Since shrimp and fish cook quickly, I was excited to receive, use, and review Leslie Glover Pendleton’s cookbook, Simply Shrimp, Salmon, and (Fish) Steaks. I’m always trying to find new ideas for good, quick recipes to use on the Quick Cooking Site at BellaOnline.com, and this cookbook doesn’t disappoint. The recipes are simple to follow and also quick and easy to prepare, so anyone in a hurry can create a great dinner in less than 30 minutes.

In the introduction, the author has listed some “Keys to Success” for several types of seafood, which help those of us who do not live in areas where fresh seafood is abundant and need pointers on how to cook seafood properly. Each recipe has a little explanation blurb at the top with easy-to follow instructions. The table of contents is short, simple, and to the point, and the index is very detailed and complete - features that I consider important in any good cookbook.

The most difficult thing about using this cookbook is deciding which recipes to make; most sound fabulous. The Sautéed Salmon Smothered in Summer (tomatoes and basil) was divine, and used the tomatoes and basil that were growing in my courtyard garden (pictured). We love salmon at our house, so my next test was the Grilled Salmon with Green Chili Coconut Sauce – spicy and fabulous! There are 30 recipes for shrimp – from Cilantro Shrimp with Peanut Dip to Buffalo Shrimp to Tandoori-Style Shrimp. Other recipes use swordfish, halibut, and fresh tuna. Ms. Pendleton has also included a chapter with several delicious side dishes such as Toasted Vermicelli with Herbs, a classic Zucchini Casserole, Herbed Parmesan Grits, and Gingered Spaghetti Squash to name a few. Every recipe I have tried from this book so far has turned out perfectly; all are simple enough that they are easy to adapt to personal tastes, preferences, and ingredients on hand.

The one drawback to this cookbook is that there are no pictures (except for a couple on the cover). Most cooks like to see a picture of how the dish is supposed to look, and unfortunately, imagination is necessary here. Now that digital cameras are available however, I’ve been photographing my finished dishes and inserting them in my copy so that I don’t forget how the dishes are supposed to look. There are so many good recipes it may take a while to photograph all of them – we can’t eat seafood every night, after all. I plan to adapt some of my favorites to use on the Quick Cooking site and I always like to include pictures there.

If you’re looking for a cookbook that has quick and simple seafood recipes, I definitely recommend this book.

Click on the link to purchase this book from Amazon:

Simply Shrimp, Salmon, and (Fish) Steaks