I’ll never forget my first foray into Chinese cooking — hours of chopping followed my minutes of frantic frying. So I’ll be the first to admit that I was little skeptical of a book that claimed to make Chinese cooking simple. But that is exactly what Leeann and Katie Chin have managed to produce. They are a mother and daughter team and the stars of the PBS television show “Double Happiness.” Their easy manner on the show translates to simple to follow recipes designed for the cooks of all levels.

Leeann explains that finding herself transplanted to Minnesota and raising a family she had to adapt her cooking to the ingredients available, a limited budget and the hectic schedule of a time-strapped mother. The result is a book full of delicious easy to prepare recipes that don’t require impossible to find ingredients and won’t leave you slaving in the kitchen.

Everyday Chinese Cooking is a perfect guide for those of you looking to expand your culinary horizons. Try it and see.