30-Minute Meals [Paperback]

Rachael Ray (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 20, 1999

Rachael Ray's fans can't seem to get enough of the wonderful recipes featured on her television show, 30-Minute Meals.

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Lake Isle Press; First Edition edition (July 20, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1891105035
• ISBN-13: 978-1891105036
• Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 0.5 x 10.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (98 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #344,629 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

192 of 199 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Enjoy Cooking and Family in Busy Households December 2, 2003

By B. Marold HALL OF FAMETOP 100 REVIEWER

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

Rachael Ray shows us how to make healthy dishes from basic, fresh ingredients in, ideally, 30 minutes or less. Unlike her later 30 minute meal books, this first in the series does not group two or more dishes into meals which can take less than a half an hour to prepare. This is largely because the book was written before Rachael showed up on the Food Network show of the same name, which introduced the 3 course meal format. In spite of this timing, almost all of the dishes in this book have shown up on early seasons of Rachael's show.

In many ways, the grouping of dishes by type rather than by meal is an advantage, making it easier to match up different pasta and salad courses on different days. The drawback is that you have no hints on how to coordinate your time in preparing the three dishes at one time, although this is not exactly rocket science.

The main chapter headings / dish types are:

Pastas 29 dishes
Salads 28 dishes, some suitable as main course salads
Take out lookalike 39 dishes, primarily burgers, sandwiches, pizza, Tex-Mex, and Asian lookalikes
Comfort Foods 34 dishes such as chilis, sauces, soups, and casseroles
Full meals 5 menus for small party (8 to 12) quick cooking
Meatballs 5 recipes

I believe it is an important symptom of one of Rachael's main objectives that many of her dishes are named after family members. She presents the great Italian love of food and family together when you don't have Nona and three aunts at home all day to do all the prep work and braising.

One recent book on cooking traditional recipes slowly to recapture both the joy and flavors of this cooking makes the suggestion that Rachael's style of cooking is too hectic and has too little flavor. While the first has an element of truth, I say it does not remove the `Joy of Cooking'. It actually rescues it from the drive in take out window. On the latter point, this author if plainly wrong. I compared Rachael's Caesar Salad to a recipe from Martha Stewart and Rachael's was superior in taste, as Miss Martha really overloaded her dish with raw garlic.

It is very fortunate that the cuisine on which Ms. Ray's food is largely Italian, as the Italian cuisine has spent centuries perfecting the concentration of flavor in foods such as balsamic vinegar, cheeses, hams, and tomato concentrates, all of which are available in first class products at the local American supermarket.
The only drawback to using these products and prepackaged meats and vegetables is that you may be paying more for the same meal than if slower, prep intensive recipes were used. For thirty-something parents who are in the early middle of their career, this cost is probably inconsequential when compared to the benefits. It is certainly both economically and nutritionally inconsequential when compared to the fast food fare.

I have a lot of respect of Rachael's not overloading the book with suggestions for the pantry. Stocking up a pantry without specific recipes is a waste of time and money. I also strongly suggest the reader play close attention to the tips on knife use. Very important.

I'm afraid Rachal's recommendations on equipment are not helpful. One look at her Food Network show and you may see a Dutch oven, two large saute pans, a grill pan, and a blender in action at one time. Don't scrimp on the pots and pans. Do what Rachael does, not what she says in this department. I will give her credit for getting by with just one very good knife.

Rachael is not Mario or Martha or Emeril. She is teaching you how to do it fast, without loosing the fun and the flavor. As always, the price of the book is very right. Enjoy yourself!

91 of 93 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars RACHEL RAY 30 MINUTE MEALS April 6, 2000

By VIRGINIA J. LAVISH

Format:Paperback

I have purchased hundreds of cookbooks in the 37 years I've been married and am really delighted with Rachel Ray's collection of recipes in her first book. I have personally utilized many of her recipes. Two of my favorites are Gran'pa Emmanuel's Pasta Concotions and Mini Turkey Patties with Cranberry Sauce. Her recipes are easy to follow, simple to make, and truly take thirty minutes, which fits in MY lifestyle for sure. I have purchased this book, not only for myself, but have given it as gifts to my friends and family. I am delighted that she has a SECOND book out, Rachel Ray's Open House Cookbook, which I have also purchased for myself and as gifts to others. Anyone that truly leads a busy life, (and that's most of us! ) will find her cookbook a welcome addtion to their kitchen as I have. Can't wait for her THIRD book to be published. I will be the first on line.

34 of 34 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Rattle them pots and pans May 1, 2004

By JLind555

Format:Paperback

If you're tired of heating up leftover leftovers but aren't quite up to cordon bleu, Rachael Ray's "30-minute meals", derived from her hit show on the Food Channel, offers up all kinds of yummy possibilities. Ray is fun to watch on her show; she's perky and down-to-earth and doesn't make cooking seem like some kind of exalted rite that intimidates beginners who haven't progressed beyond Boiling Water 101. Her bouncy exuberance comes across in her book and makes it enjoyable to read. I especially like the way her book is organized; there are special sections on Top Ten Meals With Fewer Than Ten Ingredients, Top Ten All-Time Favorites from her TV show, 30-minute pastas, salads and veggies, make your own take-out (pizza, sandwiches and Tex-Mex), burger recipes, Asian flavor, comfort food, and her own family favorites.

Can all of these meals actually be made in 30 minutes? Well, unless you're as well-organized as Ray on her show with everything right at hand, slicing and dicing up a storm, probably not; but none of them should take more than 45 minutes and some of them really can be made from start to finish in half an hour. Her book is pretty heavy on pastas, which are typically quick to prepare, and if the Asian isn't 100% authentic, it's still fun to make and delicious to eat. Ray's instructions are simple and direct, easy for anyone to follow. What's more, none of the meals are difficult to prepare and all of them emphasize healthy eating. This is a great book for anyone who enjoys good eats without all the hassles that go into preparing them. Grab it and hit the kitchen.