I am not a great cook – I have a gourmet quality wife who loves to cook for relaxation – but for 8 months we were long-distance commuters. I lived on a very small houseboat – meaning everything had to be carried in, water was at a premium, and there was a limit to the amount of electric stuff I could use at the same time. With a 2-burner hot plate and a copy of Real Fast Food as my primary reference, I was able to cook a fair number of the recipes to produce a most impressive meal with minimal trouble.

It is by no means a health-food diet – if you don’t like butter and olive oil, this book is not for you. But if you like to make a good showing from time to time with food that tastes great and is not that expensive to prepare – reach for this book first.