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Summary: Rachel Ray's book inspired me to COOK!
Review: A big thank you to Rachel Ray for this book! I have been trying to learn how to cook for about 2 years now (with not much success). I was first inspired by Rachel Ray's show, and then sought out the book. She designed the recipes so that you wouldn't have to run out and buy oddball items that you'll never use again. If you buy fresh parsley for one recipe, you'll more than likely use it in the next one. No waste! The fact that I make these recipes and they turn out great make me want to cook more! I would recommend this book to anyone, from the novice to the expert. One more thing I've noticed is that this book teaches you the basics so you can move on to make your own recipes. Don't hesitate on this book-buy it. You won't be sorry. Nor will your full belly after trying some of these recipes...
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Summary: Another flavor-of-the-month chef
Review: A very average collection of recipes from the Food Network star-of-the-month Rachael Ray. You've seen these recipes before in different forms in hundreds of other cookbooks. Skip this one.
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Summary: Simple...sometimes too simple
Review: As a fan of Rachael's Food Network show, I bought this book in conjunction with her second 30-minute Meals cookbook. I have to say that I liked the retro feel of her book, and I like most of her recipes. However, I think her book relies too heavily on pastas.
The layout of the book reads like a menu, which can be helpful when you are planning an entire night of meals (like her tv show). However, it is also fairly easy to pick one recipe from each section to mix and match. Her lack of good desserts is understandable b/c she states that she was never a baker, but the ones that are in here are great for last minute endings to her meals. Great for a novice cook!
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Summary: Great quick recipes!
Review: Ever bought a cookbook and fell in love with at least ONE of the recipes in it? And even if you only loved that one recipe in the whole book it would be worth your money?
Well in this book that recipe has to be the Mu Shu Pork pockets. I love them because they are flavorful and really do taste like the mu shu pork you get in chinese restaurants. I think it's the crushed gingersnaps that are the secret ingredient. My kids love these too. So everybody is happy!
Oh, and I love the curried turkey burgers too. Way to go Rachael Ray! Her books are great for moms on the go or anyone who wants flavorful quick food that didn't come out of a box or can.
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Summary: Read This Before you Think about Buying This Book!
Review: First of all, I love the show "30 Minute Meals and think Rachael Ray is GREAT! BUT..... this book came out before her 30 Minute Meals show, and the recipes were created several years ago before she "Fine-tuned" them for the show. If you compare her recipes in the book to those you get from her show you will see a big difference, and the new fine-tuned recipes she has on the show are MUCH better. I was very disappointed with the book. My advice to anyone wishing to purchase this book....... You know she's going to come out with an updated version eventually, so save your money for the real deal, the newer recipes!
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Summary: Good food, definitely, organization, not so much
Review: I am a fan of Rachel Ray and have tried her recipes in this book.
However, this book does not have an index at the back or front, just goes by recipe titles. Unfortunately, that's what I don't like about it, even though the recipes are very good and fast.
I always make her Applesauce, but you can't find what page it's on or remember the recipe it came with. Now, when I make a recipe I like, or an ingredient I like, I write it down on a recipe card so I don't hsve to waste 15 minutes finding it. The other problem is that there are no pictures, and for those who are just starting out cooking, this is no fun. Pictures make me hungry, and that's what gets me started cooking. Please, Rachel, more pictures in your books! I bought her "Comfort Foods" book, and it is better organized. I think she learned her lesson about indexing. However, Rachel, you are a terrific cooking teacher and your recipes are fabulous! I will always be a fan and try as many recipes as possible.
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Summary: Rachael Rocks!
Review: I am a huge fan of Rachael Ray's television show and I cook one of her recipes out of this book at least once a week. The recipes are straightforward and involve little prep time other than chopping a few ingredients, and I have never had trouble finding ingredients in the supermarket. The best thing I have gotten out of this cookbook is confidence to try new things that I might have been too intimidated to try before. I love to cook, but I tend to stick to a few familiar recipes. The recipes in this book have shown me that you don't have to be a chef to cook different and interesting foods, and you don't need to spend the entire day slaving in the kitchen. I can't quite get the recipes done in 30 minutes, but I can do most in under 45 minutes. I also purchased the Wusthof Santoku knife that Rachael uses, and I love it! Rachael Rocks!!!
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Summary: I Wanted More
Review: I am such a HUGE fan of Rachael Ray and her TV Show "30 Minute Meals," that I couldn't wait to get my book in the mail. But when it came, I was so disappointed to find that there wasn't one picture in the entire book! I am still a novice at cooking and am drawn to the pictures of an entree before I attempt to make it. If you're not an expert who can use their imagination to know what the dish will look like, you'll probably be a bit disappointed like me. The only reason I'm still going to try the recipes is because I watch her show, have made her meals, and have been pleased with the results.
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Summary: Fans of the show, beware!
Review: I bought this book mainly because I am a fan of the show and I was a little disappointed. On the show the recipes are creative and include a whole meal, but in this book there are a lot of variations on tomato sauce and tacos and they are not laid out as an entire meal. I am sure the recipes are still good and can be made in 30 minutes, but I probably won't be using this book very much. However, I will be eagerly awaiting a new book with more recent recipes and a 30 minute MEAL layout.
Rating:
Summary: Disappointing
Review: I had watched Rachael Ray's show and thought I would try some of the recipes since it seemed to take such a small amount of time to make them. I was a little disappointed by the generic ingredients that the recipes called for and they tasted a little bland. I'll stick with recipes that take a little longer to prepare since I get more flavor and satisfaction from them.
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