Cooking for My Friends (Paperback)

~ Diana Armstrong (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

The "friends" of Diana Armstrong's Cooking for My Friends cuts two ways. Certainly, it's a cookbook that points the way to simple, healthy, flavorful dishes to prepare when friends are coming over for dinner. But it's for young friends, too. All the proceeds from Cooking for My Friends go to the Save Our Youth Foundation, an organization that targets at-risk youth and provides mentor relationships to encourage "the skills for success in educational, emotional, and spiritual development." There's absolutely nothing low-cal about that.

The heart of the recipes seems to be torn between the Southwest and the Mediterranean. You might think of Cooking for My Friends as Santa Fe on the shores of the Aegean--on a diet. These recipes have all been carefully scanned and developed to reduce fats while boosting flavor.

You'll find treats like Black Bean Hummus, Rosemary White Bean Soup, Tuscan Bean Salad with Fresh Tomatoes and Basil, Southwestern Grilled Chicken Salsa Salad, Peppered Pasta with Lemon Scallops, Grilled Salmon with Roasted Bell Peppers and Walnuts, Mustard Tarragon Chicken, Barbecued Flank Steak with Sweet Tomato Chutney, and Caramel Cream with Mandarin Oranges. A great deal of Armstrong's food is designed to be made ahead, which makes entertaining a pleasure--and gives you more time to spend with your friends. --Schuyler Ingle

Review

It is always a great joy for me to speak well about a good friend and fellow professional, especially when they have done such a fine job. Well done, Diana! Jump in and put this book to work. Believe me, the book is ready to go and it won't let you down! -- Graham Kerr

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Culinary Productions; 1 edition (May 29, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0966465008
• ISBN-13: 978-0966465006
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.4 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #2,541,005 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Great wedding gift, August 26, 1998

By A Customer

With no time to cook for friends or you have forgotten all your own creative ideas.This is a great jump start for newly married or it is about time we had people over instead of going out all the time. It gives great pantry stocking lists, times for prep, cooking etc are listed so you can pick what you have time to cook. Also it has GREAT directions to make food ahead of time so you can be at your own dinner party instead of being locked in the kitchen. I think this book might be all the tips and things I could have learned from my mom would have lived in the same town. Great wedding gift.

5.0 out of 5 stars wonderfully authentic foods, June 4, 2009

By	Jeanne W. (Ballwin, MO United States) - See all my reviews

What a delightful book! From the pantry and grocery list to tips for pre-prep....a blend of flavors and beautiful foods. Who knew about the baked potatoes and basil??? After severl trips to Italy, it's nice to have a good cook book written by someone who really knows the food.

5.0 out of 5 stars Not a dud in the bunch., December 4, 2000

By A Customer

My favorite cookbooks, and this is one of them, are all marked by a certain similarity. The similarity is that the recipes they contain have been meticulously tested. This is the primary strength of "Cooking for My Friends". Every recipe you try will invariably yeild a great dish. It also has a wide variety of tastes and recipes to choose from. It is one of those rare cookbooks which allows you to choose any recipe between the covers and come up with something spectacular. You'll want to tell your friends that some of the recipes are your own.