SHORT, SIMPLE and SNAPPY TASTE WITH NO TIME TO WASTE Is a collection of easy recipes and plenty of ideas you can interpret "your way". Some with an international flavor, others in a simplified version of classics. They invite you to be creative and improvise without having to stick to given amounts. Aimed at busy people with little time left to spend in the kitchen, young couples, beginners venturing into the field of cooking, those on a tight budget, and of course all Food Lovers. The recipes are simple. They avoid lengthy preparations, long lists and large amounts of ingredients. Quantities are flexible. Ingredients can be substituted with ones you have on hand or others you prefer. Amounts are average. They can be increased or decreased according to appetites. Be daring in your exploration of foods and flavors. Cheer up your everyday cooking!
About the Author: Cairo was a cosmopolitan metropolis where foreigners from all over the world enjoyed side-by-side the treasures of local and multicultural lifestyles. Restaurants and private homes offered a wide range of international cuisine ranging from the Middle East to around the Mediterranean and far beyond. Maria McRae was born in Cairo, Egypt, to a family of Greek, English and Lebanese backgrounds. Her half-English grand-mother was a "fabulous cook", excelling mostly in Mediterranean specialties. The rest of the cooking was left to the talents of the family cook. At that time Maria never thought she'd find herself one day in the kitchen. The extent of her culinary experience was sitting in the pantry with her sister, both equipped with a fork, and helping Granny roll her gnocchi. Following the political turmoil of the 1950s and early 60s, her parents moved to Paris, France, where she lived and did some public relations for a firm in the world of fashion. During a New York visit to the United Nations she was offered a job and moved to New York. Maria featured in a series of five one hour documentaries for PBS about the United Nations and its school. After leaving the United Nations she worked with the film director of a firm involved in television programs. Then came Texas and her marriage to a Texan. It was in the United States that Maria learned how to cook. First by necessity, because no one else was there to do it, then by trying to capture the tastes and flavors of the years spent in the Middle East and Europe. Among other activities, cooking became a real and great pleasure. It has been ever since. Fortunately she had salvaged one gem from the happy times in Cairo, the family little black book with a wealth of recipes. Many years ago she decided to write a cookbook, share some of those recipes, and create new ones. Her concept was to simplify and liven up the routine of everyday cooking. Here is now the final result.