Current Cookbook - Rachael Ray 30-Minute Meals 2

RACHAEL RAY 30-MINUTE MEALS 2 - Rachael Ray

This cookbook has a copyright of 2006. I don't know where I got this book. I have never cooked from this before.

I will be honest here. Rachael Ray? I'm so not into her. There are only two cooks/chefs on The Food Network that I cannot watch an entire show of...and she's one (Emeril is the other). No matter how hard I try, I usually end up turning the channel to something else when she is on. Heck I'll even watch infomercials before watching her.

That being said, I own two of her cookbooks. Not sure why. Anytime I've seen her 30 minutes meals I realize there is no way I can make what she does in 30 minutes. Yes, if I spend a fortune and buy precut foods or spend the night before preparing foods and making sure I know where every single item (utensils included) is located. But I probably bought this book looking for great, simple, fast recipes. I even own an Emeril cookbook so not liking the show usually doesn't influence my not liking the cookbook.

This book is written with "menus". Rachael provides a complete menu (two or three dishes) which are to be cooked within the 30 minute period. The recipes/menus come in chapters like "Dinner Specials" or "Healthy Hunger Busters"...a bit difficult if you are looking for say, a pork main dish...you need to check the index to find recipes for specific ingredients. A weird thing is that not all recipes are in the index. If you are looking for "Great Grilled Vegetables" you would only find it under "vegetables". What I don't see for the menus is a sort of chronological list of 'what to do when' to get it all done in 30 minutes.  She does say to start on the first recipe and when you have "pockets of time" start on the second etc. For an advanced cook, this may seem easy, for someone who already has trouble getting three dishes to come out on time, this seems...not beginner cook friendly. There are no photos in this book.

The recipes seem pretty straight forward and easy to follow. I still get very intimidated when I see a "menu" with four recipes (say Roast Potatoes, Green Beans and Mushroom Saute, Steaks with Cheese and an Orange Liqueur Dessert)...reading the recipes and directions I'm completely flabbergasted that it can all be done in 30 minutes. After reading reviews of the book, I also agree you need to have some pretty good knife skills to accomplish the menus in the 30 minute timeframe. Some reviews also stated you could get a better idea of how to "stage and time" the recipes if you watch the show. Um...not happy that I have to watch the TV show to figure out how to cook her recipes.

Taken individually, I like the recipes much better. Hey, I can make Portuguese Chicken and Chorizo in 30 minutes (and serve with a packaged salad) or I can grill a steak and serve it with Mom's Oil and Vinegar Potato Salad and 3 Bean Salad.  Once I got over the "make the entire menu" idea I found the recipes much more appealing. There are actually quite a few recipes I'd like to try. And yeah, maybe one of these days I'll try an entire menu.

Comments

[Jan]

I am so with you about Rachael Ray and Emeril. There was a time when I watched Emeril every chance I got but now I can't sit through his show.

[DBdiner]

While I have actually used very, very few of her recipes, I do learn a lot while watching her: get out everything at once, heat the pan while you chop, chop once and use twice, ingredients can be swapped out without huge stress, use a garbage bowl, and just eye ball it. Reassuring lessons, all.

[grace]

try as i might, i just can't find it in my heart to like this woman. she drives me absolutely crazy. that being said, i have found several of her recipes that almost rock my world. as long as i don't have to hear her or see her, i guess i'll be okay.

[Mrs. L]

Jan - So glad I'm not alone!

DBdiner - I admit that doing things ahead is a good idea and I do that as much as possible.

Grace - I like the look of a lot of her recipes, so I may be making more of them in the future!

[stephany worthington]

would like to speak with producers of show as cannot believe what a slob, lazy or diva RR has turned into.after watching 10/4/10 eve episode on foodnetwork and viewing FOR LAST TIME due to numerous wiping of work area to floor,burned foods in pans and slopping of foods in and out of pans.RR is also everywhere which is not good;NEVER watch RR show after few on debut;too diva and childish for my enjoyment.Chopping is not relaxing at the end of my day, nor is racing to get dinner on something to be enjoyed and now,recently, watching until now RR racing to get all pre-shopped,pre-cut and of course pre-planned on plate in 30-minutes;adds much stress to my already too stressed life.Won't be watching anymore RR,not entertaining anymore;maybe RR needs to take rest!