Plated: Weeknight Dinners, Weekend Feasts, and Everything in Between: A Cookbook

by Elana Karp, Suzanne Dumaine

Eating Well Made Easy  The more than 125 inventive, repertoire-building recipes in Plated will help you cook and eat food you love without having to think so hard about it. Every dish here will work no matter how much (or little) time you have to cook, whether it’s quick dinner on a Monday for two or a backyard barbecue for a crowd.  The recipes are all rooted in a core technique—think One-Pan Roasted Chicken, Slow-Simmered Turkey Chili, or Cheesy Baked Penne—but can also be customized according to peak produce and just what you’re in the mood for. Step-by-step prep instructions and menu ideas take the stress out of cooking, so you know exactly what to do and when. Here, too, are ways for you to stretch these recipes, like basic marinades and spice rubs that can be used on almost anything, reinventions for leftovers, big-batch make-aheads, company-worthy feasts, and perfect sides. Platedis sure to become a well-loved, sauce-splattered staple in your kitchen.

Genres: Cookbooks, Cooking, Reference, Food and Wine, Nonfiction

240 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 12, 2016

Reviews

[Diane Estrella · Rating 4 out of 5]

This cookbook was an interesting twist to me. The authors set up menu ideas and then the reader could then choose from the selections to make their own specific menu. They also provided a timeline of what preparations to do in what order. I really liked how they laid it out for an amateur like me. There were also a variety of quick rubs, dressings, and sauces that could be used at any time which I also thought was handy.

I really liked how the recipes had seasonal substitutions that could be used. Where I live, in Upstate New York, not every fruit and vegetable are available as readily as in some southern areas of the country.

Some of the recipes were DEFINITELY out of my wheel-house of abilities, but maybe some day when I am bolder and more skilled I will give them a try.

My only critique is that not every recipe had a corresponding picture. While I realize that these are costly and not necessary for most cooks, for a lesser chef like myself, I NEED a picture of every dish so I know if I'm close to doing the recipe justice or not. Just me and my needs ...

I received a free copy of this book from the Blogging for Books for my honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

[Kenzie Reukauf · Rating 5 out of 5]

❤️ this cookbook

Finally, a cookbook with easy to follow recipes and cooking tips and tricks. Classic dishes with seasonal fruit and vegetable suggestions. I am reinspired to try all the recipes and reducing the number of restaurant visits.

[Douglas Larson · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting mix of recipes, a few somewhat famous and others not.
I haven't tried any of them yet but intend to do so.

[Mazzou B · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought this company'sidea marvelous and unique. The recipes in this book are nice and will please the healthy eater and cook. However, there were too few of each kind for my preference. There were also too few dessert recipes, considering that they looked the best out of all the recipes in this new cookbook!
The more than 125 inventive, repertoire-building recipes inPlated will help you cook and eat food you love without having to think so hard about it. Every dish here will work no matter how much (or little) time you have to cook, whether it’s quick dinner on a Monday for two or a backyard barbecue for a crowd. The recipes are all rooted in a core technique—think One-Pan Roasted Chicken, Slow-Simmered Turkey Chili, or Cheesy Baked Penne—but can also be customized according to peak produce and just what you’re in the mood for. Step-by-step prep instructions and menu ideas take the stress out of cooking, so you know exactly what to do and when. Here, too, are ways for you to stretch these recipes, like basic marinades and spice rubs that can be used on almost anything, reinventions for leftovers, big-batch make-aheads, company-worthy feasts, and perfect sides. Plated is sure to become a well-loved, sauce-splattered staple in your kitchen.

[Jennifer Dickert · Rating 3 out of 5]

I subscribe to the Plated meal service, and obsessively love it. I was excited for the cookbook, but it's left me disappointed.

First, there is nothing wrong with the book per se -- it's just not what I was looking for. There are frameworks for putting together meals, so you can fill in with seasonable ingredients or things you have on hand. I really like that flexibility, and it is somewhat unique among cookbooks.

But what I love about the meal service is on one recipe card you have your whole meal (main, sides) spelled out. It's neat and tidy, and takes the thinking out of it. I love to cook, and I'm a solid home chef. But the frazzle of motherhood has left me with little mental time to choose a main, decide on side dishes, shop, prep, cook. Ugh. Which is why I love the service so much -- I pick my menu item and then I just have to do the cooking. So, in their cookbook I was looking for that same ease. A book full of nothing but their meal service recipe cards, if you will.

The other thing that bothers me is the book doesn't adhere to Plated's established branding (bright red/white bold serif font). Of course it makes no difference to the quality of the content in the book, but as a former graphic designer it just bugs me hard.

[Nadine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like a cookbook that has a good variety of foods, and if it has gorgeous photography? Even better!!! I mean who doesn’t like looking at food pictures, am I right? Each recipe includes step by step instructions, and I didn’t see anything too crazy that would be impossible for even the novice chef. What I really love at the beginning of the book is that there are instructions for dressings, basic marinades and spice rubs that you can literally use with any recipe! The recipes are adaptable based on what is in season and you get some simple one pan or slow cooker items, with some fancy date night ideas thrown in the mix.

Some of the recipes I tagged to make are Brown Sugar Braised Short Ribs, Beer Braised Pulled Chicken, French Toast Casserole, Crispy Brussels Sprouts, and Wine Poached Pears.

If that hasn’t grabbed your attention, there is a recipe for homemade gnocchi in here. Gnocchi you guys!!!

If you are looking for me anytime in the near future, I will be in my kitchen cooking everything in this book!

Find out more about the book here.

Find out more about the author here.

**I received a copy of this book from Blogging for Books but all opinions are of my own.**

[Misty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Plated by Elana Karp & Suzanne Dumaine is a very nice and simple cookbook that is perfect for people looking to prepare food for their family and friends. For the bigger meals the recipes have a step by step process outlined telling you the idea order for creating the meal in order to cut down on the stress involved. There are a ton of amazing and yet simple recipes in Plated by Elana Karp & Suzanne Dumaine. The recipes are all laid out in an easy to understand manner that makes them very easy to make and enjoy. Plated by Elana Karp & Suzanne Dumaine also has numerous short recipes for thing like sauces, dressing, and such. The dessert recipes are amazing there are these chocolate chip ice cream cups that are to DIE for. The best part of Plated by Elana Karp & Suzanne Dumaine is that all of the recipes call for ingredients that are easy to get at the store you do not need to make a trip to Whole Foods or a farmer's market unless you want to. I was sent a copy of Plated by Elana Karp & Suzanne Dumaine for free for only my honest and unbiased review of the book.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was beautifully put together. I loved the pictures very inspiring and the binding was perfect to allow the book to be held open while you cook. I loved the binding. I also loved the ingredients list clearly placed to the right and the boldness of the serving category. It jumped right out at you and said things like leftovers plus two servings very creative. While I liked many features of the book as a novice cook most of these recipes were a little too complicated/fancy for me but all very beautiful and easy to follow. I received a copy of this book thought the blogging for books program in exchange for an honest review.

[Jamie Holloway · Rating 5 out of 5]

love. my review is posted on my blog

[Ietrio · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a regular cook book. Nothing more, nothing less.

[Amuse · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great variety of recipes. Ideal for the beginning home cook. Easy instructions.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the seasonal variations on the recipes - most of these are fairly simple and very easily modified.