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The Dinner Doctor
A marriage of the fast and fantastic, The Dinner Doctor proves that it's possible to cook meals for your family that taste great—and require little time, preparation, or hassle.
This is cooking that's not only about coping, but about pleasure. The first and most important step is choosing ingredients wisely. For the Dinner Doctor, that means prepared foods, whether canned, frozen, jarred, dried, or fresh from the salad bar or deli counter. Then comes the doctoring.
Jarred roasted red peppers are puréed with canned chicken broth and sour cream, and garnished with fresh chives for a memorable chilled soup for a summer dinner party. Bagged coleslaw mix is dressed up with nuts, bottle ranch dressing and pre-crumbled cheese for a Blue Cheese, Walnut, and Apple Slaw. Jars of marinara turn into Linguine with Red Clam Sauce (just add a can of clams, dry white wine, and parsley) or a zingy Saturday Night Fever Pasta—with the help of black olive paste and capers.
Even deli potato salad, as tasty as it often is, can take on a variety of personalities—enhance it with crumbled cooked bacon, or prepared horseradish, or curry powder and chopped scallions and shredded carrots. And bland chicken tenders—those saviors of quick cooking—are reinvented as Chinese Chicken, Chicken Piccata, and Curried Chicken and Apple Stew.
Making excellent use of slow cookers, embracing myriad shortcuts, boosting flavor and freshness with hundreds of ideas and quick touches, The Dinner Doctor brings all the joy of serving from-scratch meals into harried lives.
This is cooking that's not only about coping, but about pleasure. The first and most important step is choosing ingredients wisely. For the Dinner Doctor, that means prepared foods, whether canned, frozen, jarred, dried, or fresh from the salad bar or deli counter. Then comes the doctoring.
Jarred roasted red peppers are puréed with canned chicken broth and sour cream, and garnished with fresh chives for a memorable chilled soup for a summer dinner party. Bagged coleslaw mix is dressed up with nuts, bottle ranch dressing and pre-crumbled cheese for a Blue Cheese, Walnut, and Apple Slaw. Jars of marinara turn into Linguine with Red Clam Sauce (just add a can of clams, dry white wine, and parsley) or a zingy Saturday Night Fever Pasta—with the help of black olive paste and capers.
Even deli potato salad, as tasty as it often is, can take on a variety of personalities—enhance it with crumbled cooked bacon, or prepared horseradish, or curry powder and chopped scallions and shredded carrots. And bland chicken tenders—those saviors of quick cooking—are reinvented as Chinese Chicken, Chicken Piccata, and Curried Chicken and Apple Stew.
Making excellent use of slow cookers, embracing myriad shortcuts, boosting flavor and freshness with hundreds of ideas and quick touches, The Dinner Doctor brings all the joy of serving from-scratch meals into harried lives.
536 pages, Paperback
First published September 5, 2003
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
September 12, 2020
OMG- this is one of the best cook books ever. I first have to admit that I am a "Cook book junkie". I continuously buy and collect cook books. I must have over 200 of these suckers all over my home, even in my bedroom. Let's face it, when you are the cook you can become bored with making the same thing over and over just because it is a family favorite or it is easy and quick. As a working mother, my concern is to get something on the table quickly, and that the family will like.
So I finally broke down and read this book that I have owned for more than 2 years. I could kick myself for not reading it sooner.
Ms. Bryn puts forth simple and yummy recipes that are quick and easy to do. Most of the ingredients are in most households for last minute meals. One of the really great things this author does is to create lists, for everyday foods, and tell you how to jazz up these family favorites up to 15 different ways. She can tell you 15 things to add to home made Mac & Cheese, 15 things to jazz up frozen peas, 15 things to add to Tuna, or leftover chicken, and even brownies.
For those that know me well you know that I would never take advantage of the pea suggestions, but maybe for my family I would try one or two.
All I am saying is this is one of the best cook books ever and I plan on making use of it frequently, now that I know how great it is. Time to start exploring all my other books in my collection in search of another gem like this.
I highly recommend you check this out, especially if you are not inclined to get all Julia Child in the kitchen and just want a new and simply twist on some easy family favorites.
So I finally broke down and read this book that I have owned for more than 2 years. I could kick myself for not reading it sooner.
Ms. Bryn puts forth simple and yummy recipes that are quick and easy to do. Most of the ingredients are in most households for last minute meals. One of the really great things this author does is to create lists, for everyday foods, and tell you how to jazz up these family favorites up to 15 different ways. She can tell you 15 things to add to home made Mac & Cheese, 15 things to jazz up frozen peas, 15 things to add to Tuna, or leftover chicken, and even brownies.
For those that know me well you know that I would never take advantage of the pea suggestions, but maybe for my family I would try one or two.
All I am saying is this is one of the best cook books ever and I plan on making use of it frequently, now that I know how great it is. Time to start exploring all my other books in my collection in search of another gem like this.
I highly recommend you check this out, especially if you are not inclined to get all Julia Child in the kitchen and just want a new and simply twist on some easy family favorites.
January 15, 2012
This cookbook has a ton of usable good recipes. It is not one of those books that end up with only a couple of dirty pages from over use. She has a ton of cheats to make life simple. Some cheats I have used, but others had me saying Ahhhh! Great recipes even a kid would eat.
Always know, that many foods from a cookbook are on the bland side, and so we add a little of this and that & THOSE recipes after we doctor them is what we pass down!
I saw her do a local demo for her cake doctor recipes, and so I bought both! I am glad I did.
Always know, that many foods from a cookbook are on the bland side, and so we add a little of this and that & THOSE recipes after we doctor them is what we pass down!
I saw her do a local demo for her cake doctor recipes, and so I bought both! I am glad I did.
September 14, 2009
Excellent for those who just can't think what to cook. She gives you a pantry staple list of items to always have on hand. Then she gives each recipe the lists from the pantry and you can choose the items you have and create a miracle
June 23, 2018
I bought The Dinner Doctor because I have been very happy with Ann Byrn's other "Doctor" books. I also liked the concept of using pantry items with fresh items to make a quick and delicious dinner. Her ideas and recipes are great, especially the salad section, but are heavily influenced by "Southern" cooking, cream of mushroom soup, and refrigerated alfredo sauce. She does explain why cream of mushroom soup is so useful, and the ways in which she uses the alfredo sauce are creative, but it does get repetitive. I'd like the book better if her comfort foods weren't based primarily on Southern favorites, and had more dishes from other parts of the U.S.
June 30, 2020
One of my fave cookbooks. Almost every single recipe is absolutely delicious. The author takes great pains to make each recipe accessible for the average cook (like me).
November 18, 2024
Tasty recipes and so easy to make. My family liked the recipes too!
September 7, 2014
I just love her cookbooks! This has great time-saving recipes, and the vast majority I've tried turned out delicious. In the appetizers section, I've found a couple that I now include when I prepare appetizers for gatherings. The mini cheese calzones are SO simple and my family loves them! My in-laws loved the beef vegetable soup, and I've tried some of the salads that turned out really nice. Oh, and don't miss the Mock Chicken Marbella; it's incredible. We all loved the chicken pie with biscuits baked on top and so many other things. The only one I didn't care for was the crock pot mac and cheese. Other than that, this book has been a nice addition to my collection. Sure, you may not like shortcut cooking, but when you're busy and have company coming for the weekend, it's nice to have a couple of extra simple recipes.
January 20, 2010
EVERYONE should have a copy of this cookbook, even those (like me) who have a million others. Some of the recipes are simple (well, most of them are) but SOME taste like they were brutal.
Some favorites:
Garlicky Cheese Grits Casserole
Southwestern Cole Slaw
Penne with Asparagus, Blue Cheese Pesto and Toasted Walnuts
Cincinnati Chili Mole
Spinach Salad with Popcorn Chicken, Peaches and Toasted Pecans
And so on, and so on, and so on...
Some favorites:
Garlicky Cheese Grits Casserole
Southwestern Cole Slaw
Penne with Asparagus, Blue Cheese Pesto and Toasted Walnuts
Cincinnati Chili Mole
Spinach Salad with Popcorn Chicken, Peaches and Toasted Pecans
And so on, and so on, and so on...
April 18, 2013
3.5/5 Stars
This is a good cookbook for semi-homemade foods utilizing some commercially prepared foods. Features all recipe categories from appetizers to desserts. Good for weeknight meals or those cooks with budding development.
This is a good cookbook for semi-homemade foods utilizing some commercially prepared foods. Features all recipe categories from appetizers to desserts. Good for weeknight meals or those cooks with budding development.
January 21, 2010
Just bought this book, I can't wait to try the recipes! I'm all about shortcuts! and if the book is anything like the cakemix book, it has to be good.
September 28, 2007
Try the Sunday Night Potato Chowder on p.84. Everyone loves it including me, and I am neither a chowder person nor a great cook!
October 16, 2007
I've even impressed my foodie boyfriend with recipes from this book! he never knew everything came from a can! Most meals take about 30 minutes, some a little longer, but everything is quite simple.
December 6, 2009
There are a few go to recipes in here. This is worth the money.
February 4, 2011
So far I love the recipes that I have tried from this cook book. Always trying something new from this book.
August 17, 2011
Flipped through this and tried a couple recipes. Yum! But had to give it back to the library. Gonna be watching for it on Ebay.
July 7, 2016
I love the cake mix books and got this one because of them......Not thrilled, most of this stuff I figured out on my own before I got the book.....
March 10, 2008
Great ideas for making quick homecooked meals.
Reminds me of Sandra Lee's Semi Homemade.
Reminds me of Sandra Lee's Semi Homemade.
August 8, 2011
Can't wait to find some quick recipes for the summer. Just checked it out and am excited to read!
July 25, 2013
Great book, many go to recipes
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews