Best Summer Weekends Cookbook [Paperback]

A reliable and satisfying collection of near-comfort foods that make summer cooking a breeze. (Michael Hastings Winston-Salem Journal 20040811)

A sunny source of culinary inspiration. (Susan Sampson Toronto Star 20040901)

A delicious assortment of crispy, tangy, veggie-filled and seafood-loaded salads... all perfect of warm, sunny weather. (Carolyn Jung San Jose Mercury News 20040714)

Innovative ideas for meals... quick tricks to help turn out fabulous food fast. (Canadian Press 20040519)

A gorgeous compilation of more than 75 appealing recipes, with lots of photos, quick tips and entertaining ideas. (Lisa McManus Quincy Patriot Ledger 20050824)

Revolves around seasonal goods often picked up at the farmer's market and quick dishes that can be whipped up with a few staples at hand. (Lorena D. Johnson Calgary Sun 20040627)

My favorite [new cookbook] is The Best Summer Weekend Cookbook... it's beautiful and chock full of recipes I can't wait to try. (Gail Ciampa Providence RI Journal 20040526)

Rodmell keeps the kitchen cool and the food exciting. (Phoenix Home and Garden 200408)

This fine cookbook offers much more than just simple barbecue fare.... the perfect summer companion for busy cooks. (Jim Carlson Country Decorating Ideas 200504)

A whole summer's worth of ideas and tips for meals that please everyone... fabulous recipes. (Linda Turk Thunder Bay Chronicle Journal 20040623)

More important, these are recipes where a substantial amount of the work can be done ahead of time so the cook can enjoy the weekend at the cottage, too. (Myrna Collins Appleton Post-Crescent 20040609)

It was with great joy that this cook discovered Jane Rodmell's sinfully easy and delicious recipe for "Thai Green Curry Wings," one of hundreds of tasty dishes featured. (Jan DeKnock Omaha World-Herald 20040616)

Nicely designed recipe pages with big photos... The whole point is to make the food ahead and forget about it... get you ahead enough of the game for a Sunday dinner party so that you can actually enjoy the party. (Gregory Hahn and Julie Sarasqeta Idaho Statesman 20040519)

Each recipe has ideas for variations and substitutions... fabulous food fast... relaxed, simple cooking using fresh, seasonal ingredients. (Judith Ruan Muskoka Magazine 200407)

This weighty tome can take pride of place with the best of your generalist cookbooks. (Monica Stark January Magazine 200405)

This is food that's easy and uncomplicated, seasonal and fun, but drop-dead delicious. (Laura Robin Ottawa Citizen 20040602)

Entertaining at the cottage may never have been easier. (The Cottager 200808)

This edition combines the best of her earlier "Summer Weekend Cookbook" and "More Summer Weekends Cookbook", but with 75 new recipes. All of this totals about 300 preps designed for entertaining at a cottage. The range is complete, from apps to BBQ, salads, make-aheads, light snacks, brunches, and sweets. Each prep includes variations and substitutions and some quick tricks; all variations are indexed, which is a boon. So actually, it can be a weekend cookbook for city use as well, or for making dishes in the city for transport to the cottage. Preparations have their ingredients listed in both metric and avoirdupois measurements, but there is no table of equivalents. There are some good notes on larder/pantry maintenance, but I also wish there had been some menus listed. (Dean Tudor gothicepicures.blogspot.com 20110317) --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Over the years I've discovered the trick to creating good food with a minimum of anxiety and fuss is to have some good basic ingredients on hand. That applies whether you are cooking at home, out of town, or on the road. You'll find my list of essentials at the front of Best Summer Weekends Cookbook, and all the recipes then work from this core group of ingredients. Just add the meat, fish, seasonal produce, cheese and dairy items for your selected menu, and you're ready for the weekend.

Readers of my other cookbooks tell me that they love all the tips and tricks with each recipe. I've introduced lots of new ones in this book -- tips on selecting ingredients, making recipes ahead, variations and substitutions, and other ideas for producing great food that will make your friends think you slaved for hours. (You don't have to tell them how easy it was!)

One of my favorite ways to entertain in the summer is to get together with friends for drinks and snacks outdoors. Best Summer Weekends Cookbook includes lots of easy-to-prepare "sundown snacks," and even a few summer cocktails, all guaranteed to get the evening off to a great start. The barbecue is a key tool for summer cooking, so you'll find 60 pages of grilling recipes, marinades, spice rubs, and bastes -- with a handy chart to inspire you and help you to put things together. There are heaps of fresh ideas for summer salads too, with suggestions for turning them into main dishes that will please both vegetarians and meat-eaters. And when it comes to desserts, I love to feature the glorious fruits of summer with favorites such as Raspberry Cream Crunch Pie, Caramel Peach Cobbler, Plum Crumble Squares, and Frozen Chocolate Raspberry Terrine.

In every chapter you'll feast your eyes on gorgeous color photos. I know they will make your mouth water and you will not be able to resist heading straight to the kitchen to start cooking right away.

I wish you great times and great food this summer. Enjoy and have fun.

Jane Rodmel

--This text refers to the Hardcover edition.