For so many busy families, finding the time to cook a delicious, healthy dinner is a struggle more days than not. It’s even a problem for chefs. But chef and blogger Jennifer Segal (you might know her from her blog, Once Upon a Chef) is here to help. In her latest cookbook, she focuses on quick weeknight dinners and slower recipes for weekends, when there may be some extra time to play in the kitchen.
I was really looking forward to the recipes in the weeknight section, as this is a constant struggle for me. I was expecting variations of recipes you typically see in blogs or magazines for easy weeknight dinners, but I was delighted to find that there was a genuine variety of fresh ideas, some I never would have thought of (Lasagna Soup? I can’t wait to try that one! It looks quick to put together and absolutely delicious, like a lasagna but without the heaviness that can come from a big meal).
If you’re not interested in the soup, there are salads, like the Tabbouleh with Cedar Plank Salmon, breakfast for dinner like a Mushroom Gruyere Quiche or Croque Monsieur (that’s a fancy grilled cheese if you’re not familiar with French food). Or you can go with a no-fork meal, like the Oven-Roasted Chicken Shawarma or Ciabatta Pepperoni Bites. There are pasta recipes (Drunken-Style Noodles with Shrimp or Baked Ziti with Sausage) and meatball recipes (Lamb Kofta with Tzatziki or Sheet Pan Chicken & Pancetta Meatballs with Tomato Balsamic Glaze).
For a chicken dinner, you can try the Chicken Marsala or the Butter-Style Chicken with Mango Chutney. For seafood, try the Greek-Style Shrimp with Tomatoes & Feta or the Hawaiian-Style Tuna Poke Bowls. And for some good, hearty meat dishes, there are recipes for a Flat Iron Carne Asada, Pan-Seared Filet Mignon with Red Wine Sauce, or the Old-Fashioned Individual Meatloaves. And if you need some sides to go with those, try the Rustic Parmesan Mashed Potatoes, Perfect Couscous, or Roasted Carrots. And you can finished the meal with a Brownie Pudding, French Apple Cake, or Raspberry Frozen Yogurt.
The weekend dishes include ideas for a leisurely brunch, like Buttermilk Pancakes, Panko-Crusted Salmon Cakes, “Lucky” Sausage & Cheddar Drop Biscuits, and a Cucumber-Gin Lemonade. For a family meal with extra love, you can take some time to prepare the Seafood & Sausage Paella, Coq au Vin, Latin-Style Roast Pork with Lime Chimichurri Sauce, Chicken Chili & Cornbread Pie, or the Focaccia with Tomatoes, Rosemary & Pecorino Romano. Or if dessert is your love language, try the Strawberries & Cream Layer Cake, Rustic Plum Tart, Kentucky Bourbon Cake, or Sweet Potato Praline Pie.
I loved the way Segal was honest about her own struggles with getting dinner on the table sometimes, and the way she brings lots of flavor to the table in a short amount of time. Weeknight/Weekend has over 70 recipes for weeknights, and over 30 for weekends, and she notes which recipes are blog favorites (so you know those have been tested by home cooks from all over). The photography is gorgeous, and with the sophisticated take on weeknight meals, this would make a great gift for busy parents (or for yourself!). Like any cookbook, not all the recipes are to my taste, but the ones that are have given me some great inspiration for weeknight meals for this fall and winter, when I want to stay in and cook.
A copy of Once Upon a Chef: Weeknight/Weekend was provided by Clarkson Potter through their Ambassador program for a free and unbiased review, with many thanks.
