Customer Reviews

Mix-A-Meal Cookbook

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I bought this book from Mix A Meal directly and have enjoyed having it in my collection. The folks over at Mix a Meal are very easy to work with as well. I haven't tried all the recipes but I do especially like the gingerbread cookies and the tomato/pasta sauce recipes. They are quick, easy and have saved me a ton at the market (especially the pasta sauce). I am using some of the mix recipes to give gifts this year. They have sample recipes on the mix a meal site to see if you would like it

I was hoping this cookbook would help fill the niche of Make Your Own Groceries but it does not.

It does offer lots of recipes using dehydrated ingredients, which if you normally purchase, would make this method affordable. I am debating on whether to purchase the cheese powder, butter powder, dehydrated shortening, etc. to make the book's recipes.

I can either use the aforementioned Make Your Own Groceries or go back to the faithful copy of Make-A-Mix for do-ahead mix cooking.

Overall, the concept is good, especially if you normally stock dried ingredients for emergencies. I do not.

Other reviewers have lamented about not having some of the items on hand to make these mixes (such as egg powder, etc)....Even if you have to purchase those items for the sole purpose of making these mixes, it will still save you money. I made up a HUGE batch of the hot roll mix (free on their website, by the way), which they call a Maxi-Mix, and the WHOLE thing cost me $6.53, even after adding in wheat gluten. The entire thing will make 144 rolls--normal sized rolls, not little, each-4-in-a-sitting sized rolls. You can't beat that with a stick! I made up one mini-mix first to test the taste--yeah, I made the Maxi-Mix right after dinner, it was so good! I did half of the batch as crescent rolls and the other half as cinnamon crescents and the family loved them. The were light, fluffy, texture was great--plus, they only needed to rise one time--time saver, too!
I have made mixes of my own before (our special pancake mix is great) but this book makes it so much easier. Use 5 quart ice cream buckets as your containers if you don't have empty #10 cans. This book is definitely something every busy cook needs--even if you don't have large families, you can even use a small portion of the mix without measuring, add water to the right consistency (make it by measuring once or twice to get a feel for it) and make just 4 rolls (or biscuits, etc). I refuse to buy any boxed mixes, but this homemade thing is wonderful!

Easy, quick recipes. Bread recipe easier than mine, and just as good. Highly recommend this to people who want to save a few $$$.

I was expecting a book with recipes that used all dehydrated/freeze dried foods to make meals. That's what it sounds like. But this is the same old stuff -- sweet breads, biscuits, cookies, shake-n-bake, noodle-roni, etc. Nothing new.
Maybe if I had no other books on the subject, I would like this more. But I expected mixes that contained dehydrated vegetables, meats, TVP, etc. to create all-in-one, shelf-stable meals. Not yet another flour-based, same-as-the-others cookbook.
That said, if you are just starting out with homemade mixes, this isn't the worst you can do by any means. It has trial-sized recipes (a nice touch), and a few that use dehydrated butter (first book I've seen with that).
But overall, if you've ever read make-a-mix cookery books, you are unlikely to be impressed with this. The meals still require loads of fresh ingredients -- fresh dairy, fresh eggs, fresh meats -- which to me, is not "mix a meal." But there are plenty of good reviews, so just know what you're getting and take this review with a grain of salt.

What ever happened to the meals of yesteryear? They are here in this book. Talking about bring back years you thought were long gone. This book will reintroduce you to the comfort foods of your youth.

This book is so helpful and convenient that I bought two. I know that's stupid but I use one and I'm storing one. Things go out of print and this is one I want to have around. A MUST have for anyone who is preparing for the economic collapse we all see is coming. If you are storing food and don't know how or what to do with it when you do need it. This is a simple way to take you through. Buy it.

Great recipes. The books is chocked full of valuable techniques and ideas to cook from scratch. In this economic crisis we are in, this book's value is unequaled. We can save $$$ at the grocery store by preparing meals from scratch and keeping a well stocked pantry.

This was a book that a friend recommended. In starting back to work and all my other responsibilities I need a break from all the prepackaged prepared mixes at the store that have too many preservatives. This book did the trick. The mixes are on the shelf and easy to use everyday.

Love this book! I like that it has "mini mix-meals" to test out the recipe before you make a large batch. Haven't tried any of the recipes yet, still reviewing the book and trying to decide what to make.