Shaq’s Family Style: Championship Recipes for Feeding Family and Friends

At 7’1” and 325 pounds, basketball legend O’Neal clearly knows how to eat, and he also knows how to cook, as evidenced by this collection of slam-dunk recipes. Because there is no “I” in cookbook, he makes it a team effort with assists from his Big Chicken franchise executive chefs Silverman and Piekarski, along with food writer Holtzman. They get the ball rolling with a full-court press of down-home favorites—including Carolina barbecue shrimp and buttery cheese grits, and buttermilk fried chicken thighs—then pivot to simple-to-make large meals, such as a chicken and corn chowder, that are ideal for feeding a family of six, or one hungry NBA star. “Besides Frosted Flakes, sandwiches have always been my number-one performance enhancer,” O’Neal proclaims by way of introducing tuna cake sandwiches with chipotle remoulade, or “Filet-o-Fish in a tuxedo” (later, his cereal of choice appears in Frosted Flakes chocolate chip cookies). On the rebound, a chapter of healthier dishes include turkey meatballs and spaghetti squash; and a sampling of breakfasts that may as well be dinners features loaded potato waffles stuffed with bacon, hash browns, and cheddar, and baked in Shaq’s own brand of waffle maker. O’Neal shoots and scores in his first visit to the culinary arena. (Apr.)