Ray - Rachael Ray 2, 4, 6, 8 : Great Meals for Couples or Crowds

Copyright 2006 by Rachael Ray
Photographs copyright 2006 by Ben Fink

All right reserved.
Published in the United States by Clarkson Potter/Publishers, an imprint of the Crown Publishing Group, a division of Random House, Inc., New York.
www.crownpublishing.com
www.clarksonpotter.com

Clarkson N. Potter is a trademark and Potter and colophon are registered trademarks of Random House, Inc.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available upon request

eISBN: 978-0-307-88764-1

Design by Jennifer K. Beal

v3.1

This book is dedicated to cheerleaders everywhere! Not the girls in short skirts with pom-poms but the real cheerleaders out there: moms, dads, good neighbors who watch our pets and water our plants, people who work two jobs and can still smile at strangers, doctors who know how nervous they make us, firemen who still climb trees to rescue kittens. Thanks for keeping us all going! Rah! Rah! Yay, you!

2, 4, 6, 8 gives you flexibility with your 30-minute meals. Most recipes are written in base 4, right? But even if your family is exactly that size, whenever its just-the-two-of-you at home for dinner or if a couple of couples come over to join you for a meal, you have to do some math to get the servings right. This book offers up easy-to-make meals by the number youll be serving, whether you are planning a date night or a dinner party.

And its not only the yields that vary from section to section. In the section for two, for example, some of the recipes include ingredients that are pricier and more precious for special nights. Hey, when its just the two of you, go for it! Its not like youre searing scallops for eight or buying tenderloin steaks for the whole neighborhoodindulge! There are some easy, fun menus for two, too, for when you are home alone (you may want seconds) and are just too pooped to pop!

I went a little heavy on the section for four because we all cook for that number most often, right? Even when its just me and the hubby at home Im cooking for four because we have big appetites and a pit bull to feed. The recipes in this section cover a broad range of tastes to satisfy even the pickiest eaters and the ingredients are largely made up of on-hand basic nuts-and-bolts fine dining for four!

If your need to feed goes beyond the average you wont have to sweat the math multiplying your teaspoons and tablespoons; just turn the page to the sections for serving six and eight. Here youll find hearty casseroles, platters of pasta, and other crowd-pleasing meals that wont have you chopping and prepping for hoursIve even thrown in some really easy desserts so youll look like a hero and never break a sweat. (I love a good fake-out! Your guests will think youve been slaving all day!)

No matter how many are at the table, 2, 4, 6, or 8, the meal will taste great and it wont take more than 30 minutesunless you get into the wine first! Enjoy a really delish dish, tonight!

I NEVER COOK FOR
ONE, EVEN WHEN I
AM ALONE IT'S TOO

depressing to see such
small amounts. Besides,
all the women in my
family can outeat any
man Ive ever met, so I
usually go back for
seconds. When it comes to
30-minute meals, though,
these are as small as
theyll get. If you are a
party of two and youre
dining with your honey
or a buddy, no worries.
I dont skimp on portion
size, either.