Member Reviews
I love cookbooks, slow cooker meals and budget friendly meals, so this book is right up my alley! As promised, the recipes do look like the require inexpensive ingredients (and often not too many of them!) and are quick and easy. I look forward to trying many of the slow cooker recipes.
However, despite my initial excitement over the book, there are several things that I don't love. First, this book is full of recipes compiled from home cooks which is a little unusual- it makes me feel a little uneasy trying the recipes because I'm worried that they may not be consistent in terms of quality, flavor, etc. Second, I would have loved more photographs and the nutrition information! Lastly, I wish that the instant pot recipes had directions on how to cook it in a slow cooker if you don't have an instant pot (many cookbooks do!) since it doesn't, unfortunately many of these recipes I won't be able to make.
This is a great resource. It has a good variety of recipes (note that desserts are not included because the title specifies that it's for budget-friendly meals - i.e., breakfast, lunch, & dinner). Some take more time and work than others; it's really helpful to have the prep time and cook time listed with each recipe. There are also some helpful tips about how to use slow cookers or Instant Pots at the beginning of the book. A book like this is so helpful for those of us who work, have young children, etc.; these types of cookers are time-savers, and it's also a time-saver not to scroll through an entire blog post of someone's life story before they share a recipe. To me, that makes a cookbook worth buying!
The book would have been even better if it had included more nutritional information and if it had been organized in separate sections for Instant Pot vs. slow cookers. I give it 4.5 stars overall, rounded up to 5.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the free eARC! These are my honest opinions.
This cookbook reminds me of the old church member cookbooks and the recipes in Taste of Home magazine. The recipes are all shared by others, and are short, simple and involve few ingredients. They are all for either the instant pot or crock pot. There are pictures of about a third of the recipes, and no nutritional information.
The author biography says she is allergic to gluten but gluten is featured heavily in the recipes, which use a lot of pasta and wheat flour. Gluten free pasta and flour cook a little differently so it’s not necessarily an easy swap in pressure cooker or crockpot recipes.
The recipes are very traditional SAD (standard American diet) dishes, using a lot of ingredients like cream of mushroom soup, bouillon cubes, refrigerated biscuits and such. There is a meatless section but otherwise the dishes involve a lot of chicken, beef, cheese and other animal products. Beans are also featured heavily. The recipes remind me a lot of recipes from the 70s and 80s, other than the fact that many are cooked in egg bite molds and such in the instant pot.
This will be a helpful cookbook for new cooks especially, and those who prefer traditional 20th century American style meals.
I read a temporary digital review copy of this book.
The cookbook contains 127 budget-friendly meals for slow cookers and Instant Pots. The cookbook begins with a guide on choosing a slow cooker and tips for using a slow cooker and Instant Pot, which can be helpful for those who do not already own one or just bought or received one as a gift. Next are the recipes for breakfast, soups, main dishes, and side dishes. Each recipe includes whether it is made in the slow cooker, Instant Pot, or both, an ingredient list, numbered directions, and prep and cook times. However, only about a third of the recipes have a picture. It would be great if more recipes included pictures as it helps individuals know what the dish is supposed to look like and if they would want to make it themselves. Furthermore, the recipes do not include any dietary information such as if it is vegetarian, dairy-free, or gluten-free, therefore, those with dietary restrictions will have to read the full ingredient lists to determine if the recipe is suitable for them or can be customized to fit their needs. Lastly, there are no recipes for desserts, and it would have been nice if there were some dessert recipes. To sum up, Fix-It and Forget-It Budget Meals is a decent cookbook for those with a slow cooker and/or Instant Pot, but the lack of photos, dietary information, and desserts does bring it down.
Nice little cookbook. I’m not a fan of the instant pot but I liked that it lists at the top of the recipe if it is an instant pot or slow cooker recipe. I will be going back to get recipes out of this book.
As someone who pretty much solely cooks in the instant pot or slow cooker, this cookbook is right up my alley! I've been in a bit of a cooking funk lately, so I'm really glad that there are so many great recipes in here that I can't wait to try out!
The only negative: I do wish that there were photos of all of the recipes.
127g Instant Pot and slow cooker recipes that are affordable and family friendly. Includes tips on using your appliances effectively. Enjoy dishes such as black bean soup, chicken pot pie, veggie lasagna, casseroles, and more to save money on groceries.
With the recent rise in grocery prices, many of us are looking for ways to stretch our food budget. I was pleasantly surprised to discover that you can download a cookbook onto a Kindle - what a great find!
This cookbook is ideal for both seasoned cooks and beginners. Personally, I am a huge fan of instant pot recipes. I lead a busy life and don't have the luxury of spending hours in the kitchen. I appreciate how simple and quick these recipes are, using ingredients that are usually already in your pantry. I also love that many slow cooker recipes can be easily converted to instant pot recipes, although you may need to refer to an online cheat sheet for guidance.
Lately, I have been experimenting with cooking more, but my husband is a picky eater. To my delight, I found some recipes in this cookbook that even he would enjoy. I am particularly excited to try the recipes featuring cabbage, as it is such a healthy ingredient. While some of the recipes may be familiar, this cookbook is perfect for those, like me, who prefer to cook from scratch and avoid using pre-packaged ingredients.
I have already tested a few recipes from this cookbook, and my husband has given his approval. I look forward to trying out more and expanding my culinary skills. I wish that each recipe was accompanied by its own photo, as we all love to see the delicious meal in its final form. I also appreciate the author mentioning the sources of these recipes.
Excuse me, I must go cook now!
Thank you NetGalley and Skyhorse Publishing | Good Books for my digital ARC copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This is a very straightforward and easy to use book which would suit those who use US measurements and have mainstream ‘Apple Pie’ tastes and want simple recipes with easy to get hold of ingredients, to cook everyday food for their families. I am British so there were a few things here I have not eaten before ( or cooked!) so I shall be dusting off my slow cooker to give them a go. There were lots of useful tips.
Overall this book is great and gives you a lot of ideas. The instructions are easy to follow and you can easily alter the recipes to your liking. I just wish there was a picture for every recipe.
A book filled with so many yummy meals that are also budget friendly! receipts cover a wide variety of tastes and I am looking forward to trying them all.
This is a great cookbook with recipes for both the Instant Pot and slow cookers. I feel like I don't use my instant pot enough, so I was really excited to see some easily approachable recipes for it! My only complaint is that many of the recipes do not have pictures, and I would have loved to have seen a visual of more of them.
Regardless, I am excited to try out these recipes! There are lots of options. Thanks to NetGalley, Skyhorse Publishing, and Hope Comerford for the chance to read and review. My opinions are my own.
Another great cookbook in the Fix It and Forget It series. As a busy working woman, I love cookbooks with quick meal ideas. I’m also not the most talented cook on the block, so the recipes have to be easy to follow and not contain any strange ingredients I can’t find in my local grocery store. This cookbook has all of these features. My only complaint is the nutrition information isn’t included. As a diabetic, and having a husband who is also a diabetic, this information is beneficial when calculating insulin dosage. Still, I would recommend it if you’re looking for simple and quick recipe ideas.
I really wish this book was around when I first got my pressure cooker and slow cooker because I was so intimidated by both, and I know this would have come in so handy lol.
This book contains over 100 recipes that are easy to follow & all sound delicious. I especially can’t wait to make the pancakes. I loved the handy tips & tricks at the beginning of the book for both appliances and the conversion chart at the end, being from the UK this will come in really handy & will save me googling!
Overall I think this would make a fab addiction to anyone’s recipe book collection my only “complaint” is where are the desserts?!
★★★★
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I want to thank NetGalley and Skyhorse Publishing for the opportunity to review this book.
"Fix-It and Forget-It Budget Meals" by Hope Comerford is just a book for someone always looking for quick, easy, and affordable meal ideas.
The first thing that caught my eye was the variety of recipes included - over 100 Instant Pot and slow cooker meals sure to please even the pickiest eaters. From comforting classics like Black Bean Soup and Crustless Chicken Pot Pie to innovative twists like Orange-Glazed Chicken and Tamale Pie, there's something for everyone. And the best part? Each recipe is clearly labelled as either slow cooker or Instant Pot-specific, making it easy to plan and prepare meals accordingly.
I appreciate that each recipe includes serving suggestions, which gives me ideas for sides or complementary dishes to round out our meals. It's also nice to have tips on how to set up and use my Instant Pot, as well as guidance on knowing when food is perfectly cooked.
If I'm being picky (which I am!), I would say that not having pictures with every recipe might be a drawback for some. Additionally, I was surprised not to see any dessert recipes included - but let's be real, who doesn't love a good savoury meal?
Overall, I'm excited to try many of these recipes, especially the ones that caught my eye like caramel rolls, blueberry fancy, cranberry chicken, and very special spinach! The recipes were concise and easy to follow and gave me some great ideas for easy meals to make.
In conclusion, "Fix-It and Forget-It Budget Meals" is a fantastic resource for anyone looking to spice up their meal routine without breaking the bank. With its vast array of delicious and unique recipes, I'm confident you'll find something that becomes a new favourite. Happy cooking!
I love the range of reciepes offered and the straightforward way in which they are represented. However, lumping meatless recipes and seafood recipes was a bit of a bummer, since I was excited about meatless options but don't eat fish and not breaking them up into thier own spaces means I still have to be dilligent when reading ingrediants and search a bit harder than if they were seperate. A minor let peeve on an otherwise good book.
I read through this cookbook like a novel!!! So many great recipes in one of my favorite kitchen gadgets…the Instant Pot. From Southwestern Cauliflower to Crustless chicken pot pie I will be busy doing a lot of cooking with these amazing recipes!!!
I Really Enjoyed this cookbook! As a new mom, my instapot and crockpot are a lifesaver, and I’m always looking for new recipes. The recipes were concise and easy to follow and gave me some great ideas for easy meals to make for our family that are quite affordable on our maternity leave budget. There were a lot of unique meals, sometimes I find cook books like this similar to others, but there were many new ideas for me.
A slow cooker & instant pot budget cookbook! Perfect for a busy mom on a budget, like me!
Pros:
-starts with helpful slow cooker & instant pot general information
-each recipe clearly and easily identified as slow cooker vs instant pot recipe
-many recipes include serving suggestions (other complimentary recipes or suggested sides)
-a nice variety of delicious sounding recipes!
Cons;
-not every recipe has a picture
-no desserts 😜
I look forward to trying several of these recipes!!! Especially caramel rolls, blueberry fancy, cranberry chicken, and very special spinach!!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC!