Better Than a Box

by Katie Kimball

Are there favorites in your recipe card box that are collecting dust because all the processed ingredients make you squirm?

Do you miss the comfort food casseroles that use cream of chicken soup because you refuse to buy those cans anymore?

If you wish you could cook from scratch without finding all new recipes, you need Better Than a Box.

If your family complains that they miss their old favorites now that you're trying to eat less processed foods, I can help.

The goal of Better Than a Box is to teach you to reverse engineer the processed parts of any recipe and create delicious real food renditions. You'll gain confidence in the kitchen, finding the courage to toss in a little of this and a little of that, even if you've always been a “measure to the correct 1/8 teaspoon” sort of chef before.

Better Than a Box is so much more than a recipe book; it's a way of cooking. From habits and routines to make sure you always have certain things on hand, to tips for saving dishes as you cook up a storm, and even “recipes” you will be able to cook by heart, this book will help you have the real food lifestyle you want without compromising the food your family loves.

Your kitchen life will be transformed.

Better Than a Box contains lessons on:
*How to Remake Your Processed Foods Recipes
*Adding Nutrition to a Recipe
*Making any Casserole a One-Pot Meal
*Designing Your Own Recipes
*Connected Meal Planning
*Herbs & Spices Basics
*How to Healthify Baking Recipes
*How to Adapt a Recipe for Soaking Grains

You'll walk through 20 examples of reverse engineering a recipe from processed to 100% whole foods, and there are 35 "remake resources" recipes to make sure you have the foundation to do it yourself, including:

*Homemade Chicken Stock
*Homemade White Sauce (i.e. Cream of Whatever Soup)
*Bouillon Cube Substitute
*Dry Onion Soup Mix
*Gluten-free Cornbread
*Homemade Whole Wheat Tortillas
*Homemade Wheat Thin Style Crackers
*Homemade Bread Crumbs
*Stovetop Stuffing Substitute
*Not-so-Tough Beef Jerky
*Macaroni and Cheese
*Velveeta Cheese Substitute/Creamy Cheese Sauce
*Homemade Mayonnaise
*Homemade Ranch Dressing & Ranch Mix

And finally, in case you don't want to do the mental work but just crave real food recipes for familiar comfort food, you'll find 25 ready-to-go recipes in the thorough, no-stone-left-unturned style of Kitchen Stewardship, including:

*Chicken Rice-a-Roni Substitute
*Mexican Beans and Rice
*Cheesy Beef and Mac
*Grandma's Tuna Noodle Casserole
*Creamy Chicken Enchiladas
*Chicken Pot Pie and Not Pie
*Spicy Cheesy Chicken Dip
*Homemade French Onion Dip
*Real Hot Chocolate
*Homemade Chocolate Syrup
*Southern Banana Pudding
*Homemade Whole Wheat Graham Crackers

There's something for everyone in Better Than a Box. Learn more at KitchenStewardship.com.

Genres: Cookbooks, Cooking, Nonfiction

362 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 13, 2012

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

I’m Katie Kimball, a Catholic wife and mother of three who wants the best of nutrition and living for her family. I believe that God calls us to be good stewards of all His gifts as we work to feed our families: time, finances, the good green earth, and of course, our healthy bodies. This blog seeks to share with others ways to balance all four and be prayerful in the call to vocation in the kitchen.
Read more at http://www.kitchenstewardship.com/abo...

Reviews

[Dan Allen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some great ideas and tips for getting Velveeta and dry onion mix out of your meals, but we've never used them. Still some great tips for getting more real food in your diet.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good little e-book with lots of substitutions to avoid processed food. I try to avoid processed foods as much as possible, so I will be trying several of her recipes. I especially want to try her recipe for "cream of" soup and some of her "Hamburger Helper" type recipes.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great e-book for anyone who wants to remove processed, boxed and canned foods from their diet. It is full of tips on how to do your own "reverse engineering" of popular processed foods, and includes tons of recipes where the author has already done the work for you.

[Lisa Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book!!!!

this book is excellent. for anyone who is trying to reduce processed foods from their diet. Lots of recipes and information on whole food substitutes. the book also has suggestions to help you adapted your favorite recipes.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of recipes and great insight on how Mrs. Kimball reverse engineers her families favorite recipes. I use the white sauce frequently and look forward to making other dishes from the book.

[Abraham Ray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nice healthy book of cooking!