Gourmet Meals in Crappy Little Kitchens by Jennifer Schaertl

After reading several pages, I just knew this would be a great book. Not that I agree with everything written, but the author talks common sense and offers simple but picturesque food offerings. In addition, she manages to give sidebars on the history of the item plus hints about preparation. For those with limited space or, for that matter, limited cooking, she offers the minimal amount of utensils, spices and supplies. The ideal book for an aspiring home chef.

Drawing from her experience as a sous chef to 4 star restaurant chef to her Crappy Little Kitchen, Schaertl explains things with a sense of humor. It can be offsetting at times , things like stainless steal and blackboard sidebars printed in difficult to read white, but entirely worth the effort. Not all of the blackboard items are done this way. Good thing because one could go blind squinting to make them readable.

Presentation is a very important part of a good chef’s offerings and oohs and aahs would be forthcoming from the recipient of these dishes. Hints on how to beautify simple dishes help the presentation. The recipes are simply laid out with suggestions on substitutions available. Utensils are given dual and triple functions thus saving space. Hanging a BBQ grill from the ceiling, using S hooks and hanging pots and pans are among the suggestions. In my little kitchen, many of my utensils are hung on hooks screwed into a board above the entry thus saving my crowded drawers from becoming beyond overflowing clutter.

Beginner cook or one with experience, the reader will benefit from the items and dare to go further into cooking than ever before. Gourmet Meals in Crappy Little Kitchens by Jennifer Schaertl is a must read, must have book for every cook.

Published by Health Communications, www.hcibooks.com  , you are strongly urged to add this short book to your shelf and to be read.