Seriously Simple: Easy Recipes for Creative Cooks [Paperback]

Diane Rossen Worthington (Author), Noel Barnhurst (Photographer)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 2002

The subtitle says it all. One of the biggest challenges for the good home cook is creating delicious, healthy meals using just a few ingredients and simple steps. And good cooks know that Diane Worthington is an expert at finding the one strong flavor component that will turn a ho-hum dish into something memorable-without spending the whole day in the kitchen. In Seriously Simple: Easy Recipes for Creative Cooks she does it again. Here are over 90 recipes for everything from Butternut Squash Soup with Chipotle Creme to Lemon-Lime Pound-cake that come together in a snap. Gorgeously photographed, Seriously Simple is full of practical tips for saving time without sparing the savor, such as advice on developing a busy cooks pantry, making one-pot meals, and creating sauces, rubs, and marinades that will spice up any dish in a flash. Guaranteed to cut down on the prep time, streamline techniques, and pump up the flavor, heres a new kitchen standby thats seriously fast, seriously delicious... Seriously Simple.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Diane Rossen Worthington's Seriously Simple: Easy Recipes for Creative Cooks delivers on the promise of its title. The award-winning chef and author provides sophisticated flavor combinations while keeping the ingredients, and, most importantly, prep time, to a minimum. Chilled Summer Squash Soup with Basil makes a great starter course or light entrée; Grilled Lamb Chops with Cilantro-Mint Sauce yields a rich yet refreshing result with almost no work, especially with the use of a food processor; and the Summer Fruit Crisp (much less work than a homemade pie) includes a custard layer made with crème fraîche. Keeping with her theme of simplicity, Worthington has provided many suggestions for "advanced preparation" so that the busy cook can do some, or all, of the preparation long before mealtime. The most unique element of this cookbook is "the clever cook could" entry with each dish, in which Worthington makes suggestions for substituting ingredients and how to use the leftovers in savvy and tasty ways. Worthington's recipes will help shorten the work to get food on the table but should also increase the enjoyment while at it. --Teresa Simanton

About the Author

Diane Rossen Worthington is a food writer, consultant, and James Beard Award winning broadcaster who trained at the London Cordon Bleu. She is the author of The Taste of Summer (0-8118-2468-3) and The Cuisine of California (0-8118-1651-6), and lives in Sou

Noel Barnhurst is a San Francisco based photographer whose work has appeared in Bon Appetit and Fine Cooking .

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Chronicle Books (October 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0811831949
• ISBN-13: 978-0811831949
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 8.3 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #87,755 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

54 of 54 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Diane Rossen Worthington's Seriously Simple, October 9, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Seriously Simple: Easy Recipes for Creative Cooks (Paperback)

I own all of this author's cookbooks and love them all. But this one reaches a new height. The author understands what it means to live in a house where all cooking adults work but where no one is satisfied with restaurant or take-out food. She provides recepies that are in fact simple: marinades that are easy to make; combinations of ingredients that are immediately accessible; good healthy food that all members of the family are likely to enjoy. The recepies are for the most part easy, but they are also extremely elegant. Kids will love the simplicity and the great taste. Gourmets will admire the subtlety. A user-friendly, teriffic book.

44 of 44 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Seriously Easy, November 8, 2002

By 

Lisa Pizza (APO, AE United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Seriously Simple: Easy Recipes for Creative Cooks (Paperback)

My sister bought this book for me, knowing that with two small children I don't have much time to prepare gourmet meals. This book gives some great ideas on how to prepare fabulous meals easily and with little time required. I especially love how the author includes "the clever cook could" section to most of the recipes which gives ideas on how one could serve any leftovers or jazz up the meal. The photographs are beautiful as well. I think this book would make a wonderful gift to anyone who loves to cook or just wants a change from what they usually prepare at mealtime.

24 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Finally, a cookbook that works!, September 5, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Seriously Simple: Easy Recipes for Creative Cooks (Paperback)

First of all, I am not a cook but now there is hope for me using this wonderful new cookbook. My family likes to eat in restaurants and these recipes let me prepare that kind of food.
The recipes are as the title states: serious and simple. I particularly loved the section on setting up a pantry. If you want to cook, eat, and learn about high quality, healthy, fresh, food, run out and buy this book. ps Try the scallops!