Monday To Friday Cookbook

by Michele Urvater, Simms Taback (Illustrator)

The consummate book for the harried cook. (Chicago Tribune)

You know the problem. It's getting late. Papers are piling up, the phone won't stop ringing. You need to keep working and you need to quit working, and the last thing you're thinking about is dinner. There's no time to plan, no time to shop, no time to think. Now here's the solution. Developed by a chef who also has a family to feed, the award-winning MONDAY-TO-FRIDAY COOKBOOK shows you how to create delicious, nutritious, no-fuss meals every night of the week. No matter how busy you are.

Over 300 recipes with variations that will make your workday life easier

How to organize your kitchen, stock the pantry, and take advantage of proven shortcuts

More than 20 one-pot meals, 28 main course salads, a dozen quick and tasty ways to cook chicken breasts, plus weeknight desserts with weekend taste

Winner of the James Beard Award

"The consummate book for the harried cook." (Chicago Tribune)

A SAMPLING:

30 MINUTES OR LESS: Fiery Tubetti with Tuna and Black Olives-Pork Chops Baked in a Pear Sauerkraut-Unbelievable Chocolate-Chesnut Puree

WHEN YOU CAN'T EAT TOGETHER: Herbed Lamb Chops-Smoked Mussel, Pea, and Couscous Salad-Garlic- and Mustard-Crumbed Chicken-Pasta Fagioli with Vegetables

WHEN COMPANY'S COMING: Woodsy Mushroom and Scallop Soup-Glazed Veal Chops-Fresh Tuna Steaks Over Piquant Kale

OMNIUM GATHERUM, OR GUILT-FREE DINNERS: Stuffed Rolled Tortillas-Baked-for-Dinner Potatoes-Red and Yellow Pancakes

"This is a great book! Ms. Urvater's timing is perfect. As busy as you are, you'll ask yourself "How can I get into the kitchen?" rather than "How can I get out?" (Sheila Lukins, author of All Around the World Cookbook and co-author of The Silver Palette Cookbooks and The New Basics Cookbook

Genres: Cookbooks

383 pages, Hardcover

First published June 1, 1991

Reviews

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

The source for "Barbara's flank steak dinner." I haven't made a lot out of this but it's a good reading cookbook as well as a source of recipes.

[Robin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Professional chef Michele Urvater wrote this cookbook for people with busy lives who want to eat tasty and healthy dinners. One important premise is that meals are designed for flexibility and ease, not necessarily speed. Most dishes require no special knowledge and preparation can be interrupted and resumed at a later time. Many provide ideas for reusing leftovers creatively. Though the preparation time is noted on each recipe, careful perusal of the recipe is necessary, as some ingredients require advance preparation and I’ve found that not all timing is accurate in our kitchen.

This review is of the original hardbound edition.

The beginning section on stocking the kitchen and pantry with basic ingredients is useful, though not all ingredients may be to your liking. The section on kitchen equipment is worth reading, as the author assumes that you have her various preparation tools on hand to work the recipes in the time allotted. The Monday to Friday strategies chapter gives good meal and cooking planning tips. Other chapters include one-pot meals, vegetable sides, soups, pasta, seafood, poultry, etc., and each of these begins with useful general preparation tips.

The recipes themselves vary in deliciousness. Some seem to combine incompatible ingredients and overall we felt that she used entirely too much olive paste (though we like olives.) Go lightly on this and other ingredients that are combined with other strongly flavored ingredients such as tuna, and watch out for combinations that just seem weird. Some basic recipes, like sautéed chicken breasts, have useful variations written in an entirely non-usable format. Flipping back through pages to find quantities and substitutions does not make for easy cooking. Cleanup from some recipes can be time-consuming, but as Urvater states, speed is not her main goal.

With this said, some of the recipes are exquisite and fairly quick to prepare. Braised fennel, New York chicken (with basil and sundried tomatoes), minted mushroom and turkey ragout and orzo with asparagus and salmon are favorites in my house.

In conclusion, I enjoyed this cookbook’s idea but not always its execution. Still, it is worthwhile to have on one’s cooking shelf.

[Cara Stevens · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my top 5 go-to cookbooks for weeknight family suppers. I appreciate how she accounts for different preferences and dietary restrictions among family members and offers healthy, do-able recipes for every scenario from a leisurely Sunday family dinner to an evening where everyone eats at different times. She also provides general cooking tips that have made me a better home cook overall. I've tried many recipes in the book and they've never failed me yet!