In her sixth cookbook, De Laurentiis explains to her readers, "This is what weeknights look like in my house." Motivated by her desire to sit down to dinner with her husband and four-year-old daughter despite her busy schedule, De Laurentiis has "shaken up her weeknight repertoire to include only dishes that can be pulled together after a full day... and be accomplished in under an hour." De Laurentiis delivers on her promise-the book is full of quick, easy dishes that follow her formula-simple and pleasing. A chapter on soups and salads includes jalapeno and cherry tomato gazpacho that requires no cooking at all, and caramelized onion, chicken, and grapefruit salad that calls for shredded rotisserie chicken breasts to save time. Pizza with onion, sausage, and basil and calzone recipes use store-bought pizza dough, and turkey and pancetta pot pies are made with unroll-and-bake pie crust. Though not terribly original or innovative, De Laurentiis's recipes in this book are effective. The dishes are predictable but pleasant. Also included, "Change of Pace," a chapter of internationally inspired dishes like vegetables in red curry and Asian quinoa with salmon, and "Breakfast for Dinner," which includes a tasty spin on eggs Florentine and a peach and cherry frittata made with frozen fruit. Visually appealing, the book is full of photos of both De Laurentiis's food and family. Agent: William Morris Endeavor. (Mar.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

As a busy cookbook author, television host, and mother, Food Network darling De Laurentiis has learned to streamline her weeknight cooking routine. Here, she shares a variety of main courses, sides, and desserts that home cooks can complete in under an hour. Some recipes (e.g., Turkey and Pancetta Pot Pies) save time with frozen vegetables and store-bought shortcuts, but most are simple preparations of fresh ingredients. This book recalls some of De Laurentiis's previous titles (Giada at Home; Giada's Family Dinners); however, it offers new flavors, including a globally influenced "Change of Pace" chapter and a "Breakfast for Dinner" section. Expect demand. [See Prepub Alert, 10/27/11.] (c) Copyright 2012. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.