Mark Bittman's Kitchen Matrix is a wonderful addition to your cookbook collection whether you are an experienced cook or a just beginning to build your skills in the kitchen.
Let's face it, we all find ourselves making and serving our family and guests the same list of favorites. It can be even more of a problem for new cooks who may be afraid to venture beyond the recipes they have made that were big hits.
Summer is coming and you may have a basic gazpacho recipe you've been making for years. Or you could be hoping to surprise those around your table by coming up with a new twist on this chilled soup. Kitchen Matrix comes to the rescue with a chapter on gazpacho 12 ways!
You'll find other sections that cover chicken wings, soups, asparagus, stir fries, and other ways we look at food and feeding our friends and family.
The Publisher Says...
"For years, Mark Bittman has shared his formulas, recipes, and kitchen improvisations in his popular New York Times Eat column, in which an ingredient or essential technique is presented in different variations in a bold matrix. Accompanied by striking photographs and brief, straightforward instructions, these thematic matrices show how simple changes in preparation and ingredient swaps in a master recipe can yield dishes that are each completely different from the original, and equally delicious. In Mark Bittman’s Kitchen Matrix
, Mark’s matrices come together to create a collection of over 400 flexible recipes covering vegetables, fruits, meats and chicken, and even desserts. Whether you’re cooking up soup (creamy, brothy, earthy, or hearty), freezing ice pops (in fruity, savory, creamy, or boozy varieties), or preparing asparagus (steamed, roasted, stir-fried, or grilled), following Mark’s approach to culinary improvisation will deliver stand-out results."
I say that this book is a brainstormer's delight. You pick it up, open a chapter, and remember what is possible. You look up an ingredient, turn to a page, and are presented with possibilities instead of just one recipe. It would make a great gift for a new grad just setting up a first apartment or for any fan of Mark Bittman's sensible approach to simplicity in food preparation.
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Details:
Words: Penny Cherubino
Photos: ©2016 Penny Cherubino
