Hi,

Can anyone recommend a cookbook that caters for people who would on the
one hand like to minimise their hours in the kitchen, but serve some
nice and healthy (and calorie conscious) food for the family. I am only
dealing with 2 adults and a child.

Currently I cook a few recipes in the oven with the advantage being that
I put everything together and leave it there for a while and its done
and ready to eat, but I need variety so I am thinking that there must be
a cookbook out there that caters for someone like myself needing quick
and healthy recipes (quick in the sense that I don't need to devote lots
of continual attention to it).

Thanks for any advice and recommendations,
Ben

--
"What passes for wisdom may only be eloquent foolishness"

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ben wrote:

> Hi,
>
> Can anyone recommend a cookbook that caters for people who would on the
> one hand like to minimise their hours in the kitchen, but serve some
> nice and healthy (and calorie conscious) food for the family. I am only
> dealing with 2 adults and a child.
>
> Currently I cook a few recipes in the oven with the advantage being that
> I put everything together and leave it there for a while and its done
> and ready to eat, but I need variety so I am thinking that there must be
> a cookbook out there that caters for someone like myself needing quick
> and healthy recipes (quick in the sense that I don't need to devote lots
> of continual attention to it).
>
> Thanks for any advice and recommendations,
> Ben

Ben,

Part of minimizing time in the kitchen is having and using good tools.
Well sharpened knives and wooden cutting boards (to keep them that way)
are a start. A variety of spatulas, spoons, and other implements help. I
keep at least two sets of measuring spoons and cups so I can make
cleanup a batch (or dishwasher) operation.

Machines help if you have enough room to keep them handy. A small food
processor is useful if for nothing else than grating cheese. My hand
blender gets a lot of use, but I had to sharpen the one that I got as a
gift. I have an Oster electric kettle. The thermostat gives me
confidence that what I cook won't burn or boil over. (It says I could
bake in it, but I never have.) Crockpot recipes require little attention
also, and they're inexpensive.

There are many cookbooks devoted to simple meals. (You can be sure that
you aren't the only meal provider short on time!) A fine 20-year-old
example is "Keep it Simple: 30-Minute Meals from Scratch" by Marian
Burros (a food editor at The New York Times); ISBN 0-671-44397-6.

A much newer cookbook I wouldn't want to be without is "How to Cook
Everything; Simple Recipes for Great Food" by Mark Bittman; ISBN
0-02-861010-5. It has not only good simple recipes, but informative
"About ..." sections that give the knowledge needed to improvise. The
introduction begins, "Anyone can cook, and almost everyone should. It's
a sorry sign that many people consider cooking 'from scratch' an unusual
and even rare talent."

Another book that helped (and helps) me to understand and improvise is
"On Food and Cooking; the Science and Lore of the Kitchen" by Harold
McGee; ISBN 0-684-84328-4. McGee has written cookbooks, but this isn't
one. It's about food, not recipes. It gives a cook what a book on
metallurgy gives a blacksmith: knowledge to improve his/her craft.

Jerry
--
Engineering is the art of making what you want from things you can get.
¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯

ben wrote:
>
> Hi,
>
> Can anyone recommend a cookbook that caters for people who would on the
> one hand like to minimise their hours in the kitchen, but serve some
> nice and healthy (and calorie conscious) food for the family. I am only
> dealing with 2 adults and a child.
>
> Currently I cook a few recipes in the oven with the advantage being that
> I put everything together and leave it there for a while and its done
> and ready to eat, but I need variety so I am thinking that there must be
> a cookbook out there that caters for someone like myself needing quick
> and healthy recipes (quick in the sense that I don't need to devote lots
> of continual attention to it).
>
> Thanks for any advice and recommendations,
> Ben

The modern Weight Watcher's books are very good. I have one called Food
in a Flash, by Roz Denny. There are more than 60 recipes in it,
covering soups and starters, veggie things, puddings, family meals, and
all sorts.

Most of the WW cookbooks are good, and a lot of their recipes are quick
to do. They tend to have points per recipe, points per portion, and
calories per portion.

--
Kate XXXXXX
Lady Catherine, Wardrobe Mistress of the Chocolate Buttons
http://www.diceyhome.free-online.co.uk
Click on Kate's Pages and explore!

Jerry Avins wrote:
> There are many cookbooks devoted to simple meals. (You can be sure that
> you aren't the only meal provider short on time!) A fine 20-year-old

Thanks for your advice and recommendations. Very much appreciated. I'll
be sure to check them out.

regards,
Ben

--
"What passes for wisdom may only be eloquent foolishness"

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Kate Dicey wrote:
> The modern Weight Watcher's books are very good. I have one called Food

Thanks for the book recommendations. I'll look into them. I need to get
some kind of meal variety going.

thanks again,
Ben

--
"What passes for wisdom may only be eloquent foolishness"

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"ben" > wrote in message
...
> Hi,
>
> Can anyone recommend a cookbook that caters for people who would on the
> one hand like to minimise their hours in the kitchen, but serve some
> nice and healthy (and calorie conscious) food for the family. I am only
> dealing with 2 adults and a child.
>
> Currently I cook a few recipes in the oven with the advantage being that
> I put everything together and leave it there for a while and its done
> and ready to eat, but I need variety so I am thinking that there must be
> a cookbook out there that caters for someone like myself needing quick
> and healthy recipes (quick in the sense that I don't need to devote lots
> of continual attention to it).
>
> Thanks for any advice and recommendations,
> Ben
>

Here is the American Heart association on-line cookbook - It is a great
guide.

Enjoy,

http://www.deliciousdecisions.org/cb/results.cfm

Dimitri

Kate Dicey wrote:
> The modern Weight Watcher's books are very good. I have one called Food
> in a Flash, by Roz Denny. There are more than 60 recipes in it,
> covering soups and starters, veggie things, puddings, family meals, and
> all sorts.

Hmm. I could not find the book. Could you post the ISBN number?

Thanks,
Ben

--
"What passes for wisdom may only be eloquent foolishness"

Cheap long distance calling using Onesuite (http://www.onesuite.com).
2.5 cents/min anywhere in the U.S., to Canada or the U.K. No monthly or
connection fees! Use promotional code 038664643 for 20 free minutes.

Jerry Avins wrote:
> you aren't the only meal provider short on time!) A fine 20-year-old
> example is "Keep it Simple: 30-Minute Meals from Scratch" by Marian
> Burros (a food editor at The New York Times); ISBN 0-671-44397-6.

I ordered a copy for 92 cents on Amazon.

> A much newer cookbook I wouldn't want to be without is "How to Cook
> Everything; Simple Recipes for Great Food" by Mark Bittman; ISBN
> 0-02-861010-5. It has not only good simple recipes, but informative

Ordered this for $9.80 on half.com . If this book is good I might also
look into the other book he wrote "The Minimalist Cooks Dinner : More
Than 100 Recipes for Fast, Great Week-Night Meals".

> Another book that helped (and helps) me to understand and improvise is
> "On Food and Cooking; the Science and Lore of the Kitchen" by Harold
> McGee; ISBN 0-684-84328-4. McGee has written cookbooks, but this isn't
> one. It's about food, not recipes. It gives a cook what a book on
> metallurgy gives a blacksmith: knowledge to improve his/her craft.

bestwebbuys.com couldn't find this one (place I go to find book bargains).

regards,
Ben


--
"What passes for wisdom may only be eloquent foolishness"

Cheap long distance calling using Onesuite (http://www.onesuite.com).
2.5 cents/min anywhere in the U.S., to Canada or the U.K. No monthly or
connection fees! Use promotional code 038664643 for 20 free minutes.

On Fri, 13 Feb 2004 16:17:55 -0500, ben > wrote:

>Jerry Avins wrote:

>> Another book that helped (and helps) me to understand and improvise is
>> "On Food and Cooking; the Science and Lore of the Kitchen" by Harold
>> McGee; ISBN 0-684-84328-4. McGee has written cookbooks, but this isn't
>> one. It's about food, not recipes. It gives a cook what a book on
>> metallurgy gives a blacksmith: knowledge to improve his/her craft.
>
>bestwebbuys.com couldn't find this one (place I go to find book bargains).

Here is the amazon reference. It still is in print.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...books&n=507846

I like his shorter empirical book - The Curious Cook: More Kitchen
Science and Lore - although it looks like it is out of print.

ben wrote:

> Kate Dicey wrote:
>
>> The modern Weight Watcher's books are very good. I have one called Food
>> in a Flash, by Roz Denny. There are more than 60 recipes in it,
>> covering soups and starters, veggie things, puddings, family meals, and
>> all sorts.
>
>
> Hmm. I could not find the book. Could you post the ISBN number?
>
> Thanks,
> Ben

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/se...686616-4044711

--
Engineering is the art of making what you want from things you can get.
¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯

ben wrote:

> Hi,
>
> Can anyone recommend a cookbook that caters for people who would on
> the
> one hand like to minimise their hours in the kitchen, but serve some
> nice and healthy (and calorie conscious) food for the family. I am
> only
> dealing with 2 adults and a child.
>
> Currently I cook a few recipes in the oven with the advantage being
> that
> I put everything together and leave it there for a while and its done
> and ready to eat, but I need variety so I am thinking that there must
> be
> a cookbook out there that caters for someone like myself needing quick
>
> and healthy recipes (quick in the sense that I don't need to devote
> lots
> of continual attention to it).
>
> Thanks for any advice and recommendations,
> Ben

Ben:You might try to find a copy of Jean Anderson's' "Processor cooking"
of 1988, originally published in 1979 shortly after the advent of the
Cuisinart food processor.

Its a classic cook book in that it proceeds from basics, stocks & sauces
through entrees of beef, veal, pork, chicken & fish & seafood to
veggies, salads, breads and desserts. It also includes a lot of
definitions of various food terminology and equipment. Most of the
recipes are for 4 - 6. IMO there's always a good reason for extras,
leftovers, a lot of food is better the next day than it is the day it is
cooked.

And the point of the book is making good healthy food quickly with a
food processor there are even a few old fashioned recipes like "brandade
de morue."

And an asparagus soup recipe is included that utilizes the hard stems
that usually get thrown away. A beer and cheddar cheese spread made
with mustard and horse radish.

To quote the author in reference to "roti de porc a la boulangere"
(roast pork in the manner of the baker's wife)

"Although this has long been a favourite dish of mine (and of my dinner
guests), I rarely served it more than once a year because of the
tedious hours of preparation required. Now i make it as often as I
like, grateful that I have a food processor to slice through those
mountains of potatoes and onions quick as a greased streak. Few recipes
demonstrate a food processor's prowess better."
--
JL

ben wrote:
>
> Kate Dicey wrote:
> > The modern Weight Watcher's books are very good. I have one called Food
> > in a Flash, by Roz Denny. There are more than 60 recipes in it,
> > covering soups and starters, veggie things, puddings, family meals, and
> > all sorts.
>
> Hmm. I could not find the book. Could you post the ISBN number?
>
> Thanks,
> Ben

ISBN 0 74323 136 8

I got it through my WW meeting here in the UK. If you can't find it,
I'll see if I can track down another copy.
--
Kate XXXXXX
Lady Catherine, Wardrobe Mistress of the Chocolate Buttons
http://www.diceyhome.free-online.co.uk
Click on Kate's Pages and explore!