Alex Snodgrass (The Defined Dish) helps cooks of all levels prepare delicious family meals when short on time in her third cookbook, Dinner Tonight. Beginners will find an entry into classics via clear instructions and a gentle, encouraging tone, while seasoned cooks will appreciate recipes that save time without compromising on flavor.
Snodgrass begins with "Convenient Condiments," an introduction to store-bought pantry staples; this reminder that "cooking at home doesn't have to be a hassle" includes a couple of recipes for homemade condiments. Drawing inspiration from a wide variety of sources (including cultural cuisines and fast-food restaurants), she creates a sense of home comfort in her introductions to each recipe--her take on the Middle Eastern Fattoush Salad with Creamy Feta Dressing and Korean-inspired Gochujang Shredded Beef Bowls; her version of Mi Cocina's Grilled Chicken Salad with Chili-Lime Dressing; and the Jack in the Box-inspired Crunchy Baked Beef Tacos.
Bright, saturated photos of the dishes will make mouths water, and photos of Snodgrass and her family add to the overall feeling of cooking alongside a patient mentor. Components essential to quick and easy cooking, such as in one-pan meals, are clearly marked, and Snodgrass notes when a recipe uses multiple bowls and will require more washing-up time. Instructions and tips "from my kitchen to yours" explain reasons for certain techniques so that this cookbook is not only a collection of recipes but a training manual, helping cooks gain confidence in their abilities and knowledge. --Dainy Bernstein, postdoc in children's literature, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign