Now even though the target group for this cookbook is busy mothers with children, I found it practically perfect for me, a busy professional cooking for two (no children). First off, it starts with the strategies, which includes having a pantry, fridge and freezer stocked with some basics (and these basics are used over and over in the following recipes). It also recommends a variety of tools and kitchen items that will make your life easier, especially if you have young children that want "to help" you cook.
After that the book is divided into sections:
- Weekly meal plans
- Hard to screw up meals
- Family dinners where everyone eats the same thing (even if our plates look different)
- Sandwiches
- Use what you already have
- Playdate/Party menus
You need:
4 cups chicken broth
1/4 cup uncooked orzo (you can substitute rice)
salt and pepper
3 eggs
3 tablespoons lemon juice
Bring broth to a boil. Add orzo and cook for 7 minutes (20 min if using rice). Season with salt and pepper and reduce heat to low. Let simmer.
In medium bowl, whisk together the eggs and lemon juice until smooth.
Ladle about 1 cup of the hot broth into the egg and lemon mixture, whisking to combine.
Add mixture back into the simmering saucepan. Stir 1-2 minutes until the soup becomes opaque. Serve.
You can also add shredded chicken if you wish.
I followed the recipe except for adding double the orzo (and Daniel said he still wanted more orzo, so I might do 3/4 of a cup next time). I loved the tang of the lemon in this filling soup. I gave it an A and Daniel gave it a B.
I'm really excited about trying out tons of other recipes in this cookbook, and that doesn't happen often. I especially like the section "Use what you already have" which gives different staples (like potatoes, canned tomatoes, lentils, eggs, tofu, rotisserie chicken and many others) and then three ways to make it depending on what other ingredients you have on hand.
I highly recommend this one!
This is my second time participating - but not my last! Daniel and I have vowed to cook more at home, so you should be seeing more cookbook reviews from me in the coming year.
