Freelance
Home Cooking with Charlie Trotter
By Charlie Trotter (Ten Speed Press, $25)
Charlie Trotter’s Restaurants are among the finest in the world. Trotter, an eight-time James Beard Award winner, has two establishments in Chicago, the original Charlie Trotter’s and Trotter’s To Go, in addition to two businesses in Las Vegas, Restaurant Charlie and Bar Charlie at the Palazzo Hotel at the Venetian Resort and Casino.
This excellent collection, first published almost a decade ago, has been updated and expanded to include 130 extraordinary yet approachable recipes selected from Trotter’s repertoire of favorite home dishes refined with an eye for readily available ingredients.
Divided into four main sections, there are starters, entrees, and desserts, in addition to tips on planning a knockout menu, the secrets of pairing food and wine, and the basics every cook should know.
‘Kosher by Design Lightens Up: Fabulous Food for a Healthier Lifestyle’
By Susie Fishbein with Bonnie Taub-Dix (Mesorah Publications, $35.99)
Susie Fishbein redefined kosher cooking through her “Kosher by Design” cookbook series.
A self-styled everyday cook, Fishbein “lightens up” in her latest collection with the help of Bonnie Taub-Dix, a nutritionist and national spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association.
More than 140 brand-new recipes are featured and showcased by the photography of John Uher.
In addition to the recipes, there are healthy approaches to oils, sweeteners, grains, flours, nuts and super foods in addition to tips for smarter supermarket shopping and selecting more efficient kitchen gadgets.
A comprehensive cross-referenced index and a nutritional glossary make this collection fun and user-friendly.
The recipes are divided into nine categories: Appetizers; Soups; Salads; Poultry; Meat; Fish; Eggs, Pasta & Dairy; Side Dishes; and Desserts.
If you think a delicious dessert can’t also be full of minerals, vitamins, antioxidants and fiber, prepare yourself for the scrumptious Raspberry Mousse Triflettes on page 284.
‘Manifold Destiny: The Guide to Cooking on Your Car Engine’
By Chris Maynard and Bill Scheller (Simon & Schuster, $14)
Your cooking stove might just be parked in your driveway.
First published nearly 20 years ago, this zany cookbook features more than 40 recipes that can be prepared with a little help from your automobile engine. In this new and expanded edition, readers can learn how to make s’mores in your Scion, poach fish in your Pontiac, and even bust out a gourmet snack from under the hood of your Escalade.
Some of the stand-out recipes include Lead-Foot Stuffed Cabbage, To Grandmother’s House Roast Turkey and Pickup Ham Steak.
This book gives new meaning to fast food, if you get my drift.
‘Taste of Maui: Favorite Recipes from the Maui Culinary Academy’
Edited by Chris Speere and others with photography by Steve Brinkman and artwork by Ed Lane (Mutual Publishing, $18.95)
The Maui Culinary Institute at Maui Community College is a world-class culinary arts training center that provides students with “hands on” instructional food preparation.
This excellent, well-crafted cookbook features many of the dishes that are served in the school’s student-run food court. The food court is famous throughout the Hawaiian Islands and was recently voted Maui’s best business lunch by the readers of Maui No Ka Oi magazine.
The five main sections include From the Pantry; Appetizers; Soups, Salads, Sandwiches, and Sides; Entrees; and Desserts.