A Man, a Can, a Microwave: 50 Tasty Meals You Can Nuke in No Time (Man, a Can... Series) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I bought this book for over $16 at Borders when it caught my eye. Look what you save buying it here! I don't regret it, though, the book is THAT good. Each recipe shows the ingredients in photographs, laid out in series:
photo of canned product, such as tomato)
+ this (photo of another canned product)
+ this (photo of meat or veggie)
= (photo of the finished meal)
Ingenious. No more wondering, am I buying the right kind of canned tomatoes for this recipe?
The first thing I made was Paella. It was done in under 1/2 hour and the leftovers tasted (incredibly) even better the second day.
I'm a working mom, cooking for my husband (DH) & 2 pre-teenagers who are into all sorts of activities. Although I love to cook gourmet meals, my family could be starving before such fare is ready. These are fast, tasty, and have child-and-husband-friendly-ingredients. I've saved out a portion and microwaved it fast for DH when he has had a late work night and usually I'm too cooked out to do that. And the cleanup is next-to-nothing, getting me out of the kitchen and not having to face a disaster of a kitchen when we get back from evening activities.
We had the turkey with stuffing last night... the kids actually bragged to their friends about that dinner-- and it was so easy. As if all this weren't enough, I think I'm saving $ too, because I'm not resorting to fast food because I'm too tired to think about what to make. It's that easy to have the ingredients on hand for these meals.


Click Here to see more reviews about: A Man, a Can, a Microwave: 50 Tasty Meals You Can Nuke in No Time (Man, a Can... Series)

First came A Man, a Can, a Plan: 50 Great Guy Meals Even You Can Make. The Sunday Star-Ledger cheered it as a "foolproof, not to mention spill-proof guide to manly success in the kitchen." And the Detroit News exclaimed, "Dude, this cookbook is for you."Next came A Man, a Can, a Grill: 50 No-Sweat Meals You Can Fire Up Fast. Cookbook author Andrew Schloss, who wrote Cooking with Three Ingredients and Dinner's Ready, called the recipes "easy, flavorful...streamlined and smart. Real food-so good that no one will ever guess your secret is in the can."Now there's A Man, a Can, a Microwave-and all those "dudes" who helped put the "Grill" book on the New York Times how-to bestseller list will be pleased to know that David Joachim and the editors of Men's Health haven't lost a beat. The 50 guy-friendly, nuke-able meals using packaged ingredients are fun to make and great to eat-and include such tasty dishes as "Italian One-Dish Fish," "Teriyaki Beef with Broccoli," and "Painless Paella." With step-by-step recipes and full-color photos, A Man, a Can, a Microwave, like the previous books in the series, is a perfect gift for anyone learning to cope in the kitchen. Make sure he has a can opener-and a hearty appetite!

Get 32% OFF

Click here for more information about A Man, a Can, a Microwave: 50 Tasty Meals You Can Nuke in No Time (Man, a Can... Series)

Read More...

Maran Illustrated Cooking Basics Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I was searching for a basic cooking book for a young friend of the family. I wanted something special, not the usual "cooking for dummys" type of book, or a book of basic recipies. I wanted something that would explain a wide range of cooking info, and that could also be used as a reference for years to come. I was also looking for something that was affordable. I came across this book in a local book store, after paging through many, many others. I was extremely impressed at the wide range of info packed in this book. I've been cooking for 30+ years, and this book even taught me a thing or two as I paged through it! The first half covers basic utensils, measuring, cutting, chopping, types of spices, fruits, vegies, and cuts of different meats. It explains the different methods of preparing foods (frying, braizing, boiling, poaching, blanching, steaming, searing, reducing, etc.), as well as different ways to work with certain foods, such as eggs. The second half is recipies. They are simple, healthy recipes, that range from salad to dessert, each explained step by step and illustrated nicely. I was impressed by the choice of recipes included, as a new cook could easily prepare a very impressive meal quite easily. Even an experienced cook will find the recipies to be very useful. Overall it's well written, well illustrated, and very informative book for the beginning cook, as well as a handy reference for the more experienced. It's also reasonably priced! I purchased it as a gift for the young family friend, and I plan to purchase another to add to my own cook book collection. You can't go wrong with this book if your looking for a GOOD basic book about the fundamentals of cooking.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Maran Illustrated Cooking Basics

"Maran Illustrated Cooking Basics" is a valuable resource to a wide range of readers-from people cooking for themselves or for their next big family event. Maran Illustrated Cooking Basics shows the reader the best way to perform each task, while the full-color photographs and clear, step-by-step instructions walk the reader through each task from beginning to end. Thorough topic introductions and useful tips provide additional information to help enhance the readers' cooking experience. "Maran Illustrated Cooking Basics" is packed with essential information for those who are new to cooking and will provide more experienced cooks with a refresher course on the basics and the opportunity to add more advanced skills to their repertoire.

Get 26% OFF

Click here for more information about Maran Illustrated Cooking Basics

Read More...

The Healthy College Cookbook Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This was my first cookbook, and I can now cook and bake almost anything I try. My mother gave this to me when I was studying abroad in Ireland and found that, being vegetarian, I couldn't eat most of the food in restaurants. I had never liked cooking much before but this book sparked an interest in me that has become my primary hobby.

The book consists of multiple sections, which include Breakfast, Poultry, Beef, Seafood, Vegetarian (yay!), and Desserts. And even though most of the above don't apply to me, this book is still splattered and marked with my always successful attempts at these recipes. The ingredients are usually on hand in a well-stocked kitchen, and, for further assistance, the authors give you thorough advice on how to stock a kitchen in the first place. In addition, the book includes a glossary on cooking and baking terms in case, like me, you didn't know and couldn't place international calls to your mom every five minutes.

But the absolute best thing about this book, after you take into consideration the creative recipes, the simple delicious taste of each finished product, the ease of use, and the lasting power of the recipes - I still come back to this book for the recipes listed further below, is the universal quality the authors cultivate. Each recipe gives both metric and standard measuring units (and in my case, it was essential) and thorough nutritional information with each recipe.

Key recipes that I still use, many many dinner parties later: Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins, Carrot Cake, Baked Ziti, Garlic Green Beans with Tofu, Tomato Basil Sauce, Mushroom Pasta Sauce (try with linguine), and Mushrooms Parmesan.

Drawbacks to this book: Not many. And there aren't even any pictures, which I usually find upsetting. For this book, it works. If I had a photo of what the dish was supposed to look like in front of me, I would have been upset if my final product didn't resemble it completely.

If you are searching for the perfect gift for a student with a first apartment, consider this book. It was a gift to me, and I am still grateful.

Click Here to see more reviews about: The Healthy College Cookbook

For nearly a decade, The Healthy College Cookbook has offered time-pressed, budget-crunched students a simple way to enjoy home cooking in their own small apartment kitchens or even dorm rooms. Written by students for students, the book offers hundreds of simple, healthful alternatives to dreary cafeteria fare. The first edition was so successful it returned to print 17 times. Now, this best-selling cookbook has been revised, expanded, and enlivened for a new generation of students. One hundred brand-new recipes have been added to the old favorites, including expanded breakfast options, recipes for the ever-popular George Foreman Grill, new smoothie creations, and pizza toppings for storebought crusts, English muffins, and pita bases. Recipes require only a handful of easy-to-find ingredients. The book is packed with vegetarian options, and every recipe is as nutritious as it is delicious. Most can be prepared in less time than it takes to order pizza. Most college students are new to cooking, and The Healthy College Cookbook contains a wealth of information and tips for the novice. It explains cooking terms, describes common spices, and offers basic, sensible advice on stocking a kitchen with equipment and food staples. The book isn't just for novices, however. Even the most discerning young palates will appreciate zesty Garlic Green Beans with Tofu or lively Mandarin-Mint Salad. These recipes are so quick, so inexpensive, and so delicious that they're bound to become dinner party favorites, years past graduation.

Get 41% OFF

Click here for more information about The Healthy College Cookbook

Read More...