Your Own Bistro

 There is absolutely nothing like french food,especially the recipes coming form the classic bistros dotting the country. The food is absolutely delicious, rich in flavors, perfect in execution. Now you can bring the bistro home with a brand new cookbook. It's full o fall sots of recipes from brunch to dessert.

This wonderful cookbook is America's Test Kitchen Modern Bistro : Home Cooking Inspired by French Classics (enguin Random House 2022). It's a great book for anyone who's visited France or a true blue Francophile. I love this book. There are so many different recipes from steak frites to the perfect omelet. Since this comes from that great PBS cooking show America's Test Kitchen there is a chapter on the ingredients and the right equipemnt to use such as the French kitchen standard the mandoline. Another plus are explanations on mastering bistro cooking techniques.Home chefs can learn how to fold an omlet and sear a perfect steak. There is a good guide to cheese which helps in creating the perfect charcuterie platter.Another plus is that this is modernized ,reflecting France's now varied population.A Yemeni spice called hawaij is one of the cheif ingredients in a creamy cauliflower soup.Vadouvan,a blend of Indian spices that French colonizers too from India centuries ago is in asauteed  radish and almond dish. There is a section on wines and sheery because these too are ingredients in French cooking.It's a good guide as are the tips with each recipe/

There is a wide range of recipes to try. I would definitely go with my favorites like  crunchy croque monsiuer with a Mornay sauce and French onion soup. What I like about their recipe is that they use croutons instead of a slice of French bread. There are also takes on American classics too,like burgers made from sirloin and topped with homemade onopn jam and a grown up three cheese,  mac and cheese - which has french origins, the recipe coming over with Tom Jefferson. Of course there are the bistro classics like steak au poivre and the buttery stew daube provencale with its; mix of beef and salt pork. Cheese fondue also makes an appearance along with mouth watering omelet recipes. The breakfast and brunch section are another favorite. There are waffle and a really good eggs Benedict recipe with a tasty Hollandaise sauce. Yes. there are dessert recipes.The Gran Marnier souffle is a must try as are the chocoalte pot di creme.Galettes bith savory and sweet abound here. Two must tries are the tomato and potato ones. There are also bread recipes. such as the airy baguette.

America's Test Kitchen  Modern Bistro: Home Cooking Inspired by French Classics is the definite kitchen must have. The recipes are rich and delicious. Any one is full of flavor just like their bistro counterparts.

Healthy And Delicious Instant Pot Recipes

 The Instant Pot has become a large part of a home chef's arsenal. There's a million recipes you can make with it. Now there's a new cookbook that features the healthy side of Instant Pot cooking, America's Test Kitchen Healthy And Delicious Instant Pot Inspired Meals With A World Of Flavor.(Penguin Random House 2021)

America's Test KItchen, PBS's highly informative cooking show has come out with another of their cookbooks, this time featuring healthy recipes cooked in this wonderful device.What is great about this compilation of recipes is that combined with the Instant Pot , you have healthier recipes made easier. The machine will brown and simmer. It also cuts the long cooking times of such food as black beans to a fraction of the  hour needed. There's also less clean up time too. The book also has tips for using older models as well as what other tools to use.  The authors point out that older Instant models have what's known as a moat at the pot's bottom. any oil used has a tendency to draw away from the center and get stuck in the sides. They recommend stirring to get a well blended sauce or gravy. They also explain the differences in release techniques and why it's important to adhere to the recipes.There are also pages demystifying the Instant Pot for beginners and a troubleshooting page.There are pages featuring how to create a tasty bowl from the base to the crunchy toppings.There are also tips for cooking proteins and how to present them, Home chefs should definitely follow the suggestions for adding flavor to the braising liquids and browning.

These recipes are great for eating healthy. The book starts off with healthy salad dressings and sauces with such recipes as pomegranate vinaigrette, pesto and harissa. There are also recipes for crunchy toppings like an everything bagel blend to quick pickled vegetables. The main recipes are not your typical healthy food fare. They are divided into the different meats and fish along with an extensive vegetarian section. There are shredded beef tacos made with chuck and spiced with ancho peppers and lager. It's served with a jicama slaw, Chicken lovers will enjoy soy sauce chicken cooked with Shaoxing wine and star anise. For a different change up try abgoosht , the Persian rustic stew of lamb and chickpeas. It also has the Persian add ins of Persian limes and tamarind. The only hard part is brining the chickpeas for eight hours. This is the perfect dish on a chilly fall day, as its' rife with a variety of flavors from saffron to turmeric.  The Instant Pot fish dishes are tasty as well. Mussels with red curry would be the perfect Saturday night meal while Salad Nicoise would make a nice Sunday lunch. Vegetarians will appreciate the braised tofu and lentils zinged up with Thai curry paste and the Korean influenced sweet potato glass noodles with portabellos and spinach, There's also a fiery chana masala too. The book ends with nutritional values for every recipe.

America's Test Kitchen Healthy And Delicious Instant Pot Inspired With a World Of Flavor