The New California Cook

By Diane Rossen Worthington

Book Overview

This superb new edition of a classic cookbook proves that California cooking isn't about living in Californiait's about appreciating seasonal produce, bold flavors, and adventurous ingredient combinations. Now Diane Rossen Worthington revisits her signature recipes and shares some great new discoveries, including Arroz con Pollo, a Mexican dish updated with a hint of mint, an incredible macaroni and cheese with caramelized leeks and prosciutto, and the homey goodness of Almond Shortcake with Roasted Blueberry Compote. The result is a book packed with nearly 200 innovative and naturally healthy dishes. Featured sidebars highlight new trends in California cuisine such as artisan baking, cheese-making, and olive oil production. And with terrific two-color illustrations by Michael Schwab, "The New California Cook" will make cooking California style as breezy as the cuisine itself.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0811849015
• ISBN13: 9780811849012
• Release Date: April 2006
• Publisher: Chronicle Books (CA)
• Length: 392 Pages
• Weight: 1.75 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 8.0" x 8.9"

Customer Reviews

One of the best cookbook authors!

This is my 4th Diane Rossen Worthington cookbook. Ms. Worthington never disappoints. She always offers good suggestions on preparation, making ahead of time, and notes on the bottom of the recipes. My first book by Ms. Worthington was "The Taste of Summer". I don't try every recipe, because I enjoy reading about the recipes as much as I like to cook! I really like the wine suggestions with most of the recipes in "The New California Cook"

Unexpected but accessible flavors

I was originally convinced to buy this cookbook because of the promise of the wonton butternut squash ravioli recipe (p. 126) and it did not disappoint. She pairs the ravioli with a spinach basil pesto, which was unusual and interesting as a flavor combination. The pesto was good, but I now use it with other things and top the ravioli with sage and brown butter instead. I have also made the spiced pumpkin hazelnut bread and love it. I didn't think I needed another pumpkin bread recipe, but this has proven me wrong. The recipe made two loaves with only 1/4 c. butter (less than half of what most similar recipes call for), golden raisins, hazelnuts (or almonds), and a hint of orange juice and zest. The result is brighter and fruitier than traditional, autumnal pumpkin bread and is perfect for a crisp, sunny day in early spring when there is still a can of pumpkin in the pantry and the oranges are in season. In proper California fashion, recipes tend to utilize a lot of produce with Mediterranean influences. I am planning to try the mango and macadamia nut brown butter tart, grilled chicken nicoise, grilled pizza with leeks, mozzarella, tomatoes, and pancetta, and the homemade chicken and apple sausage (made with a food processor). It's a fun cookbook in that even when I don't think I'm going to try a recipe, I find I'm usually still interested in reading about it. I am unlikely to make a pear, pistachio, and chicken liver mousse, for example, but what an interesting set of ideas. If the book had pictures, I'd probably give it another star. As it is though it's a well-formatted, useful, inspiring cookbook with a lot of really interesting recipes that use realistic ingredients in unexpected ways. Even when a recipe looks like it might be a bit pedantic, there's a twist--walnut cake with roasted blueberry compote, for example (roasted blueberries??) If you like this kind of food, this is a fun, realistic cookbook to invest in--but there aren't any pictures so you'll have to use your imagination.

Best for Entertaining

I checked this out at the library and then liked it so much, I had to buy it. The recipes that allow you to do much of the prep ahead are fabulous. I found the time estimatess to be fairly accurate and that user error was the problem when they weren't. ;-)