Cooking in Real Life by Lidey Heuck

COOKING IN REAL LIFE by Lidey Heuck offers “Delicious & Doable Recipes for Every Day” and the Library Journal review says “Heuck's excellent debut cookbook is recommended.” I concur. Heuck, who worked for Ina Garten (she writes the foreword to this cookbook) and Erin French offers relatively easy recipes with a bit of flair. Examples include Baked Crab Dip with Sweet Corn & Old Bay, Kale Salad with Gouda, Honey Crisp & Walnuts, or One-Pan Chicken Meatballs with Red Sauce & Spinach. Each is accompanied by a colorful, attractive photo. Although nutritional information is not provided, she doesn’t ignore vegetables, either; it’s easy to imagine happily serving guests dishes like Green Beans with Crispy Capers & Garlic or Crispy Smashed Potatoes with Salsa Verde. Heuck offers a short introduction to each recipe and further suggestions (“make it a meal” or “cooking for a crowd”) on several. COOKING IN REAL LIFE was named among the top cookbooks of spring 2024 by Food & Wine and by Epicurious. Pick this up and start experimenting – it is filled with practical advice and is sure to be a winner.

QUICK AND EASY LOW CHOLESTEROL COOKBOOK by Dick Logue is scheduled for May 2024 publication and is subtitled “Flavorful Heart-Healthy Dishes Your Whole Family Will Love.” The emphasis here is more on health and Logue does provide nutritional information. One fun recipe (with zero cholesterol) that I would like to try is called Breakfast Cookies – made with mashed banana, applesauce, quick cooking oats, dried cranberries, milk, pecans, and spices. Sounds yummy, right? I am also looking forward to cooking some Vegetable Mains like Grilled Stuffed Portobellos or his Tomato and Basil Quiche. Logue has edited several other cookbooks with a heart healthy or low sodium emphasis, but sadly, this new title has very few photographs and that seems a real detriment in terms of making it enjoyable to cook in a healthier way. True to the title's promise, these recipes are often geared to beginners with relatively few ingredients and easy-to-follow instructions.