Fast Flavours: 110 Simple, Speedy Recipes [Paperback]

To start off with, this is really a recipe book rather than a cookbook. I was initially considering giving it a lower rating because of that, but since it doesn't claim to be a book on cooking, I couldn't really knock it for that. About the only general tip it offers in the very brief introduction is to prepare beforehand and shop with a list so that you have all the ingredients on hand. That's about it. It then launches into 110 speedy recipes.

An interesting feature of the book is that some (not all) of the meat recipes come in four different techniques/speeds. Typically they are stove-top, pressure cooker, oven, and slow-cooker. I like this feature, as it lets you adjust a recipe to different amounts of time that you may have. I haven't had time to fully explore the differences in results, but they generally seem like good techniques each way. The pork tenderloin recipe in particular is quite good and flexible. It helps that Chef Smith chooses the right cuts of meat for the task at hand (e.g., pork tenderloin instead of shoulder). I have seen a lot of Chef At Home, and some of his new TV series, and I can say that most of the recipes in the book seem new to me. A couple, like the baked apples, were things I'd seen on the show, but most of them appear to be new to this book (maybe they're also in the new show, I don't know). Each recipe has a gorgeous full-page color picture to go along with it, making the book very visually appealing and inspiring. The only section of the book that didn't really ring my bell was the section on drinks. But then again, I like beer, single-malt scotch, and wine, which don't really lend themselves to cocktails. The drink recipes didn't seem bad, they were just not my thing, so I won't ding the book for including them.

I guess the only serious complaint I have about the book is that I like recipes that include nutritional information and this book doesn't have that. But the recipes are clear and easy to follow, with many of them (including main dishes) requiring 8 or less ingredients, so they are pretty straightforward as well as fast. Which is nice, not only for cooking, but for shopping (I love his cooking at home, but most of us don't have pantries as well stocked as his!). The recipes are family-friendly, yet are good enough to serve to dinner guests as well. Overall then, this isn't a perfect recipe book, but it is pretty darn good. If you like fast, simple, and tasty food, this recipe book is definitely worth taking a look at.

I purchased this book had a good look through it and returned it the next day. I am a big fan of Chef Michael but I found this book to over all be a repeat of the two previous books of his that I do own and do love; however I don't need more of the same. I love to cook and I am not afraid to experiment with different recipes and techniques and feel that this book is really intended for more of a novice cook.

My husband enjoys following recipes now. Very simple to understand & food tastes great!
Also supper doesn't take hours to wait for.