Product Description

As the star of the smash sensation Iron Chef America, Cat Cora is used to improvising exciting dishes on a moment's notice. In this book she shows you how to do it too, whether you want a spur-of-the-moment supper or a spectacular dinner that doesn't require spending your whole Saturday in the kitchen.

Cooking from the Hip is divided into four convenient sections, each with its own appetizers, soups, salads, main dishes, sides, and desserts. You can turn to whichever chapter best suits your needs and mood, knowing that every dish will be simple and special.

Fast: Spicy Chicken and Peach Stir-Fry, Creamy Fettuccine with Sausage, Chocolate Brownie Cupcakes

Easy: Watermelon Gazpacho, Thai Chicken Salad, White Cheddar Corn Bread

Fun: Sunday Cheesesteak Sandwiches, Crispy "Fried" Chicken, Lemonade Cookies

Phenomenal: Mango Margaritas, Pomegranate-Glade Cornish Hens with Wild Rice, Italian Cream Cake

Cooking from the Hip is all about flexibility. You'll be able to use what you've got on hand without being afraid to substitute. You'll learn how to cut down on cooking steps, combine just a few ingredients in inventive ways, pull in leftovers, and wow your family and friends.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #218487 in Books
• Published on: 2007-05-01
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 272 pages

From Publishers Weekly
Cora, the lone woman to be anointed an "Iron Chef" in the Food Network's American version of the series, aims to translate the fast, flashy style of that high-pressure kitchen into recipes that home cooks who have similar time constraints but comparatively modest gadgets and pantries can enjoy. The results are generally pleasing and more accessible than many of the concoctions presented on TV by battling chefs. Four sections break the food into "fast," "easy," "fun," and "phenomenal" categories that are a welcome change from the traditional progression through each course and show Cora's spontaneous, easygoing yet stylish way to its best advantage. Simple variations on classics stand out, as in a Curried Broccoli Salad ("fast") and spiky, flavorful Watermelon Gazpacho ("easy") even when some recipes' placements are questionable: a silky Potato-Celery Root soup is nice, but hardly phenomenal, and beginning or busy cooks may find recipes like hand-rolled Dolmathes or sushi more frustrating and time-intensive than fun, even if friends help. Fortunately, Cora's sunny, can-do attitude and the boxed tips on ingredients and preparation sprinkled throughout will help to dispel many doubts. Home cooks will appreciate the way they expand the repertory of recipes that are upscale enough to impress company, but simple enough to encourage use throughout a busy week. Color photos not seen by PW. (Apr.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Review
Vanity Fair : "With her boundless energy and southern drawl, the kitchen goddess charms audiences and dazzles palates with Mediterranean-inspired dishes."

About the Author
Cat Cora attended the Culinary Institute of America and trained with such celebrated chefs as Larry Forgione, George Blanc, and Roger Verge. She recently starred in NBC's Celebrity Cooking Showdown. As president and cofounder of Chefs for Humanity, she spearheads a number of charity events, including Hurrican Katrina relief efforts for New Orleans and her native state, Mississippi. Ann Krueger Spivack is a contributor for Houghton Mifflin Company titles including: "'Cooking from the Hip."'

Customer Reviews

Cooking Hips Don't Lie
Cat Cora's "Cooking from the Hip" has recipes for every kind of cook. Iron Chef Cora categorizes her recipes as:fast/easy/phenomenal/good to know. She gives essential tips on stocking the cupboard,making different kinds of vinegars and oils,and so on.

Cora has plenty of picnic-friendly dishes,such as farfalle and herb salad with peas,a parmesan,proscuitto,and arugula sandwich,along with lemonade cookies,and Asian steak&spinach salad. It shows how she lives not far from the Wine Country in a Mediterranean climate. Cora spends an entire section on sushi,making the Zoran sushi recipe in honor of her son. She discusses hashes,using salmon hash as an example. Cora is also a fan of watermelon. In her previous cookbook,she had a creative watermelon/feta salad created by her partner Jennifer. In this book,she has watermelon gazpacho.

Finally,Cora makes creative variations on well-known recipes. Her lettuce "gyros" with spicy halibut are in lettuce leaves instead of pita bread. Her "fried" chicken has crushed cornflakes instead of the usual breading.

"Cooking from the Hip" shows that hips don't lie! Bon appetit!

Pleasantly surprised
I have not seen Cat on "IRON CHEF",though I'd heard that she was one of the first women chefs to have won the title. I ordered this book, sight unseen, and I must say that I've been pleasantly surprised.

Here are the plusses and the minusses....

(+)
*Recipes are very easy to follow.
*Photos accompany most of the recipes.
*Recipes are easy to duplicate if a person's skill level is a bit over the "beginner level".
*Most of the recipes are easy to duplicate, such as:
~~Crepes, p.156 and 166
~~Glazed baby carrots and Dill, p. 219
~~Alma's Italian Cream Cake, p. 221
~~Endive & Honeydew & Pear Salad, p. 68
~~Asian Steak and Spinach, p.72
~~Thai Chicken Salad w/Cabbage, p. 83
~~Pasta w/ Roasted Peppers & Tomatoes,p. 88
~~Cherry Clafouti, p.97
~~Bruschetta with 3 toppings, P. 106-108
~~Classic Mojitos, P. 116
~~Chicken PotPie with Puff Pastry, p.140
(-)

The only reason I did not give this book FIVE Stars is because some (not all) of the recipes remind me of Giada's bizarre recipes from her latest book (such as Giada's Cranberry Raviolis) & that seem to have strange taste combinations, such as:
~~Rizolato (strange ingredients)
~~Shrimp and Scallop Coconut Seviche (raw fish combo)
~~Saffron Honey Roasted chicken (too sweet)
~~Over-the-Top Ahi Tuna Salad (once again, raw fish)

All in all though, I give this book 4 stars because MOST of the recipes are do-able and (for me at least) would not be hard to duplicate. Also, I like the introduction Cat gives to each Chapter, and also I liked the very handy STOCK & SAUCE recipes located at the very end.

A winning survey.
Cat Cora is star of the TV marathon chef's cooking show Iron Chief America, and so has much experience preparing exciting dishes at the drop of a hat. Home cooks can now duplicate her efforts through a guide which covers producing such fast and easy fare as Watermelon Gazpacho, Asian Steak and Spinach Salad, and Chocolate Brownie Cupcakes. Add color photos throughout and you have a winning survey.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch