These are recipes I've tried from Bittman's How to Cook Everything, 10th anniversary edition. In case you're ever interested in trying it out for yourself, you might consider these a good starting point. My friend Bridgette started a blog devoted to reviews of Bittman's recipes and charts, including the variations and substitutions that have worked well. (She didn't know I'd started compiling this list!)
***** means it merits repeating on a regular basis
**** means I'll repeat it but maybe not every week/month
*** means it's worth considering again
** means edible but not our favorite
* is for x-ing out of the cookbook
(this is for my ordinary, daily cooking--not trying to win over America's Test Kitchen, Julia Child, or Jacques Pepin if they're coming for company).
One final note: I like Bittman's style because he gives such liberal substitution ideas; that being said, my favorite recipes from his book might not taste the same for you, depending on how you make them! Please let me know if you really like a recipe, too, or if you really disagree with me. You can also leave a comment on Bittman Recipe Reviews.
- Soy Dipping Sauce *****
- Traditional Pesto *****
- Cilantro-Mint Chutney ***** (MAKES the meal if you're having Indian food and naan)
- Coconut Chutney *** (not what I was expecting; much prefer the cilantro-mint)
- Basil-Soy Dipping Sauce ****
- Thai Chile Sauce ** (ok; not my favorite, but I was expecting something different)
- Ginger-Scallion Sauce **** (works best with Hainan Chicken and/or as basis for fried rice)
- Green Ketchup **** (yummy for sure)
- Simpler Peanut Sauce ****
- Chinese Noodle Soup with Cabbage and Ginger ****
- Chicken Soup with Rice, Chinese Style ****
- Thai Coconut Soup with Chicken *** (I like the other version I make better)
- Tuna Salad with Lemon and Olive Oil **** (nice change from the mayo version)
- Pan Bagnat with Chicken Breast **** (very good but a lot of effort even with leftover grilled chicken/veggies; I also left out the anchovies and artichokes)
- Pizza *****
- Calzones *****
- Empanadas ****
- Simple Green Salad *****
- Greek Salad, Simplified ***** (as a big fan of restaurant Greek Salad, this was a terrific, easy home version)
- Warm Spicy Greens with Bacon and Eggs **** (I even tried it with dandelion greens--amazing)
- Spicy No-Mayo Coleslaw *** (needs some tweaking I think--maybe salting the cabbage)
- Spicy No-Mayo Coleslaw. Apple Slaw var. **** (I used napa cabbage)
- Chicken Salad with Olive Oil and Fresh Herbs **** (nice change from the mayo-version)
- Kosher Pickles, the Right Way ***** (hello, garlic, and so many requests for this recipe--I'll be putting it on the blog at some point)
- Stir-Fried Vegetables *****
- Pre-cooked Vegetables in Butter or Oil ***** (terrific treatment for frozen veggies)
- Asian Greens, Chinese Restaurant Style ***** (JUST like your favorite Chinese joint)
- Stir-Fried Broccoli ** (must have done something wrong--I WANT to like this recipe because we love stir-fries and love broccoli...)
- Cabbage Braised with Wine and Nutmeg ** (used cabbage that was a bit old--this was just not terrific, but it might be the cabbage's fault)
- Creamed Corn ***** (YUM YUM YUM YUM)
- Pan-Roasted Corn with Cherry Tomatoes *** (potential here)
- Sauteed Eggplant with Basil ** (we're not eggplant fans; we still haven't been converted)
- (Dandelion) Greens with Double Garlic ***** (Yummy with Bok Choy!)
- Anything-Scented Peas *****
- Braised Potatoes, Ten Ways **** (we really like the sausage variation)
- Winter Squash Curry *** (this made a really big amount; next time, I'll cut it down some)
- Coconut Milk ** (I'll stick with the canned variety)
- Grilled Peaches ** (tasted like our grill--hmmmm)
- Buttery Lentils and Potatoes with Curry ***** (even our kids like this curry!)
- Baked Beans *** (maybe I didn't cook them long enough; worth another try for sure)
- Black Beans with Orange *****
- Refried Beans *****
- White Beans with Cabbage, Pasta, Ham *** (not bad, just not remarkable)
- Red Beans and Rice with Vegetarian Red Beans ****
- Stir-Fried Tofu with Bell Peppers **** (next time, I'll cut down on the tofu some)
- Rice Pilaf *****
- Stuck-Pot Rice with Pita Crust and Chicken *** (I think the potatoes would be better than pitas)
- Simple Risotto **** (would be five stars if I'd used white rice and it didn't take me FOREVER to make it)
- Sticky Rice, Thai Style *****
- Fried Rice ****
- Parmesan Rice Cakes ***
- Oat Griddlecakes *** (kids weren't crazy about them--I made the peanut butter variation)
- Fast Tomato Sauce with Fresh Herbs ****
- Spaghetti with Pesto ***** (can you mess this up, though?)
- Pasta with Broccoli **** (didn't puree the broccoli and added bacon)
- Penne with Winter Squash ****
- Pasta with Lentils ****
- Ziti with Creamy Gorgonzola Sauce (the Cherry Tomato Version) ***
- Pasta with White Sausage Sauce ****
- Classic Lasagne (with Bridgette's mom's sauce!) ****
- Stir-Fried Noodles with Vegetables and Meat *****
- Broiled Fish Fillets *****
- Oven-Fried Fish Fillets (in sticks) ****
- Broiled Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts *****
- Broiled Chicken Parts *****
- Simplest Whole Roast Chicken *****
- Chicken Cutlets over Tomatoes *****
- Chicken Biryani *** (a touch bland, but a nice weeknight dish--kids enjoyed it)
- Chicken with Rice, Hainan Style **** (leftovers, with the sauce suggested, make killer fried rice beginnings!)
- Stir-Fried Chicken with Basil and Chiles, Thai Style ***** (one of our top favorites; superb with Thai basil and fresh chilies from the garden!)
- Poached Chicken with Lemon Sauce ****
- Poached Chicken with Ginger Sauce ****
- Roast Chicken with New Potatoes *****
- Meat Loaf with Spinach ****
- Beef Stew ***** (Mmmm....)
- Stir-Fried Beef with Onions and Ginger ****
- Beef Daube ****
- Pot Roast ***** (Mmmm....)
- Roast Pork Shoulder, Puerto Rican Style ****
- Braised Pork with Spicy Soy Sauce ****
- Frittata with Crumbled Sausage ****
- Spanish Tortilla **** (you really do pour almost all of the olive oil off)
- Cheese Quiche ***** (divine)
- Cottage Cheese and Sour Cream Pancakes ***** (does not make tons)
- Fresh Cottage Cheese Cheese, the Easy Way ***** (too much trouble to make fresh cottage cheese like this all the time, not to mention that you can use vinegar instead; but I credit Bittman with introducing me to the superb creation that fresh cottage cheese is--to die for)
- Olive Oil Salt Bread *** (biscuit-like)
- Corn Bread *** (I'm partial to my grandmother's and Fannie Farmer's, but this is easy and respectable)
- Muffins, Infinite Ways *** (good basic recipe, but nothing spectacular)
- Lighter Whole Wheat Quick Bread *** (interesting, but I prefer yeasted whole wheat bread)
- Fruit-and-Nut or Vegetable-and-Nut Bread **** (enables me to use up bits and pieces and turn out pretty tasty products!)
- Yogurt Biscuits *****
- Fast French Bread ***** (I've even had requests for "my" recipe)
- Bran and Oat Sandwich Bread **** (a touch dry, but held up great for sandwiches)
- Half Whole-Wheat Sandwich Bread **** (great flavor, held up well)
- Rich Gold Sandwich Bread (used for hot dog buns) *** (not what I'd wanted, but worth trying again for a different purpose)
- Sourdough Bread ***** (not very sour, but a real staple around here)
- Olive Oil Bread without Olives ***** (My "go to" bread for company, soup, etc.)
- Pita **** (I like a different recipe better, but these were great)
- Stuffed Pita ***
- Chocolate Tofu Pudding **** (not as good as regular, but pretty tasty)
- Chocolate Pudding ***** (great substitute for storebought; not as rich as egg-enriched)
- Butterscotch Pudding ***** (I'll never eat storebought again)
- Butterscotch Brownies **** (I always add chocolate chips)
- Lemon-Lime Gelee **** (VERY good and so much better than storebought)
2 comments:
And what a list it is!! This is way longer than I was expecting. I loved that you put bean recipes on it because that is where I struggle (especially because I don't eat them).
Now I'm off to make some butterscotch pudding!!
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