Weekend Cooking - Lemony Cole Slaw with Raisins

I am always checking out new cookbooks and recipes. I found a few cookbook gems at my local public library recently. The only bad thing about that is now I want to buy these books. Trying them out from the library is a good idea since I do have a stack of cookbooks that I have purchased and have never really used. I think I will purge some of them and send them to the next library sale. I am very fond of this cookbook and wanted to share it and a recipe with you this week.


The Deen Bros. Take It Easy: Quick and Affordable Meals the Whole Family Will Love

Hardcover: 224 pages
Publisher: Ballantine Books; 1St Edition edition (September 8, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0345513266
ISBN-13: 978-0345513267

This cookbook is full of quick and easy recipes for those busy nights in our household. The recipes are made with everyday common ingredients that most people will either have in their pantry or will have no problems finding in their local grocery store. I hate when recipes have ingredients that take some searching to find. I'm all about good taste and ease when it comes to cooking everyday meals.

Jaimie and Bobby Deen are charming as ever. They know their way around the kitchen. You can tell that family time is important to them and isn't that part of what dinner is all about? I think most of these recipes are easy enough for a basic cook but are tasty enough for the more experienced cook. The recipes are easy to follow and well explained. They are simple enough that you could involve your kids in the preparation. This would be a great cookbook to use to get that busy family back to the dinner table.

This is one of the recipes I tried from this book and thought it would be a great one to share during this heat wave. We have been eating this the past few days. This coleslaw is very fresh and bright in flavor. It really hit the spot on these hot days. It made for a great accompaniment to a nice cool turkey and swiss sandwich. (Ignore the terrible picture! Good thing I don't have to make a living as a food stylist or photographer!)



Lemony Cole Slaw with Raisins
From The Deen Bros. Take It Easy: Quick and Affordable Meals the Whole Family Will Love

Serves 6

One 16-ounce bag coleslaw mix
1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
1/2 cup golden raisins
1/2 cup thinly sliced scallions(white and light green parts)
Finely grated zest of one lemon
1 teaspoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 teaspoon of black pepper

In a large bowl, combine the coleslaw mix, mayonnaise,raisins, scallions, lemon zest, lemon juice, salt and pepper. Toss well before serving.


There are many more recipes that I want to try out from this cookbook such as Mama's Yankee White Bean Pies, which are a fried patty sandwich made from cannellini beans. The picture in the book looks delicious! I need to wait until the heat wave is over. Bobby's Turkey Vegetable Goulash is another one that looks good and uses a crock pot. There is a chapter devoted to crock pot cooking which you know I love!

I also wanted to add that there are many healthy recipes in this cookbook as well. Some have the loads of butter that we think of when we hear the name "Deen" but there are a few healthy recipes that I will be trying out. It's a nice mix. Everything in moderation! I'll let you know how those healthier recipes turn out.

Weekend Cooking is a weekly meme sponsored by Beth Fish Reads.
Weekend Cooking is a chance to share the food love. Be sure to check out all the yummy cooking posts on Beth's blog.