Customer Reviews

The Occasional Cook: Culinary Strategies for Over-Committed Families

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is a great concept for anyone who stands at the fridge at dinner time wondering what to make. I have been doing this for the past few months and it is wonderful!! All the recipies are fantastic and very easy. It is definitely worth the time!

I use this cookbook a lot! While I haven't gone as far as to use her cooking plans, they do look useful for people who want to do a "cooking day". I personally am at the point where I double the recipes she gives each time I cook one, to put one half away in the freezer. Or I cook up a whole bowl of chopped chicken breast and make up a bunch of those particular dishes to freeze ahead. So far we've found some really good meals that my husband likes - Savory Meatloaf, Swiss Casserole, Italian Biscuit Cups, Easy Chicken Divan, and Chicken Tettrazini, to name a few . I especially like that her basic ground beef mixture includes carrots - so my kids get some veggies without even noticing! The recipes may not all be gourmet, but for good, home-cooked comfort food, this book gets you going. It has taken some stress out of the daily deciding what to make for dinner.

Cyndy's book is wonderful! It's designed to be used as a "cook for a month" book, but it adapts easily to a "what's for dinner tonight?" cookbook. I've been using it for the past 8 years now, and I know I can rely on it when I'm out of dinner ideas. I find that I can adapt the recipes easily when I need to (which I have to with my sometimes picky husband). There's also a nice selection of ground beef recipes, and I often substitute ground turkey without problems in the end result. (I can always find chicken recipes!!!) I also like to write in my cookbooks; I make notes on whatever I modified, and so I can rate how each family member liked it (so I know if I should attempt the dish again). It's a great go-to book for meal-planning and for back-up last-minute dinner ideas. I won't ever be selling my copy!

Great book, but wish either I had paid attention when ordering or wish the description said more but felt like I was being "preached" to when reading. If you can skip through the religious passages and commentary,(if you're like me and another religion, or no religion at all) the information is actually good information and seems to be a nice strategy to free up more time in a busy lifestyle by making all your meals on one day. Have not tried out this plan, yet.. but hope to soon. Great book if you're a busy person that struggles with day to day meal planning for an entire family or even just another person.