The No-Fuss Family Cookbook: Simple Recipes for Everyday Life

Ryan Scott, a graduate of Top Chef, restauranteur, and family man knows a lot about food and how to make it interesting and fun. The eighty-one recipes in this pretty cookbook are arranged in seven sections — Breakfast and Baked Goods; Salads, Soups, and Snacks; Pasta; Dinner; Veggies and Sides; and Desserts. Each recipe comes with its story. Scott’s write-ups are well-written and fun to read. A good ingredients list and prep and cooking time are included, but unfortunately, there is no nutritional information. Many people are counting calories or have need to track other information. Also, the title including the words “No-Fuss” is misleading. There is quite a lot of fuss and lots of ingredients one might not have on hand. That said, recipes such as Turkey Reuben Meat Loaf with Homemade Thousand Island Dressing, Pumpkin Cream Cheese Streusel Muffins, and Sweet Potato Jojos with Buttermilk Ranch Dipping Sauce will make all the fuss and special shopping well worth one’s time and bother. Many recipes, such as Olive’s Naturally Sweet PB&J Pancakes, seem to be designed with kids in mind. This is a unique cookbook and a nice addition to any collection.