High Flavor, Low Labor: Reinventing Weeknight Cooking [Paperback]

J. M. Hirsch (Author)

Book Description

Release date: September 7, 2010

REAL FOOD. REAL LIFE. REAL FLAVOR.
 
Forever short on time, Associated Press food editor J. M. Hirsch is a master of kitchen shortcuts; his favorite, letting high-flavor ingredients do the heavy lifting, was the inspiration for this collection of nearly 150 boldly delicious recipes. Because nobody has time to make a bland meal.

His approach to cooking is simple: Foods that taste great going into the pot need less work from you to taste great when they come out. He shows busy cooks how to use ingredients with intense flavor to make the meals they want in the time they have.

The recipes are easy and the flavors are robust. Try Four-Cheese Baked Gnocchi, Pork Chops with Red Wine Cranberry Sauce, Red Curry Beef, Sweet-and-Savory BBQ Chicken, Chili Balsamic Marinated Sirloin with Fettuccine and Sun-Dried Tomatoes, and Bacon, Beans, and Beer Chili. There’s even dessert, with Balsamic Chocolate Cookie Ice Cream and Grilled Cinnamon-Sugar Breadsticks.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“There’s so much about J.M.’s approach to food that rings true for me.  We believe in a lot of the same principles: the food we share with our families everyday should be accessible and affordable but never dull and always full of flavor.  Neither of us are trained chefs, but both of us are damn good cooks.  I think this is a great read.”
– Rachael Ray
 
“Big, bold food that busy families can love! This is a man - and a cookbook - after my own heart.” – Paula Deen
 
 
"... From spicy chilies and smoky rubs to a pesto chicken that's perfectly tuned, J.M. hits all the right flavor notes with these recipes." – Rocco DiSpirito
 

About the Author

J. M. HIRSCH is the national food editor for The Associated Press. He oversees a team of writers, cooks, and photographers whose stories and recipes appear in thousands of newspapers and on countless Web sites around the globe. He lives in New Hampshire with his wife and six-year-old son.

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Ballantine Books (September 7, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 034552229X
• ISBN-13: 978-0345522290
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 0.8 x 9.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #324,246 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

If you are one of those parents who somehow finds the time to craft your kid's lunch into cutesy animals and characters from their favorite movies, good for you. And good luck with your therapy.

I'm a working dad who can't dedicate quite that much energy to my 8-year-old's lunch box. I'm pretty sure that doesn't make me a bad dad. I still want him to eat healthy and to be excited for lunchtime. I just can't get all OCD about it.

And for the record, at the start of a crazy day being the national food editor for The Associated Press and a cookbook author doesn't buy me any extra time or inspiration for packing a lunch. And it certainly doesn't earn me any bonus points when it comes to planning dinner.

By necessity, I've become an expert at fast and easy dinners, as well as equally speedy and delicious packed lunches.

My last book, "High Flavor, Low Labor," was all about getting great dinners on the table fast. My approach is simple -- use high flavor ingredients to do the work for you. Because if foods taste great before they go in the pot, you don't have to work as hard for them to taste great when they come out.

My new cookbook, "Beating the Lunch Box Blues," was inspired by my blog -- LunchBoxBlues.com. The blog is a simple chronicle of the crazy, creative things I pack in my son's lunch box. It's about my daily struggle to feed my son lunches he'll be excited about and I'll feel good about.

"Beating the Lunch Box Blues" pulls together the lessons I've learned serving five years (and counting) in the lunch box trenches. Whether you're packing lunch for your kid or yourself, this book has you covered with delicious, easy-to-pack, easy-to-make lunch ideas that will move you way beyond the same old day-after-day PB&J.

And all of my cooking comes down to one thing -- real food for real people grappling with real life.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The best new tool in the arsenal of "this Mom can do it all." October 6, 2010

By Robin Reynolds Starr

Format:Paperback

When I have the time (and when would that be?) I think of myself as a pretty descent cook. But truth be told, reading cookbooks usually gives me a feeling of inadequacy rather than the "can do" spirit they're meant to inspire. Not so with HIGH FLAVOR; LOW LABOR. The recipes are easily accomplished, and although there are exciting new ingredients to explore, many of the recipes can be made with what a working Mom tends to have at hand at the dinner hour - no long, pre-planned grocery lists required. And if I don't have everything, J.M. can be depended upon to suggest alternatives. If his go-to ingredients aren't already a part of your world it's easy to make them so, and while most of us understand the importance of fresh herbs and such yet fail to have them handy (what?! grocery shop more then once a week?), many of his pantry suggestions are relatively long lasting. If you just want a book to give you the quick step by step directions to get supper on the table without too much mental aggravation, this one is for you. But you can get much more out of it too. You'll get enough of technique and ideas to apply them on your own. Whatever your style in the kitchen, this is a great book to have at the ready, every night of the week.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars my new go-to cookbook September 22, 2010

By D. Luna

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

This cookbook is written by a real dad who is cooking for a real family. His cooking is based on a couple of premises: use organic and local food when possible, and use high quality ingredients. Each section (appetizers, main dishes, soups, desserts, etc.) has an introduction, and most recipes are accompanied by pictures of the finished product. A few of the recipes are not what I would consider "low labor," but overall, I am happy with this book. Note: The author is no longer vegan, so if you are looking for non-animal-product dishes, this is NOT for you!

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Flavorful Contemporary Recipes For the Home Cook September 7, 2010

By momzillathehon

Format:Paperback

Whether you're entertaining or cooking for your family, this is the only, well almost only, cookbook you'll need. J M Hirsch covers everything from starters, to soups, pastas, main dishes, desserts, and more, and gives tips and techniques to save you time. Each recipe tells you how much prep time and how many servings you'll get (if the cook doesn't eat it all before serving!). Beautifully photographed and written with a great sense of humor. Take this book to beddy-bye and read it like a novel. In the morning, get up and start cookin'!