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

That's because I am constantly reaching for it! I love this book. And you should know that I hate to cook. Really. But I do love to eat, and this book marries those two opposing characteristics beautifully. One of my favorite things about this book is that the recipes are simple enough for a true novice such as myself to tweak without fear of crashing the dish. I have scribbled my own notes all throughout the pages on things I have tried and added and truly enjoyed. One of my favorite recipes is for rice with broccoli and parmesano-reggiano cheese. It is so fabulous that even though it is a side dish, I usually will make it as a main course for my family. This is the best cookbook I ever expect to own.

I tried this at the library first, and after a few recipes I knew I had to purchase it. The recipes are truly fast - most take under 30 minutes, although some take up to 45 minutes. They are also easy and delicious. When I have some perishable food on hand that I want to use up while still fresh I scan this book for ideas. It will often have a recipe that only involves a few other ingredients that I can use. I also use it when my cupboard is a little bare, because there are recipes in here that use only staples that I usually have on hand. I haven't tried every recipe in this book, but eventually I will try most of them. So far two of my absolute favorites are the Stir-Fried Chicken, Green Beans and Walnuts and the Carmelized Banana with Rich Chocolate Fudge Sauce. It was the easiest fudge sauce recipe I've even seen, and it was one of the most delicious. I will probably be purchasing this book as a gifts for others, because I think most people could find enough recipes in here that they would work into their cooking on a regular basis.

I love to cook, have many, many cookbooks, but this is, by far, the one I turn to over and over. My whole family loves everything in it. Creative vegetable dishes, wonderful ideas for fish, new takes on pastas and salads. And, everything is fresh, no processed, packaged food. Hooray!

I bought this book when it first came out, and two years later, I still use it constantly! Marie Simmons makes me wish I had an Italian mother, too. Not only do I have favorite stand-bys in this book, but it continues to give me fresh inspiration. I love it!

I buy more cookbooks than I ought to, and, while I cook a great deal, somehow never seem to give my new purchases a thorough workout - but this cookbook is the exception. I use it very frequently, and love it. The recipes actually are very fast, but it's the interesting and delicious flavours that impress me, in combination with the speed of preparation. Havn't found a problem recipe. (My husband likes to cook from this book, too.)