Description:
The "friends" of Diana Armstrong's Cooking for My Friends cuts two ways. Certainly, it's a cookbook that points the way to simple, healthy, flavorful dishes to prepare when friends are coming over for dinner. But it's for young friends, too. All the proceeds from Cooking for My Friends go to the Save Our Youth Foundation, an organization that targets at-risk youth and provides mentor relationships to encourage "the skills for success in educational, emotional, and spiritual development." There's absolutely nothing low-cal about that. The heart of the recipes seems to be torn between the Southwest and the Mediterranean. You might think of Cooking for My Friends as Santa Fe on the shores of the Aegean--on a diet. These recipes have all been carefully scanned and developed to reduce fats while boosting flavor. You'll find treats like Black Bean Hummus, Rosemary White Bean Soup, Tuscan Bean Salad with Fresh Tomatoes and Basil, Southwestern Grilled Chicken Salsa Salad, Peppered Pasta with Lemon Scallops, Grilled Salmon with Roasted Bell Peppers and Walnuts, Mustard Tarragon Chicken, Barbecued Flank Steak with Sweet Tomato Chutney, and Caramel Cream with Mandarin Oranges. A great deal of Armstrong's food is designed to be made ahead, which makes entertaining a pleasure--and gives you more time to spend with your friends. --Schuyler Ingle
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