I think the easiest way to describe Sam Zien and his new cookbook, Sam the Cooking Guy is by saying that he seems to be the male equivalent of Rachael Ray (back before RR exploded all over daytime television and Dunkin' Donuts commercials). He says he's not a chef, just wants to help the average person get dinner on the table and dreams up crazy/quirky names for his dishes. Before you think this comparison to be damning, I want to remind you all that back in the early days RR made some good food and really helped people think about skipping the drive through in order to make dinner at home. And, if you're looking for that elusive cookbook, the one that is entertaining to read and offers some easy to follow and tasty recipes, then this could be a good one to check out. The book contains 126 recipes, which would keep you cooking for quite a while. He's a big fan of those pre-cooked deli chickens, pre-baked pizza crusts and ready-to-eat bacon, so he's not for those people who like to do things from scratch, but for the "quick and easy crowd" he might just be the new, hottest thing.










