A lucid text, edible photos, and luscious recipes make this a keeper. In fact, I borrowed it first from the library and hated to give it back so I bought my own copy!
Several of Gale Gand and Rick Tramonto's recipes earned me rave reviews from friends and coworkers. Do you want people to think you're a culinary star? Try this book. You can't miss. And if you don't think you can cook, try this book anyway. The pictures will hook you. The directions in the recipes are very clear.
Take, for instance the Pear and Roquefort Salad with Grapes and Spiced Pecans. There's a picture in the book, one of those edible pictures. You buy a few simple ingredients and there you are! How hard can it be to wash a few grapes? Or slice a couple pears? Or to crumble some cheese? Or - and this is the really good part - to throw a few things in a blender to come up with the Apple Vinaigrette dressing that goes on the salad? If you want to know the really hard part about this recipe, it's the spiced pecans. They are so good I kept eating them before the salad was finished. I think I'll bring them as a gift the next time I visit someone. Ya gotta try `em.
And if that's not enough, try the Roasted Fruits with Cinnamon-Red Wine Glaze and Toasted Almonds. It's a cinch (as it ought to be since it graduated from a pretty hot restaurant!). If you were short on friends, your problems are over. Okay, you get the idea.
This book will not just sit on my shelf. I expect it will regularly hop off your shelf, too.
