At Home With The French Classics: Great French Recipes Updated and Simplified for the Contempory American Kitchen by Richard Grausman, Donna Ruff (Illustrator)

From the Publisher

No one has done more to make French cooking accessible to Americans than Richard Grausman. His culinary innovations and techniques -- golden souffles baked in just 10 minutes, a light and luscious mousse au chocolat that can be made as a cake, chocolate roll, souffle, or pudding -- transform the classics to fit our contemporary diet and schedule. When a step isn't crucial, he eliminates it. If something can be done in advance, he does it. Plus he's cut the amount of butter, cream, egg yolks, salt, and sugar for health-conscious recipes without compromising the essential nature of the dish. In more than 250 splendid recipes, Grausman presents grand cuisine for both gracious entertaining and the everyday meal with an unmistakable French flair.

Publishers Weekly

If you are cowed by puff pastry, souffles and things sauteed, Grausman's book will help you conquer your awe of French cooking. His title reflects his aim: to make classic French recipes and techniques approachable for the average cook. With more than 20 years of experience as a teacher in this country of the Cordon Bleu technique, Grausman knows the classic dishes inside out but favors the exercise of independent judgment in preparing them, on the theory that ``there is always more than one way to achieve a desired end.'' Accordingly, he advises flexibility and creativity as a cook's cardinal virtues; urges us to adjust ingredients to taste in recipes; and notes that the ``timing given in recipes should be viewed merely as a guide, not an absolute.'' Where practical, recipes have been shortened and do-ahead steps included. Grausman reduces or even eliminates certain staples (salt, sugar, egg yolks, cream) and uses appliances (e.g., food processors) to blend, chop and mix. (Feb.)

Library Journal

``French Cooking Without Fear'' might be another title for cooking teacher Grausman's book; his aim is to update traditional French cuisine by cutting out calories and salt, simplifying preparation and techniques, and using readily available ingredients. His intentions are good, but there is still a fair amount of butter and cream--and time--required in many of these recipes; that is part of classic French cuisine. And are all of Julia Child's and Jacques Pepin's books really so intimidating? For larger collections.-- JS

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