New cookbooks

I have three new cookbooks.

1. Top Chef the cookbook with an introduction by Tom Colicchio. Bravo has been pushing this cookbook during their Top Chef marathons. So far I've made the Fideos with Clams, which did not turn out quite right although I followed the recipe to a T, and the Moroccan Cubanos which turned out perfect. The fideos were made with angel hair pasta and a cream sauce infused with saffron and mixed with tons of garlic. The problem was there was not enough liquid to cook the pasta, leaving it crunchy. Good flavors though. The Moroccan Cubanos were made with slow roasted pork marinated with Ras al-hanout (a spice blend I've mentioned before which I actually have) and pickled vegetables wrapped in corn tortillas like a taco. Delicious. One drawback: many of the recipes in the Top Chef cookbook require ingredients like elk, foie gras, ostrich fillets, and octopus.

2. Giada's Kitchen. Giada's newest cookbook. Haven't tried anything yet but here's what looks good so far: Crispy Smoked Mozarella with Honey and Figs, Panini with Chocolate and Brie, Linguine with Shrimp and Lemon Oil, Lamb Ragu with Mint, Lemon Ricotta Cookies. Love how her recipes are twists on familiar favorites.

3. Bon Appetit - fast easy fresh. Bon Appetit magazine has a section called "fast easy fresh" which has perfect weeknight meals. Now I have the 770 page book of these recipes. Feel like beef? Just look up the ingredient and you'll find Roast Beef Tenderloin with Wasabi-Garlic Cream or Flank Steak Salad with Roasted Shallots and Goat Cheese. Need to make scones for brunch? Choose from Meyer Lemon and Dried Blueberry Scones or Walnut, Golden Raisin and Fennel Seed Scones. Don't take the same old ham and cheese for lunch, here are ideas for Open-face Lobster Salad Sandwiches, Watercress Sandwiches with Jalapeno-Lemon Butter, or Pancetta, Mizuna, and Tomato Sandwiches with Green Garlic Aioli.

I'll never have time to make all the recipes I want to make.