Top Chef and Top Chef All-Stars star Antonia Lofaso release a cookbook with Mom in mind in "The Busy Mom's Cookbook."
Lofaso, a graduate of the French Culinary Institute, executive chef of Los Angeles restaurant Black Market Liquor Bar, and the single mom of an 11-year-old, Lofaso has plenty to keep her busy. This collection of 100 recipes are designed to be quick, flavorful and a fun way to bring family dinner back to the table.
The cookbook is divided into chapters of Breakfast and Brunch, The Better Brown Bag, School-Night Dinners, Multi-Meals, Movie Night, Family Style, Sunday Dinner, Kids in the Kitchen and Sweetness.
Breakfast and Brunch recipes range from Leon Crepes, Open-Face BLT with Eggs on the Sunny Side and even Customized Mini-Frittatas.
The Better Brown Bag is recipes for both you and the kids for lunch like Smoked Turkey and Gruyere Panini with Tarragon, Homemade Hummus, Chicken Fajita to Go and more.
School-Night Dinners are quick fixes after work and school like Aged Cheddar and Gruyere Mini-Burgers with Cajun Mayo, Croque Monsieur and Madame, Grilled Fish Tacos with Cilantro Cabbage and Chicken Bolognese with Rigatoni.
Multi-Meals are ways incorporate leftovers, like Roasted Chicken which can then become Chicken and Dumplings, Madras Curry Chicken with Turmeic Basmati Rice and Leftoever Chicken Lettuce Cups.
Movie Night is fun snacks like Caramel-Almond Popcorn, Lemon-Pepper Chicken Wings and Guacamole and Tortilla Chips.
Family Style is recipes for a big dinner, like Everything Paella, Pizza with Prosciutto and Burrata, Catfish Fritters, and Mixed Bean Salad with Roasted Bell Peppers.
Sunday Dinner is recipes that take a bit more time, like Tex-Mex Turkey Chili, Honey Corn Cakes, Old-Fashioned Pot Roast, Crispy Fried Chicken, Bone-in Rib Eye with Sauce and Shallot-Potato Gratin.
Kids in the Kitchen are recipes kids can help make, like Italian Rice Balls, Samosas with Mango Salsa and Cucumber Yogurt Sauce, Tacos with Homemade Corn Tortillas and Chinese Dumplings with Ponzu Sauce.
Finally Sweetness is desserts like Peach Bundt Cake, Oreo Cookie Ice Cream and Chocolate-Banana-Caramel Bread Pudding.
Since my kids usually like a good macaroni and cheese, I decided to make the Baked Penne with Three Cheeses. This pasta dish made use of heavy cream and a few seasonings and then the cheese - mozzarella, cheddar and parmigiano-reggiano. It then baked in the oven and didn't take much prep time at all. The best part was it made a lot so while it said it served 4, it could easy serve 6 or more, as there was plenty of leftovers for us. And both girls loved the cheesy flavor, making this one a big success for me.
"The Busy Mom's Cookbook" is published by Avery. It is $28,
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Contact Amy Phelps at aphelps@newsandsentinel.com
