Amazon.com (ISBN 0811831949, Paperback)

Diane Rossen Worthington's Seriously Simple: Easy Recipes for Creative Cooks delivers on the promise of its title. The award-winning chef and author provides sophisticated flavor combinations while keeping the ingredients, and, most importantly, prep time, to a minimum. Chilled Summer Squash Soup with Basil makes a great starter course or light entrée; Grilled Lamb Chops with Cilantro-Mint Sauce yields a rich yet refreshing result with almost no work, especially with the use of a food processor; and the Summer Fruit Crisp (much less work than a homemade pie) includes a custard layer made with crème fraîche. Keeping with her theme of simplicity, Worthington has provided many suggestions for "advanced preparation" so that the busy cook can do some, or all, of the preparation long before mealtime. The most unique element of this cookbook is "the clever cook could" entry with each dish, in which Worthington makes suggestions for substituting ingredients and how to use the leftovers in savvy and tasty ways. Worthington's recipes will help shorten the work to get food on the table but should also increase the enjoyment while at it. --Teresa Simanton