Even the most enthusiastic and experienced cooks can go through slumps, whether due to time constraints, creative lapses or responsibilities to work or family. Other times, home chefs may cook leisurely, experimenting with ingredients and flavors or mastering new techniques. Nights and Weekends: Recipes That Make the Most of Your Time, the delightful new cookbook by Alexis deBoschnek (To the Last Bite), perfectly fits the bill for both scenarios.
It is organized into two main sections: one with recipes for busy weeknights and the other featuring slightly more involved meals for when time isn’t an obstacle. The Nights portion is broken down into categories suitable for weeknight cooking: pasta, soups and stews, vegetable mains, sides and salads, meat and fish. All meet deBoschnek’s criteria of coming together quickly, requiring little effort, utilizing simple ingredients and involving minimal cookware. The Weekends section embraces more than just suppertime fare, with recipes divided into snacks, brunch, dinner and dessert, or “all the meals you might make in a weekend.” As deBoschnek notes, these recipes aren’t difficult; they just might take a bit more time and effort to prepare.
Nights and Weekends has a decidedly flexitarian focus. Plant-forward dishes like marinated white beans and artichokes and crispy gnocchi caprese incorporate pantry staples with fresh produce like celery, cherry tomatoes and basil. Both can be assembled in no time on a hectic weeknight. Craving a meaty, slow-roasted dish for Sunday supper? Try soy-braised cumin lamb, an aromatic stew perfect for a cold winter evening, or French market chicken cooked low and slow over herb- and garlic-infused potatoes. Need an impressive dessert for a celebratory gathering? Spumoni and party pavlova are fun, colorful options.
Recipes are accompanied by colorful photographs, helpful recipe intros, notes for substitutions and serving and storage tips. With a variety of options for any occasion, cooks looking for some fresh inspiration will find Nights and Weekends a welcome addition to their repertoire.