Best Recipes Ever from Canadian Living and CBC is a cookbook that drove me crazy. I tried so many of the recipes and to be quite honest, they did not really speak to me. They were not bad, there was just something that did not quite work for me.
You know I made their chocolate chip cookies and their chocolate crispy bars.
Their caramelized onions were quite good and the Vaguely Coq au Vin was easy and delicious, which is saying a lot for a chicken dish. I normally find chicken boring.
But then there were dishes like their Quick Ground Beef Curry which was so watery I had to add a ton of thick Greek yogurt to try and save it. The flavour was quite dull and boring which is odd for a curry. The chicken souvlaki again was OK but not super flavourful.
I thought having chunks of cucumber in the tzatziki sauce was weird and I did not put mint in it because I am not a fan. As a result, pretty bland. The Island Chicken and Rice I thought for sure would have some punch, some kick, something… Nope. It was OK. A break from the ordinary chicken dinner but nothing memorable.
I thought for sure this Chef’s Salad would do the trick but no. I did not enjoy the dressing at all which ruined this huge salad for me. It wasn’t bad, it just wasn’t spectacular.
The organization strategy of this cookbook drove me insane. It is divided up by segments like “Beat the Clock,” “Around the World” and “Family, Friends and Fun” which is where you will find desserts. As a result, I found choosing recipes to test and dinners to make very challenging.
By the end of all this recipe testing, I had an epiphany. I realized that I am just not the target market of this book. For people with fast-paced busy lives who want a quick healthy meals that are more interesting than their regular rotating menu of choices, I think this cookbook would be great for you. I am a person who will go to great lengths for complex flavours and want more than just a “nice dinner.” As a result, I can not actually write a review. This cookbook is just not meant for me!
I have a sense that this cookbook is also very “kid friendly.” None of the flavours are so over-the-top that children will reject the dishes yet will be introduced to new spices and flavours. As a result, parents will get to try dishes that might normally not get a pass in the kitchen like curries and Caribbean dishes.
As a result, I think this cookbook just is not meant for me. So, I am giving my copy to one of my readers who feels a connection with it.
CONTEST
- Contest is open to those in the U.S. and Canada.
- Only those who have not already won big prizes can enter.
- If possible, please follow my blog.
- You must leave contact info if you do not have a profile or a current blog, otherwise you will be disqualified.
- Please tell me why you think this cookbook may be a right fit for you and your kitchen. I want it to go to the right home!
What a shame for me because the show Best Recipes Ever is cute as a button and finding instructional cooking and baking shows are hard to come by these days. Still, I feel I have a cookbook that was intended for someone else sitting in my kitchen. Time to let it go.
Contest closes tonight. Winner will be announced tomorrow.
I’m always looking for recipes that are quick… so that when I get home from work at 5:20… I can have something prepared and eaten when my husband leaves for the hospital at 6:30. Sometimes that is very hard to do. So I would love to give this cookbook a tryout.
Although I’m a huge fan of punch and flavor and zing, I think this cookbook would fit in well in my house for severl reasons. #1. I work 9-5 Mon to Fri and need something quick. #2. I house 1 daughter who doesn’t like much spice and zing and have a changing array of international students from different parts of the world who may or may not like a lot of zing. I certainly would like to give it a go.
Thanks for the opportunity. Oh, and I’m a follower!
This book is me, I am a single mom to an 8 year old and I work full time. I wish I had the time to make more full out meals but it just doesnt happen. I am glad if we get a big meal on a Sunday. So I think this book would be great for for me. I need quick easy and good.
This is fantastic! I am so happy that this book is resonated with many of my readers. That is exactly what I was hoping for! Keep the comments coming!
The thing I like about Canadian Living recipes is that they always, always work. Even if I don’t like the end result, it is my taste buds and not the recipe. Based on your review, Suzie, if I win the book I will probably give it to my niece who has 3 small children with very eclectic food tastes.
this book sounds like it would be a good match for us too! we’re a homeschool family, and even though we are at home, we are busy and I prefer most days quick-to-make meals that are also healthy. my kids enjoy trying new flavours, but nothing too exotic! one more reason…it’s Canadian and we are proud Canadians 😉
ps. i really appreciate your review, it’s nice that you are always honest.
I’d love to get a copy of this book. I’m a fan of Canadian Living in general, and I’ve got two kids and my family cooking blog, of course! This is right up my alley!
That is disappointing the results from the cookbook review. I read the book briefly and it looked OK.
I adore Kari’s show! I’ve been excited to pick up the book as I often use the tv show’s recipe archive! I find the recipes easy to make, great tasting and incorporate ingredients I usually already have on hand. Winning the book would be a great Mother’s Day present!
Canadian Living recipies are great because they include ingredients that are commonly in your pantry, they are easy to pull together and they are always successful! I have a number of their books already and would love to add this one to my collection! (pmkg@shaw.ca)
I have actually been eyeing this in the stores & was tempted to buy it last weekend, but decided to be frugal instead (I think the fact that my MasterCard bill came the day before might have been the deciding factor) & still would love this book, as I work full-time, and am always looking for something quick and tasty – and if the recipes aren’t too complicated, could enlist a certain household member to get a jump-start on dinner while I am on the way home.
I loved your unbiased review. I have so much respect for that. No hiding.
I love the show that this cookbook is based on. it inspires me to try new things, and for me they have always turned out! I would love to win this!
sherisse.doucette at gmail.com
I think this book would be good for me and my sister because we are always trying to find interesting lunches for school. Quick, easy and varied would be a good change for us. Also, we never really follow the recipe to a T anyways, so making things from this cookbook would be fun! 😀
vivi3chui@yahoo.ca
I had a chance to browse through this book and saw some interesting recipes that I would like to try. I actually have it on hold at the library. It would be a great way to get the kids to try new dishes without overwhelming them. Looking at your photos though, everything you made does look super tasty and such gorgeous presentation. It looks anything but bland. The salad is so pretty too! Anyway, in our household, if all else fails my son will always fix it with a few good dashes of Frank’s Red Hot Sauce.
I’d like a chance to win this book. I have health issues so cannot stand for long periods of time fussing over meals and need something quick and easy.
lbschulzy (at) yahoo (dot) ca
Thanks for all the comments! So glad so many people feel this cookbook is for them. Contest is now closed! Good luck!