The Summer House Cookbook: Easy Recipes for When You Have Better Things to Do with Your Time

This is an approach that one would think other cookbooks deliver also, that of a summer style menu which eases up on the tedious prep work and makes placing enticing food before family and friends easy and yet delectable. They do, but here is a specialty cookbook which centers only on this aspect: light summer cusine.These two experienced chefs achieve their stated purpose by providing lots of recipes both of the standard recipe fare and some unique ones as well. They begin with a superb section on "Getting Ready to Go" which provides hints that truly prepare one to get all the gear and chef tools and ingredients ready to take or find and purchase whether to stock the summer abode or take to a rental or one's own backyard cooking. There is also a "Make Ahead" section with oils and marinades, etc. which is truly a neat idea to achieve the desired: "summer state of mind."The recipe groupings are around meals, i.e. breakfast, picnics, dinners, parties, rainy days and then around source: farm stand, dock, grill, and desserts.My two favorites thus far are "From the Dock" and "Rainy Day Dinners." Feast your eyes and appetites on such as: Sea Bright Striped Bass" with peach, nectarine, and plum balsamic vinegar sauce; Malibu Soft-Shell Crab Salad with watermelon, fennel, arugala and orange salad; Sweet Corn Pudding; Lobster, Mushroom and Sweet Pea Risotto; Chilled White Peach Soup with Red Wine Ice; Fig and Raspbery Fool.Well done with delightful text bolstered with superb color photos. Also, not thick, heavy book it packs and travels well.

It's now Autumn, but this book will be used year round in our kitchen. I used the "Only Pie Crust Recipe You'll Ever Need" in this book. It was right! The results were a light, flaky crust. I used it for an apple pie. All I heard from the kitchen table were moans and groans. What a reward that was! I highly recommend this book for the crust and all other recipes! "MMMMMMM!"

Healthy, natural, and easy. This book puts the fun back into cooking at a time of year when there are so many other things to do. Starting the day with Lemon Blueberry Muffins followed at lunch with Jerssey Corn chowder, convinced me that this is a cookbook that will be always be open when I want my family to have wonderful food while I have the time to participate in their summer fun.

My wife and I enjoy cooking while on vacation, as well as in our backyard during the summer months. We have often felt that without all the cooking tools we have at home, our success while on vacation would be hampered. The authors took special care to ensure that every recipe can be made using only the most basic utensils. The focus on keeping it simple is consistently adhered to--as the book says, as much as we enjoy great food we have better things to do on vacation than lots of preparation. We really appreciate the pantry list--which makes organizing for our summer house adventure effortless. Try the grill-roasted oysters and the heirloom tomato salad. The Aux Delices Orzo Salad is great!! Having sampled author Ponzek's fine food at Aux Delices in Greenwich, Conn. I can tell you we are thrilled to have the insight of a four-star chef translated into simple meals that we can enjoy with minimal fuss. Love it!

I have always struggled with cooking on vacation. Now there is one book that I will be packing. I just bought it, and it addressed all my needs. It makes suggestions about how to stock my summer house pantry and how to be flexible when it comes to using whatever appliances that might be in the kitchen.Last night I served the Peppered Salmon with Pineapple Compote. It was terrific. Now I am looking forward to trying more recipes.I am always looking for interesting cocktails and fun appetizers to serve my guests and of course great desserts. Whether you are a vegetarian or a fish and meat lover, this is a cookbook that you'll be using even afer the summer is over.