Published by Meredith Books in 2005, this cookbook is an oversized paperback w0ith lots of color photographs. Semi-Homemade cooking, by this New York Times best selling author, relies on store-bought, step-saving ingredients such as preshredded carrots, bottled lemon juice, frozen puff pastry, pregrated cheeses, canned soups and sauces, boxed cake and pudding mixes and more so even the busiest cooks can fix wonderful meals with creativity and flair that are sure to please everyone at the table.

The helpful, healthful pantry sections have suggestions showing many pictures of different things that can add pizzaz to any meal such as grains and pastas, herbs, spices, veggies and fruits and extracts and flavorings.

Each recipe section includes tasty recipes for that topic including a little information at the front of each on the country's cooking style. I also LOVE the fact that each recipe is also depicted in a photograph of it..Some of the photographs include a picture of more than one recipe together.. such as the picture of Chunky Chili and Chili Rolls with both recipes on the opposite page. Or the picture of Plumtini, White Knight Saketini and Lychee Saketini Blush and the three recipes for the drinks on the opposite page.


Table of Contents includes:
Introduction by Tyler Florence
Letter from Sandra
AHelpful, Healthful Pantry-Garden Greens, Herbs & Oils
A Helpful, Healthful Pantry-Cheese, Meats, Fruits & Beggies
Pasta, Potato, Nuts & Grains
Spices & Seasonings
Italian
Mexican
Asian
BBQ
Comfort Food
Light and Healthful
Slow Cooking
Everyday Dinners
Special Occasions

There are lots of recipes in this cookbook of 239 pages from front to back. Some of the recipes include: Grilled Cheese Dippers, Mini Burgers on Toasted Disks, Smoked Salmon and Avocado Stacks, Beach Paradise, Green Corn Tamale Casserole, Almond Chai Ice Cream, Steamed Pork Bao Buns,Fish Tacos, Las Chalupas, Billiard Room Pizza Wheel, Crispy Pepper Potato Cakes, Mini Chicken Pot Pies, Italian Baked Pork Chops, Goat Cheese Polenta and many more.

I would definitely recommend this cookbook for anyone who has a busy lifestyle and doesn't have time to make everything from scratch and for anyone who just enjoys good food with a minimum of fuss to get it made. My daughter who recently moved out loves this cookbook as she is going to college and working so doesn't have a lot of time to spend on cooking. It's great for anyone. You can get this wonderful cookbook by clicking on the following link at Amazon.com.