Kitchen Coach: Weeknight Cooking at Chef2Chef

"Practical tips trump celebrity gloss in this handy first offering from Bushman, owner of a Nevada cooking school and a syndicated TV cook. Bushman swears "cooking even a couple of times a week will make you happier." Her formula for achieving domestic bliss—choosing simple, fresh ingredients that stimulate the senses while offering a healthful alternative to prepared food and takeout—isn't news, but the 150 recipes offer some pleasingly creative ways of transforming basic ingredients, seen in such recipes as Penne with Puttanesea Sauce, as well as "spa" recipes like Linguine with Tomato-Fennel Sauce, which I offers a fancier alternative for only marginally more prep time. While the book's 23 chapters present an array of cuisines, with chapters on how to prepare simple Asian, Mexican and Mediterranean meals, Bushman also pays tribute to unfussy comfort foods like Quick Macaroni and Cheese. Bushman's casual, fun approach to dining (relax, let your senses guide you, eat breakfast at dinner time if it makes you happy) should appeal to busy cooks. Photo insert not seen by PW. Agent, Stacey Glick. (July)
Forecast: Bushman offers a great value, covering ethnic cuisine, vegetarian entrees, kids' snacks, sandwiches, etc. However, she's competing with many other books by TV cooks with higher profiles, so sales could prove challenging." (Publishers Weekly, June 7, 2004)

Reader Reviews
Wow - what a little dynamo. Just got home last night from a cooking class featuring Jennifer Bushman and this book. It was fantastic! And, from such a tiny little woman ... I had never heard of Ms. Bushman as her show has not yet made it to Texas, but signed up for her class because it sounded like it would be fun. It was one of the best I've been to lately (and I go to a lot of cooking classes). She made (and we ate) the Chicken, Avocado, Bacon, Spinach & Tomato Club Wrap w/ Pumpkin Fries; Gorgonzola, Escarole, Garlic & Roasted Pepper Pizza; Chicken Nicoise Salad w/ Walnuts & Blue Cheese Vinaigrette; Fresh Crab Tacos; Rotelli w/ Roasted Asparagus, Mushrooms & Shaved Parmesan and Peanut Butter and Jelly Muffins. I'm still full. I wanted to devour every word of her book when I got home last night, but had to turn in as work beckoned today. I am ready to curl up with it this evening! Ms. Bushman was such an inspiration - made me want to cook great meals every single night of the week and made it seem entirely possible. FYI ... she told us she's scheduled to be on the Today Show October 10. I can't wait to start cooking from this book - and I can't wait for the next one. Hope she'll return to San Antonio to cook from that one for us! Comment | Permalink | (Report this)