aj12754's Reviews
Cookbook Reviews
Mexican Everyday (Recipes Featured on Season 4 of the PBS-TV series "Mexico One Plate at a Time")
By Rick Bayless, Christopher Hirsheimer, Deann Bayless
W. W. Norton - 2005
In general, I've rarely tried cooking Mexican food at home, as my results seldom seemed to justify the time spent. Until this cookbook. Bayless offers recipes that are uncomplicated, fresh, healthy, and full of flavor. His introduction to the book is a great read and offers insights into his evolving attitudes about making Mexican food easier to prepare and healthier to consume. The section of the at-home Mexican pantry is an excellent resource for the home cook. And Chapter 4 is just great -- includes a number of recipes for rubs, marinades, and salsas that will help you have a Mexican grill at home. This chapter also includes a grilling guide that is an excellent resource.
As an added bonus, each recipe is followed by possible variations (which Bayless calls riffs) which probably double -- and possibly even triple -- the number of recipes contained in the book.
It's nice to have such a personal cookbook by such a passionate cook on my shelves. Bayless's knowledge and the pleasure he takes in cooking are clearly apparent in the pages of this book.