When I put on the apron I am truly at the mercy of the cookbook. I’m no chef, but I can follow a recipe reasonably well and I do enjoy the process. Here are a few recipes that helped me keep dinner at home and made me look good.
Spaghetti alla Carbonara – The New Best Recipe (p. 251-252). Gotta’ love the bacon pasta! I used to look for this number on Italian restaurant menus because I loved the dish, but could never get it to turn out right. This particular version changed everything, and the bacon pasta now makes a regular appearance in our mealtime repertoire.
My Perfect Chicken – Naked Chef (p. 120). Jamie Oliver calls it perfect, but I like to call this one “Frankenstein’s chicken” because it is sewn together at the end. The delightful flavor of citrus goes all through the chicken. It can be challenging to get the spices up under the skin, but it is worth the effort.
Potato and Mushroom Gratin – Nigella Express: Good Food, Fast (p. 39). This creamy gratin has a lovely garlic and mushroom flavor. It could be an inexpensive side dish, or great as the main course. If you don’t care for mushrooms (like my kids), leave them out! It turns out just fine without them. Try the Mustard and Pork Chops (p. 11) recipe in this book also. It goes well with a side of fresh asparagus.
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