Gourmet Meals in Minutes (Hardcover)

~ Culinary Institute of America (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Having trained thousands of professional chefs, the CIA addresses home cooks here in an effort to "cultivate a passion for cooking" despite today's hectic pace. With an emphasis on a multiplicity of ethnic flavors, the recipes are largely familiar and manageable. In fact, many of the simpler ones (Vichyssoise, Romaine and Grapefruit Salad with Walnuts and Stilton; Ratatouille; and Tiramisu) may be found in scores of other cookbooks. However, such dishes as Lobster and Roasted Red Pepper Salad, and Pesto-Stuffed Chicken Breasts with Tomato Relish seem rather ambitious when described as "meals in minutes." And suggesting the use of premade phyllo dough as a prime ingredient in Fennel and Chorizo Strudels, or packaged puff pastry dough in Fresh Fruit Galette, undercuts the book's premise. Oddly for home cooking, nearly every recipe serves eight. Still, there are dozens of quick and easy recipes, such as Niçoise-Style Grilled Tuna and Cider-Braised Pork Medallions. Presentation is often a key aspect, as in Haricots Verts with Prosciutto and Gruyère, in which prosciutto slices are twisted into spirals to resemble roses. CIA fans, who include viewers of PBS's Cooking Secrets from the CIA, will turn to this book. Others may find that it does not entirely fulfill its promise. 125 color photos.
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Product Description

We live in a hectic world where there isn't a lot of time to spend on meal preparation, but we still want to enjoy the food we eat. Gourmet Meals in Minutes will show you how to create a wide variety of mouth-watering, nutritious meals without spending all day in the kitchen.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 372 pages
• Publisher: Lebhar-Friedman Books (September 25, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0867309040
• ISBN-13: 978-0867309041
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 9.1 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #173,163 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

28 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Rolls Royce of meals in minutes cookbooks, April 10, 2007

By	GrinnolaAlum "Sam" (Chicago, IL) - See all my reviews

I love cookbooks. I have an extensive collection. I taught myself how to cook using cookbooks so I believe a good cookbook is one that inspires and should be understandable and reasonably easy to use; with that in mind I love this cookbook.

A big reason I love this book is because it does not try to trick you into believing that a great meal will just magically appear in 30 minutes. This book educates you on how to organize your kitchen so you will be able to produce gourmet meals with minimal cooking time. This includes practical suggestions on how to stock your kitchen pantry, refrigerator and freezer. Detailed time-saving techniques on how to prepare herbs, spices and other ingredients ahead of time so that their flavor is preserved and you have minimal prep-time when cooking. There is also advice on equipment and a lot of time is spent on techniques; each individual technique or set of techniques are explained step-by-step and illustrated when necessary.

I find that knowing my skill level helps me to determine if a cookbook is written for me; so far my stages of development have been total disaster, occasional disaster or novice, beginner, experienced beginner, advanced beginner/almost intermediate, and now I consider myself an intermediate cook. I am not a gourmet or professional by any means. I would not recommend this cookbook for a novice or beginner but for an experienced beginner through intermediate cook who wants to expand his or her repertoire and wants suggestions on technique, food preparation and stocking up their kitchen. I imagine this would be too simple for someone who is really advanced. If you fit in the categories I described above then this is a great option.

For the reviewer who described dishes she prepared as bland I have not had that experience. Although I follow the recipes from cookbooks as closely as possible I have found that it is always important to taste a dish when I am cooking and making changes if needed.

18 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book for cooks!, October 12, 2005

By	C. Gardner (Finger Lakes Region NY) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

We cook every night from scratch and usually try new recipes from the current month's cooking magazines. We have already made a number of recipes from this book and are very pleased. The techniques are simple and quick, the ingredients are all fresh and the presentation of the finished dish is best restaurant quality. A great addition for the cookbook shelf!

45 of 55 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Gourmet without Excessive Time & Ingredients, August 26, 2004

By	rodboomboom (Dearborn, Michigan United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)

Here is compiled almost 400 pages of recipes and techniques with available ingredients for gourmet cooking at home in minutes, not hours.

Full of color photos and tips on pantry stocking and prep work which can allow the home gourmet to achieve fine eating without excessive fuss and time.

Organized into ten chapters: Before Cooking, Appetizers, Soups, Salads, Meat, Poulty, Seafood, Vegetarian, Side Dishes, Desserts.

What caught my appetitie and table were beautiful dishes but minimal effort and clock to achieve: "Curried Apple Squash Soup with Lime Gremolata"; "Fennel and Chorizo Strudels"; "Goat Cheese and Red Onion Quesadilla"; "Sauteed Brussel Sprouts"; "Asian Vegetable Slaw"; "Red Pepper Orzo"; "Tiramisu" (individually serving glasses); "Tenderloin of Beef with Blue Cheese and Herb Crust"; "Veal Saltimbocca with Fettuccine."

First boat gourmet in abudance with technique and time minimized, but maximum flavor and presentation.