Ideas: 365 Recipes for Every Day of the Year
Human & Rousseau
In the competitive market of women’s interest magazines, Ideas and the Afrikaans version, Idees, rate as fourth biggest in South Africa, with a loyal following in both language groups. This is their first cookbook and it’s sure to be popular as it presents a collection of easily made, unpretentious savoury meals that take the guesswork out of the eternal “What’s for supper?” question for working parents and those who spend little time in the kitchen.
Starting with week one in January, seven recipes a week offer main meals suitable for both warm and cool nights – there are Greek lamb cutlets, but also an Asian beef salad, salmon balls and a quick chicken pie. Meatless ideas include a tomato and brinjal tart and a potato wedge and cheese frittata.
Page on to July and you will find spaghetti and meatballs, sausage and bean casserole, but also baked eggs for warmer winter days.
While good use is made of ingredients like bottled salsas and frozen fish, a few recipes do use dried pulses that require overnight soaking and other slow-cooking ingredients.
The contents are aimed at those who like to shop at the weekend for the following week’s meals.
To help with the choices, preparation and cooking times are given – the latter vary from two minutes for grilling the minute steaks in a steak and cheese baguette to more than two hours for north African lamb casserole, but most dishes take less than 45 minutes.
Inclusion of ingredients like sachets of instant mashed potatoes in salmon cakes will make some cooks shudder, while others will enjoy the convenience factor.
In all, this collection offers family cooks and caterers a wide choice of local and exotic recipes. Some are one-dish meals, while others require salad or vegetable accompaniment.
Those with time to spare will appreciate classics like oxtail in red wine, but for the most part, this a compilation for those wanting well-balanced suppers fast.
There is plenty that will appeal to children of all ages and a good selection of vegetarian fare has been included.
Dishes range from budget-friendly to pricey. Every recipe is illustrated with a full-colour photograph which adds greatly to the appeal of this title. - Weekend Argus