Put Down The Rotisserie Chicken

I fear cookbooks have become a relic from the past. Like phone books, photo albums and books by James Michener. Fondly remembered but meaningless to modern life because they take up so damn much time. Who has the time and energy to read the recipe, hunt down the 35 specialty items at the store, procure the special tool needed to construct the dish and then actually whip it up?

No one, except my friend Paul who likes to cook and actually owns a lemon zester. My favorite fella does too but that’s only because Paul told me to buy him one. My point is that unless you’re a naturally good cook, like Paul and my guy, the time/energy quandary of cooking might sink you before you’ve even begun. Because really, the only quick part of the whole cooking process is watching your kids take two bites before proclaiming the dish weird and inedible.

But responding with a nightly roasted chicken (which may or may not be from the deli aisle at the grocery store) isn’t the answer either. If I buy -- I mean, make -- this dish one more time I’m pretty sure my family will go into the “diner relocation program” just to get away from me and my uninspired cooking.

Where is the cookbook that features quick, healthy, good dishes that feature just a few easy-to-find ingredients and no impossible-sounding verbs like “braise” or disgusting-to-prep items like onions? It turns out this cookbook is at the bookstore, under “W” for Workman, which is the last name of the gal who wrote it. It’s called “The Mom 100 Cookbook”.

Apparently, it is a bible for bad cooks like me. This is according to my friend Jane, who owns “The Mom 100 Cookbook” even though she is a naturally good cook herself. I trust Jane’s judgement. She is the one who got guru girl to quit drinking White Zinfandel back in the day. Jane used tough love and told it to me straight,” White Zinfandel is tacky. How about a nice Merlot?”

I’m channeling Jane’s tough love approach here. If you are like me, you need to put the rotisserie chicken down and pick your credit card up. Jump on amazon and order Katie Workman’s “Mom 100 Cookbook”.(Available on amazon.com for around $11.) May it transform what you’re cooking like the Caldrea cleaner (see yesterday’s post) transformed where you’re cooking it.