Sunday, October 10, 2010

Book Review: 5 Ingredient Fix


9780446572095 388X586 5 Ingredient Fix Review
Summary: Claire Robinson, the hot new Food Network star of 5 Ingredient Fix and Food Network Challenge, helps people get dinner on the table with little fuss and a few great ingredients. The quest for simple, affordable, and fresh, mouthwatering food is over. 5 INGREDIENT FIX helps put delicious and sophisticated meals on the table in a snap. With people struggling to simplify, streamline, and budget, the Food Network's Claire Robinson is here to help. Cooking doesn't have to be complicated to be impressive; simplifying the process with fewer ingredients saves time, frustration, and ultimately, money.-- Grand Central Life & Style
I just LOVE to watch cooking shows, especially those on the Food Network. I started watching them and cooking with my husband after we got married and when the opportunity arises for us to review a cookbook, I jump at the chance.  When given the opportunity to review 5 Ingredient Fix: Easy, Elegant, and Irresistible Recipes By Claire Robinson, I knew I had to say yes. She is a favorite of ours. Claire has her own show on Food Network (5 Ingredient Fix) and she’s been on Food Network Challenge. Anytime there is a cookbook that calls for 5 ingredients or less, I'm immediately interested. And when it also has the word "easy" in the title, I'm pretty much sold. So it's natural that I was intrigued by the new cookbook 5 INGREDIENT FIX: EASY, ELEGANT, AND IRRESISTIBLE RECIPES by Claire Robinson. A cookbook containing quick and easy recipes with few ingredients sounded ideal for my family's busy lifestyle!


We found 5 INGREDIENT FIX to be a wonderful addition to our cookbook collection. Of course, there are the typical cookbook chapters you'd expect: appetizers, soups and salads, main dishes, sides, and desserts, but, unique to this are additional categories.  Such as breakfast foods and cocktails and "nibbles." Claire also has a section in the back of the book which gives readers menu ideas to make memorable meals. I especially liked that for each recipe, the five ingredients were printed across the top of the page for a quick as a easy reference.

The photography in this cookbook is stunning and surely makes you want to try each and every recipe. I won’t even buy a cookbook without photos, but these photos really make this one special. It's truly a gorgeous book. 

There were quite a few main dish recipes that I wanted to try; but we started with the Buttermilk Pecan Chicken. We found this to be a simple recipe and made a great family night meal. We really enjoyed the meal and will be making it a family staple.

Now, we haven’t yet tried the Maple Whipped Sweet Potatoes with Caramelized Onions, but we will be making it for the holidays. We want something different to set apart our sweet potato dish from the usual.
Maple Whipped Sweet Potatoes with Caramelized Onions

4 large sweet potatoes, peeled and chopped into rough chunks
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons pure grade B maple syrup
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil, divided
2 teaspoons kosher salt plus more as needed
1 teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper plus more as needed
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 large Vidalia onion or other sweet onion, thinly sliced

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.

Put the sweet potatoes, 1/4 cup maple syrup, 2 tablespoons olive oil, 2 teaspoons salt, and 1 teaspoon pepper in a large mixing bowl. Toss to evenly coat and transfer to a baking sheet; roast in the oven until the sweet potatoes are soft, 35 to 40 minutes. Check on them after 15 and stir, if needed.

Meanwhile, melt the butter and 2 tablespoons olive oil together in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the sliced onion and 2 tablespoons maple syrup and season with salt and pepper, to taste. Cook, stirring frequently, until the onion is deep golden brown, about 10 minutes, adding water, a tablespoon at a time, if the skillet gets too dry. Remove from the heat and set aside.

Transfer the sweet potatoes to a food processor and add a tablespoon of hot water. Pulse until just blended and then add half the caramelized onion. Pulse a few more seconds to incorporate the onion; for a very smooth puree, add another tablespoon of water and run the machine for 1 minutes. Fold in the remaining caramelized onions, reserving some for garnish.

Serve in a warm dish and garnish with the reserved caramelized onion.

If you are like us and enjoy cookbooks with quick and easy recipes, great for families, then I suggest picking up 5 INGREDIENT FIX.




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