Cover & Bake

by Cook's Illustrated (Editor), John Burgoyne (Illustrator), Carl Tremblay (Photographer)

Presents more than two hundred one-dish recipes, including such traditional favorites as lasagna, pot roast, chicken pot pie, and baked macaroni and cheese.

Genres: Cookbooks, Cooking, Food, Nonfiction, Reference

338 pages, Hardcover

First published September 30, 2004

Reviews

[Matthew Gatheringwater · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've enjoyed all the cookbooks I've seen from America's Test Kitchen, but this one has been especially useful to me in my work as a caregiver for seriously ill people and their families. Often, my clients are too busy or too overwhelmed to think much about food, but a nourishing and comforting meal is just what they need. This cookbook is full of simple, well-thought-out recipes in substantial quantities. (Most recipes serve at least eight.)

I often work a few days a week for my clients rather than every day, and I want to "cook ahead" for them, so they only have to reheat a main dish and perhaps make a salad. The recipes in this book often come with make ahead suggestions. Some can be left in the refrigerator for a few days and then baked. Others freeze well. Many allow you to prepare components of the dish ahead of time and put them together at the last moment.

One odd thing about the book is that, despite the title, the recipes aren't actually all baked. I'm not complaining, because the slow-cooker and skillet sections are very useful, too. (I've also found the slow-cooker recipes are easily adapted for stove-top and oven cooking.)

A lot of these recipes are old family favorites, like lasagna, chicken pot pie, or green bean casserole. The Test Kitchen folks have updated these comfort classics, and avoid the excesses that sometimes give these foods a bad name. (Not to mention a bad taste!) My two favorite recipes in the book, however, are Test Kitchen originals: Fish Chowder Casserole and Thanksgiving Turkey Bake. Flaky cod in a creamy white sauce with potatoes and an oyster cracker topping is such a good idea I can't believe nobody has thought of it until now. The Thanksgiving Turkey Bake is the ultimate comfort food convenience, with turkey cutlets, gravy, stuffing, and even cranberry sauce in one casserole dish. It sounds like it could be an awful hash of incompatible ingredients, but the clever way it is assembled ensures each portion can be tasted and enjoyed.

If you are looking for a covered dish to share with a sick friend, this book is a great resource.

Unfortunately, this cookbook does not offer nutritional information.

[Dray · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've shied away from casseroles but reading this book reminded me of what I've been missing and how easy they are. great book!

[Margaret Gerberding · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love casseroles! I found a few good ideas in here I can't wait to try.

[Laurla2 · Rating 1 out of 5]

this cookbook quickly lost my interest as it is over 300 pages, yet ONLY has 16 recipe photos! to me that's a MASSIVE failure in a cookbook. I like to SEE the recipes as well as read them. there are little sketches and drawings here and there, to help in preparing the recipes, but only 8 pages in the center of the book with photos.

also, many of the recipes involve cooking first in one pan, before switching to another to do the 'cover and bake' part. extra dirty dishes, yay.

[Megan · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book is so highly rated and I was so excited as I waited for it to arrive, but it was disappointing. It turns out, the recipe reviewers saw high fat as the best recipes. Sure you can make it with skim milk, but if you use heavy cream it will taste better.

It is too bad they didn't have more recipes with lots of flavor instead of just richer ingredients.

[Inder · Rating 5 out of 5]

I checked this out from the library and we have made a half dozen recipes from it, all excellent. The skillet recipes, in particular, are easy and delicious. I've renewed it once, and I'm having a hard time returning it to the library. I would totally buy it, even though I need a new cookbook like I need a hole in my head.

[Ken Thompson · Rating 3 out of 5]

These recipes are delicious - but most of them go into the oven for 5-10 minutes at the end. I can see how it concentrates flavors and reduces the liquid, but dirtying another dish by putting everything I've cooked into casserole dish? No thank you! I'll just use my 12-inch oven-proof skillet.

Really, most of the recipes I've made from this book have almost no baking time.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love this cookbook for rich and delicious fall and winter family meals.

[Catherine Woodman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I do love the Christopher Kimball books, even tho' I also have all of the Cook's Illustrated magazines from the very beginning, and have them all bound

[Kristen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cook's Illustrated cookbooks tend to be unbearably fussy for my liking but this isn't too bad.

[Wendy Winkler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of good things in here-- classic casseroles & crock pot meals done right.