Easy Summer Food

That the title has the word "easy" in it is certainly a misnomer. However, that fails to stop my love for this cookbook. Every recipe I've tried has been excellent, and once you get past the unknown words ("pappa al pomodoro," "bagna cauda," "aioli," "bocconcini," to name a few) you'll find you really enjoy this book. And, once I've done a recipe once or twice, it does become "easy." For me, the recipes have actually helped me to begin experimenting with new foods and new side dishes. No more rice - I can make a couscous salad! And just because it says it is summer food doesn't mean you can't cook it the rest of the year. The bright, colorful images for every dish are utterly helpful. And the sections in the back that teach you how to make simple dips, drinks and homemade mayonnaises and pestos is worth its weight in gold. While not a basic recipe book, for those who are trying to expand their palate, "Easy Summer Foods" creates "easy" recipes out of what I think must originally have been hard-to-make dishes. It's a nice addition to my recipe collection, and I'm eager to find more cookbooks in this series!