Cookbook review: 'Small Victories' by Julia Turshen

Julia Turshen, who has coauthored  some pretty fabulous cookbooks (Kimchi Chronicles, Hot Bread Kitchen, Buvette), has stepped out on her own with her first solo book, Small Victories.

With nearly 100 recipes, plus variations, Turshen provides a cooking lesson, or "small victory," with each one, hence the title. Ina Garten wrote the foreword, describing Turshen as having "a special brand of magic" with bold flavors and simple-to-prepare food. I can't think of a better endorsement.

Small Victories is full of enticing recipes made with readily available ingredients. Turkey and ricotta meatballs, curried red lentils with coconut milk,  and Caesar salad dressing among them, delivering the promise of bold flavors.

Two standouts for me were the string beans with pork, ginger, and red chili and the flounder with roasted tomatoes and black olives. Both were ridiculously easy to prepare and were perfect weeknight meals, although they could certainly be served to company. If you don't eat pork, ground turkey or soy crumbles could be easily substituted. The flounder was simple but tasted like so much more than the sum of its humble ingredients.

There are recipes for every meal from breakfast through dinner, drinks, condiments, and sweets. There is even a recipe for your favorite canine, Hope and Winky's cookies,  named for the author's two dogs, that I can't wait to make for my own dog.

Check out the "Seven Lists"  section for nights when you need to get dinner together in a hurry or guests drop by unexpectedly. Turshen gives you seven amazing and quick recipes for various ingredients or courses, among them cocktail nibbles, chickpeas, leftover chicken, and desserts. Grab that can of garbanzos and make use of Turshen's magic. Your family might even think you are a wizard.