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Dave's Dinners - A Fresh Approach to Home-Cooked Meals
by Dave Lieberman
Hyperion
ISBN 1-4013-0129-0
Published October 2006 - Hardcover - 212 pages - $27.50

My kinda book.  Easy-to-make and healthy home-cooked meals (the essence of my own upcoming cookbook).  Food Network chef Dave Lieberman's second book, is predominantly about dinners, but covers Drinks and Finger Foods; Salads; Soups; Poultry; Fish; Pasta; Meat, and Desserts.  Lieberman says finger foods can be a dinner, and to go along with his finger foods, he starts his book off with some of the drinks he's devised using unusual ingredients.  Take for example his syrups - Rosemary Syrup (Rosemary-Lemon Fizz); Orange-Cardamom Syrup (Orange-Cardamom Bellini), and Lemon-Thyme Syrup (Lemon-Thyme Martini).  His Fingerfoods include Dry-Rubbed Baby Backs; Mini Fish Cakes with Dijon-Shallot Caper Mayonnaise, and Ricotta-Stuffed Bacon-Wrapped Dates (this looks fabulous).  From his Salads, I fancied Roasted Squash, Spinach, and Leek Salad with Maple Syrup Dressing.  Hearty soups have long been considered meals in themselves, and these recipes are worth looking at: Moroccan Spiced Chickpea Soup, or Shrimp and Spicy Sausage Stew.  For a more traditional "dinner," how about Chicken Tikka Masala with Cardamom Basmati Rice (one of my all-time favorite meals!); Penne with Butternut Squash, Fresh Chorizo, and Thyme, or Braised Lamb Shoulder Chops with Kale and Cannellini Beans?  For dessert, I'd love to try Lemon-Blueberry Cheesecake with Shortbread Cookie Crust.  I appreciated Dave not using expensive cuts of meat - unnecessary and sometimes just overpriced and not affordable to many people.
Beautifully illustrated.  No nutritional guides.
Conclusion - Simply deliciously inspirational and practical dishes.  Yay!