The Cooking Club Cookbook: Six Friends Show You How to Bake, Broil, and Bond
The women behindThe Cooking Club Cookbookare independent,  fun-loving, successful New Yorkers, who get together once a month for a cooking club. Why? "It's tastier than a book club." Together they've been through countless job changes, two weddings, numerous boyfriends, and apartment upgrades. And still they meet once a month. A quick perusal ofThe Cooking Club Cookbookis all you need to understand why. These six women are funny, intelligent, and loyal, and they've learned to cook very well. Each woman brings one dish, and the theme is agreed upon ahead of time (Spanish, Mediterranean, Comfort, etc.). They don't have much free time, so their dishes are simple. They don't have much space, so the required equipment and number of ingredients is limited. The point of the club, really, is to get together on a regular basis to catch up, gossip, and ask for opinions and advice.The bonus is that each woman only has to prepare one dish, but gets to enjoy fabulous meals like the Far East Feast: Cellophane Noodle Salad with Shrimp, pungent with garlic, lime juice, and sesame oil; surprisingly easy steamed Shiitake Dumplings; sophisticated Thai Vegetable Curry; lick-the-pot-clean Spicy Peanut Chicken; an ex-boyfriend's Lemongrass Bass; and a delectable Coconut Rice Pudding. You might take one look through this book and start recruiting for a club of your own, but at the very least, the gorgeous photos and easy recipes will have you turning out seriously gourmet food for your friends.--Leora Y. Bloom