Best 30-Minute Recipe

Library Journal

Here are two new books from the Cook's Illustrated publishing empire (40 or so titles are currently in print). The latest entry in the "Best Recipe" series includes more than 300 recipes for 30-minute meals, both for quick dishes, such as stir-fries and saut es, and streamlined versions of braises and other foods that usually require longer cooking. Many of the recipes include suggestions for organizing the prep work, and some offer ideas for variations or embellishments when time is not quite so limited. As in other titles, there are ratings of equipment and ingredients along with numerous tips on techniques and other culinary matters. For most collections. The Best of is, presumably, the first in a new series, and it's something of a recycling project: it features favorite recipes and content from the publisher's two magazines, Cook's Illustrated and the newer Cook's Country, and five 2006 cookbooks--including The Best 30-Minute Recipe. The recipe head notes are new, each one explaining "What Makes This a Best Recipe," as are notes on "Where Things Can Go Wrong" and "What You Can Do Ahead of Time." Some readers may find this compendium an interesting sampler, while others may prefer to stick with the original sources. For larger collections. Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.