Dinner's in the Freezer!

Rating:
Summary: Disappointed, and glad I didn't pay full price
Review: I bought this book at a local Christian Bookstore, at 40% off. I am glad that I did not have to pay full price! Recipes didn't start until Chapter 16.

The first 15 consisted of her personal "journey" and why she thinks what she does and why you should too. An example being why you should investigate a food co-op, because people that aren't Christians might run it. (Oh, Horrors!!)

While I think everyone is entitled to their own opinion, and that some of the material will be of obvious merit to me, the entire tone of the book is one of suspicion and fear. I could hear the yells of "red sympathicizer" and "commie" as undertones, ala Joe McCarthy.

I think that writing a book that touts to be about food, and large quantity cooking, and instead using the book as a platform to stir up more unrest, is criminal. Jesus said to love our brothers and sisters, not to murder them, or their good intentions, in His name.

Rating:
Summary: A Very Strange Book....
Review: I bought this book because I wanted to learn more about "Freezer Cooking" and "Once a Month" Cooking. What I got was a book that wasn't so much about cooking as a manifesto of Evangelical Christian Stay at Home Motherhood. Now, as a Christian Stay at Home Mother, this book kind of worked for me and I did actually enjoy reading it; however, if I were of a different background I would have found this book HUGELY frustrating! It truly should be marketed as a book on Christian Motherhood - not as a secular book on Freezer Cooking. [Although I think the subtitle "More Mary and Less Martha" is a clue, it isn't clear enough that this book is for a very narrow audience].

The book isn't really even about Freezer Cooking, although it does have some helpful chapters on that subject [though I was 1/3 the way through the book before I got to them]. It is more about Managing the home as a stay at home mother, instilling Christian values and faith in one's children, and being a frugal "good steward" of God's gifts. The book is full of interesting stories about the author's family and experiences. I found it very entertaining and helpful, though in completely different ways than I expected.

It is worth noting that this book appears possibly self published - the editing is very poor and there are many typos, mispellings, and my copy even had a whole section repeated in the book [pages XX-YY appeared twice as exact duplicates].

This book is more like reading a mother's journal or diary of her family life and religious life than it is like reading a book on cooking. Which may be exactly what you want to read, but be forewarned if that's not what you are looking for! I see that this author has released a new book _Mega Cooking_ - I'm curious to buy that one and see whether it is more of a "real" Cook book or not.

Rating:
Summary: Lifesaver!
Review: I bought this book because I wanted to learn more about "Freezer Cooking" and "Once a Month" Cooking. What I got was a book that wasn't so much about cooking as a manifesto of Evangelical Christian Stay at Home Motherhood. Now, as a Christian Stay at Home Mother, this book kind of worked for me and I did actually enjoy reading it; however, if I were of a different background I would have found this book HUGELY frustrating! It truly should be marketed as a book on Christian Motherhood - not as a secular book on Freezer Cooking. [Although I think the subtitle "More Mary and Less Martha" is a clue, it isn't clear enough that this book is for a very narrow audience].

The book isn't really even about Freezer Cooking, although it does have some helpful chapters on that subject [though I was 1/3 the way through the book before I got to them]. It is more about Managing the home as a stay at home mother, instilling Christian values and faith in one's children, and being a frugal "good steward" of God's gifts. The book is full of interesting stories about the author's family and experiences. I found it very entertaining and helpful, though in completely different ways than I expected.

It is worth noting that this book appears possibly self published - the editing is very poor and there are many typos, mispellings, and my copy even had a whole section repeated in the book [pages XX-YY appeared twice as exact duplicates].

This book is more like reading a mother's journal or diary of her family life and religious life than it is like reading a book on cooking. Which may be exactly what you want to read, but be forewarned if that's not what you are looking for! I see that this author has released a new book _Mega Cooking_ - I'm curious to buy that one and see whether it is more of a "real" Cook book or not.

Rating:
Summary: Not for Everyone
Review: I found this book to be very refreshing and helpful to get me started on my first mega cooking experience. I probably wasn't quite as organized as I should have been so it took me longer than I thought to cook for one month. If I would have verified I had my staples on hand it would have ran a little smoother. I was very happy with the variety of recipies and now know which ones my family prefers. Will probably leave out a couple we did not care for and substitute others using some of the same ingredients. This book has me hooked and I loved her Christian approach to cooking, celebrating and the various other helpful hints. Thank you so much for this book. I am looking forward to ordering her new one.

Rating:
Summary: Very Refreshing Approach to Cooking
Review: I found this book to be very refreshing and helpful to get me started on my first mega cooking experience. I probably wasn't quite as organized as I should have been so it took me longer than I thought to cook for one month. If I would have verified I had my staples on hand it would have ran a little smoother. I was very happy with the variety of recipies and now know which ones my family prefers. Will probably leave out a couple we did not care for and substitute others using some of the same ingredients. This book has me hooked and I loved her Christian approach to cooking, celebrating and the various other helpful hints. Thank you so much for this book. I am looking forward to ordering her new one.

Rating:
Summary: Waste of time and money
Review: The book is full of family stories that have nothing to do with freezing meals. The author did not adhere to the title's purpose. It was not professionally editted. If all of the clutter and child art was taken out, the book would be 20 pages long. Most of the recipes call for hydrogenated oil. The recipe pages are full of more stories and pictures that have nothing to do with the recipe. Your eyes must work around all of the clutter to find the recipes or instructions that truly add any quality advice about freezing food. Since I read this book, I've purchases more books about freezing food and all of them put this book to shame.

Rating:
Summary: Not for Everyone
Review: This book was defiantly intended for a particular audience. Others outside that audience will not get it. This is not a straight up cookbook, nor a scream-from-the-pulpit sermon. It is just what it is.

My own family has been using her methods for a long time and we love it. "Mega-cooking" tm really gets the family together, sister cutting potatoes, brother slicing apples and father mixing chili sauce. For me going on the all day outing to the Farmer's market walking in the crisp air and smelling the fresh produce are fond memories.

Jill obviously has a heart for housewives and wants to lift those women up, and I say more power to her! Housewives need help and encouragement, as well as practical help, and this book offers that. She brings enough of the Spiritual, Humorous, and realistic aspects of everyday life together, (maybe not perfectly, what author can?) Again this book is not for everybody, just the ones it was meant for. So if you are a Christian housewife, or maybe you are and just don't know it yet, get this book. If you don't want to hear the honest opinion of a Godly woman leave it be, try Mega Cooking, more recipes less talk.

In closing, Jill's book has a gentle narrative, logical format and a profound wit (I found myself laughing out loud more than once I assure you).

For me the Biblical aspects are insightful, I think the only people who claim she is "preachy" just don't get it. It is impossible to please everybody. From the very introduction she states firmly her beliefs and reasons for writing this book. I do not see her as a fundamentalist or a radical, she just stands by what she believes and has the courage to write about it, I wish more people would do that. All in all a good book, just not for everybody.