for this is mantecare, and this is the step the Italians don't tell you about!" A spirited cookbook that will lead to fun and flavor at home.