Mark Bittman has made himself a household name over the last couple of decades by dedicating himself to answering the one question that crosses everyone's mind every day: What's for dinner?
And what a loaded question it can be. Much as we love the idea of sitting down to a healthy, delicious, home-cooked meal, life — and the many complications that come with it — has a way of standing in the way of this goal.
The first hurdle, he writes, is expanding our definition of “dinner” beyond the traditional formula: animal protein in the center, veggies and starch on the side. His book lays out a master strategy for doing just that, by showing us how to adapt our cooking habits to the cravings and situations of the moment, rather than trying to follow a carefully pre-planned regimen that ends in defeat.
The 300 recipes in "Dinner for Everyone" aren't categorized in chapters, per se. Rather, they are organized and color-coded in threes — one "easy," one "vegan," and one "all out" — based on one iconic dish or menu concept. Burgers, for example, inspire Secret-Ingredient Stovetop Burgers (ground beef flavored with anchovies), Beet and Lentil Burgers (on whole-wheat English Muffins smeared with vegan mayo), and Ultimate Cheeseburger with Tomato Chutney (homemade spiced ketchup of sorts paired with patties of three types of meat and aged cheddar on brioche).
Within these lushly photographed pages, Bittman includes creative take-offs on classics from around the globe, from paella to pizza to Thai curry. And if you’re craving breakfast foods for dinner, he says go for it — with Ironed Toast (classic French toast griddled in a waffle iron), Nutty Quinoa-Blueberry Griddlecakes, or company-worthy Baked Mascarpone French Toast. Sounds more like brunch to me, but I’m not making the rules here. And neither is Bittman. It’s all about options, and you’ll find an abundance in this easy-to-use volume you’ll likely want to keep in easy reach at all times.
Susan Puckett is a cookbook author and former food editor of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Follow her at susanpuckett.com.
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