Dinner Just for Two

March 1, 2019

Blogger and best-selling cookbook author Lane (Dessert for Two) is known for her scaled-down dessert recipes, and here she turns her expertise to dinner recipes for two. Lane's recipes are designed to provide realistic solutions to the quandaries of cooking for two, including the challenge of avoiding food waste and minimizing repetitive leftovers. With a focus on fresh ingredients and produce, the author presents a host of practical small-scale recipes ranging from pasta and skillet suppers to main course salads and stews. The broad range of dishes provides options for both weeknight meals and special occasions or romantic dinners. Many of the dinner recipes are vegetarian (Lane is a former vegetarian) and inspired by Southwestern spices and flavors (Lane is a native Texan), featuring photos of almost every dish. In a nod to the small-batch desserts that launched her culinary career, Lane includes a well-curated chapter of sweet options. Home cooks who find that store-bought fresh bread goes stale before they can use it up will savor the chapter on small-batch homemade breads with recipes for focaccia and biscuits. VERDICT A first purchase for library cookery collections and an invaluable resource for anyone preparing meals for smaller households.--Kelsy Peterson, Forest Hill Coll., Melbourne, Australia

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