Shortcut Mediterranean : Easy And Flavorful Meals in 30 Minutes or Less

Rating:
Summary: Great book for busy cooks
Review: The book starts with an overview of Spanish, French and Italian cuisines. The next section lists ingredients to keep stocked in the kitchen so you can be prepared to cook good meals after a busy day. Next is tips for shopping and saving time and also some suggestions for where to avoid trying to cut corners. The author includes menu ideas for entertaining, listed by season, which really helps me as I like to use fresh local ingredients as much as possible. Recipes are for four people but it would be simple to double them. The instructions are easy to follow and all of the recipes I've tried so far (Gaspacho, Insalata Tricolore, Fettucini with Pesto, Grilled Salmon with Avocado Salsa, Stuffed Mushrooms) were really good.

The notes in the recipes and the notes at the beginning of each chapter include helpful tips that you might not know (like to not overdrain your pasta).

This book is a gem. I can't wait for the weather to get a little cooler so I can try some of the fall and winter recipes.

Rating:
Summary: Delicious recipes!
Review: The Shortcut Med book by Kathy Regini is terrific! I'm a busy mom who likes to prepare quick but healthful Italian meals for my family. This is a great resource for top-notch recipes. The book connects on a personal level while containing recipes with easy-to-find, healthful ingredients. The "stock your pantry" tips are very useful too. I also enjoyed learning more about the basics of good Italian cooking.