Fast Entrees

I have tried Hugh Carpenters recipes before and have always been more than pleased. I am glad his books are still available and I plan to get as many as I can.

so far we really like this cookbook. Love "Hot Chicken" which is by same people.

I looked at lots of cookbooks for beginners, and planned to get Rachel Rays, but found this one and bought it instead for my son and nephew (along with Cooks Illustrated). It has food they like, ingredients that aren't too complicated, pictures to see what they might like to make, and isn't so big as to overwhelm them. Side dishes to complement the entrees are offered at the end of the book. I think this is a good choice for new cooks.

I've cooked about half a dozen or more recipes from this cookbook, and all have been simple and fabulous. Each recipe is divided up into "advance preparation" and "last-minute cooking", which means you can do alot of the prep work earlier in the day. Directions are easy to follow, ingredients are not to obscure, and suggestions for salads and side dishes allow you to complete the meal easily. A must-buy for anyone who likes gourmet food but doesn't have a lot of time to cook.