I Dream of Dinner (So You Don’t Have To): Low-Effort, High-Reward Recipes

Many books purport to offer easy weeknight meals but disguise cooking time with hidden prep and other complications—not Slagle’s. She hits it out of the park with her first cookbook, collecting recipes that take 45 minutes or less and use 10 or fewer ingredients. Even easier, the recipes are organized by key ingredients, making it easy to start with whatever’s already in the pantry or the slowly wilting produce in the vegetable crisper. In fact, Slagle strongly encourages (and suggests) ingredient substitutions for using up what she calls “pantry lurkers and produce on its last leg.” Recipes are quick but do not skimp on flavor or creativity. This book makes it apparent that its author is a pro recipe developer, food stylist, and New York Times contributor, but cooks won’t feel judged in the kitchen. Quite the opposite: the recipes, tone, photography, and layout are accessible and encouraging. There’s plenty for both vegetarians and meat eaters and also for feeding picky eaters on a weeknight.