From Publishers Weekly
Weinstein and Scarbrough, both writers for Gourmet and Fine Cooking, have amassed a nice assortment of recipes aimed at twosomes. Although the cookbook lacks pictures, the recipes are understandable and relatively easy to prepare. The authors modify ingredients so that instead of having to store, and a week later throw out, the leftovers, one can buy just the amount necessary of a particular item. For example, they show that one can actually bake a batch of two large Linzer Cookies as a dessert, or prepare just two servings of a Lardons Salad with Poached Egg and Warm Bacon Dressing. The authors point out, however, that dairy ingredients are more difficult to find in smaller quantities, and even when substitutions can be found, they don’t always work quite right. Each dish is rated according to its ease of preparation and follows Weinstein and Scarbrough’s mantra of “you’ll buy what you use, use what you buy.” Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Tea for two. That’s what it’s all about, right? So how come every recipe you pick up says “serves 4 to 6″? Or more! What do you do when you want macaroni and cheese, but don’t want to be reheating it for three nights? Or a couple of cookies, but don’t want to be tempted by two dozen sitting on the counter all week?Creative cookbook authors and cooks Bruce Weinstein and Mark Scarbrough have all the answers in Cooking for Two.Brimming with 120 smaller-serving, big-taste recipes,Cooking for Two offers cooks familiar favorites such as PastaBolognese, Chicken Pot Pie, and Mushroom Barley Soup, as well as new dishes for today’s tastes like Pork Satay Salad and Snapper Fillets Sautéed with Orange and Pecans. Simply cutting down larger recipes leads to wasted ingredients. But Bruce and Mark have developed each recipe so you buy only what you need, and use all of what you buy. Instead of opening a can of vegetable stock only to use three tablespoons, use the liquid the dried mushrooms have soaked in. If an onion is too large for a recipe, chop a shallot instead. The dessert chapters are filled with cookies, puddings, and cakes, all designed for two servings. Small-batch baking requires strict attention to detail. A regular egg can be too big for a small batch of six cookies, so they suggest quail eggs or the easy-to-find pasteurized egg substitutes, which you can measure out in tablespoons.Truly a cookbook for everyday use, each recipe is labeled as quick (ready in minutes with minimal cooking), moderate (requires a bit more preparation or cooking), or leisurely (perfect for quiet celebrations or weekend meals) to help you decide which dish best fits into your day. With ingredient and equipment guides, as well as tips on how to stock your pantry to avoid those there’s-nothing-in-the-house-so-let’s-go-out moments, Cooking for Two will surely become the cookbook you reach for every night of the week.It’s just two perfect.
See all Editorial Reviews
View more information
