PLEASE NOTE: CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED. A WINNER WILL BE CHOSEN SOON!
I wanted to do a book review of Time for Dinner but find I am unable to do so unbiased. This cookbook is not for me. I am not a mom and I am not looking for ways to make quick dinners for my children. As a result, I thought I would do a spontaneous giveaway for this book. Usually I plan ahead and let my newsletter subscribers know ahead of time but just decided to do the giveaway this morning. I also found out that I won $500 in cookbooks from Rainforest Books so I sharing feels right today!
It is not very often I let go of a cookbook but it is clear that this book is meant solely for moms and so I am not its demographic. Still, let me rant for a second OK? First, why is a “family” cookbook assume that it will be the woman cooking? “It takes into account that some days, you feel like Supermom…” That bugs me. When referring to your pantry it points out that you need to have baking mixes because “You only make others moms feel bad when you bake the classroom cupcakes from scratch…” As a result of this attitude, you will find no baking from scratch recipe ideas. So not my style.
The layout is not traditional which is not necessarily a bad thing. I do love the use of all the photos which I found helpful but the book obviously assumes you know how to make basic meals already and is there to show you how to throw together some stuff and make a meal. It is so bare bones that the new cook would probably find this book frustrating. For those comfortable in the kitchen but needing quick ideas for dinner? It would be perfect but man, that is not how I like to make food at all.
I did make one recipe from the page dedicated to lentils. It was a lentil and sweet potato soup. You saute 1 peeled cubed sweet potato with chopped onion and a stalk of celery in olive oil in a large stockpot for 5 minutes. Then add a tsp of cumin and coriander to the pot. If you want, you can also add chopped red bell pepper.
You are supposed to stir in 1 cup of dry lentils and four cups of chicken broth. I had canned lentils which I rinsed and strained, so I only added 2 cups of chicken stock. I brought to a boil and simmered for 30 minutes. Then I stirred in some spinach until it wilted.
The soup was OK, pretty mediocre, nothing special. Very earthy with some good flavour but pretty forgettable. I give it an unenthusiastic three out of five wooden spoons.
I will refrain from giving the book a rating. I am sure there are moms (and dads) out there who would love it but for a non-Mom it really does not work and is even a little annoying. I also loathe books that are geared to families that assume you have children. My husband and I are a family, thank you very much. We certainly do not need a “babysitter in a box”.
So, if you are interested, just leave a comment saying, “I’m in!” to win with contact info. I really do want to give this book a good home.
I’m in! I’m a mom who lovesss cookbooks!
Please add me to your contest Suzie! Thanks for the opportunity! Karen
I’m always looking for new cookbooks, though this one might make me a little snarky! I’m in!
I’m in! Love new recipes. Thanks for the review.
tammihayne at gmail dot com
I would love this for my daughter in law who has three small children and no time for anything so I’m in!!
I’m in! I am not a mom, but would love to be able to give it to my do-it-all sister-in-law!
Jamie, you do not have a profile and have not left contact info so please, leave your email address otherwise you can’t enter and win it for your sister-in-law!
I’m in! Would give this to sister-in-law.
How unfortunate the soup wasn’t as flavourful as you expected. I bet if you were to add bacon to the soup, it would add some much needed flavour.
I am in, I love cook books !!!
Suzie, almost every lentil soup recipe I’ve seen, worth remembering, added a splash of vinegar at the end. It seems to give a lift to the soup and a definition to it’s flavors. I’m with you on the serves four recipe thing, You can’t even half it because it’s for like 3 people really. You can get into some really weird measurements dividing it by 2/3rds !!!
Hi!!!
the soup seems tasty … i m sure there’re imteresting recipes in that cookbook , i d love to participate !!!
🙂
PS: did you get my blog award???
I’m in 🙂
hewella1 at gmail dot com
I’m in!
Of course I left out the crucial sheminakeshvani@rogers.com
Anna, yes, bacon would have made a significant difference!
Wayne, wow, I didn’t know that about the vinegar, interesting!
Spice Gal, I need your contact info otherwise I can’t enter your name.
Elena, I could finally get to your blog, yay! 🙂 Thank you so much!
sheminakeshvani, thank you for adding your email address! 🙂
I’m In!!!
My mother-in-law loves cookbooks & would really enjoy this.
chamsmama@gmail.com
Hi! I love cookbooks and so does my sister and father. Thank you for a wonderful giveaway! 🙂
aliasgirl1976@yahoo.com
sorry I am Spice Gal would love to have a cook book for I love to cook
my email is janelle_ramseyer@hotmail.com
I like simpler types of foods. Count me in, please. Congrats on your big win, too.
lkish77123 at gmail dot com
I’m very much in!
I’m so in! I collect cookbooks and love to add to my collection.
dftrew(at)gmail(dot)com
So happy for you, winning all that money for cookbooks!!!
I actually have this cookbook and love it. A few of my single friends have it and use it as well. I do want to point out that the book is written by the editors of Cookie Magazine which was a magazine for moms. Many of the recipes come straight from the magazine hence the book is geared towards moms being that is the readership of the magazine.
As a mom I would give the book 5 wooden spoons out of 5. A few of my favorite recipes are the Smoked Salmon Chowder, the Asian lettuce wraps and the peach bellinis that you can make out of your leftover baby puree. 🙂
I’m in in in in!
My email is vivi3chui@yahoo.ca
“I’m In”. I love cookbooks. Thanks for the giveaway.
darlene(dot)demell(at)sympatico(dot)ca