Betty Crocker 4-Ingredient Dinners [Hardcover]

Betty Crocker (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 29, 2003

Delicious dinner solutions with four ingredients from Betty Crocker and helpful tips for today's busy lifestyle!

This book is full of great dinner ideas that have four-or less-ingredients, making the question, "Is dinner ready?" one that you can answer, "Yes!" Four-ingredient recipes make everyday dinners easy and fast, from shopping to preparation. You'll find 150 taste-tempting, timesaving, easy-to-prepare recipes geared for today's busy lifestyle right here.
* Skillet meals can't be beat on busy nights-try Mediterranean Skillet Chicken or Pork with Caramelized Onions.
* Looking for a simple casserole? Try Microwave Ravioli Casserole or Mustard Lamb Chops.
* Serve these delectable dinners with tasty sides, like Stir-fried Green Beans and Pepper or Parsley Potatoes.
* Finish dinner with delectable desserts, such as Frozen Chocolate Mousse or Pears with Raspberry Sauce.


Solve the what's-for-dinner dilemma with super ideas from Betty Crocker to keep you and your family cooking-and enjoying-dinner together.

Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

What’s for dinner?

Answer this question deliciously with Betty Crocker 4-Ingredient Dinners. Every recipe has only four ingredients, and that means less shopping, less preparation and more time to spend with your family.

The focus here is on dinner, with more than 150 recipes for main dishes that will satisfy everyone–even your picky eaters. You’ll find terrific ideas for old favorites–hearty soups, satisfying sandwiches, inventive pasta, pizzas and burgers–as well as fresh supper ideas such as Glazed Turkey Tenderloins, Skillet Apple-Butter Pork Chops and Turkey Sausage Cassoulet. And on nights when you are really pressed for time, look for especially speedy recipes that are ready in just minutes.

The Pantry Planner will show you how a well-stocked pantry is invaluable on days you can’t get to the store. Stock your kitchen with basics from the Pantry Planner and then check out the 4StarIdeas at the beginning of each chapter to give you easy inspiration for new ways to use your dinner staples.

Throughout you’ll enjoy the information in the Tip 4 You, which tells you about ingredients, suggests tasty substitutions and gives timesaving tips, quick ideas to round out your meal, and easy additions to make dinner special. And, forty-two full-color photos showcase the tempting dishes so you can see what you’re making.

With Betty Crocker 4-Ingredient Dinners, supper is a snap! Try Mediterranean Skillet Chicken served with Leeks with Rosemary-Garlic Butter, and finish with a dessert of Strawberries with Marsala Sauce. Serve Sweet Lemon Spareribs with Horseradish Mashed Potatoes and a light dessert of Cantaloupe Sorbet. With these 150 terrific recipes, you won’t be stuck for dinner ideas again!

From the Back Cover

Delicious dinner solutions with four ingredients from Betty Crocker and helpful tips for today’s busy lifestyle!

This book is full of great dinner ideas that have four–or less–ingredients, making the question, "Is dinner ready?" one that you can answer, "Yes!" Four-ingredient recipes make everyday dinners easy and fast, from shopping to preparation. You’ll find 150 taste-tempting, timesaving, easy-to-prepare recipes geared for today’s busy lifestyle right here.

• Skillet meals can’t be beat on busy nights–try Mediterranean Skillet Chicken or Pork with Caramelized Onions.
• Looking for a simple casserole? Try Microwave Ravioli Casserole or Mustard Lamb Chops.
• Serve these delectable dinners with tasty sides, like Stir-fried Green Beans and Pepper or Parsley Potatoes.
• Finish dinner with delectable desserts, such as Frozen Chocolate Mousse or Pears with Raspberry Sauce.

Solve the what’s-for-dinner dilemma with super ideas from Betty Crocker to keep you and your family cooking–and enjoying–dinner together.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: Betty Crocker; 1 edition (August 29, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764538926
• ISBN-13: 978-0764538926
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 8.2 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.9 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #657,474 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

38 of 39 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Utter simplicity--it is what it is, but beware, December 28, 2005

By 

Gracejoy "gracejoy7" (New York, NY United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Betty Crocker 4-Ingredient Dinners (Hardcover)

The cover of this book says: "Prep in Minutes," "Make It Delicious," and "Easy Homemade Tonight." Well, 1 out of 3 is true. You certainly can prep these dishes in minutes, but the flavor is not delicious and definitely not homemade. The vast majority of dishes in this book consist of a can of this, a box of this, and some bottled sauce or other. While this is not bad on nights when you are just desperate to get anything on the table fast, I would definitely not call them "recipes"--they are more like ideas. To be honest, you could come up with most of these recipes yourself. For example, throw pasta, jarred pasta sauce, pre-cooked packaged meatballs, and olives in a skillet and--voila--"One-Pan Pasta and Meatballs." It's not that it's a bad idea, it's just that it's just that--an idea, not a recipe. If you are looking for real flavor and real home-cooked food with 4-ingredients, please be aware that this book relies almost exclusively on canned, jarred, bottled, and/or frozen goods (not surprising since General Mills owns the Betty Crocker label and I'm sure they want you to buy their products). The health-conscious should also be wary since processed foods generally have much higher sodium, sugar, and preservative content than fresh, whole ingredients. I can recommend this "cookbook" to someone who has no idea how to cook, is on a tight budget, and needs ideas for what to make fast, but I would suggest trying to substitute some fresh ingredients where possible. It could also be a good book to have on hand as an emergency source for ideas on very busy days (that's why I have it). It's not totally useless, but as far as cookbooks go . . . well, it isn't really a cookbook at all.

23 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 5 Stars for 4 Ingredients!, September 3, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Betty Crocker 4-Ingredient Dinners (Hardcover)

Okay, it sounds impossible and not very tasty or interesting: dinners made from ONLY 4 ingredients or less. Trust me, this is much better than you think!

From desserts to sides and of course, dinners, this book has great advice for creating easy, delicious meals in no time with a minimum of ingredients. Highlights include what to keep on hand for such cooking and how to perk up quick and easy meals.

It's so easy teenagers and husbands can make dinner on their own with this book!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fast, easy, and tastey!, December 26, 2006

By 

K. Porter "Never take life too seriously, you... (Ohio United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Betty Crocker 4-Ingredient Dinners (Hardcover)

I first saw this book in my mothers kitchen - I now have it! This book is a life saver for busy households who simply don't have the time to spend 2 hours preparing a meal! The meals are quick, easy, and VERY tastey...many of the meals I have made from this books are now favorites of my family and friends alike! If you are looking for the BEST fast, easy, and ultra simple cookbooks..this is IT!