Make-Ahead Meals for Busy Moms by Jane Doiron
When I had the opportunity to review “Make Ahead Meals for Busy Moms” I jumped at it. After all, my mom and I were planning to make some meals to freeze while she was here over Thanksgiving. We made three recipes from a book she brought that solely concentrates on recipes to freeze and one recipe from this book. ”Make-Ahead Meals for Busy Moms” does not focus on meals to freeze, but has a variety of make-ahead options, from freezing, to things you can prepare the day before or the morning of to make dinner preparation go much smoother.
I really liked that Doiron included a variety of recipes for different types of meals that moms might need to make: breakfasts, soups, main and side dishes, and desserts. I thought the number of desserts was a bit excessive, though. Nearly 50 pages of a book that is just over 200 pages long! I don’t know about anyone else, but I don’t need that many dessert recipes in a cookbook that is meant to be a day-to-day sort of thing. That being said, the stuffed shells were SO GOOD. I really didn’t think I’d like them that well, not that it wasn’t a good recipe, but because I usually only sort of like this sort of thing, but I LOVED them. They might be a little involved to do regularly – after all, you have to stuff the shells – they they weren’t difficult and they were very easy to make once unfrozen. A great dish to take to a potluck or serve when you have people over, make it ahead at your leisure and look awesome when you serve it!
So yes, I would have liked to see more main dishes, but the one I made so far was delicious! I’m looking forward to using this cookbook more,
Buy this book from:
Powells.*
A local independent bookstore via Indiebound.*
Amazon.*
I love the idea of this book! But I agree that a busy mom’s book should have devoted more space to getting dinner on the table or providing easy lunches for kids than to making dessert. I’ll have to take a look at it next time I’m in the store.
I love stuffed shells. That’s the kind of recipe that gets easier to put together after you’ve done it a few times.
This is a great idea for a cookbook, but it does sound a little “heavy” on desserts
I love stuffed shells, too!
.-= JoAnn´s last blog ..Weekend Cooking: Secret Ingredients =-.
I love the idea of this book. When my children were young and I worked it would have been well used. Stuffed shells are actually fun for kids to make if you’re not too fussy about the appearance of the dish.
Hi!
Great book to have handy in the kitchen. Thanks for sharing. Have a great weekend!
Sherrie
Sherrie’s Stuff
Well, this definitely has been the day for great cookbooks. I think this is the third one that I’ve made note of that I need to look at in person. Next August, my son will be joining tackle football (yikes) with practices FIVE DAYS A WEEK. I’m going to need something to save my rear end with the dinners!!!!
Sounds great but that definitely is a lot of desserts for a book that says it’s for “meals.” Dessert recipes I’ve got plenty of–it’s those main courses that I always need new ideas for!
Oh, I am getting so hungry reading these food posts. Wish I had some of those shells.
I love stuffed shells. Too bad about all the desserts.
.-= Nicole´s last blog ..THIB! Twenty Minute Book Club Challenge – Substitute Books Linky =-.
I’m with you…that’s too many desserts. But, that said, I’m going to check this one out. Thanks for putting it on my radar!
My main problem with cookbooks is when there aren’t enough main dishes in the cookbook! Since there are only two of us, I don’t make a lot of appetizers or sides, and hubby doesn’t like sweets so I don’t make a lot of dessert.
.-= S. Krishna´s last blog ..The Girl Next Door – Elizabeth Noble =-.