MarketBasket: Bookshelf

By Rachael Ray

Clarkson Potter. 360 pp. $24.95

Well, BOB and I did not get off to a great start. I could not identify the first photograph in the book. What was it? Why did it look like there was raw chicken in it? I was surprised to find other unappetizing photos, as well - rather strange, given the gazillion-dollar Rachael Ray industry. Shouldn't photos of food in cookbooks make your mouth water? Also, many of the titles for the recipes seemed long and over-described. But, still, I thought, it's about the recipes.

The first one I tried was the Cheddar and Chutney Stuffed Chicken Breasts served with BLTP. (BTW, those are bacon, leeks, tomatoes and potatoes.) FYI, Ray really likes abbreviations, in case you didn't know; EVOO; MYOTO (I turned to the Internet to find that it means "make your own takeout"). My guess is she must really like to text, LOL.

The recipe was one of the "30-Minute Meals," but it took more like 50 minutes. It was easy to prepare with simple ingredients found at my local supermarket, and it was like having pub food in your home, perfect for a weeknight dinner. The whole family enjoyed both the chicken and the potatoes.

I should note that there were no instructions for cleaning the leeks in this dish. Leeks are grown in sandy soil and should be soaked in cold water for a proper cleaning (see ehow.com). Gritty leeks could ruin a dish, and I was surprised that BOB didn't give the reader more information. I would also toothpick my stuffed chicken together during cooking so the cheese and chutney stay inside.

Next up was the Smoky Tomato Soup with Mini Grilled Cheese and Bacon Sammies. This healthful soup and the not-so-healthful sandwiches were finished well within 30 minutes. While the cheese-popcorn garnish for the soup seemed like a cute idea, it became soggy very quickly.