Member Reviews
Such a good cookbook for beginners and experienced alike! Great selection of recipes, lots of helpful and detailed tips and tricks. Love the layout, the illustrations and pics! Can’t wait to try some of the recipes! With the holiday season coming about, this would make a great present for those who loves to cook!
This recipe book was easily navigated. It’s possibly one of the best-organized cookbooks I’ve ever encountered. It has a wide range of recipes with a little something for everyone. If you're more adventurous than most or looking for a way to break out of your routine, I would highly recommend this book. If that isn't you, try to find a physical copy of the book and thumb through it as you don't want to spend a lot on just a few recipes you'd use. I did find it informative too so it's one I would enjoy on my own bookshelf despite my family not being the most adventurous in their culinary preferences.
I was able to preview this before its release thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley to share my honest thoughts with others.
Thank you to NetGalley & Adams Media for this ARC! The "I Don't Want to Cook" Book: Dinners Done in One Pot by Alyssa Brantley is a lifesaver for busy home cooks seeking delicious meals without the hassle of extensive prep or cleanup. Featuring a variety of simple, one-pot recipes, Brantley offers a practical approach to cooking that doesn't compromise on flavor or variety. The book's straightforward instructions and appealing photographs make it accessible for all skill levels, encouraging readers to experiment in the kitchen. With its focus on quick, satisfying meals, this cookbook is perfect for anyone looking to simplify their dinner routine.
I'm always looking for one pot dinners because I live for (and because of) those. I'm very lucky with a partner and a housemate who love to cook, but that means my own cooking skills aren't that great. So the title of this book really spoke to me.
I only have made one recipe (the gnocchi!) but I'm excited to make the nachos, orzo and most of the salads :)
The title of this cookbook drew me in. I prefer a photo accompanying every recipe because I'm very much a visual eater and that was definitely lacking here. Contrary to the title, I also felt like many of the recipes seemed quite time-intensive or had a number of ingredients. Overall, an enjoyable read though. Thanks to NetGalley and Adams Media for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review - pub day is today, 10/22/24!
There are some great work night recipes that are quick for the family! A few were similar to some recipes I use regularly at home, so we love those!
The recipes look pretty good, although I can tell they all call for way more salt than they should. So far I’ve made one recipe (with plans to eventually make a few more), and it was very well seasoned with only a third of the salt that was called for. 3 times that much would have been way too salty to even be edible. But other than that, the recipes are appealing and as long as you can adjust the salt appropriately, you should be just fine.
I received an arc of this title from NetGalley for an honest review. I liked this easy to use cookbook with some really great recipes so much that I ordered myself a copy. Looking forward to its release date.
THE "I DON'T WANT TO COOK" BOOK: DINNERS DONE IN ONE POT by Alyssa Brantley was published today (Oct. 22, 2024). It is subtitled "100 Low-Prep, No-Mess Recipes for Your Skillet, Sheet Pan, Pressure Cooker, and More!" I was really looking forward to browsing recipes in this book, especially since Brantley's earlier work has some positive reviews. There are a few examples shown on Amazon like Turkey Potpie with Biscuit Crust or Adobo Swordfish with Pico de Gallo and Broccolini. Recipes are accompanied by a colorful photo and nutritional information. Unfortunately, the preview copy has disappeared from both my Kindle and NetGalley apps so I am forced to give it a neutral 3 star rating.
Pleasing layout!
Really nice production, the layout was pleasing and the recipes are easy to read.
One pot cooking! The idea wows me every time. Unfortunately this production was not for me. Too many dishes included cheese. I’m not a big turkey fan. I suppose one could always substitute chicken.
Overall the recipes really didn’t grab my attention. It didn’t give much new or different. I did like the look of Creamy sun-dried tomato, shrimp and gnocchi skillet recipe.
I wanted to say Ah! Ha! This is great! But …
An Adams Media ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.
(Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.)
Every day, I face the same dilemma: What am I making for dinner? What does the family even want to eat? This book is exactly what I needed to solve that daily struggle—amazing! It offers 100 quick and easy recipes that won’t leave a huge mess behind, which is perfect for busy moms (or anyone juggling a hectic schedule). All the meals are made in just one pot—whether it's a skillet, a regular pot, or a Dutch oven—making cleanup a breeze.
The book is well-organized and easy to follow, even for beginners in the kitchen. The chapters are conveniently divided into categories like “Convenient Casseroles” and “Dump-and-Go Slow Cooker Meals.” There’s even a section that helps you find the perfect recipe quickly by sorting them by prep time, such as “5 minutes or less.”
Each recipe is wonderfully detailed, providing a description of the dish, prep and cook times, and the number of servings. The ingredient lists are thorough, and the step-by-step instructions are incredibly easy to follow. This book truly takes the stress out of dinner planning and makes cooking more enjoyable!
Cookbooks are always fun for me to browse through and find new recipes to try. The first part of this book talked about various cooking vessels and how to take care of them properly. This was a good refresher as I don't always take the best care of some of my kitchen cookware. When I got into the recipes, I saw they were divided in sections depending on the cookware you would use to make those dishes. I, of course had to try a few recipes, and I picked ones with ingredients I knew I would enjoy. The first one I made was was the Hungarian Chicken Paprikash over Egg Noodles. This was a good, savory dish that I will probably make again. The seond I tried was a Spicy Sausage with Cabbage Wedges and Butter Potatoes. It was okay and tasted good. Not sure I will make it again though.
There are several more recipes I would like to try. Unfortunately, there were a great many recipes I would never make because I don't like some of the ingredients. I really don't like frozen chicken tenders and can't imagine I would ever use them in a recipe. I see how they would be convenient, but if I don't like it I won't eat it so all those were out for me. Sometimes I find that shortcuts just aren't worth it. I do see how most of these recipes would be easy to make for a beginner cook. I found the "Tips, Substitutions, Time-Savers, and More" to be useful. I liked that some of the recipes included color photographs; that's always nice to see what something looks like. I think many people would enjoy having this book available, especially new cooks.
Thanks to Adams Media through Netgalley for an advance copy.
It is somewhat difficult to review an ebook version of a cook book, but it seems like there’s some great recipes in here that I plan to try out!
Everyday I face the same question. What In the world am I making for dinner? What does the family want to eat? This book is exactly what I needed. Amazing. In this wonderful book we find 100 recipes that are quick, easy and won’t leave a huge mess afterwards. Perfect for moms who have that busy schedule. All of these meals are done in one pot, it can be a skillet pan, pot or Dutch oven. So well put together and easy to understand, even for the beginner cook. The book is divided into some perfect chapters like convenient casseroles and dump and go slow cooker meals. There is also a section to help you find the perfect recipe even faster. They are divided by prep time like 5 minutes or less. Each recipe is wonderfully detailed. Each includes a description of the recipe and what to expect, cook and prep time, as well as serving size. The ingredients are very detailed and the directions are step-by-step and so easy to follow. I love this book. Our family wants to try all 100 recipes. We could have a different meal every night. We did find a few favorites already like the Salmon with Toasted Garlic, Tomatoes and Pearl Couscous. The food photos are great to see what to expect with your recipe and to get your mouth watering for a taste. Your family will love this cookbook, we sure do. Perfect gift cookbook for new cooks and families getting started. Enjoy this delicious adventure with your family.
1000 stars
Book Review: The "I Don't Want to Cook" Book
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
As someone who often finds cooking to be a chore after a long day, I was genuinely excited to dive into The "I Don't Want to Cook" Book: Dinners Done in One Pot by Alyssa Brantley. This cookbook is like a comforting friend who understands those “I just don’t feel like cooking” days. With 100 quick and easy one-pot recipes, it promises minimal prep and limited clean-up, all while ensuring that you can still enjoy a healthy dinner.
Brantley’s approach is refreshingly straightforward. Each recipe requires just one piece of cookware—be it a skillet, Dutch oven, or even a mixing bowl. This not only cuts down on cooking time but also makes the dreary task of cleaning up afterward a breeze. For anyone who has ever dreaded the thought of tackling a sink full of dishes after dinner, this book is a lifesaver.
One of the aspects I truly appreciate is how accessible and easy Brantley makes cooking for beginners. The cookbook features an impressive variety of recipe types and flavor profiles, catering to almost everyone’s palate. It’s fantastic that this book doesn’t limit itself to just one-pot meals; it also includes recipes for woks, grills, slow cookers, and more. The diversity of options really impressed me!
Another highlight for me was the organization of the book. At the back, there's a helpful list of recipes sorted by cook time. I find it beneficial for dinner planning to know how long my meal will take to prepare—especially on those busy weeknights. Additionally, the front section provides excellent tips on how to care for and choose the right cooking vessels. The insights on cast iron skillets were particularly spot-on, showcasing Brantley’s expertise.
I also loved that each recipe clearly states prep time, cook time, and hands-off time. This transparency allows you to plan your evening with ease. The layout of the recipes is straightforward and easy to follow, making it ideal even for the most novice cooks. Plus, the visuals in this book are drool worthy; the photos are vibrant and mouth-watering, making it a visual feast that tempts you to get cooking.
In summary, The "I Don't Want to Cook" Book is a delightful addition to any kitchen bookshelf—especially for those days when cooking feels like a monumental task. With its diverse range of recipes, easy-to-follow instructions, and helpful tips on cooking vessels, I’m looking forward to trying out many of these dishes! The cover alone had me hooked from the start. If you’re searching for a cookbook that makes dinner a stress-free affair while still being deliciously satisfying, then look no further!
⚠️This review was written based on personal opinions and experiences with the book. Individual preferences may vary⚠️
Ok but a little too American for me and nothing I feel the need to rush off to cook.
There are lots of cook books around and I didn't really find anything that made this one stand out.
Loved the idea of something easy but you cant think of what to make. This cookbook helps with that with low maintenance meals. I appreciated the breakdown of all the tools and kitchen supplies used and why they are useful for a household kitchen. The only negative I have is I wish there was a photo of every meal but its a small negative.
We all have them...
Those days when we just do not want to cook, but needs must.
So why not have this handy book on hand to whip up a sheet pan dinner, a dutch oven dinner, a skillet dinner? Fewer dishes, one pot cooking is the way to go for all of us who have busy lives.
Recommend.
This is a great book that will be a welcome addition to anyone's collection. Most of us want to have delicious meals, but either don’t have the time or the desire to spend hours in prep and clean up time. This is the book that will allow us to experience that. Well written, easy to follow, some nice photos all lead to delicious satisfying meals that won’t take forever and leave you with a mess. I’ve made a dew and have a few others to try next. Definitely start the chicken thighs with chickpeas and feta, the honey soy chicken with snow peas, the brown lentil and sausage stew because yum!!!
This cookbook was definitely made for me as I struggle to decide what to cook and usually do something small or get takeout but this book has very beautiful recipes that are very well explained and look easy to make This will definitely help me to make meals even when I feel unmotivated. I also love how each recipe has a good amount of ingredients and not too many. Most cookbooks have pages of ingredients which is too for me daunting and puts me off but this was felt like a good amount with ingredients that I can source easily enough.