Everyday Dinners: Real-Life Recipes to Set Your Family Up for a Week of Success: A Cookbook

by Jessica Merchant

Get family dinner on the table in 30 minutes or less without sacrificing beauty or flavor, from the beloved blogger and author of The Pretty Dish .

“The new go-to book for home cooks everywhere. Yum!”—Ree Drummond, #1  New York Times  bestselling author of  The Pioneer Woman Cooks

With her down-to-earth style, can-do attitude, and gorgeous photography, Jessica Merchant presents Everyday Dinners, your new guide for meal prepping. Along with plant-based, one pot, and slow cooker recipes, Jessica also includes weekly dinner plans, ideas, tips and tricks, and even a 45- to 60-minute meal prep game plan for the weekends to keep cooking easy and quick on busy weeknights.

You and your family will be delighted and nourished by Jessica’s recipes for Roasted Sweet Potatoes with Honey Ginger Chickpeas and Tahini, Tuscan Cheese Tortellini Soup, Honey Dijon Pretzel-Crusted Salmon, Grilled Peach BBQ Pork Chops with Napa Slaw, and Garlic + Chive Butter Smashed Potatoes. As life gets busier, it’s increasingly harder to set aside time to put a nourishing meal on the table after a long day. In Everyday Dinners, Jessica gives us the tools and tricks to make that possible.

Genres: Cookbooks, Nonfiction, Cooking, Food, Foodie

272 pages, Hardcover

Published May 4, 2021

Reviews

[Victoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

I checked this out from the library and then asked for it for Christmas. I have only tried a handful of recipes but they have all been tasty! One was quite labor intensive and so while the result was good, I don’t know if I will make it again. But I love how she recommends what you can make in advance to save yourself time in the evening! Some recipes I have enjoyed so far: Brussels and Kale Caesar with Buffalo Chickpeas, Crispy Orange Cauliflower with Coconut Rice, Sheet-Pan Cashew Chicken, and One-Pot Sausage, Greens, and Beans Pasta.

[Hannah Melcher · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars because I will be making every single recipe, and I am excited about it!

[Ivonne Rovira · Rating 3 out of 5]

I appreciate whenever anyone teaches me something — especially when it’s something I should have already figured out. Sure, I will marinade items the night before I cook it. But it never occurred to me to pre-prepare other aspects of dinner. Salad dressings, chopping vegetables, boiling pasta for pasta salads — all of that can be done ahead of time.

Yes, it was dumb of me not to realize this. But now I do! So an extra star for this OK cookbook for this invaluable nugget for quick cookery.

[K · Rating 5 out of 5]

Favorite cookbook of all time 🙌🏽

[Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoy their recipe blog, How Sweet Eats, so I was excited to pick this book up! Some great tips on streamlining meal-prep and dinners, and lots of great recipes! I'm somewhat picky so it's always a bit of a toss-up if a cookbook will be filled with things that just aren't up my alley but I bookmarked a ton in this one! And I actually quite enjoyed that it was entirely dinner-focused.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great book - I photocopied quite a few recipes! There's a little bit of something here for everyone!

[Dana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am rather obsessed with cookbooks and since I work at a library, I check out many cookbooks. Everyday Dinners is one of the best ones that I have found recently and I have purchased my own copy of it to have at home because it is that good. I like that the author encourages readers to be flexible with the amounts in recipes and to learn to cook without a recipe, to taste as you go and do a few easy preparations ahead of time to make cooking easier. The recipes have lovely photographs and I have cooked several of them and they are delicious. I have also learned a few new cooking techniques, such as, did you know that you can roast gnocchi in the oven rather than boiling it? I have also used puff pastry for the first time in my life and it is easy and yummy! This is an excellent cookbook!

[Jenny K · Rating 3 out of 5]

First off, the pictures of the recipes in this cookbook are gorgeous. Drool worthy. But I have several issues elsewhere.
I’ll start with the personal objections.
The photo on page 30...the middle “grain”...what on earth is that?
Also, the staged photo of the author on page 20...2 copies of one of her other books is on prominent display. That’s a bit tacky.
And on page 264...there is just too much cleavage going on here. It’s a cookbook!
Now for my main objection, a practical issue. The first section of recipes is sauces and dressings. On some pages, there is a note telling which other recipes use that sauce but not all of them have that notation.

[P.J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I pre-ordered this book as soon as Amazon sent me the email that I could and then stalked it when it was out for delivery. Since I'm incredibly impatient, I also got the ebook (waiting until lunchtime was not going to happen - I would have left work as soon as I saw the Amazon driver). I've cooked a few of the recipes that Jessica previewed on her blog and they were delicious. The Chicken Romano Meatballs were probably my favorite of the few we made. The number of pages I have bookmarked is crazy - almost the entire book and I'm intolerant of pork and gluten so there are tons of recipes I can either make as is or adapt. I do normally meal prep most of my meals on Sundays for the week, but I love how Jessica says she generally only devotes 10 minutes a day and then gives tips with each recipe on things to prep. I've been making several of her fridge staples, sauces, and dressings for years so I was also excited to see that many of my favorites are in one chapter and more easily accessible (House Sauce was missing, but can be found in her second cookbook, The Pretty Dish, and is pretty easy to memorize so I don't look it up anymore). I'm so excited to cook my way through this book, especially with the Facebook group she has created, and will probably be finding a bunch of new favorites!

[Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jessica's weeknight dinner recipes are among the best you'll find anywhere. Everyday Dinners takes it to a whole new level, with a huge range of recipes and tips for prepping everything in advance. She also includes recipes for all of her favorite dips and dressings as well as side dishes to elevate even the simplest dishes into flavorful, interesting meals that you look forward to week after week. This is such a fantastic resource, and the photos are absolutely stunning. You'll be inspired to keep cooking new recipes, even during the busiest weeks.

[Amy Grossman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love each cookbook that Jessica has written. I’m an avid follower of her blog How Sweet Eats. This is my third cookbook that she has written. I couldn’t wait to begin cooking recipes from Everyday Dinner’s. Jessica‘s recipes never disappoint. The recipes in every day dinners are perfect for weeknight meals and are absolutely delicious. Follow her blog, and get her cookbooks. You will not be sorry. You’ll have delicious meals for yourself, family and friends. Thank you Jessica for another amazing cookbook!

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book. Very family friendly, mostly vegetarian and healthy-ish. I thought that the salad chapters and sauces were the strongest. The recipes are clearly written, easy to follow and every one has a photo. I didn’t always do her prep beforehand, but I would say most of these came in at less than 30 minutes to cook. I would have given thuu if s 5 stars, but there’s no nutrition info.

I took this out of the library but now may buy it. It’s that good.

[Dray · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite a nice cookbook. I liked the philosophy of messing with recipes and not being bound by dictates or rules. At the same time i will usually try and follow a recipe completely the first time before ad libbing. The cookbook itself is well designed and curated. The meals are originals with nice touches and balance.

[Melissa Cripps · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yum! I bookmarked quite a few recipes in this book and now I want to go peruse her blog for more. I like the tips for prep ahead and streamlining dinner prep.

The only downside: she seems to use a lot of the following three things that are not so beloved in my household, so I’ll either have to modify or pass on quite a few recipes: chipotle, blue/Gorgonzola cheese and avocado.

[Patricia Baker · Rating 4 out of 5]

bought this cookbook because of the postings the writer does online. was not disappointed to review all the recipes. most excited about the plant based section as trying to eat more meatless options. great color photos, easy to read directions.

[Natalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I will forever forever buy any cookbook Jess Merchant puts out. Her recipes are easy, interesting, and taste incredible. My only complaint (and it isn't enough to affect my rating) is that I have a blue cheese allergy, and man does she love blue cheese haha.

[Maddy · Rating 5 out of 5]

The title says it all! Great options for everyday dinners. I would say this is a good option that emphasizes moderation in meals. Recipes don't skimp on flavor and taste and fill me up and feel great!

[Katie G · Rating 5 out of 5]

So far I have made some of the recipes and with small tweaks they have been really good! Most of the recipes are not too complicated, just some taking a bit of chopping to do. Love the amount of dressing recipes she offers as well as side options.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great cookbook with very manageable recipes that I look forward to making.

[Kelley Montz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best cookbook I've read this year!

[Leigh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of great things in here!

[Melanie Edens · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best recipes! And make sure and follow the blog How Sweet Eats and get the emails.

[Paula · Rating 5 out of 5]

Recipes are inviting and interesting, beautiful photos to inspire everyday gourmets!

[Tanya · Rating 4 out of 5]

The battered cauliflower was good, but I didn't quite get the sauce right. I used air fryer instead of oven and it came out crispy and delicious.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this cookbook and found many new repeat recipes that I crave!

[Crystal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great recipes, my family enjoyed eating & probably more importantly I enjoyed making.

[Pinky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Want to try the Cinnamon Shallot Vinaigrette, Summer Chickpea Pasta Soup, and the Crispy Orange Cauliflower recipes.

[Bri · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite cook book of all time! Comforting recipes while taking you out of your comfort zone (vegetarian bolognese!!!)

I have so much trust in Jessica and also love that she’s a Pittsburgher!

[Kayla Freed · Rating 3 out of 5]

The salmon recipe was amazing but too many recipes require odd amounts of ingredients or recipes within a recipe.

[Brooke]

Had promising recipes but had it during my most nauseous weeks