Cheap & Easy

Do-it-yourself has made a comeback, as evidenced by the clicking of knitting needles and banana bread baking in studio apartments. Now, here is a book for the novice nester who wants to whip up meals in an ill-equipped kitchen smaller than a breadbox. Mixing practicality and great recipes, Sandra bark and Alexis Kanfer cover breakfast (for eating en route to work or sharing with a lover), lunch, dinner, drinks, and snacks. Each section has a playing the field sidebar that allows the cook to vary the recipe according to taste--and what she has on hand. For example, the authors' frittata recipe is made in a muffin tin so that guests can choose their own fillings. Other recipes include: The Independence Pancake--a puff to free the host from flipping pancakes Memoirs of a Grapefruit--a crisp vinaigrette; the essence of dressing well Fred and Ginger Pumpkin Soup--easy to make for a just-got-home dinner Lazy Girl's Lasagna--a timesaving version of the classic Whether cooking for mom or Mr. Maybe, Cheap & Easy won't eat up her day or her budget.