The Dinnertime Survival Cookbook

March 18, 2013
In her new book (written with Mary Goodbody), professional chef and mother of three Debra Ponzek aims to alleviate dinnertime anxiety for busy families by providing new, simple-to-prepare dishes that will appeal to everyone at the table. “Who wants to make the same thing week in and week out?” asks the author. “That’s what this book is all about: easy, accessible recipes you can add to your weekly rotation. That will help you survive the challenge of planning meals day after day.” Chapters are arranged by ingredient or technique. “Easy Soups and Salads” are familiar and comforting but also have flair, like spicy cucumber, avocado, and mango soup; white bean and arugula soup; and Kale salad with fennel and almonds. Dishes from “The Fish Market” chapter include elegant miso-marinated cod and sesame-orange scallops. All-time favorite crowd pleasers like the perfect roast chicken, chicken piccata, and chicken and biscuits are a few examples from the chapter. “Let’s Grill Tonight” suggests chipotle, lime, and honey grilled flank steak; grilled leg of lamb with mustard and garlic; and superstar teriyaki salmon. Other chapters include “On the Slow Side,” featuring hearty chilis and stews, as well as pork chops marinated with apple cider, Sunday pot roast, and braised short ribs to name a few. “Pasta and Beyond,” “Everybody Loves Burgers,” and the always-enjoyable “Breakfast for Dinner” round out the selections. A charming book full of fresh, inspired, and tasty recipes that is sure to shake up your family’s dinner routine.

April 15, 2013
This cookbook from an East Coast restaurant chef turned caterer is simple and sophisticated. Ponzek emphasizes using the best ingredients in straightforward ways, often with enough of a twist to keep things interesting. The zucchini that's part of a summer harvest, for example, is transformed into a tasty curried soup, while crab becomes Thai crab cakes with mango sauce or a Cajun crab burger. The introduction, in which she explains that easy doesn't always mean quick, and her several sidebars (the do's and don'ts for a perfect roasted chicken is one) support her contention that evening meals for families, couples, and singles don't have to be something microwaved. Any level of home cook, from novice to professional, can relax and execute these 125 recipes, which are full of goodnesses and local seasonal ingredients.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2013, American Library Association.)