30-Minute Meals for Dummies (Paperback)

by Bev Bennett (Author) "To put the task of preparing dinner into perspective, compare cooking with other tasks that you do regularly around the house..." (more)
Key Phrases: spatula heads, toasted couscous, seasoned ground beef, Master Meat Sauce, Thousand Island, United States (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Walking into a kitchen that’s filled with cooking aromas is a delightful and comforting experience. Yet, between work, chores, family obligations, and a badly needed opportunity to unwind, you find it difficult to get dinner on the table within the time limits that life imposes on you.

But cooking a great tasting meal isn’t nearly as time-consuming as it’s made out to be, and you don’t have to be a chef to pull it off. If you forgot how enjoyable a home-cooked meal can be, 30-Minute Meals For Dummies is your best resource.

If you can identify with any of these descriptions, this book is for you:

• Between your frantic day and the demands of your personal life, you’re looking for ways to free up a few minutes. Cooking is one of the activities that gets shortchanged.
• Tired of spending your evenings in your car, you long for some semblance of dining-at-home pleasure, instead of inching around a parking lot, waiting for your chance to order dinner from a metal box.
• You're not looking to prepare a five-course meal. You want self-contained meals that please, satisfy, and get the job done with minimal hassle.

30-Minute Meals For Dummies shows you how to make one-dish meals that include vegetables, starches, and the traditional “meat.” You'll transform soup and salad side dishes into hearty main courses and turn your skillet into a one-dish dinner utensil. You often get everything a meal has to offer in one dish – well, besides adding a scoop of ice cream to the top of your jambalaya for dessert.

This book is structured around the equipment, ingredients, and recipe choices that fit your time frame. Each page is packed with my kitchen-tested suggestions for streamlining cooking. Even if you’re an experienced cook, you can pick up useful hints. You get great recipes for classic meals, new dishes, and so much more in these chapters. You’ll be pleased to know that you can fix nourishing and memorable dinners within your time frame. So ladies and gentleman, start your ovens!

From the Back Cover
Beat the clock with quick-cooking tips and do-ahead tricks

Whip up tasty meals in minutes the fun and easy way!

Cooking fast and eating well are a snap with this easy-to-use cookbook and guide. You’ll find everything you need to cook at warp speed – from 100 wholesome recipes you can make in 30 minutes or less to great ideas for planning ahead, using leftovers, and much more.

The Dummies Way

• Explanations in plain English
• "Get in, get out" information
• Icons and other navigational aids
• Tear-out cheat sheet
• Top ten lists
• A dash of humor and fun

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 360 pages
• Publisher: For Dummies; 1st edition (July 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764525891
• ISBN-13: 978-0764525896
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #164,310 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars BENNETT REALLY HELPS DUMMIES, March 8, 2004

By	M. L Martindale "Owner/Operator http://www.Fo... (LARGO, FL USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is an amazingly intuitive book. Bennett anticipates just about everything a life-long non-cook could encounter. If you know anyone who has suddenly been thrust into a situation where they must cook food which is appealing to them, this book is for that person.

Start with the very, very basics like cooking pre-cooked rice, cooking greens or browning onions. It's there. Out of an ingredient? Learn timely substitutes.

After the Contents at a Glance, find Recipes at a Glance listed by description (six pages of them). These include entertaining suggestions, "Especially for Two," 20-Minute Main Dishes and 15-Minute-or-Less Main Dishes. The actual Table of Contents is seven pages in length! Repeated eye-catchers offer hand-held tips such as "Caution," "Remember," or just plain "Tip." Taking a new cook by the hand is further evidenced with the 19-page index.

HIGHLIGHTS:
Following the Grain Trail
Herb Chart
How to judge a safe salad bar
Preparing pre-cooked spuds
Sauces in Seconds, including some International Sauces
Tips on seasoning your salad dressing
Purchasing, storing and browning ground beef (vs. hamburger)
Seeding a cucumber
Making a mountain of lettuce
Flattening a chicken breast for even cooking
Making French Fry Soup, (lotsa calories).

Bennett makes food and its preparation lighten up. In her chapter, 20 Tips for Eliminating Mealtime Hassles, she deals with topics such as, Making Relaxation a Priority, Keeping Everything Handy, and (very important) Asking for Help. More of Bennett's anticipation shows up in her sections on Asking for Help, Coping with Bumps in the Road, Having Fun and Sharing. This book won't necessarily get a dummie cooking, it can teach a lot of tricks to anyone hungry, dumb or not.

Bev Bennett is also author of the award-winning Two's Company. ...