Jacques Pepin's Kitchen: Cooking with Claudine

I was given this book as a gift; never saw the show. The recipes are excellent but don't allow for much improvisation (in my experience!)--the low-fat adjustments he makes really need to be followed to the letter in order for the dishes to come out as well as they should. That said, if you are a recipe-follower, he does amazing things with short ingredient lists, easy cooking techniques, and interesting combinations of ingredients. I especially like the potato-crusted fish recipe and the "spicy ginger chicken" (which is not at all spicy, but very tasty). There's also a great cole slaw recipe that uses curry powder--sounds weird, but it's delicious!

Recipes are simple and yet show stopping. Delicious recipes I have made are Flan a'la Vanille,Peking Style Chicken, Warm Chocolate Fondue Souffle, Chocolate Paris-Brest, Chocolate Walnut and Apricot Cookies, and Potato and Watercress Salad to name a few.

There is something for every type of occasion or cook. Something simple for a weekday supper or something fancy for special occasion. Lots of pictures, and each recipe comes w/ time estimate and nutrition analysis that makes selecting menus so much simpler. Jacques Pepin is so good at making delicious cooking an everyday thing. Love this book.

In Jacques Pepin's Kitchen : Cooking With Claudine, it's easy to believe that anyone can cook delicious food. Pepin uses the ruse of showing his beloved daughter some of the tricks of his trade to show the reader how to compose a menu and cook some of his favorite, classic dishes. Each step is carefully explained and even readers with limited cooking experience should fine it enjoyable and easy to follow his instructions. Work your way through this book and you'll have no trouble enchanting your guests or your family. These lovely meals are for sharing.

If you love to eat but are afraid to cook gourmet, Jacques Pepin and Claudine shows you how to have a gourmet meal every day. The recipes are easy to follow and delicious. Its handy if you cook for yourself or a small family. The book is an absolute must if you follow the show on PBS. I never thought I could cook such wonderful dishes until I used this book.