Customer Reviews

The Healthy College Cookbook: Quick. Cheap. Easy.

5 star:		(69)
4 star:		(14)
3 star:		(11)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Putting in 90-100 hour weeks during Graduate school, I needed a basic but comprehensive cookbook where the meals wouldn't take long, the ingredient list wasn't huge, but the meals would still be flavorful. I picked up this little gem. I can't even count how many times I've cooked my favorite recipes out of this book--Vegetarian Lasagna, Balsamic Chicken & Potatoes, the list goes on and on. This cookbook covers every meal item possible and gives you a great combination of classic and unique recipes that anyone can make. You don't have to be a BAD cook to get this book, the authors are sensitive to the fast-paced lifestyle many people have and present this as an alternative to lengthy cooking. And now that I'm out of the Graduate School schedule, guess what -- I'm still making these recipes.

This was my first cookbook, and I can now cook and bake almost anything I try. My mother gave this to me when I was studying abroad in Ireland and found that, being vegetarian, I couldn't eat most of the food in restaurants. I had never liked cooking much before but this book sparked an interest in me that has become my primary hobby.

The book consists of multiple sections, which include Breakfast, Poultry, Beef, Seafood, Vegetarian (yay!), and Desserts. And even though most of the above don't apply to me, this book is still splattered and marked with my always successful attempts at these recipes. The ingredients are usually on hand in a well-stocked kitchen, and, for further assistance, the authors give you thorough advice on how to stock a kitchen in the first place. In addition, the book includes a glossary on cooking and baking terms in case, like me, you didn't know and couldn't place international calls to your mom every five minutes.

But the absolute best thing about this book, after you take into consideration the creative recipes, the simple delicious taste of each finished product, the ease of use, and the lasting power of the recipes - I still come back to this book for the recipes listed further below, is the universal quality the authors cultivate. Each recipe gives both metric and standard measuring units (and in my case, it was essential) and thorough nutritional information with each recipe.

Key recipes that I still use, many many dinner parties later: Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins, Carrot Cake, Baked Ziti, Garlic Green Beans with Tofu, Tomato Basil Sauce, Mushroom Pasta Sauce (try with linguine), and Mushrooms Parmesan.

Drawbacks to this book: Not many. And there aren't even any pictures, which I usually find upsetting. For this book, it works. If I had a photo of what the dish was supposed to look like in front of me, I would have been upset if my final product didn't resemble it completely.

If you are searching for the perfect gift for a student with a first apartment, consider this book. It was a gift to me, and I am still grateful.

I found this book in my boyfriends closet while we were packing to move. Apparently this book was given to him as a present when he was in Graduate School but never used it. So, I decided to take it and give it a try.

The recipes were pretty simple to make and I must say, they were delicious and very creative. I am not sure though, if a college student would really go out of their way and try and make some of these.....You as a student would be finding and buying foods you would never think of before, which can add up the grocery bill. But if you love to cook then you will like this.

I would say the major downfall is that this book contains NO pictures. I like having a picutre in front of me to give me an idea of what the outcome of the dish will look like when I am finished.

The Healthy College Cookbook is not just for college kids. I am a recent college alum, living and working in New York City. For several months, I ate myself out of house and home as New York delis and restaurants sucked the cash right out of my pocket, cooking seemed like a hastle so I didn't do it! Since I ordered the Healthy College Cookbook, I am cooking more, eating better, and saving money - with these simple recipes, cooking's no hastle, it's easy. I recommend this book to any college student or young adult cooking for themselves for the first time.

This cookbook is very well put together, but it didnt quite live up to my expectations. I thought I was the perfect target audience for this book - a college student on a budget who is trying to teach herself to cook.
I realize this book is for beginning cooks (I definately fall into the beginning cook category) but a lot of the recipes are just silly. I mean, ants-on-a-log? English muffin pizza? Do people really need a cookbook for that kind of thing?
Don't get me wrong, there are some great things about this book as well. It has very detailed descriptions of cooking terminology as well as familiar spices and kitchen necessities. I also love it that nutritional information is included with all of the recipes.
In short, this book is a great choice for someone who is absolutely cooking impaired. The recipes are extremely easy and the instructions and background information is very thorough. However, if you have even the slightest amount of cooking experience (e.g., know how to make scrambled eggs) you might find yourself dissapointed.

Yowza. This sucker literally transformed me from eating take-out burritos and pizza (last semester) to now only cooking my own meals. Not kidding. Who knew it was actually cheaper and healthier to cook for yourself?

I rank this book(from all the ones I bought thru amazon) to have the most impact on my daily life; Since purchasing it I am able to cook pretty much whatever I want - within the limits of the recipes in the book. I even got so motivated to go out and buy all the suggested spices.

The only thing though is that you have to spend (in some cases) like an hour to cook stuff. Especially if you are a newbie like me. But man oh man I highly suggest picking up this sucker.

This book is WAY cool indeed.

;-)

Being a vegetarian on a college meal plan is more than impossiable. With this book I have time to cook and go to practice and do homework. The recipes are easy, and adding your own personal touch to a recepie is a personal favorite. A huge selection of veggie dishes helps feed even the pickyist dinner guest. A+

I bought this book for my girlfriend for Christmas, to help each of us learn how to cook. The problem with the book is that the instructions are meant for someone that has maybe never even stepped foot in a kitchen. If you even know how to make spaghetti or hamburger helper, then this book is too simple for you. Most of the recipes turn out not to be very good, and some are just crappy. There were a few items that we have enjoyed, but we even had to modify those slightly.

Overall I would say go with a different book unless you are buying it for someone who is completely clueless. Don't listen to the reviews here. Even for a notice, the mediocre meals will only discourage you from cooking. Try something else.

This book makes it possible for a non-cook such as myself to make decent-tasting meals for myself and my family. I especially love the tomato-basil omelettes, the delicious and healthy homemade macaroni and cheese, and, of course, the chocolate cake. I like how the book contains a variety of simple, easy-to-follow, well-explained recipes that use inexpensive ingredients that are still pretty healthy. I highly recommend this for people who prefer eating to cooking.

I bought this book my junior year of college after moving into my first apartment, and even though I'm on my third apartment, this is still my favorite cookbook.
I've tried dozens and dozens of recipes, and their delicious (and so simple!)
I brought this cookbook home over Christmas break this past year and made some of the dishes for my mom (who is an excellent cook), and she loved the cookbook so much, she has made it quite clear that this is what she wants for Mother's Day. So for the novice or the expert - anyone who likes delicious food that's easy and doesn't take all day to make, you'll love this book.

Favorites: Roasted red pepper and feta salad (pretty much the easiest and tastiest salad I've ever made), banana chocolate chip muffins (amazing every time), vegetable chili (mom made this three times while I was home for Christmas), twice baked potato and tomato-corn omlet. So good.