Easy Weekends - Food by Neil Perry
Book review by Franz Scheurer
Styled by the inimitable Sue Fairlie-Cunninghame and photographed by the masterful Earl Carter, this book has instant appeal. It's solid, achievable and delectable weekend food, filling a gap in the cookbook market, showing you how easy it can be to wow your guests (or simply eat very well on your own).
The book is divided into:
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
With the usual acknowledgements and a good index at the back.
On Friday you could cook a simple Cream of Fennel Soup or maybe some Fried Eggs with spicy Tamarind Dressing. Something as simple as Spaghetti with Toasted Breadcrumbs is a sure winner with the kids and a Classic Pepper Steak will have the adults beside themselves.
On Saturday you might want to 'up the ante' a little and start your meal with Chopped Raw Beef with Jalape�o Salad and Bruschetta followed by a Blue Swimmer Crab Tagliatelle with Lemon and Chilli. As a light but superb main-course I would suggest the Crumbed Leatherjacket with Steamed Zucchini or the Buttermilk Fried Chook and finish the meal with a Greek-style Custard Tart. The pics look so good that I'm salivating by now...
On Sunday you probably want to take it a little easier; you deserved a day off, so I suggest you start with a simple breakfast of Poached Eggs with Yoghurt, Sage and Chilli or maybe Smoked Salmon with Poached Eggs. Have a Bloody Mary or a glass of Sparkling Red with it and you'll start the Sunday in style. For lunch I suggest the Moroccan Lamb Soup as this is a dish you can make ahead and simply heat up, no fuss there and equally non-labour intensive would be a dinner of Slow-roasted Shoulder of Lamb. A Bread and Butter Pudding will seal your Sunday and you all roll to bed happily.
To quote Neil Perry: Easy Weekends is a celebration of cooking at home and the place for food and drink in 'the good life'.
Published by Murdoch Books
ISBN: 987-1742669731
RRP: $49.99
Published in November 2012
Look out for it!
