Culled from Bon Appetit
magazine’s “Fast, Fresh, Easy” column, this recipe compendium is one of the largest available for those who love to cook and eat well but lack time on weeknights to make dishes that require hours to prepare. Although Fairchild forgoes estimates of how long each dish may take to make, and a number of entries may not qualify as “fast” for some cooks, especially beginners, the recipes are generally simple, if not foolproof, and cover a vast territory of cuisines. Ingredient lists are short, seldom running over 10 items and rely on the use of the freshest, finest foods available; a helpful shopping guide at the beginning is a welcome aid to those not yet versed in the ingredients’ seasonality or optimal appearance. Similarly, a wealth of boxed hints and tips offer an extra level of help to get people cooking confidently. Even if the “fast” and “easy” labels don’t always apply, anyone looking for a reliable source of relatively uncomplicated, tasty dishes will be thrilled to find this. Color photos not seen by PW
. (Oct.)
