I Dream of Dinner

 

I received a copy of this release from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Title: I Dream of Dinner (So You Don't Have ToO 

Author: Ali Slagle

Publisher: Clarkson Potter

Release Date: 4.12.22

Publisher’s Summary 

150 essential recipes for dinner on the fly, from New York Times contributor Ali Slagle 

With minimal ingredients and maximum joy in mind, Ali Slagle's no-nonsense, completely delicious recipes are ideal for dinner tonight--and every single night. Like she does with her instantly beloved recipes in the New York Times, Ali combines readily available, inexpensive ingredients in clever, uncomplicated ways for meals that spark everyday magic. Maybe it's Fish & Chips Tacos tonight, a bowl of Olive Oil-Braised Chickpeas tomorrow, and Farro Carbonara forever and ever. All come together with fewer than eight ingredients and forty-five minutes, using one or two pots and pans. Half the recipes are plant-based, too.

Organized by main ingredients like eggs, noodles, beans, and chicken, chapters include quick tricks for riffable cooking methods and flavor combinations so that dinner bends to your life, not the other way around (no meal-planning required!). Whether in need of comfort and calm, fire and fun--directions to cling to, or the inspiration to wing it--Dinnertime is the only phone-a-friend you need. That's because Ali, a home cook turned recipe developer, guides with a reassuring calm, puckish curiosity, and desire for everyone, everywhere, to make great food--and fast. (Phew!)

My Review

Cooking in the summertime is always a struggle for me. We don't grill out so all our cooking is done indoors, which means I need easy-ish recipes that don't heat up my whole kitchen. I feel like I've found a great collection of these types of recipes in I Dream of Dinner. The sections: Eggs; Beans; Pasta; Grains; Vegetables; Chicken; Beef, Pork, and Lamb; and Sea Creatures are divided into 2-3 smaller subsections to help you find the perfect recipe and cooking style to suit your mood. Since I love pasta, some of the first recipes I'm going to be trying are Corn & Spicy Sausage Orecchiette, Skillet Broccoli Spaghetti, and Ginger-Scallion Soba & Shrimp. I'm going to change up my regular roasted Brussels sprouts game with Farro Carbonara with Brussels Sprouts and I'm always looking for an easy new chicken recipe so One-Pan Chicken Piccata & Orzo definitely deserves a try. My husband doesn't like seafood but I think I'd eat every single option offered here, maybe starting with Caramelized Black Pepper Trout or Swordfish with Asparagus & Little Beans. 

However, there is a major flaw in the recipe presentations. Ingredients are listed in a separate column but there are no measurements included here. Instead, the measurements are included in the body of the directions. Even as an experienced cook, this will take extra time for me to shop for, prep, and set out my ingredients. I can see this being confusing and leading to major problems for less experienced cooks.