In the Small Kitchen

May 30, 2011
Aimed mainly at single 20-somethings on a budget, this intimate cookbook chronicles a year in the lives of Cara and Phoebe, creators of the blog Big Girls, Small Kitchen. The book is organized by reasons to cookâcooking for one, potlucking, cocktail parties, dating, brunch, giving food as a gift (cookies and brownies), dinner parties, and using up leftovers. Each section is filled with many pages of personal stories and anecdotes, from Phoebe detailing how she crafted her peas with white wine and butter recipe the summer she was left alone with a dwindling supply of pantry items to Cara revealing an intimate moment between her and her boyfriend when he awakens to the smell of her banana chocolate chip bread. Most recipes, like yogurt carbonara, and dump and stir Mexican dip are quick, economical, and make use of on-hand staples. Some, like pork tenderloin with roasted fennel and artichoke paella are slightly more involved, but still accessible. There's an emphasis on party foods (crostini, dips, potluck salads and side dishes) and veggie dishes as well as helpful pointers for feeding a mixed crowd of vegetarians and carnivores.

May 1, 2011

Two young cooks serve up 100 recipes and real-world culinary tips.

Friends and food: What could be more fun? That's the underlying premise of this practical and creative cookbook, written by two friends in their mid-20s. Eisenpress and Lapine don't claim to be professional chefs, but not many people are. This cookbook caters to those people, with good ideas for young adults who have small kitchens and limited budgets. Beginning with a list of basic utensils and items that will be needed on the kitchen shelves and in the refrigerator, the book is divided into different sections, including Cooking For One, Potlucking, Brunch and affordable Dinner Party Food. Both vegetarians and carnivores will find variety here. A couple of the easier recipes are run-of-the mill—is there really anyone over the age of 18 who doesn't know how to make a grilled-cheese sandwich?—but there are plenty of unique, simple recipes, such as Yogurt Carbonara and Green Goddess Soup. Chana Bateta, which the authors claim tastes like an Indian dish, was inspired by leftovers, and their own exotic version of Vietnamese Fisherman's Stew sounds fantastic. There are also dessert recipes and a chocolate torte that can be made from brownie mix.

Easy-to-read recipes for all occasions, whether eating alone, with a date or partying with friends.

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