3 new cookbooks — by Mark Bittman, Caroline Chambers and more — tackle the busy weeknight conundrum

The end of summer usually means the start of a frantic fall, when work demands, busy school days and soccer practice all collide. Dealing with dinner via drive-through may seem like a good idea at the time — it’s fast, anyway. But we’ve got an even better idea. Three hot new books are on the horizon offering easy recipes and plenty of help for busy weeknights, whether you’re an adept home cook or a reluctant one — or 8 years old and still learning.

Mark Bittman, the long-time New York Times...