I really am not one for “resolutions” when it comes to planning out my year. When you live with chronic health problems, the idea of committing to a project is kind of a joke and just sets me up for a let-down. I do believe in dreams though, with all my heart. When you are stuck on a couch for over a month barely able to move or breathe, that is pretty much all you have.
One thing I have learned while giving in to the power of pneumonia is I have to find recipes that are much faster and easier to make, but must also be super flavourful. I would feel much better having some quick yummy recipes in my back pocket for time periods when I am out of commission. I invested in a copy of Jamie Oliver’s Meals in Minutes
Jamie Oliver‘s cookbooks always have stunning photographs and in this case, they also help remind me what episode the series of recipes comes from. He promises you can make an entire meal including dessert in around 30 minutes. All that food photographed above in just minutes. I may not take on all the recipes per meal right away but it will be interesting to see how long it takes me to make just one of them!
The part that worries me is the text. That is a lot of heavy text! I have no space for my cookbook near my stove so I am always running back and forth to look at my cookbook. To read, plan and remember all that? Even just trying to pick out the information for one recipe? This is going to be a challenge!
But if they are fast to make and delicious to boot, I will feel reassured that when my next health sabbatical comes I can whip a few recipes up without spending a ton of time in the kitchen. Hopefully.
So that is just one of my foodie dreams this year: quick, healthy and tasty food!
I would love to hear one of your foodie dreams of 2012!
What a great idea! I’ll look forward to hearing how it goes. A complete tasty meal in 30 minutes is perfect! (Though sometimes I think they mean with a sous-chef to do all your chopping!)
Thank you Jamie! I am looking forward to sharing the recipes, stories and reviews. I do worry about chopping time but he uses his food processor a lot which sounds good to me! I hope it is possible, that would be so nice.
I’ll be working my way through this book with Les Petits Chefs this term. We’ll see if they can make a meal in an hour, which will mean that adults should be able to do it in 30 minutes. The key, from the looks of the show is to have all the mise en place prep done so you can just get cooking. This is how I try to work with the boys so we shall see. Hope you are feeling better!
I really enjoy this book of Jamie’s (not a big fan of his other works…) I tend to pick something out of a menu and make it to go with something else I’m already serving or substitute something in the meal (usually the salads) with something I would normally prepare so I can skip that part of the instructions. The hardest part I’ve found is finding the peppers!
Enjoy the adventure!
PS: With kids around, I find it takes me closer to an hour to pull of the meals because I keep getting interrupted but they still taste amazing!
I love this show and the book looks very yummy too! Sweet (and savoury) dreams Suzie. Looking forward to seeing if it REALLY can be done in 30 minutes.
Can’t wait to hear what you think of this book….I bought it…then returned it because of the text….I love “Jamie’s Food Revolution” and find it easy and delicious to cook from!
My foodie dream for 2012 is to have more leisure time to cook and bake. I’d like to get back into making new recipes more than I’ve been able to for the past few years.