Cheap & Easy: A Cookbook for Girls on the Go (Paperback)

by Sandra Bark (Author), Vin Ganapathy (Author), Alexis Kanfer (Illustrator) "Who said Sunday morning was easy?..." (more)
Key Phrases: medium mixing bowl, small mixing bowl, Ingredients Equipment, Playing the Field Try, Equipment Large (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
For women who'd rather speed-dial the restaurant around the corner than open up the fridge, or for those sick of eating leftover moo shu pork for lunch, 20-something Brooklynites Bark and Kanfer offer this snazzy yet simple cookbook. Starting with basics like "freezer feng shui" and a "pantry raid," the authors demystify the kitchen for neophytes and divulge secrets to abbreviating popular dishes like lasagna and meat loaf, while highlighting the essentials that make those dishes so enjoyable. From beverages to salad dressings and soups to sweets, the recipes map out the necessary tools and ingredients with a hip flair. For example, Chiquita Granola mixes old-fashioned oats and cinnamon with coconut and dried pineapple, and Come Hither Couscous doctors up the Mediterranean standard with fresh lemon zest. Abridged versions of heavenly desserts like 30-Minute Apple Crisp and Peanut Butter Ice-Cream Sandwiches are easy enough for even the most novice chefs. The book's best section, "Snacks and the City," offers sample menus like Hangover Helper and Slumber Party. While some dishes may leave readers pondering the sheer necessity of a recipe (e.g., Girl Meets Soy is a four-step process for what's essentially popping marinated tofu in the oven), others share advice on subjects as diverse as poaching chicken and flavoring whipped cream. And though Kanfer and Bark undoubtedly direct their quips and jests toward a female crowd, their book might serve as a counselor to not-so-savvy guys, too.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Review
Susan Jane Gilmanauthor of Kiss My TiaraBehold. Funny, smart, no-brainer recipes for girls who want to bake their cake and eat it, too.

Michele Scicolonecoauthor of the New York Times bestseller The Sopranos Family CookbookEven girls who just wanna have fun have to eat sometimes! This is the book for them, and for the rest of us who need fresh ideas for quick, wholesome, and tasty food. Packed with clever tricks, practical shortcuts, and multiple variations, Cheap & Easy is a guide to fun in the kitchen.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 176 pages
• Publisher: Fireside (March 30, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0743250540
• ISBN-13: 978-0743250542
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.2 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #347,343 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars For Boys on the Go, Too!, November 18, 2005

By	Dan Garlington (Seattle, WA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I'm a bit of a cookbook-aholic, and have several shelves devoted just to them. But you can tell which I actually use by the warped and stained pages, and the way they lay open to favorite recipes. This is one of those books -- perhaps the most used in my collection. It includes everything from breakfast favorites to exotic cocktails, quick side dishes to easy desserts. Some cookbooks make new recipes seem daunting with long lists of hard to find ingredients. This book uses short lists of easy to find ingredients to take the intimidation out of trying your hand at quiche (which I'm baking right now), homemade granola (which turns out delicious), or fresh flavored whipped cream (which is so simple it's embarrassing). And many of the recipes include ways to 'play the field' and mix up ingredients to make the recipe your own -- including lots of tasty vegetarian suggestions. My favorite of the book has got to be the Peachy Ginger loaf w/ Spice Icing. It's always a crowd pleaser at brunches, and takes no time at all to throw together with ingredients I usually have in the pantry. I highly recommend this book to any girls or boys on the go.

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Totally lives up to its name!, June 3, 2004

By	Maggie (Clarion, PA United States) - See all my reviews

This book is great! It really is cheap and yet the recipes have lots of flavor. One of the best things about it, that you don't see in other cookbooks, is how the recipes use a lot of the same stapel ingredients. If you buy something for one recipe, it won't be sitting in your fridge forever, because it's in other recipes in the book. What a great idea! (that apparently doesn't occur to other cookbook writers). I also loved the lunchbox section for suggestions on portable meal ideas for office lunches. I would have liked some more entree recipes, there are only 7 including a couple of things that don't really seem like an entree to me, but other recipes in the book can of course be eaten for dinner.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very Sex & The City-ish!, January 19, 2006

By	C. Lusby "Global Citizen" (Atlanta, GA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book is perfect for single women on the go. The recipes are easy and don't require a lot of time. Also, the list of ingredients is not long at all which means you won't be stuck with items you won't use again for months or may have to throw away because they are rotting in the refrigerator.

Its nice that menus are put together for you based on the event i.e. romantic dinner, the morning after, picnics, etc.

I've made the lasagna, meatloaf, and pasta puttanesca and they were all delicious. My roommate has sampled them all and was equally impressed. You won't go wrong buying this book. If you are looking for another good cookbook for beginners, then check out Now Your Cooking by Elaine Corn. I've tried 90% of those recipes and they are both easy and tasty.