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Le Cordon Bleu Quick & Easy
by Jeni Wright and le Cordon Bleu Chefs
Thunder Bay Books
ISBN 1-59223-198-5
Published October 2004 - Hardcover - 384 pages - $24.98

Cordon Bleu cooking has long been associated with lavish and rich sauces delicately drizzled on exquisitely cooked food.  And for the record, it's cordon "blur" not blue.  However, this book is filled with exotic dishes that are much simpler to prepare than they would have been years ago.  Isn't progress delightful?  Thankfully, there are very few packaged foods they use, and seem only to use canned consommé and some phyllo pastry here and there.  Everything else is fresh which makes a huge difference in the end result, besides being much healthier for you.  Not only French cuisine but also some Indian dishes, Chinese fare, Spanish, Italian, and Caribbean to mention just a few are included.  Beautiful illustrations accompany most recipes and I found this one of the best recipe books I've come across in a long while - great for trying new things and eating healthily.  You won't have to restock your pantry too much - check what you need from their lists on page 346.  The good news is that the ingredients are low-fat, natural and healthy.  Most recipes have chef's tips and/or variations as options.  There are eight chapters and include Soups & Starters; Fish; Poultry, Game, & Meat; Vegetables and Salads; Pasta, and Desserts.  They have the ever-useful conversion tables which nowadays is hard to come by in recipe books.  They also have dinner menu ideas which are great.  Take for example - Seafood Dinner Party with mussels, smoked salmon, and ginger crème brûlée.  Or, Dinner à Deux which has avocado with grapefruit, steak with green peppercorn sauce, and chocolate pecan yogurt ice cream for dessert.  Yum, yum.
Conclusion - A must for cooking enthusiasts who are looking for something new to serve.  If this is your first recipe book, you'll be made for life!