The Girl Can't Cook: 275 Fabulous No-Fail Recipes a Girl Can't Be Without (Paperback)

~ Cinda Chavich (Author) "Why would I bother?..." (more)
Key Phrases: cornstarch solution, microplane grater, coriander chutney, Grand Marnier, Sauvignon Blanc, Garlic Mashed Potatoes (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

[Chavich] really can cook.... Her recipes are never over-complicated, and the selections are current and fun. (Judy Schultz, CanWest Times-Colonist 20070725)

With more than 350 recipes, it provides the novice cook with culinary options for every occasion. (Shelley Boettcher (Canwest) Nanaimo Daily News 20070809)

Product Description

Chefs are celebrities; "fresh," "regional," and "seasonal" are cuisine buzzwords; and cookware and cookbooks have never been hotter. So why are so many people proud to declare, "I can't cook!"? Perhaps they feel betrayed by "simple" cookbooks full of exotic ingredients, high-concept food, and (sometimes) inedible results. Cinda Chavich feels the pain. The Girl Can't Cook contains 250 no-fail recipes readers will actually want to make. After-work supper ideas include Thai Chicken and Noodle Salad, Salmon Steak on the Barbie, and Potato and Egg Frittata. The book also features easy party menus such as The Big Holiday Dinner with turkey and all the trimmings, Vegetarian Feast, and Summer Barbecue. To lure that special someone into your lair, try The Romantic Steak Dinner for Two with Filet Mignon with Blue Cheese Sauce, Baked Potatoes, and Strawberry and Yogurt Trifle. Along with quick and easy recipes such as Pita Pizzas with Pesto and Parmigiano, and Guacamole, Cinda also provides a complete guide to stocking your pantry with great cheeses, oils, vinegars, and seasonings. A perfect gift for the young-and-not-so-culinarily-inclined, The Girl Can't Cook is the cookbook for fabulous kitchen goddesses in training everywhere.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Whitecap Books; illustrated edition edition (April 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1552855260
• ISBN-13: 978-1552855263
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 8 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #224,691 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Cookbook I Reach for First, September 21, 2004

By	Jocelyn C. Asher (Shoreline, WA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

While the title of this cookbook might appeal to the novice cook, I can confirm that the recipes will suit a more experienced chef and delight the palates of all. Happily, this is achieved with a minimum of time spent by the cook. Helpful cooking tips (useful even for this seasoned cook) are found on many pages. From Chavich's new book I have prepared numerous dishes from the simple, perfect shrimp cocktail to the excellent tiramisu. Everything from North American classics to East Indian specialties and other trendy ethnic foods are included. When preparing food for a dinner party, a brunch or a meeting in my home, this is the cookbook I now reach for. The lively illustrations by Kirsten Horel contribute to the light, optimistic quality of this volume.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars i CAN do it, September 29, 2004

By	Chris Wells "nuke chick" (California) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

My Dad bought me this book as a joke because, as the title says, "this girl can't cook". To my surprise I found tons of easy recipes that I can accomplish. And the fact that they are interesting and not common makes me actually look forward to throwing these recipes together. And surprise of all surprises... they're edible!! I'm right proud of myself.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My favorite cookbook, February 2, 2008

By	a reader (Honolulu, HI) - See all my reviews

Don't let the title fool you, this is not some dumbed-down version of a cookbook (e.g., how to boil water, how to make toast, whatever). Check out the index to get an idea of the variety of tastes and styles on offer in this book. I don't eat meat and, while this is not a vegetarian cookbook, I have found plenty of recipes in here that work for me (I eat eggs & dairy). I've had more "hits" than "misses" with this cookbook than with others (it seems every cookbook I buy has some "misses" -- maybe it's me?). Most importantly, the recipes are relatively easy to make and you don't have to go to 5 different specialty shops to buy some random ingredient. I'll reach for this cookbook before I reach for a Williams-Sonoma one any day. Don't get me wrong, I love W-S's recipes, but they can often be time-consuming. Why put in the time when I can whip up something equally tasty and with less effort?