Rating: 
Summary: Not what it seems to be:
Review: About the only thing this book was good for was a good laugh when my wife saw it. It could be a good gag gift for a man that can't cook, just don't expect him to use it. Almost all the meals required a oven or stove top, only a few were "nuked" - plus I don't want to wait a half hour for something to be simmered or baked. ALSO: in small type at the bottom of the page was the "Also:" area that included stuff that was not in a can, i.e. 10 oz can of refigerated pizza dough, 1/2 8 oz can tomato sauce, 1 cup shredded cheese - why bother, just order a pizza or pop in a frozen one. Save your money on this, there have to be better cook books out there for beginners.
Rating: 
Summary: A first-rate culinary resource for men (and women)
Review: Compiled by David Joachim (with the assistance of the editorial staff of "Men's Health"), A Man, A Can, A Plan: 50 Great Guy Meals Even You Can Make is an innovative recipe book emphasizing delicious and appetite satisfying dishes that are quick and easy to make from off-the-shelf canned goods. The recipes are printed on laminated cardboard-stock pages that are resistant to cooking mishaps and easy to clean with a damp washcloth. From Mandarin Chicken Express; Fish in a Blanket; and Mexi Chili Pie; to Spud Skins with Bean Salsa; Mushroom Meat Loaf; and Fruit-Cup Shortcake, A Man, A Can, A Plan is enthusiastically recommended as being first-rate culinary resource for men (and women) who enjoy appetizing meals but hate investing extensive time to prepare them.
Rating: 
Summary: Great for the novice cook
Review: I bought this book for my father when he was newly widowed and had no idea how to cook for himself. These 50 recipes, presented by Men's Health magazine, are quick and easy and seasoned with a dash of humor. This is a good book for the beginner because each recipe uses only a few basic ingredients, mostly from cans. Its thick paperboard pages provide clear cooking instructions, photos of the foods to be used, nutritional information, and additional cooking and nutrition tips. The categories of "real guy" meals and snacks include ham, chicken, fish, chili, beans, SpaghettiOs, veggies, fruit, and beer (yes, beer!). Some of the recipes are rather strange (stirfry SpaghettiOs, or drunken corn), but for the most part they are far better than the steady diet of fast food and junk food that a person might otherwise subsist on if unable to cook. I recommend it for anyone, male or female, who is at a complete loss about the mysteries of the kitchen.Eileen Rieback
Rating:
Summary: Fast, easy, simple.
Review: I bought this book for my husband who does not cook. He actually looked at the book, picked out recipes, and fixed some of the food. The directions were simple and they even provide pictures of the ingredients so you know what exactly to buy. The book is cute and is very simplistic. It is not for the gourmet, the dieter, or anyone who likes fresh vegetables. As the title implies, most recipes use only canned food. On the plus side, the recipes are simple, easy to prepare, and do not require a lot of planning. The results vary from edable to pretty good.
Rating:
Summary: plan for the can
Review: I bought this book for several of my male friends who have mild cooking phobias. As mentioned by several other reviewers, it would have helped for the book to have a clearer diagram of all ingredients, but overall, the book took a lot of the guesswork out, and really made the recipes look less like a recipe and more like a diagram to assemble shelves. I think "seeing" what they are putting into their meal made it less daunting.
The food is (don't tell this to them) really healthy overall, as well, which is a major bonus. They, too can cook with fruit! Vegetables don't have to be harvested by hand to be a good part of a meal!
Great (and funny) gift for a guy who may just need a little nudge to find his way into the kitchen.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Book
Review: I bought this book in addition to "Where's Mom Now That I Need Her: Surviving Away from Home" and I was very impressed. I bought a second copy! I bought one for me, and one for my grandson (who is heading off to college). I cannot say enough good things about this book. It is excellent. It isn't just for men -- grandmothers use it too!
Rating:
Summary: Not Worth It
Review: I liked the concept of this book, but none of the recipies are appitizing. The combinations of ingredients are un-imaginable and purely disgusting! For the same concept and much better recipies, I recommend The Can Opener Gormet by Laura Karr instead!
Rating:
Summary: Simple Meals in Minutes
Review: I love this book! The recipes are good, wholesome, and easy to prepare. I especially liked the feature that shows you via pictures what canned goods or other ingredients are needed to create your "gourmet delight." I've tried over 1/2 of the recipes in here and not one is bad or hard to prepare. Being that they are simple with few ingredients, you can embellish them to your liking by substituting ingredients or changing quantities, and such. A nice basic cookbook for those who hate to cook, are cooking for 1 or 2 people, or are just learning how to cope in the kitchen. The desserts are great and you'll be cooking like Emeril in no time!!!!! I look forward to more books like this.
Rating:
Summary: Great First Step for Non-Cooking Bachelor
Review: I think that this book serves it's purpose beautifully. It was bought for me by my girlfriend, who was growing tired of my "I can't cook" mantra. I'd been given The Joy of Cooking in the past, but the realistic chance of me suddenly making a pot roast out of the blue were pretty much nil. This book is great because it assumes you know _nothing_ about cooking and walks you along in baby steps, using mostly cans and easily bought foods with basic cooking skills. After having made several of the recipes (all of which were easy, quick, low cost, tasty, and reasonably healthy), I'm starting to experiment with other ingredients and may look into other "real" cookbooks in the future. I would highly recommend this book to anyone with _very_ little or no cooking experience. I think it fills a niche nicely. It's put me in the kitchen cooking, which no other cook book has been able to do. Highly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: Great First Step for Non-Cooking Bachelor
Review: I think that this book serves it's purpose beautifully. It was bought for me by my girlfriend, who was growing tired of my "I can't cook" mantra. I'd been given The Joy of Cooking in the past, but the realistic chance of me suddenly making a pot roast out of the blue were pretty much nil. This book is great because it assumes you know _nothing_ about cooking and walks you along in baby steps, using mostly cans and easily bought foods with basic cooking skills. After having made several of the recipes (all of which were easy, quick, low cost, tasty, and reasonably healthy), I'm starting to experiment with other ingredients and may look into other "real" cookbooks in the future. I would highly recommend this book to anyone with _very_ little or no cooking experience. I think it fills a niche nicely. It's put me in the kitchen cooking, which no other cook book has been able to do. Highly recommended.
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