Conveniently Delicious

Book excerpt: “My strategy is simple: I don't meal plan. I eat what I want to eat, when I want to eat it. Spontaneity is possible, and you can do this. I’ll show you how.” Devin Connell, chef and creator of This Is Crumb, knows that real people with busy lives want simple, delicious meals that are easy to prepare and impossible to resist. But she also knows that planning Thursday’s dinner on Monday morning doesn’t make a whole lot of sense. Because what happens when you see a picture of a roast chicken thigh on Instagram, and now you just need roast chicken? When it comes to her own kitchen, Devin wants to be free of a plan and cook what she craves. But if the thought of this non-plan plan has you breaking out in a sweat, take a deep breath and dive in to Conveniently Delicious. You’ll soon learn that spontaneity is possible, whether you’re cooking for yourself, for your partner, or for a casual gathering with friends. If you’ve got a kitchen that is stocked with the right basics, a combination of fresh produce and shelf-stable items, the opportunities for mixing and matching are endless. Bold, punchy flavors, bright colors, and meals for any day of the week—it’s all within your reach. Think of easy nibbles such as Labneh with Bursted Tomatoes & Dill; gorgeous salads like Nectarine, Baby Gem, Fried Almond & Feta; hearty vegetables such as Roasted Acorn Squash with Hazelnut & Fried Rosemary; and effortlessly impressive mains, like 10-Minute Pasta with Italian Tuna, Olives & Lemon or Salt & Pepper Flank Steak with Quick Tomato Shallot Kimchi. And, obviously, always dessert—an Upside Down Skillet Apple Crumble or a Lemon Pudding with Salted Graham Crumb is the perfect way to end a meal. Written with Devin’s sharp humor and straightforward style, and full of absolutely stunning, sumptuous photography, Conveniently Delicious is a collection of recipes that you’ll come back to again and again. As Devin says, this cookbook is guaranteed to make you feel lighter about mealtimes than when you started, even if, most of the time, she’s talking about how to make you feel full.