cover image The Minimalist Kitchen: The Practical Art of Making More with Less

The Minimalist Kitchen: The Practical Art of Making More with Less

Melissa Coleman. Oxmoor House, $29.99 (272p) ISBN 978-0-8487-5526-3

In her first cookbook, Coleman, creator of the food blog The Faux Martha, exhibits an easy approach to organizing the kitchen and cooking. Coleman aims to separate the minimalist from the “stodgy and austere” and largely succeeds, though it is a surprise to discover that a list of “essential tools” for the minimalist kitchen includes items such as tortilla warmers. The author excels when providing tips: a clever dough-stacking method results in extra-flaky biscuits and scones, while scrambled eggs are finished off the burner to avoid overcooking. Ideas for reusing leftovers are also practical: beef tacos are made with the remains of the roast on the following page. Coleman even includes some throwback meals such as pasta with vodka sauce and a chicken Caesar salad. The chapter on drinks features cold-brewed coffee, ice tea, and lemonade, as well as a pair of smoothies, and a margarita and sangria. A dessert chapter covers such familiar though satisfying items as chocolate chip cookies and peach cobbler. Plenty will appeal to those who—like the author—have young children and are on the hunt for swift, simple, palatable fare. (Apr.)