20-40-60 Minute Dinners by Kate Ottersrom is a delightfully and fun to read cookbook. Otterstrom's writing is divine making her cookbook fun to read while her recipes look absolutely delicious. For people who have celiac disease, or eating gluten-free you'll find plenty of recipes that are gluten-free. In fact the author includes a recipe to make-your-own gluten-free flour.

Some of the recipes you'll find include:

Gluten-Free Flour Blend
Mac and Cheese with Candied Sausage and Green Peas
Pancakes with Homemade Syrup and Smoky Carrots
Homemade Noodle Soup with Mashed Potatoes and Green Peas
Chocolate Angel Food Cake

The recipes are designed to be prepared within a specific time frame such as 20 to 35 minutes for a quick meal or approximately 60 minutes for a bit more labor intensive meal.

There are plenty of color photos illustrating the recipes too.

Recommend.

Review written after downloading a galley from NetGalley.

There is something in here to please every appetite. It really does what it says on the tin - the book is split into time categories, depending on how long want to spend preparing / cooking. There’s a photograph of every single dish mentioned in the book - I think that is SO important in a recipe book. It really helps you know what you’re aiming for! Each recipe has clear step by step instructions, with the accompanying photograph, and has a broad range of easy to replicate recipes. Would definitely recommend.


Thank you to Shadow Mountain Publishing and Netgalley for an eARC of this book to read and review.

Thanks to Netgalley, the author, and the publisher for this ARC! I loved how this book was structured, and the introduction at the beginning with the tips for what to have in your kitchen, how it’s organized, and key things in your pantry that should allow you to make most of the dishes in the book was a great addition. At the end and beginning of each chapter of recipes was a nice inclusion, and I loved the little asides with tips for things like grocery shopping and shelf-life for goods. I also wasn’t expecting a whole section on breads and desserts but it was so welcome. However, a lot of the recipes themselves were not what i really expected and beyond the last section, I didn't find too many recipes I thought I would personally try. 3.5 stars rounded to 4

What a great idea for a book! Thank you Netgalley for sharing this. It was filled with great ideas and east to follow directions.

I really liked how easy this was to read and use, because I'm a novice cook and things like that are just so essential for me. I did find that as a novice a lot of the recipes on the easier side I already had a handle on, so it was a bit limited for me. However I do have a few more challenging ones to give a go to so that's great!

I love the idea of this cookbook because seriously, who isn't busy these days? These meals are simple and easy to put together after a busy day. Very family friendly and the photos are mouth-watering. There are many recipes I will be trying soon!

This cookbook starts out extremely basic, with "recipes" that aren't really recipes, just telling you what to gather from the store, deli, restaurant, or your pantry/fridge to have some "college-style" meals (they don't realy seem college-style to me, just quick on-the-go type meals), e.g., how to make a "toothpick dinner" with meats, cheese, and fruits you can eat with toothpicks or how to grab deli chicken and deli salads for a picnic-style meal. With that basic beginning, I think this is really more of a beginner/newly married cookbook. I was hoping, from the title, for more ideas for a busy mom/family. There are some really delicious-sounding recipes in this book, but a lot of them can also be found in other cookbooks. The book does progress to more intermediate and advanced recipes and covers a wide range of styles, from slow cookers to sushi to breads, desserts, and candies. Lots of the recipes are available in other books; there aren't a lot of new or unique recipes here that other authors haven't already published, just the formatting/set-up of the book. There are some food combinations presented that are very odd and I'm guessing are very niche to the author's family (pancakes with a side of smokey carrots??), but there are only a few of those. With the basic beginning to the cookbook, I think this would be a great gift for female college students and also as a wedding/bridal shower gift.

There is a very strong gluten-free focus to this cookbook, as the author herself mentions several times that she needs those types of recipes for her personal health issues. With that heavy focus, I wish the title/cover/promotional material focused more on marketing this book as a gluten-free cookbook instead of the 20-40-60 minute aspect, as I think that is the better marketing approach for this particular cookbook with how strong that focus is in this cookbook and I think a lot of cooks who need gluten-free recipes would pass over this book without knowing that every single recipe in this book has a gluten-free disclaimer or alternative or is completely gluten-free.

The author gives background on each recipe and how it fits into her family dynamic, some from her grandmas and great-grandmas to her own. There is also a full-color photo for each recipe, as well as an illustration relating to the recipe on the opposite page from the photo. I didn't understand why there was an illustration until over halfway through the book when the author comments about her daughter wanting to illustrate a cookbook, so I'm assuming that's where the illustrations come from and how they fit into the book.

I went back-and-forth on how to rate this book, between 3 and 4 stars, but ended up settling on 4 stars as I think it is a great cookbook, but I do think it isn't going to be a cookbook for the majority of cooks and that the title is a misnomer and that the marketing needs to focus more on the gluten-free aspects of this book. I like the set-up with the 20-40-60 minute dinners, but again I feel that is less about what this cookbook is about and that it really is a better gluten-free cookbook than a time-management cookbook.

This book was overall a solid idea, and I'm glad I read through it. I liked how there are gluten-free alternatives and other ways to add variety to the recipes. I liked how the book was organized and the overall variety of the meals presented. There were a couple I would definitely try out myself! However, my main disappointment was that so many of the 20 and 40 minute meals included just going to the grocery store to buy basically the whole meal as-is (like a charcuterie board or deli fried chicken), which is why I rated this 3 stars. Overall I love the concept of this and would be happy to explore more 20-40-60 minute style books!

I really love this cookbook! I have been working full-time recently and my time to make dinner is limited. This cookbook has helped me out tremendously! I really love the quick meals and the crockpot meals. My children love them too (always a BIG plus!). I look forward to continuing to explore the meals in this cookbook!

This is a cookbook that has lots of great recipes that are quick and easy. There is anything from appetizers to main menus to some goodies that look delicious like the brownies and sugar cookies which I will be making this weekend. As I was scrolling through all of recipes i believe I would like everyone of the dinners. I am going to try a cook pot recipe tomorrow that looks absolutely delicious. I highly recommend this book I would go as far as saying this book is one of my top 5 cookbooks

This is a pretty fun cookbook. Loved the quick options. Definitely has some gluten free options which is helpful for people. But probably isn’t one I would use regularly.

Yes Please!
Always looking for quick easy weeknight dinners and there are so many good ones in this book!

Cannot wait to try them all !

I read this on my kindle, and I don’t know if that was the best format for me! It was a little funky on the kindle app which made it hard to read. I love the pictures- both real ones and illustrations! The illustrations made it a little more unique! Great recipes with items most people have in their house too which is always a plus in a cookbook.

This cookbook was ok. It has a large number of processed ingredients, which is not really my thing. It's set up in a unique way, which is helpful for busy families. I found a couple of recipes that I would try, but unfortunately not too many as I try to stay away from processed foods.

I want to thank Netgalley and the Author for gifting me the ebook. This is a perfect cookbook for easy fast simple recipes. If you are learning to cook and put together a meal this will be perfect for you. It is also good for someone who likes to cook and is looking for some simple recipes with simple everyday items people already have in their house.

Thank you to Shadow Mountain Publishing and NetGalley for the digital ARC!

This cookbook was an interesting read. The recipes were organized according to the amount of time that they took and was very clearly geared towards busy moms and beginner cooks who need help with planning meals. I liked this organization method, as it makes it easier to search for recipes that fit within the amount of time you have to make them.

Another cool thing in the recipes themselves is that the ingredients are grouped according to the recipe's steps. Again, I really liked this because it lets you easily know which ingredients you'll need first.

There were also pictures for every recipe, which I found helpful as it let me see what the finished recipes would look like.

The recipes themselves were fairly simple. Most of the first recipes were basically just ways to organize premade food from a supermarket deli or sprucing up canned or boxes meals like mac and cheese. Then they moved on to more homemade recipes and moves up in complexity as the amount of prep and cook time went up.

I saw some recipes that I might want to try, but not as many as I had hoped. Of course, this is my personal preference and I'm sure many people may find more of these recipes that they would want to try.

The author also added a blurb for every recipe and while some of them were fun to read, others felt like they were too long and didn't always fit with the recipe.

Overall, I think this could be a good starter cookbook for beginning cooks and busy moms.

20-40-60-Minute Dinners: Meals to Match the Time You Have is a good mix of any kind of recipe you may be looking for. The recipes range from very, very easy to somewhat harder. The best thing is that those who don't have a lot of time to fix a good meal after work will find recipes and ideas in this book.

My thought as I perused the pages of this cookbook, is this would make the perfect gift for kids going to college or moving out on their own. This would also make a great wedding present for newlyweds. There is an array of categories in which you can find something that everyone will like.
College-Style Dinners
Quick-Prep Dinners
Slow-Cooker Dinners
Frozen Dinners
Time-Consuming Dinners
Breakfast
Baking and Candy
I really liked the author's stories as she told of why she baked or cooked certain things for her family. It was fun to have a story with the recipes. It felt like reading a novel and not just a cookbook. I also liked how Prep Time, Cook Time, and Servings are also included with each recipe. There are also beautiful photos to go with the recipes. Also included are special instructions and guidelines for those with Gluten Free needs. My favorite recipe I enjoyed in the book was the Asian-Style Chicken Salad Bar with the Tortilla Soup coming in a close second. My favorite activity the author talked about is how to engage in "Table Talk" with your family and keep everyone at the table to eat and talk.

If you are looking for a gourmet cookbook you won't find it here. If you are looking for some quick and easy recipes and meal-planning ideas, 20-40-60-Minute Dinners is the cookbook for you.

-Thanks NetGalley and Shadow Mountain for the review ecopy.

If you are looking for a way to put together quick and yummy meals look no further! Hubby and I were in a hello fresh slump where none of the recipes were appealing and this cookbook has added some spice into our menu planning and has us excited to actually make dinner again!

Highly recommend!

It is a great cookbook, especially for people on a gluten-free diet, and the author advises how to make each recipe gluten-free. There are some yummy recipes shared in this book. I definitely have my eye on trying out a few of them. I am giving the book 3 stars, however, because there are several recipes that are just buy and heat according to store directions which I don't feel belong in a cookbook. Yes, they are good ideas for a quick snack or meal, but can it really be considered cooking, and does it belong in your cookbook. I would say this is best for recently graduated high school kids or college students who don't have much experience with cooking but want to learn some good tips.

This cookbook is organized into "available time" rather than "kind of dish." It is designed to help the time-conscious cook with dinner planning. In the "20 minutes or less" section you can create a "Mac and Cheese with Candied Sausage and Green Peas." In "40 minutes " you can create a hearty "Vegetable Stew with Blue Corn Chips and Poached Egg." If you have "60 minutes" you can make "Sweet and Spicy Turkey Taco Salad." It is easy to learn a new recipe with the ingredients paired side-by-side with the instructions. One thing I like about this cookbook is however much time you have, you can find a recipe to help you get dinner on the table in this busy world we live in. Thanks to NetGalley and Shadow Mountain Publishers for a copy for an honest review.

This cookbook has a lot of potential but I just don't see myself reaching for it to make meals. I am okay with processed foods but it felt too processed. I also struggling with the layout. It is setup by time to cook meals. This was supposed to be a dinner cookbook. It felt more like an any meal cookbook, with lunches, appetizers and breakfast. Just not organized in a way that worked for my brain and meal planning.

I LOVE THIS COOKBOOK.
This book is filled with various recipes for all situations and time constraints. I especially love that it includes ideas for whole dinners instead of just one main dish. One drawback I have about many recipes and cookbooks is that I have no clue what to pair that recipe with to create a balanced meal. This book also includes many gluten-free variations.
This book includes a helpful introduction section that lays out all the equipment to successfully make every recipe in the book.

I was really hoping for a good amount of dinner ideas but unfortunately, most of these recipes I would consider an appetizer or a snack, which are quick and easy but not very filling. A little disappointed. I thank Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this cookbook.

I think this cookbook would have been a great addition to a collection of busy day cookbooks that are out there...if it was arranged differently and had a way to separate itself out of a very saturated market.

I felt that this cookbook is not arranged very well for rapid recipe location. Yes, the recipes are arranged by time in the beginning, but not types of food so you have dinner that is right next to a breakfast dish and then back to another dinner dish. Then it switches to arrangement by food type. It's hard to follow as written in this form.

In addition, I was shocked to learn that the author was gluten-free! Why wasn't this more of a focus in her meals? I would definitely buy a book about gluten-free recipes that had the same promises of 20-40-60 minute dinners because that would be something unique and marketable. As it stands, I worry this work will get lost on the shelf.

Another wonderful recipe book I will refer to over and over. Where I work full time and by the time dinner comes around, I am on the hunt for quick meals that are delicious. This book had those options and many more!

I found the format of this cookbook interesting and that is what made me pick it up! I think this would be a great book for beginners to learn basics of preparing a meal and time management. The photography is really great and makes you want to set a place at the table and dive into these dishes. Some of the flavors seems a little adventurous for my taste, but I’m going to try the crunchy granola bars this week because they sound delicious!

Delicious! All of it. Every picture is mouthwatering. Every recipe is doable and convincing (anyone else need to be convinced of a recipe before trying it?) It was broken into helpful sections and had amazing tips and tricks! I will be going back to this cookbook for years to come!

This is a great little cookbook with recipes designed around the amount of time you have. I love how the author adds a personal story to each recipe. I can’t wait to try some.

Thank you to Shadow Mountain Publishing and Netgalley for a ARC in exchange for my honest review.

A wonderful cookbook featuring so many recipes I want to try! A lovely addition to any cook's kitchen.

I have dietary restrictions, as well as strong likes and dislikes for food so I knew when I picked up this cookbook that it was more than likely not going to be a good fit for me personally. But I can often adapt recipes so I thought that might work for some things. I really picked up the book because of the gluten-free element. My daughter-in-law is GF and I'm always terrified that I'm going to poison her with thoughtlessness. I know how easy it is to overlook a basic principle when you aren't used to cooking a particular way. So I'm glad to have a cookbook to use when my dil comes to visit. There are some recipe ideas that can work for my low-fat, dairy-free diet as well so I can give them a try.

*I received a complimentary ARC through NetGalley and voluntarily chose to review it.

I really liked how this cookbook was organized. What I liked was that it had the levels of difficulty easily seen and the table of contents was over a few pages so I could easily go to one page and find what I was looking for. I don't like when cookbooks don't have this, and you have to flip through it so often. The ingredients were easily laid out and had a entire list of what you should have on hand to create the recipes, including the basics.

This book was truly not what I thought it would be. I assumed that there would be different lengths of cooking times within each category. For example: "20-40-60 Minute sides". Then you could choose a side based on the time you have. This was not the case. Instead, it had generalized times for each category. For example: "30-60 Minutes Prep" for the "Frozen Dinner" category.

Most of the meals are not quick meals and some are really simple like a variation of nachos or salmon on a bagel. Most of these meals when you combine cook and prep time actually take a significant amount of time and effort. So if you're like me, and were looking forward to those quick 20 minute meals, this probably isn't the cookbook for you. Your section is small and pretty limited.

I also wasn't a fan of how the ingredients are listed side by side with the steps. I do see how this might be helpful for some, but I also see some issues. It makes checking to see if you have enough of everything for a recipe more difficult. You may find yourself reaching multiple times for the ingredient you just put back. It does also make it easier to miss something when creating a list for shopping since you have to look in multiple spots for ingredients.

I did try out the granola bar recipe and the ingredient ratios worked well and it turned out delicious.

I do genuinely like the granola recipe and some other recipes really do look good. I love the idea of me making a chocolate angel food cake. However, the title appealed to me more because I thought it would have a large selection of each 10-20-60 minute dinners. This was really just a mix of recipes.

I received this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for this honest review.

I was hoping for some fresh new ideas for easy cooking with this book. Unfortunately, after scrolling through page after page of exposition, wishing there was a "Jump to recipe" button the whole way, I finally reached the first recipe only to find, not a recipe, but instructions for cooking canned chili and adding a few extras. The second "recipe" was for boxed mac and cheese, with a few extras thrown in.
Each recipe has even more exposition before it, and honestly, I couldn't bring myself to go past the first four recipes. Recipes 3 and 4 at least didn't have any canned or boxed items, unless you count the crackers and chips. But a picnic with crackers, cheese, and veggies, and a basic sandwich aren't things you'd generally need a recipe for.

I wanted to like this. I wanted to find useful recipes that would help with meal planning. But for me, this one is a hard pass.

I received an ARC from Shadow Mountain Publishing via NetGalley. Thank you! All thoughts are my own.

This is a great cook book for those who are on a time crunch who also want tasty food. I thought there was a lot of attention to detail. The author has recipes for anything from main meals to appetizers to sides to even candy! There are certain parts that are designed for those who are not as familiar with cooking. It gives detailed information about the different equipment you will need to be able to make these meals. There is a wide variety of meals that you could make. Which I thought was important since the book is to help everyone to be able to make meals that fit everyone's schedule. The author also said that all the recipes can be modified to fit how many people you are feeding and if they have any food sensitivities, allergies, or intolerances. Each recipes has a little story or information about the recipe which is fun. My only dislikes was that the stories sometimes did not add a bunch to the recipe that it was supposed to be with. I also thought there was a little bit of a moment of stereotyping where she mentions that her "Japanese's friend" recommended a rice cooker for her husband to purchase for her. I thought that it was just kind of an unnecessary comment. Overall, I am still excited to try some of these recipes to help me fit meals into my busy schedule.

Purchase if you like these in a recipe book...
Personal stories
budget friendly meals
modifiable meals
variety of meals

20-40-60 Minute Dinners by Kate Otterstrom is a cookbook organized by time constraints. The photos in the book are average, and in my opinion, could be improved on. Most of the recipes use process foods, but there are a few healthier choices like the Roasted Cauliflower with Thyme I made for this review. Over all, this cookbook was not for me. There were only a handful of recipes I’d even try. I do feel it would be a good cookbook for a young person whose just learning to cook or a college student.

Each recipe includes a blurb, prep time, cook time, servings, ingredients, and instructions. Recipes are divided into the following sections:

1. College Style Dinners
Example: Corn Chips and Chili with Vegetables and Dip.

2. Quick Prep Dinners
Example: Toothpick Dinner (This was one of my favorite recipes from the book).

3. Slow Cooker Dinners
Example: Seven Layer Dip and Tortilla Chips and Crudités.

4. Frozen Dinners
Example: Chicken and Corn Casserole with Sautéed Cabbage.

5. Time Consuming Dinners
Example: Focaccia Style Pizza with Greek Salad (Another favorite of mine).

6. Accompaniments
Example: Roasted Cauliflower with Thyme. (I made this dish for this review, and it was quick and easy and flavorful. One of the few healthier dishes.)

7. Breakfast
Example: Granola

8. Baking and Candy
1. Breads - Example: Flat Bread
2. Baked Treats - Example: Chocolate Angel Food Cake (I’m excited to try this one.)
3. Candy - Example: English Toffee

My review is voluntary and all comments and opinions expressed are
my own.

20-40-60 Minute Dinners is a cookbook full of recipes made to fit the time you have available. Overall this seems to be a good cookbook with a variety of different recipes. I liked the variety of recipes available, but none struck me as ‘oh I have to try this!’ If you are looking for new unique and more advanced recipes, this isn’t the cookbook for you, but if you need something with simple recipes this might appeal to you. Not the cookbook for me, but it does have some good looking recipes for those wanting a quick easy meal.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this cookbook!

This is a good book from someone who is new to the kitchen. Easy to follow recipes broken into the time to produce is great for a novice or in a hurry, but wants a delicious finished product. There are very simple quick recipes to more substantial meals. Some include not actual recipes, but more of a buy a few pre-made items from the store and serve as a meal, but for a beginner looking to create a menu these could be helpful. The recipes that require actual cooking are good, but again for more of a novice. If you’ve got any experience in or creativity in the kitchen this is probably not for you, but a good book for someone looking for ideas and help to become more comfortable creating delicious and healthy meals.

What a simple but genius idea! A cookbook containing recipes adjusted to the time you have available: 20-minute recipes when you’re extraordinarily pressed for time, 40-minute ones for a lazy evening, and 60-minute recipes for the weekends or days off. What could be better?

Alas, unless you are the most inexperienced of cooks, most of the recipes are ones you already have: pancakes, vegetables and dip, bagels with cream cheese and lox, club sandwiches. When pasta carbonara, a slow-cooker strata and Thai noodles are your most adventurous offerings, well….

In the interest of full disclosure, I received this book from NetGalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing in exchange for an honest review.

I was really excited by the premise of this book, but it ultimately fell flat for me. The recipes are in chapters on College-Style Dinners, Quick-Prep Dinners, Slow Cooker Dinners, Frozen Dinners, Time Consuming Dinners, Accompaniments, Breakfast, and Baking and Candy. Chapter subtitles have time ranges on them, so that helps things make a little more sense.
What I liked: the recipes were in a table format, showing the amount and ingredients and what to do with those specific items, then the next row had other things to move on to. Also liked that each recipe had a photo and gluten-free variations.
What I didn't like: the entire first chapter (college style) was basically taking packaged and/or already prepped items and putting them together, which I don't consider true cooking. I didn't find any of the recipes in the book particularly unique.
Overall, I think this book is best for a family who has very little cooking experience or is used to all of their meals being takeout or at a restaurant. I wouldn't recommend this to anyone with better cooking experience.

I love the layout of this cookbook. I love the charts with the recipes and steps listed together. I think this cookbook would be perfect for a college student or a newlywed couple. It has lots of great recipes in it.

#204060MinuteDinners #NetGalley
This cookbook has recipes that go from basic, picking up items from a local deli, to more complex recipes. It has a photo for each recipe and step by step instructions. I saw a couple of recipes that I would like to try. The concept was a great idea, I just wish the recipes weren't so basic for the quick meal ideas. The author is gluten-free and shares her recipe for gluten-free flour.

Thank you to NetGalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing for allowing me to view this book. I like the idea of quick, easy to make recipes but was not a fan of this book. I didn't see any recipes that I and my family would really like, and I wasn't a fan of the stories before recipes. I guess when I am looking at a recipe book I'd like to see just recipes, but that's just me.

I love to read cookbooks. It's so fun to see new recipe ideas and try new things. I really love it when a cookbook has a unique thing about it.

This one by Kate Otterstrom is unique in a few ways. I love the way the recipes are organized by the amount of time they take to make. That is a huge game changer in the dinner prep time. It would help so much if more cookbooks were organized this way.

I really liked that the author showed gluten free adaptations for each of the recipes. No one in our immediate family is gluten free, but we do have extended family members that need to be. It's super helpful for when you're taking a meal somewhere to have ideas of how to adapt.

I loved the concept behind this cookbook!

I was sent an e-copy as a gift from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

Overall a decent cookbook for someone just starting out or just moving out on their own. I feel like the initial chapter could have included different recipes that had some more substance to them. There are lots of recipes from scratch that could have fit into this category that may have been better use of the space rather than buying prepackaged items like soups or the chicken in the park recipe which is quite literally buy fried chicken. I like the overall idea of the organizational system of time rather than category though as someone with adhd this makes life so much easier. The illustrations are absolutely adorable and I like the way a lot of the photos are done.

This would be a great cookbook for a new cook. Most the recipes were quite simple so for someone that cooks every day (like I do) won’t find as much useful. That being said it’s a really nicely laid out cookbook. I would definitely recommend this for a first time homeowner or a recent college grad.

Not sure if it was just me but the formatting seemed off whenever I opened this book, both on kindle and on the netgalley app which is unfortunate because I think it would have been much easier to follow had the formatting not seemed so awkward. Not sure if it was just something wonky on my end or not, though I did try messing around with it to no avail.

No onto the recipes... I wasn't impressed. Which I know wasn't the point but I was hoping for more from this and unfortunately it just didn't deliver. However, if you're someone who finds cooking difficult and don't have a very specialized pallet this one is definitely for you. Folks living out of a dorm or small kitchen would definitely appreciate this, I think.

I really liked this book. The writing was entertaining the voice of the author really coming through. The photos and little illustrations delightful and the recipes and ideas carefully thought through. Some ideas were very simple which makes this book suitable for cooks just starting out.

Thank you Shadow Mountain Publishing and NetGalley for the advanced electronic review copy of this book. This is a book with simple, easy to follow recipes that uses readily available ingredients and is broken down into time increments one might have available to put a meal on the table. It’s a nice beginning book for those new to cooking, college students, or anyone looking for an easy, no fuss meals.

The title of this recipe book really caught my attention with its novel approach to setting out recipes. However the execution was poor and the recipes were not very appealing, The recipes are laid out as College-Style Dinners, Quick Prep, Slow-Cooker, Frozen, and Time-Consuming Dinners plus Accompaniments, Breakfast, Baking and Candy.

The first section could have been left out completely. Lots of processed food ingredients and several ‘recipes’ that tell you to go out and buy pre-made deli salads and meat and call it a day. The time-consuming recipes are baffling, with one such meal requiring you to just cut up individual salad ingredients and put them in bowls. I’m not sure who I would say the target audience is, but it’s definitely not your average home cook who knows their way around the kitchen,,, or the grocery store for that matter. The real recipes are in the baking section, which doesn’t really fit with the theme of this book being about dinner recipes,

My other gripe with this recipe book is with the ingredients and method layout. I thought we had a universally agreed upon structure with a list of ingredients then the steps. This book instead chooses to list a few ingredients next to the steps on what to do with them, then moves on to the next lot of ingredients, etc, This makes it challenging to grasp what you need for the meal, particularly when this list gets spread onto the next page and you realise your missing half of the ingredients.

Overall this was disappointing and unappealing for a home cook with an Australian food pallet. Thanks NetGalley for the temporary review copy. Unfortunately I won’t be buying or recommending this one.

#BookRevew: 20-40-60-MINUTE DINNERS (Meals to Match the Time You Have) by Kate Otterstrom

The recipes are delightful and the pictures look so delicious. We have family members that are gluten intolerant so the gluten free recipe was helpful. These recipes can come in handy when life gets busy and we just need to make a quick meal. Easy to make in a short amount of time. I am thankful that they include healthy ingredients too. I wish the recipes were more filling though. I find them to be more like easy to prepare snack foods. It's like when you need to eat something right now while you're making a big dinner. I still appreciate them. I think if you live alone, these are good options for an evening meal. Sometimes, we just want something light and simple for dinner.

Recipes included:

Gluten-Free Flour Blend
Mac and Cheese with Candied Sausage and Green Peas
Pancakes with Homemade Syrup and Smoky Carrots
Homemade Noodle Soup with Mashed Potatoes and Green Peas
Chocolate Angel Food Cake

This book is something I will definitely use and recommend to family and friends.

Rating: 4 ⭐
Pub date: 04 Apr 2023

Thank you Shadow Mountain Publishing and #netgalley for the complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

Thank you NetGalley, Kate Otterstrom and Shadow Mountain Publishing for the ARC 20-40-60-Minute Dinners. This is my personal review.
I am a huge cookbook fan but for me this one is not one I would use in my kitchen.
The recipes were described as dinners but so many of them would not work for a dinner but more for appetizers.
I am sure there are some cooks who will love this one but for me it is not a keeper.

I'm always a little skeptical when there are books that say you can have a full and delicious meal made in 20 minutes from scratch but this one actually hit the mark. There were a lot of ideas and recipes in this book that I would not have thought to try and a lot that could be used to spice up the old tried and true recipes I use now. Some of the recipes in the 60 minute section were a little more ethnic that we are used to eating at my house but they looked tasty all the same. I am very interested to see what this book looks like in person as I was given a free e-arc from Netgalley in exchange for my honest opinion. On the e-arc some of the pictures and text did not line up with way it should have so I am very excited to see this book once our library receives a physical copy and try some of the recipes for myself.

20-40-60 Minute Dinners had some good recipes, but I was hoping for a little bit more. There was a variety of categories ranging from college friendly (my personal favorite) to slow cooker to freezer meals. The recipes were in a unique format that made it extra easy to follow along. I also really liked the cute illustrations that filled the pages.

Kate Otterstrom had the unique and helpful idea to organize the recipes in her cookbook by the time required to make them rather than by category like most cookbooks. This takes a lot of stress out of planning dinner because you can easily find something you have time to make.

The categories are: College-Style Dinners, Quick-Prep Dinners, Slow-Cooker Dinners, Frozen Dinners, Time-Consuming Dinners, Accompaniments, Breakfast, Baking and Candy. Each recipe is a complete menu. She also includes gluten free options.

This cookbook reads like a blog with a story or explanation at the beginning of each recipe. Some are typical classics like meatloaf with roasted broccoli and mashed potatoes. Some are unusual combinations like pancakes with smoky carrots. Others are variations on a classic like adding orange tofu to Hawaiian haystacks. My favorite recipe is Thai-Style Noodles with Cucumber Salad, Sticky Rice, and Peanut Sauce.

I was intrigued by the concept of this cookbook - giving you different prep/cooking times, based on how much time you have (or, if you're me, how much time you can tolerate spending in the kitchen.) I was most excited about the 20 minute section, because I'm all about getting cooking over as soon as possible. I was hoping for more actual recipes in that section, but the majority of them are simply buying prepared food at the store, so that was kind of disappointing.

I took her salad bar idea and ran with that one night, and I think it was a hit with everyone except my anti-green anything child. I was so focused on getting all the salad bar prep done that I completely forgot to try the Chickpea Socca, so I'll have to make sure to do that another time.

I think there are a handful of recipes in here that I can have my kids try, which will (hopefully) be fun for them. I also appreciate the color pictures of each dish, so I can know what it's supposed to look like.

I am all for cookbooks that are broken up into time needed sections. I've used multiple cookbooks that are 30-minute dinners, but it was nice to use one that offered different dinner prep times. How this cookbook is broken out is great. You can quickly see what section you have time for and then go from there in selecting your recipe.

Another aspect I enjoyed was how each recipe was broken down with the ingredients matching up with their instructions, so it was straightforward on what is needed and what happens next. You don't have any of that page flipping to remember how much of a certain ingredient is needed, it's right there when you turn a page. Love that there are pictures for every recipe, so you know what you are getting, and the little illustrations were a nice little touch throughout.

The recipes themselves-at first i was thrown off by how many ingredients some of them called for. But then I realized some of these recipes, most of them actually, she is giving you ideas on a whole meal. Which is great when you are meal planning and don't want to think about it too much! And the recipes that are a lot of ingredients-you will find that many of them are kitchen staples, so it doesn't have to impact your budget too much. At the start of the cookbook there are some pretty generic recipes that tell you to buy premade pieces of the meal. Which I don't love, but at the same time it is ok to give yourself a break in the meal prep department and buy things premade from time to time. You need it honestly at times and some days you just don't have the time to spend in the kitchen.

The gluten-free variations at the bottom of the recipes are an added bonus for those who are gluten intolerant. The author herself has such health limitations when it comes to cooking so the input comes from one of experience.

Overall, this is a good cookbook with a great mix of meal ideas. The ones I've made so far are delicious and I'm looking forward to trying more out.

*I received a complimentary copy from the publishers, publicists, and/or authors. A review was not required, and all opinions are my own.

20-40-60-minute Dinners: Meals to Match the Time You Have is a great cookbook for anyone who is busy and has a limited time to prepare meals. While most of us have times when it’s fine to take an extra bit of time to prepare a meal, it’s nice to know that suitable meals can be made in 20 minutes or 40 minutes, or less than an hour. This fun cookbook has quick ideas for college kids who need to study, or soccer moms who need to feed kids before the game or before late afternoon lessons.

There is a variety of recipes that will appeal to almost everyone. Most are simple, with short lists of ingredients. The recipes aren’t written in the traditional manner, but they are still easy-to-follow. The recipes aren’t difficult and can be followed by beginning cooks as well as more advanced.

There are even some recipes for those who love to cook and don’t mind spending 2 or more hours preparing dinner. It’s very nice to be able to select recipes based on the time you have to prepare them. The cookbook includes beautiful photographs of every meal, and that makes it easy for those in a hurry to choose something that fits into their time frame.

Al told, this is an excellent cookbook to have on the cookbook shelf. It includes some unique ideas for a variety of meals that will appeal to kids as well as adults.

Special thanks to NetGalley for supplying a review copy of this book.

I loved the intro to this book and the recipes look delish - I will be using them. I love the whole concept of different times for cooking and preparing. As a mom of 5, and 4 of them boys...lot of creativity is needed. I really enjoyed the personality of the cook and how she brings us right with her with little anecdotes about why the recipe is important to her! Oh and I really would love to create a Dinner Group - how fun! Thank you!

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

The 20-40-60 Minute Dinners Cookbook is not a bad book for those who are new to cooking or like really simple easy dishes. I, personally, have no use for this book since I know how to make these items. I do like the idea of helping cooks with some dishes to cook in a certain amount of time to help save time. For the few simple easy ones in the beginning, some were just buying items - like fried chicken and already made sides - and calling that done. Not a fan of that for people looking for meals to actually cook in short time. But it does save time, again the idea here.

I love the concept of this book - it is so smart! 20-40-60 minute dinners: meals to match the time you have. The title is slightly misleading as you'll see below, the book offers more than just dinner! This book is definitely catered to busy families and those who are cooking for them.

The book is broken up into the following sections:
College Style Dinners
Quick Prep Dinners
Slow Cooker Dinners
Frozen Dinners
Time Consuming Dinners
Accompaniments
Breakfast
Baking and Candy

Overall, I think this is a very valuable read that will have great resources and ideas for busy families. Thank you to Netgalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing, Shadow Mountain for the ARC. 20-40-60 Minute Dinners is out now!

I am always on the lookout for cookbooks with recipes that can be made in a short amount of time on the days when I need that quick meal. I discovered this cookbook and was intrigued that it had three different time frames to prepare a meal for the family.

The title is a little misleading since there is a section that does include time-consuming dinners with recipes for sushi, homemade noodle soup, and more.  However, the bulk of the book is comprised of recipes that require an hour or less to prepare and serve.

The book starts with a few pages of items to have in your kitchen - cookware, utensils, etc. There is also a page with what is called The Essential Pantry - items to have on hand to whip up one of these recipes. Because the pantry items are processed foods, most of the recipes will include these. I prefer to cook from scratch, but sometimes you just need something fast.

The recipes are grouped by the time frame needed to prepare them. It starts with College-Style Dinners that are 20-35 minutes, moves to Quick Prep Dinners that are 35-70 minutes, and so forth. I like that each section has a colored "tab" that is on the outside edge of the pages so you can quickly look up what is in that category. There is even a slow cooker section which is always nice because who doesn't like to come home to a meal that is ready to go? Just add a salad.

Some of the recipes are very simple and reminiscent of my college and single days. Others are a little more robust. There are even gluten-free alternatives.

I enjoyed reading the author's comments on each recipe. It provides a little background on why it is included or the memories it brings back.

I think this cookbook is geared toward someone with a busy life or just starting to experiment in the kitchen. I'm sure I'll find a few recipes that will become family favorites.

We give this book 4 paws up.

This didn’t have a cookbook feel to it…. Rather it felt like permission to eat a lot of processed food if you don’t have a lot of time. Who you are sitting down eating with is more important than what you are eating. I still admire the way some of these meals came together. If you’re struggling for meal ideas from canned food then this is for you.

I received a complimentary copy from Netgalley and this was my opinion.

Time of the essence in our everyday lives. This cookbook fills a valuable niche in cooking today, as it allows you to search for recipes based upon your available time for preparation. The chapters are split up into college style dinners, quick prep dinners, slow cooker dinners, frozen dinners, time consuming dinners, accompaniments, breakfast, baking, and candy. The way that the book is set up really allows you to choose the meal and/or accompaniment by your available time. The book begins with advice on kitchen items, recipe items, and appliances. The recipes were easy to make, with complete ingredient lists, directions, and helpful tips/tricks. I would have liked for nutritional information to also be included. The pictures were representative of the dishes and ways to make the recipes gluten free was an added bonus. For busy working families, this cookbook is certainly a keeper. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the advance review copy in exchange for my honest review.

Easy to follow, simple but yummy recipes. I love the format of having recipes according to how much time you have.

I was sadly disappointed. This is a great book if you want to run to the grocery store. If you're looking for something quick to make from the pantry, it's not for you.

I really enjoyed this cookbook. I liked how it was developed with the time increments of 20-40-60 for the various recipes. I highly recommend reading and trying out recipes in this cookbook. It's a good one for families.

This book is a good starter cookbook for someone looking for recipes of varying prep times. I feel like for my family I either have been making the recipes for years or my family would never eat the prepared recipes. Still I think it has very good value for new cooks!

This might be a starter cookbook for some. It was just ok. I did like how the recipes were broken down into how much time is available to cook.