MrsK Books: Michael Symon's 5 in 5 For Every Season

Sunday, September 20, 2015

Michael Symon's 5 in 5 For Every Season

ISBN: 9780804186568

Publisher's Synopsis:

5 fresh ingredients + 5 minutes of heat = 165 recipes

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.

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...

MrsK's Review:
What could be more delicious than spending time browsing a cook book. It's never a good idea to browse on an empty stomach, yet being inspired by these seasonal dishes does lead you into many decisions to add a "new" meal to your menu.

"...you can get a from-scratch meal on the table for

you, your family, and your friends

in very little time, for not a lot of money,

and without a lot of fuss."

Organized into seasons, these meals are "plentiful" with year round basics and local produce. Beginning with what is in your pantry, the opening season is the spring. Michael entices you out of the winter and into the farmers' markets. Keeping meals "light" and "quick and easy" here are a few that interested our family:

Spring Pea "Guacamole" with grilled bread and radish (pg.14): perfect entree for any gathering, especially book clubs
Grilled chicken breast with shaved fennel and orange salad (pg.23): zesty mixture of goodness
Grilled "Skirt" steak with mushroom gravy (pg.26): okay... this is for the men and for me... the gravy made my mouth water especially "yummy" for those spring rainy evenings
Couscous with peas, asparagus, and Parmesan (pg. 55): such a simple side dish or what's for lunch

I agree with Michael that there is nothing better than a "sun-warmed tomato... sprinkled with a little sea salt." Summertime is not just fast meals, it is always the best when it comes straight from your garden onto your table:

Grilled zucchini rolls with Feta and almonds (pg.61): yum with a zing (definitely one for our book club)
Spicy Salami, cantaloupe, and mint salad (pg.86): add the chilled Greek yogurt and summer flavors will zizzle
Spinach salad with strawberries, red onions, and Feta (pg.102): this could be my lunch all summer long
Warm brown butter vanilla blueberries (pg.109): over vanilla ice cream on a hot summer night... oh yeah!

"The skies are bright blue and the leaves are turning every shade of

red, orange, and yellow.

I'm thinking of football, pumpkin patches, and backyard fires."

And so am I....

Grilled cheese with Havarti and apple (pg.116): an adult grilled cheese that makes your mouth water
Orecchiette with Brussels sprouts and bacon (pg.125): a fall flavor with pasta... yes please!
Kale and apple salad with Maple Cider dressing (pg.150): add a warm buttered baguette and enjoy while watching a storm

Winter is all about the comfort food... and of course a good book! What is inspiring me to rethink some "old favorites" is Michael's tantalizing idea to add citrus zest and juices to the winter gloom.

Rigatoni with pulled chicken and Feta (pg.171): simple yes, but so inviting
Chicken cutlets with Swiss Chard and pomegranate (pg.178): breaded chicken served on top of a Swiss Chard salad, yum!
Chicken breasts with bacon and Brussel Sprouts (pg.184): its the flavors cooked to perfection and the Dijon mustard that brings flavor to a new level
Butternut squash couscous with mint and almonds (pg.204): this is what's cooking for our fall book club

Is anyone hungry? These recipes are quick to prepare. Easy to cook. Tantalizing to your taste buds. The only spoiler with this cook book, is that some of the recipes have ingredients that might not fit your budget or your family. The proof of a good recipe, is in the making... switch it out and Michael's recipe has now become your own!

Enjoy browsing, cooking, and discovering tasty newness for your table,
MrsK

Adding zest to your table in every season!

Meet the Author:

Online Recipes

Chef Michael Symon cooks with soul. Growing up in a Greek and Sicilian family, the Cleveland native creates boldly flavored, deeply satisfying dishes at his restaurants in America’s heartland. He also shares his exuberant, approachable cooking style and infectious laugh with viewers as an Iron Chef on Food Network and as a co-host on ABC’s The Chew. When he’s not working, Michael is riding his motorcycle, cooking at home, playing golf, thinking about his next tattoo, gardening in the backyard or spending time with his wife, Liz, and their Old English bulldog, Ozzy.

Since being named a Best New Chef by Food & Wine magazine in 1998, Michael and his restaurants have been awarded numerous honors: in 2000 Gourmet magazine chose Lola as one of “America’s Best Restaurants;” in 2010, Michael was the first chef ever to host the annual Farm Aid benefit concert; Bon Appetit magazine included B Spot on their list of “Top 10 Best New Burger Joints;” B Spot’s Fat Doug burger won the People’s Choice award at the SoBe Wine & Food Festival. In 2009, Michael earned The James Beard Foundation Award for Best Chef: Great Lakes and the Detroit Free Press named Roast “Restaurant of the Year.”

"I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review."

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MrsK's Reading Bio

Reading is important! No questions asked, not even a blink of the eye from any student I grew up with. On the first day of the First grade, we were given our first books. Day two we all read aloud, round robin of course. Day three we were place in our first basal, now known as a lit circle group. Books were so important, publishers designed new curriculum so that every student was reading by the end of the first week. These early readers had images that looked like what we could see in the classroom, beyond the classroom, even on the big screen. Reading is important, throughout history every generation has believed that “Reading” opens up the world for endless possibilities.

I adore the 1950’s Dick and Jane books. Actually, most reading specialists and experienced (45+) educators believe that every student learned to read with Dick and Jane. Since these books are being re-issued, I have heard many parents, grandparents, and students claim that Dick and Jane stories of repetition does teach students to read.

Early influences from my mother influenced my desire to read. I would watch her read and we would go on “secret” excursions to the library. The library became my playground. I owned every book I could carry home, of course they needed to be taken back to their home after visiting with me for a week or two. My first book that I could pull off of the library shelf and read was, Father Bear Comes Home. I only saw my dad on Sundays for a few hours. I would pull this beginning reader off of the library shelf every week. Every week I would try to read the first chapter. Every week I got further in the story. My mom would let me check it out, only if I could read it myself (She didn’t like the illustrations therefore she didn’t want to take time to read it to me). One day, I pulled the book from the shelf and when mom came to get me from the children’s corner, I realized that I had read the whole story. I ran to the check out desk and the Librarian KERCHUNKED the checkout card. My mother, brother and neighbors read. My teachers read. We all read aloud all day long in school. The Priest read aloud every day at mass, even in Latin. Everybody in the Doctor’s office read. People on the bus read. Dad’s waiting in their cars as the Mom’s and children grocery shopped, read. In fact, once you could read and write, Sunset Magazine considered you a reader and sent you mail every day.

Reading is important; I’ve spent my life reading. I’ve traveled around the world and into space through books. My favorite genre is whichever book I have open at the time. Children’s Literature is my passion. Book clubbing is one of the best past times, especially if food is involved. In fact my friends of old are in a book club and we are about to embark on a beach trip to “read” and discuss our newest selection.

My “home-run” book story has helped every student find his or her own “home-run” reads. Every year, I have shared my, Father Bear Comes Home, and every year my students have brought in their “home-run” books. That’s the “diving board” into our Lit. Studies.

In “Growing Up Digital,” Tapscott’s insights into the new generations enthusiasm for the Net reminded me of my generation’s enthusiasm for reading, movies, TV, parties and our driving permits. The Net-Generation, as Tapscott describes, “are learning, playing, communicating, working, creating communities, and enforcing a social transformation.”
N-Geners are interactive “techies” who are always looking for a way to “work it” verses the TV Generation of “Baby Boomers” who started out looking for “how it works.” Reading development is tougher today, society moves too fast to invest their “non-working” free time into a book or even “home work.” Since I stepped into my own classroom, I have seen students being told to read, being forced to read, and threatened into reading. Homework is not any longer the vehicle for students to gain their future lifestyles or careers with. Yet, the Internet does create an enthusiasm for learning. Since I have been enrolled in these courses, I have used the computers in every subject. My students are using the newest technology in the classroom because I am giving them investigative sites to use as they learn from each other and books. I agree with Tapscott, in order to bridge the gap with this up and coming generation we must “live and learn with them.”

FTC Required Disclaimer: I receive these books from the publishers. I did not receive monetary compensation for these reviews. These reviews have been posted in compliance with the FTC requirements set forth in the Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising (available at ftc.gov/os/2009/10/091005revisedendorsementguides.pdf)