In the Kitchen with David

September 17, 2012
QVC’s Venable has hosted cookbook authors and sold their wares to millions of viewers. His down-home, Southern style is evident in hearty, American classic cooking, with chapters devoted to biscuits, muffins, and quick breads; casseroles and one-pot meals; and “the divine swine,” in addition to more traditional categories such as soups, sides, and desserts. The writing is sunny, with “Make It Your Own” asides meant to inspire creativity, such as passing along salsa, avocado, and sour cream with the nachos The fare is predictably middle-of-the-road, crab-stuffed mushrooms, cream of broccoli soup, and chicken Cordon Bleu mingling with the occasional kitschy invention such as cheeseburger dumplings or mini-BLTs in bacon cups. While this volume brings nothing new in the way of flavors or technique to the existing cookbook cannon, Venable’s legions of fans will find plenty to savor. Color photos.