~Barbarians At The Table~

February 10, 2021

Quick and Delicious:  100 Recipes to cook in 30 minutes or Less by Gordon Ramsay (Grand Central Publishing)

Gordon Ramsay is an absolute hit in our house.  Let’s face it, my boys LOVE watching this guy have outbursts on his television shows while the “F” word rolls off his tongue like it’s nobody’s business. Putting that aside, there is no denying that his recipes and cookbooks are phenomenal. Today I am sharing his latest creation, Quick and Delicious:  100 Recipes to cook in 30 minutes or Less.  This book served my family quite a few easy and delectable meals.  Even better, recipes in this book take under 30 minutes to prepare.  Something I can whip together in 30 minutes without compromising ingredients or taste is what I am always in the market for. This man is officially speaking my love language. 

The beginning of Ramsay’s cookbook basically sets you up for success. Equipment lists, shortcuts to flavor, and time-saving ingredients (hello pre-cut veggies from the grocery store…..I love you so) are briefly touched upon before he dives into the actual recipes.  His book is then divided up into your basic cooking categories.  Soups and Salads, Fish, Meat, Poultry, Grains, etc.  You get the idea.  I will put it out there from the start that some (not all) of his recipes may seem off the beaten path for the basic home cook, but do not let that intimidate you.  Remember…we are all trying to shake things up and get inspired in the kitchen here. Ramsay’s instructions are crystal clear and his recipes are easy to follow along with as long as you have all the ingredients. 

One of our favorite dishes from this cookbook was the Double Lemon Chicken.  Chicken thighs, lemon, soy sauce, runny honey and a bunch of herbs and spices made this rustic dish feel uber fancy.  I served this with a big loaf of crusty bread and Ramsay’s Green Beans with Tarragon and Pine Nuts.  I’m not lying when I say that this pleased all five of us and was labeled “A Write Down” by the kids.  Such a lovely Sunday dinner that did not require any of us being in the kitchen for hours.  Even better, we had leftovers that made for a tasty lunch for some of us, making this a budget friendly WIN!

So I am a huge soup fan.  I personally can make soup my main course with no issues.  My husband and boys, not so much.  They enjoy a bowl of soup, but as a side dish.  I made Ramsay’s Spiced Squash and Lentil Soup as a dinner side dish/potential lunch option.  Butternut squash, red lentils, curry powder, coconut cream and a  bunch of other basic ingredients simmered then were pureed into a smooth, velvety consistency. 

My husband and I really enjoyed this.  We loved how the coconut cream balanced out the spice and the lentils were a hearty addition making this more of a “ meal” soup for me than a side dish.  All three boys ate the soup which is always a plus, but it wasn’t their favorite.  They typically eat butternut squash soup with no problem and they are not afraid of spicy food.  I think the earthiness of the lentils may have thrown them for a loop.  Still a great soup in my opinion.

Another quick and easy slam dunker was the Farfalle with Brown Butter, Peas, and Sage. With just a handful or so of ingredients, this pasta dish is quick to make and a major step up from your run of the mill buttered noodles with parmesan and peas.  The trick to making this simple, yet elegant dish amazing all comes down to the butter. Heating butter in a pan until in turns a golden brown may seem easy, but one second too long in the pan can basically ruin the whole dish.  I burned my first attempt.  Ramsay’s is very clear about when you should remove the butter from the heat.  When you begin to smell a subtle nutty flavor, remove it immediately from the heat. I personally blew it on that during my first round.  I did not smell anything out of the ordinary and removed the butter from the heat source when it had a very light brown color.  So that was wrong.  Even though I removed the heat, the pan was still hot and quickly turned that golden brown into BLACK.  Not a good sign.  For my second attempt, I took it off the minute I saw the color slightly changing.  PERFECTION my friends.  After that…the dish came together in minutes and was the ultimate crowd pleaser.  I paired this with a big old salad and some trusty crusty bread and this crew was in heaven.  

All in all, Ramsay’s new cookbook is working well for our family.  Up next I am hoping to make the Baked Halibut with Borlotti Beans and Tomatoes for dinner and surprising these Barbarians with some Tiramisu Pots for dessert. 

Cheers To Making a Delicious Mess in Our Kitchens!

Kelly

Click on the book pic below to purchase!