I really enjoy cooking but I don’t cook often due to lack of time and energy. Given my limited experience, I’m also easily intimidated by recipes. I won’t even try a recipe if there are unfamiliar ingredients; too long a wait time in-between steps; and too much reading in the recipe.
Salad by author, Mark Bittman
However, when I do cook, I love it. And I get lots of compliments on the dishes too! I love simple, high quality ingredients that can be “thrown together” as much as possible. No fuss. The ingredients do most of the work.
What’s my secret? The NY Times published Summer Express: 101 Simple Meals Ready in 10 Minutes or Less by Mark Bittman a few years ago. Recipes are no more than 3 sentences, and the ingredient list is simple.
The following have been a huge hit: mixed herbs pasta (recipe #2); mussels (recipe #5); pesto sauce (sometimes substituting basil with spinach) (recipe #7); the ground red peppers and green parsley make pasta recipe #33 both beautiful and delicious; versions of recipe #78, laying grilled shrimp and/or white fish — with lots of garlic and oil — over spinach and avocado. Adding salt, pepper and lemon squeezed on top, it’s divine!
Check it out: Simple Delicious Recipes at The NY Times.
