Everyday French Cooking and Beef it Up!

EVERYDAY FRENCH COOKING by Wini Moranville is all about “Modern French Cuisine Made Simple.” With over ten sections split between offerings like salads, soups, casseroles, and side dishes, Moranville shares insights and recipes from more than twenty summers living and cooking in France. This new cookbook is full of appetizing images (e.g., see Roasted Beet Salad or the Roasted Asparagus and Cheese Tartlets on the cover) for basic, yet elegant and delicious French cooking. I am excited to try a number of these, including Chicken, Comté, and Spinach Salad or choosing between Silky and Light Potato Soup and Roasted Butternut Squash Bisque. The Sauté, Deglaze and Serve suggestions include multiple ways to prepare chicken – with a sherry-mushroom sauce, with tarragon, or with Calvados. Sounds wonderful, doesn’t it? There is no nutrition information provided, but the layout of EVERYDAY FRENCH COOKING, with double-page spreads often containing a recipe and an accompanying photo, invites browsing, particularly since Moranville periodically suggests pairings of main courses, salads, and desserts – Enjoy!!  

BEEF IT UP! By Jessica Formicola is exactly what the subtitle promises: “50 Mouthwatering Recipes for Ground Beef, Steaks, Stews, Roasts, Ribs, and More.” Formicola, a self-described TV personality, cookbook author, and small business coach, divides the text into sections like Small Bites, Hefty Soups, and Meaty Mains. She offers a nice introduction with helpful information on which cuts to purchase and even which salt to use to enhance flavor. The pictures which accompany many of the recipes are colorful, but there is no nutrition information provided. Formicola does offer ideas using a variety of techniques (e.g., slow cooker, sheet pan, oven, and/or grill) - that is a plus. However, despite multiple assurances that the recipes are less involved than they appear, I thought they were not that “easy” to prepare. One small example is that the Delish Beef Knishes have over a dozen ingredients, including already cooked mashed potatoes. If you love beef and are looking for new ideas (like Gouda Stuffed Flank Steak or Bacon Cheeseburger in a Bowl) give BEEF IT UP! a try, but be prepared to plan ahead.