Cook with Confidence: Over 100 Inspiring Recipes to Cook and Eat Together

Restaurants on the Edge host Prescott (Eat Delicious) presents an inspired collection of memorable recipes meant to share with loved ones. He pays tribute to his native New Brunswick, Canada, with an impressive array of seafood dishes ranging from crab bisque with rosemary croutons and classic maritime fish chowder to fish cakes with tarragon aioli and a clambake (which he deems “a festive summertime feast for a crowd”). Elsewhere, Prescott draws inspiration from around the globe, resulting in such recipes as Kenyan-style coconut chicken curry, roasted squash and heirloom tomato panzanella, and lamb shawarma with labneh and pine nuts. Vegetarian fare, including spicy gochujang green beans and a mushroom ragu with cheesy grits, is equally flavorful. The easy-to-follow instructions often helpfully explain why certain steps must be taken; for example, Prescott instructs readers to use less water than normal when boiling pasta for cacio e pepe because the extra-starchy pasta water is key to the sauce. Handy sidebars teach readers how to open oysters and remove pin bones from a salmon filet, as well as provide alternative cooking methods (the grilled teriyaki chicken can be pan-seared instead). Home cooks will be motivated to whip up something special for their loved ones. Agents: Sarah Passick and Mia Vitale, Park & Fine. (Sept.)