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A Cookbook for Busy Moms
Review of The Complete 15 Minute Gourmet
by Amanda Formaro
Moms are busy. It's just a fact of life. It doesn't matter if you work full time in an office all day or if you are at home caring for your family, fact is you are busy. A large part of caring for your family is feeding them tasty meals and avoiding the expense of fast food. Some nights it's hard to resist ordering out, especially if you know it could take an hour or more to make a home cooked meal.
Paulette Mitchell, author of "The Complete 15-Minute Gourmet" tells us in her book that with a little preparation and some stocked pantry items, you can serve delicious meals in 15 minutes. Well, being a busy mom, working for three companies from home, four kids, three of which are in sports, and a house to clean, I decided to put this book to the test.
I chose four different recipes to test (clicking the links will take you to the recipes with photos):
- Grilled Chicken Salad w/Herbed Tomato Vinaigrette (p. 20)
- Sausage Jambalaya (p. 194)
- Pepper-Crusted Sirloin with Sangiovese-Mushroom Sauce (p. 200)
- Bananas Foster (p. 287)
Each of these recipes were delicious and I will definitely make every one of them again. In fact, my mother in law was visiting during this time frame and was able to enjoy all of these with me. She especially loved the Sausage Jambalaya and asked for the recipe before she left!
This is a great book that has earned a permanent spot on my cookbook shelf. The Complete 15-Minute Gourmet is a great resource for beginners and experienced cooks alike. Beginners will learn plenty of helpful tips such as:
- when chopping onion or vegetables, chop twice as much and store the others in the refrigerator for another recipe
- read the entire recipe so that you know what you will need and what to expect
- prep ingredients ahead for entertaining to save you time when the party starts
Scattered throughout the book you will find helpful tips about certain ingredients. These tips are also organized in a helpful index at the beginning of the book. Some tips include:
- how to store fresh herbs
- determining what types of mushrooms there are
- where to find certain ethnic items
- explanations of different ingredients
I love to cook, but I don't enjoy making the same things over and over again each week. The Complete 15-Minute Gourmet offers a wide variety of recipes from cuisines around the world. Whether you constantly try different things or need a nudge stepping out of your comfort zone, you will want to give Paulette's recipes a try. However, you'll have to buy your own copy, this one is mine. ;)
More You Might Like:
Interview with cookbook author Dorie Greenspan
Review: Family Circle Quick & Easy Recipes
30 Quick Cleaning Tips for a Tidier Home
About the Author:
Amanda Formaro is the entrepreneurial mother of four children.
She is the founder of FamilyCorner.com Magazine, craft expert for Kaboose.com, and runs a host of blogs, including her popular food blog, Amanda's Cookin'
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