The Best of Home Cooking

Coleman, the popular PBS cooking show host, collects her favorite recipes in this appealing new cookbook. Inspired by a variety of cuisines, from Asian and Mexican to French and Italian, Coleman's selections emphasize hearty, satisfying dishes with an informal feeling. She calls it comfort food, but then comfort in the hands of the likes of Rick Bayless, Martha Rose Schulman and Nick Malgieri--who number among the contributors--is not likely to be grilled cheese sandwiches or the blue plate special. There's Beef Daube with Dried Cepes; Beer and Lamb Stew with Potatoes and Onion Gravy; and Chicken Cutlets with Prosciutto and Sage. Starters include Bruschetta with Sweet Peppers and Ricotta and Beef Empanadas, or on the more elegant end of the scale, Smoked Salmon Napoleans. Desserts range from the inventive Deep-Dish Pizza Cookie to the more traditional Peachy Apple Cobbler. While the techniques are user-friendly and the ingredients readily available, readers should be warned that many of these dishes do take time to prepare. But home cooks on the prowl for new ideas will welcome this straightforward collection and will be pleased with its emphasis on recipes rather than personality. (Jan.)