Best Summer Weekends Cookbook [Hardcover]

Jane Rodmell (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 8, 2005

Summer only comes once a year. Make it count.

Summer days and weekends are best spent outside. That's when cooks look for recipes that can be easily prepared and served at the cottage or at home, in the country or in the city.

Those recipes and more are all right here, in Best Summer Weekends Cookbook. This edition combines the best of the popular Summer Weekend Cookbook and More Summer Weekends Cookbook and adds seventy-five new recipes. Whether entertaining neighbors or guests staying for the weekend, cooking for the family, or hosting a once-a-summer everybody come gathering, this compendium will become an indispensable kitchen companion, and at 352 pages, it is a superb resource.

Recipe sections include:

• Appetizers, starters and sundown snacks
• Fresh barbecuing ideas
• Salads and side dishes
• Make-ahead main courses
• Light bites
• Breakfast and brunch
• Sweet stuff and desserts.

Each recipe also has ideas for variations and substitutions for those times you don't have a particular ingredient on hand. Make-ahead tips reduce kitchen work so you can enjoy your guests' company. The appetizing color photographs will make it hard to resist trying every dish. A new collection of Quick Tricks will help you produce fabulous dishes fast.

(20040609)

Editorial Reviews

Review

A sunny source of culinary inspiration. (Susan Sampson Toronto Star 20040901)

A delicious assortment of crispy, tangy, veggie-filled and seafood-loaded salads... all perfect of warm, sunny weather. (Carolyn Jung San Jose Mercury News 20040714)

A reliable and satisfying collection of near-comfort foods that make summer cooking a breeze. (Michael Hastings Winston-Salem Journal 20040811)

Innovative ideas for meals... quick tricks to help turn out fabulous food fast. (Canadian Press 20040519)

A gorgeous compilation of more than 75 appealing recipes, with lots of photos, quick tips and entertaining ideas. (Lisa McManus Quincy Patriot Ledger 20050824)

Revolves around seasonal goods... and quick dishes that can be whipped up with a few staples at hand. (Lorena D. Johnson Calgary Sun 20040526)

My favorite [new cookbook]... it's beautiful and chock full of recipes I can't wait to try. (Gail Ciampa Providence RI Journal 200408)

Rodmell keeps the kitchen cool and the food exciting. (Phoenix Home and Garden 20040623)

This fine cookbook offers much more than just simple barbecue fare.... the perfect summer companion for busy cooks. (Jim Carlson Country Decorating Ideas 20040602)

A whole summer's worth of ideas and tips for meals that please everyone... fabulous recipes. (Linda Turk Thunder Bay Chronicle Journal 200808)

More important, these are recipes where a substantial amount of the work can be done ahead of time. (Myrna Collins Appleton Post-Crescent 20110317)

It was with great joy that this cook discovered [Rodmell's] sinfully easy and delicious recipe for 'Thai Green Curry Wings.' (Jan DeKnock Omaha World-Herald )

Nicely designed recipe pages with big photos. (Gregory Hahn and Julie Sarasqeta Idaho Statesman )

Each recipe has ideas for variations and substitutions... fabulous food fast... relaxed, simple cooking using fresh, seasonal ingredients. (Judith Ruan Muskoka Magazine )

This weighty tome can take pride of place with the best of your generalist cookbooks. (Monica Stark January Magazine )

This is food that's easy and uncomplicated, seasonal and fun, but drop-dead delicious. (Laura Robin Ottawa Citizen )

Entertaining at the cottage may never have been easier. (The Cottager )

A weekend cookbook for city use as well, or for making dishes in the city for transport to the cottage. (Dean Tudor gothicepicures.blogspot.com )

From the Author

Over the years I've discovered the trick to creating good food with a minimum of anxiety and fuss is to have some good basic ingredients on hand. That applies whether you are cooking at home, out of town, or on the road. You'll find my list of essentials at the front of Best Summer Weekends Cookbook, and all the recipes then work from this core group of ingredients. Just add the meat, fish, seasonal produce, cheese and dairy items for your selected menu, and you're ready for the weekend.

Readers of my other cookbooks tell me that they love all the tips and tricks with each recipe. I've introduced lots of new ones in this book -- tips on selecting ingredients, making recipes ahead, variations and substitutions, and other ideas for producing great food that will make your friends think you slaved for hours. (You don't have to tell them how easy it was!)

One of my favorite ways to entertain in the summer is to get together with friends for drinks and snacks outdoors. Best Summer Weekends Cookbook includes lots of easy-to-prepare "sundown snacks," and even a few summer cocktails, all guaranteed to get the evening off to a great start. The barbecue is a key tool for summer cooking, so you'll find 60 pages of grilling recipes, marinades, spice rubs, and bastes -- with a handy chart to inspire you and help you to put things together. There are heaps of fresh ideas for summer salads too, with suggestions for turning them into main dishes that will please both vegetarians and meat-eaters. And when it comes to desserts, I love to feature the glorious fruits of summer with favorites such as Raspberry Cream Crunch Pie, Caramel Peach Cobbler, Plum Crumble Squares, and Frozen Chocolate Raspberry Terrine.

In every chapter you'll feast your eyes on gorgeous color photos. I know they will make your mouth water and you will not be able to resist heading straight to the kitchen to start cooking right away.

I wish you great times and great food this summer. Enjoy and have fun.

Jane Rodmel

(20040627)

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 352 pages
• Publisher: Cottage Life Books (January 8, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0969692242
• ISBN-13: 978-0969692249
• Product Dimensions: 10.2 x 9 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,072,940 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Worth It for the Wheat Berry Salad, January 27, 2007

By 

Mary (Pawtucket) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Best Summer Weekends Cookbook (Hardcover)

This cookbook is worth even if you only make the Wheat Berry Salad with Wild Rick and Orzo. It's an extremely heathly dish that's perfect for outdoor parties and potlucks -- no mayo to spoil. The Mix-in-the-Pan Cake is a nice recipe that brings back memories of the old Snackin' Cake product -- a classic of the 1970's that was a family favorite when I was growing up.

5.0 out of 5 stars A book which lives up to its title., September 7, 2009

By 

MV Lady (The Midwest) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Best Summer Weekends Cookbook (Hardcover)

Saw this book in a library when I was on vacation this summer. Good value for the money on Amazon. Recipes are scrumptious, easy to follow. Beautiful photos.

5.0 out of 5 stars The title says it all!!, June 16, 2009

By 

Nancy Stewart (Huntington Beach, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Best Summer Weekends Cookbook (Hardcover)

Want to enjoy summer ALL year round? Then this is THE cookbook for you! Every recipe is fabulously tasty, with easy to follow instructions and lots of terrific photos. With only one recipe per page, few steps and on hand ingredients,even the kids will want to participate or even make it themselves. Spend less time preparing/cooking and more time enjoying the summer-time feeling! Keeping life 'simple' just got a whole lot easier. I bought several copies of this book for cottage gifts.