The Girl Can't Cook: 275 Fabulous No-Fail Recipes a Girl Can't Be Without [Paperback]

Cinda Chavich (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 2010

Chefs are becoming celebrities, and there are more cooking shows and cookbooks available than ever before. So why do so many people still declare, "I can't cook!"? Complex recipes, hard-to-find ingredients, and glossy food photography can intimidate and frustrate beginner cooks. Cinda Chavich feels your pain and gives you over 250 no-fail recipes you will love to make. Divided into three sections -- Sustenance, Decadence, and Observance -- recipes range from after-work supper ideas such as Easy Thai Chicken Salad, and Barbecue Pork Tenderloin to party menus such as Fondue Party, the PC Vegetarian Feast, and Baby Shower Buffet. The Valentine's Day Dinner with Seared Scallops in Champagne Sauce and Lamb Chops with Mustard Rub lets you pull out all the stops for that special someone. A perfect gift for the young-and-not-so-culinary-inclined, The Girl Can't Cook is the cookbook for fabulous kitchen goddesses in training everywhere.

Editorial Reviews

Review

[Chavich] really can cook.... Her recipes are never over-complicated, and the selections are current and fun. (Judy Schultz, CanWest Times-Colonist 20070725)

With more than 350 recipes, it provides the novice cook with culinary options for every occasion. (Shelley Boettcher (Canwest) Nanaimo Daily News 20070809)

About the Author

Cinda Chavich is a food writer and editor whose work has appeared in newspapers and magazines throughout North America. She is the author of the Wild West Cookbook and 125 Best Pressure Cooker Recipes.

Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Whitecap Books Ltd. (January 1, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1552855260
• ISBN-13: 978-1552855263
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 8.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #548,041 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars i CAN do it, September 29, 2004

By 

Chris Wells "nuke chick" (California) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Girl Can't Cook: 275 Fabulous No-Fail Recipes a Girl Can't Be Without (Paperback)

My Dad bought me this book as a joke because, as the title says, "this girl can't cook". To my surprise I found tons of easy recipes that I can accomplish. And the fact that they are interesting and not common makes me actually look forward to throwing these recipes together. And surprise of all surprises... they're edible!! I'm right proud of myself.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Cookbook I Reach for First, September 21, 2004

By 

Jocelyn C. Asher (Shoreline, WA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Girl Can't Cook: 275 Fabulous No-Fail Recipes a Girl Can't Be Without (Paperback)

While the title of this cookbook might appeal to the novice cook, I can confirm that the recipes will suit a more experienced chef and delight the palates of all. Happily, this is achieved with a minimum of time spent by the cook. Helpful cooking tips (useful even for this seasoned cook) are found on many pages. From Chavich's new book I have prepared numerous dishes from the simple, perfect shrimp cocktail to the excellent tiramisu. Everything from North American classics to East Indian specialties and other trendy ethnic foods are included. When preparing food for a dinner party, a brunch or a meeting in my home, this is the cookbook I now reach for. The lively illustrations by Kirsten Horel contribute to the light, optimistic quality of this volume.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My favorite cookbook, February 2, 2008

By 

a reader (Honolulu, HI) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Girl Can't Cook: 275 Fabulous No-Fail Recipes a Girl Can't Be Without (Paperback)

Don't let the title fool you, this is not some dumbed-down version of a cookbook (e.g., how to boil water, how to make toast, whatever). Check out the index to get an idea of the variety of tastes and styles on offer in this book. I don't eat meat and, while this is not a vegetarian cookbook, I have found plenty of recipes in here that work for me (I eat eggs & dairy). I've had more "hits" than "misses" with this cookbook than with others (it seems every cookbook I buy has some "misses" -- maybe it's me?). Most importantly, the recipes are relatively easy to make and you don't have to go to 5 different specialty shops to buy some random ingredient. I'll reach for this cookbook before I reach for a Williams-Sonoma one any day. Don't get me wrong, I love W-S's recipes, but they can often be time-consuming. Why put in the time when I can whip up something equally tasty and with less effort?