What`s Michael McLaughlin, an accomplished author and chef from New York City, doing touting Toll House cookies, Lipton`s Famous California Dip and Campbell`s Green Bean Bake?
He says they are among the 30 or so recipes that quickly came to mind when he set out to write the ”Back of the Box Gourmet” (Simon & Schuster, $14.95).
This collection of more than 75 recipes, all from food packages, invokes strong feelings in cooks everywhere. Even self-proclaimed gourmets confess to craving these tried and true recipes.
McLaughlin, in town recently on a book tour sponsored by Kellogg`s Co., praises Rice Krispies Treats as the epitome of a successful product recipe. The snack, which celebrates its 50th birthday this year, still disappears in a snap in households everywhere.
He says there is nothing simpler to make:
”They take three ingredients, three utensils and five minutes of time.” But what he does find daunting are the 7-foot tall Snap, Crackle and Pop characters who are accompanying him on this book tour.
