"pure simple cooking" news and stories

'Pure Simple Cooking'
Recipes by Diana Henry
Photos by Jonathan Lovekin
Ten Speed Press -- 2008
Buy it on Amazon

Simple food done right can be delicious and memorable. Author Diana Henry decided that "quick" cooking was no longer the answer, and wanted "effortless" cooking done well.

Filled with recipes like Chicken and Chorizo, Smothered Pork Chops with Mustard and Thyme Butter and Roast Cod with Smoked Bacon, "Pure Simple Cooking" can help even the busiest person create a meal that is tasty and unique despite being unadorned.

Takeaway tips: While many of the recipes require only 15 minutes of prep time, all of the cooking is done from scratch (no pre-cut vegetables or prepared-food mix-ins), which would make Michael Pollan happy. The chapters are broken down by ingredient (chicken, chops, pasta, etc.), then seasonal for fruits and vegetables, with a final tidbit of a section on the basics of rice, couscous and bulgur wheat.

What we tested and whether the book's worth buying after the jump.