Quick Loaves: 150 Breads and Cakes, Meat and Meatless Loaves Book

Easy does it! That's the mantra of today's busy cook. And what could be easier than quick loaves — no-fuss, no-muss starters, main dishes, sides, breads, and desserts?

When it comes to quick loaves, it's time to think outside the box. And that's exactly what award-winning cookbook author Jean Anderson has done here. She offers up tips for trimming prep time, such as recipes for make-ahead bread, cake, herb, and spice mixes, as well as tricks for speedy cooking, such as making mini meatloaves in muffin pans.

The 150 recipes include everything from exotic new quick loaves to familiar classics. On the savory side there's Little Thai Turkey Loaves, Bobotie (a mildly curried South African lamb loaf), Quick-Mix Five-Ingredient Meatloaf, and Blonde Lasagna. For something sweet, try Frangelico Torte, Key Lime Mousse, or Shenandoah Blackberry Cake with Browned Butter Frosting.

Ever the teacher, Anderson shows you how to cook on fast-forward without dirtying every pan in the kitchen. Indeed, many of her recipes require one bowl, one measuring cup, and one loaf pan. Talk about easy!

Library Journal

Observes Anderson-who has written books on food processor and microwave cooking-the term quick loaf is certainly more associated with tea breads and their relatives than with meat loaves. The juxtaposition of the two may seem somewhat odd, yet she wanted to cover both the sweet and the savory categories. Of the latter, she features meat loaves of all types, plus bread puddings, a terrine or two, and, reflecting her Southern heritage, several gelatin molds. Also included are two basic make-ahead mixes that serve as building blocks for many of the breads and sweet loaves, from Pimiento Cheese Bread to Orange Marmalade Cake. Within these mainly fast and easy recipes, readers will find numerous time-saving tips and shortcuts. For larger collections. Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.