Michael Symon's 5 in 5 For Every Season

Review:

I enjoy "The Chew" and am a Michael Symon fan, so I was excited when I was given the chance to read and review about this book.  Michael Symon does a regular segment on "The Chew"called 5 in 5 where he takes 5 ingredients and is challenged to make a delicious meal in just 5 minutes. These recipes will take longer than 5 minutes (I mean, who is lucky enough to have prep cooks to get all your items in place and ready for you?). You'll also notice in the cookbook that sometimes recipes go beyond 5 ingredients. Again, 5 in 5 is more of a guideline than a rigid rule. 

This book is for anyone who loves to cook in every season (or wants to learn). Not too many ingredients, no elaborate preparations. Michael Symon gives you a list at the beginning of the book of items to keep on hand in the pantry (olive oils, balsamic vinegar, pasta, etc.). It makes it quick and easy to get what is needed to stock a pantry. After that, you just need to pick up a few fresh ingredients for each meal.

The only drawback I have with this book (and it's no reflection on the content of the book itself) is the way the book was printed...to use this cookbook in your kitchen, as you're cooking, a spiral binding would have been a better choice. The book, as published, does not lay flat - a spiral bound book would be much more helpful as you prepare recipes.  Other than that, I'd highly recommend this book.

From the Publisher:

5 fresh ingredients + 5 minutes of heat = 165 recipes

Ridiculously easy from-scratch recipes to get you in and out of the kitchen in a flash every day of the week—now with sides and holiday dishes, too

The follow-up to the bestselling Michael Symon’s 5 in 5, this new book delivers 165 quick, easy, fresh recipes organized by season with an entire section devoted to making the holidays simpler than ever. Each chapter features inspired main courses as well as recipes for sides and 5 fun ways to celebrate the season, including no-bake summer fruit desserts and spiked drinks to warm up with in winter.


About the Author

MICHAEL SYMON is an Iron Chef on Food Network’s Iron Chef America and a James Beard Award Winner. He is the chef and co-owner of the acclaimed restaurants Lola and Lolita, located in Cleveland, Ohio, as well as Roast, in Detroit, Michigan.

Disclosure information:  I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review.