The Instant Cook (Hardcover)

by Donna Hay (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
Oversized, glossy and gorgeously photographed, this cookbook has the body of a fashion model but the soul of a harried mother. It offers dozens of inventive and delicious recipes, most of which require very little time in the kitchen and all of which make use of convenient ingredients. Marmalade Grilled Pork Steaks asks for little more than some pork, this morning's marmalade and a frying pan, but the recipe yields wonderfully tender salty-sweet steaks. Tomato and Eggplant Tarts are like pizza for grownups (and Hay is one of those down-to-earth cooks who doesn't shy away from using frozen pastry crusts). Grilled Chicken and Vegetable Stacks are attractive piles of protein; here Hay offers a terrific vegetarian variation, as she does in several recipes throughout the book. And the desserts-Blueberry and White Chocolate Mousse, Cheat's Apple Tarts and Chocolate French Toast-are as easy as they are enticing. So what's not to like about this volume? Two small things: the first is that it was originally published in Australia, and several of the recipes have yet to be Americanized. (Squid hoods, anyone? Desiree potatoes?) The other is that these pages are so lovely to look at that it seems a shame to splash them with soy sauce and dribble them with oil. After all, a cookbook this handy isn't likely to dwell on one's coffee table for long.
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Review
Praise for Donna Hay: 'Donna Hay is my inspiration' Jamie Oliver 'Hay's are those affordable, big, sexy paperbacks, oozing irresistable things...the photography is equally seductive' Independent 'If you are anything like me... almost always hungry, almost always pressed for time, almost always in the market for a fresh idea and absolutely always put off by the daunting complexity of chefs' recipes -- Donna Hay is for you.' R.W. Apple Jr, food critic, The New York Times 'Drop-dead gorgeous food...clean, elegant yet simple recipes, food that looks glamorous yet requires minimum effort. ' The Sydney Morning Herald --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 192 pages
• Publisher: Fourth Estate (April 26, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060772921
• ISBN-13: 978-0060772925
• Product Dimensions: 11.8 x 8.9 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #82,991 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Instant Cook! Instant Joy!, August 2, 2005

By	Richard Orlin (Centreville, VA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I can't understand why Marianne Hagan hated this book. Nowhere in the introduction does it say it's for beginners. The recipes are simple and easy, but you DO have to have be able to do more than boil water. I tried around a dozen recipes and had no problems whatsoever. All the ingrediaents are listed and what's especially helpful is the fact that the author lists different variations for some of the recipes. For example: her recipe for Carmelized Lime Fish suggest using scallops, or salmon, or even shrimp; four for the price of one!
The recipes are simple and the pictures are yummy. Buy this book without hesitation.

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars gorgeous with great recipes, May 26, 2005

By	Always Cookin' (Virginia, USA) - See all my reviews

Donna Hay is a best-selling cookbook author from Australia whose signature style is beautiful, close-up, simply presented photos of food, plus easy, quick recipes. Her whole thing is the food--it should be easy to make (she likes Asian and Mediterranean flavors and a minimum of ingredients) and you should be able to see what it looks like without all the distraction of fussy napkins, utensils, flowers and stuff. Her books are over-sized so the photos are easy to see and the recipes easy to read. And her recipes are great; I've tried at least a dozen and they all work and all taste delicious. Thai Sticky Chicken was a huge hit in my house, and so easy.

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Glad I found Donna Hay!, December 15, 2005

By	M. Vance "delta reader" (mississippi delta) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I first saw this cookbook while browsing in a bookstore. It was a beautiful book. Once I opened it, I knew I liked it visually due to so many color photographs and it's beautiful design.

This book is not only visually beautiful and thoughtfully designed, but every single recipe has a photograph! I really liked that. And the focus is completely on the food - nothing else!

The recipes are straight forward and don't call for many ingredients that I don't already keep in stock regularly. They are easy to prepare and full of flavor. The presentation is outstanding, too.

I'm not a plan ahead, casserole type cook at night. I like to whip it up an hour or less before eating. This book does the trick and the reviews from my family are fantastic; even my 13 year old daughter loves them.

I have even entertained at a dinner party using her recipes. The salads are really outstanding. Overall, although her recipes are simple, the effect is powerful. Fresh approach to cooking.

I can't say enough about Donna Hay and the art director of her cookbooks. Visually yummy!!!!!!!