Don't Panic - Dinner's in the Freezer: Great-Tasting Meals You Can Make Ahead [Paperback]

Susie Martinez (Author), Vanda Howell (Author), Bonnie Garcia (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 2005

Authors Susie Martinez, Vanda Howell, and Bonnie Garcia dish up recipes singles or families can freeze ahead, showing you how to cook simply and economically.

This one-of-a-kind cookbook offers measurements for cooking alone or with one or two friends. With dozens of ready-to-freeze recipes at your fingertips, you'll be ready the next time someone wonders, "what's for dinner?"

Dozens of ready-to-freeze recipes help you save time and money in the kitchen. Whether you prefer to cook alone, or with one or two friends, you'll soon find yourself enjoying everything from Apricot-Glazed Chicken Tenders to Gooey Caramel Cinnamon Rolls--straight from the freezer.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

"I'm hungry. What's for dinner?"

How do you respond to this question after a long, busy day? Head for the nearest fast-food restaurant? Pop a commercially prepared meal into the oven?

Or you could have . . .

Apricot-Glazed Chicken Tenders and Cashew Fudge Tarts
Colorado White Chili and Chocolate-Orange Crumb Cake
Turkey Picante Pie and Tomato and Leek Bisque
Beef Chimichangas and Gooey Caramel Cinnamon Rolls

You're probably thinking, Yeah, right! But delicious recipes like these are just minutes away!

Don't Panic-Dinner's in the Freezer offers a simple and economical alternative to take-out and prepackaged foods, featuring dozens of quick and easy home-tested recipes designed to be prepared in quantity and frozen ahead. Whether you cook for one or for a large family, this unique method will simplify your life with healthy, money- and time-saving recipes. Once you try the Don't Panic method, you may never again go back to your old ways of cooking.


"How great it is to know that at the end of a busy day, I do not need to think about dinner-it's in the freezer! You too will become a convert to the Don't Panic approach."-Marita Littauer, author and president, CLASServices, Inc.

About the Author

Susie Martinez is the elementary director of Southern Gables Church in Littleton, Colorado. She graduated from Taylor University with a degree in social work. The mother of two, Susie, her family live in Lakewood, Colorado.

Bonnie Garcia is a graduate of Grace College. A pediatric nurse, she is also the busy mother of three sons. Bonnie, her husband, Steve, and their family live in Denver, Colorado.

Vanda Howell attended Colorado State University and now serves as the administrator for the performing arts ministry at her church and sings on the praise team. A real estate appraiser, Vanda, her husband, Mike, and their son live in Lakewood, Colorado.

Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Revell; Original edition (September 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0800730550
• ISBN-13: 978-0800730550
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 7.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (139 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,216 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #1 in Books > Cookbooks, Food & Wine > Professional Cooking > Quantity
  • #14 in Books > Cookbooks, Food & Wine > Culinary Arts & Techniques
  • #30 in Books > Cookbooks, Food & Wine > Quick & Easy

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

401 of 406 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars JUST LIKE DREAM DINNERS!, January 25, 2006

By 

kiwanissandy "Go Bucks!" (Heart of Ohio) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Don't Panic - Dinner's in the Freezer: Great-Tasting Meals You Can Make Ahead (Paperback)

What I like about this cookbook is the recipes have you freeze the dish before cooking it. For me, what I don't like about some of the other OAMC (once a month cooking) cookbooks is they have you cook it first, then freeze and when you unthaw it it's mush. This cookbook has you assemble all the ingredients first, freeze it and then day of serving you thaw and cook. Very much the same as dream dinners.com. (without the hefty price tag). Have loved the cranberry chicken, chicken cacciatore and the buttermilk herb chicken breasts. We eat mostly chicken but there are beef, pork and even desserts recipes. Serving suggestions are offered though not as many as I'd like. Very good cookbook, worthy investment and I don't give my praise lightly.

166 of 169 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely FANTASTIC!, March 23, 2006

By 

Q - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Don't Panic - Dinner's in the Freezer: Great-Tasting Meals You Can Make Ahead (Paperback)

Exactly what I was looking for - freezer meals that don't require a 'monthly plan' to best utilize!

SO many recipes, all of which appeal to most of the family (preschooler included - that's a challenge!), and none of which require Julia Child level skills to prepare. I also like that it lays out ingredient lists based on different multiples of the recipe (1, 3, 6, etc). Makes it simple to make in bulk if I choose to (but doesn't require higher math to split a recipe if I don't want to make that much, like many OAMC recipes do).

I think it's even better than Dream Dinners (or those type of places - many of which I swear seem like they use *these* recipes!), as I'm not limited to their menu choices.

159 of 162 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The best freezer cookbook I have seen, March 30, 2006

By 

K. Wilson (CO) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Don't Panic - Dinner's in the Freezer: Great-Tasting Meals You Can Make Ahead (Paperback)

This cookbook is the best freezer cookbook out there. The receipes are easy and kid friendly (a plus in my house)plus they are easy to adapt to your own tastes. I easily made 15 meat based dinners in less than 3 hours. A plus to this book over others is that many of the recipes are simply assembled and then cooked on serving day which I prefer to cooking and then thawing/reheating which can degrade the texture of many foods. I would recommend this cookbook to anyone looking to start freezer cooking or those looking for new and good recipes