What do you think?
Rate this book
Bare Minimum Dinners: Recipes and Strategies for Doing Less in the Kitchen
Easy recipes and shortcuts to spend less time in the kitchen—with fewer ingredients, less cleanup, Instant Pot and slow cooker options, meals made in 30 minutes or less, and other smart strategies
Getting a home-cooked meal on the table every day is an admirable goal, but it shouldn't get in the way of your life! In Bare Minimum Dinners , Jenna Helwig—food director at Real Simple magazine—shares delicious, easy recipes so you can spend less time in the kitchen and more time enjoying your meal…or doing whatever else you want! Chapters Bare Minimum Time (30 minutes or less); Bare Minimum Ingredients (7 ingredients or less, including salt and olive oil); Bare Minimum Hands-On Time (slow-cooker and Instant Pot meals); Bare Minimum Clean-Up (one-pot/sheet pan/skillet meals); and Bare Minimum Sides (super-simple vegetables, salads, and grains so you can feel good about serving healthy, well-rounded dinners). Throughout, Jenna offers helpful tips—for example, how to keep salad greens fresh and at the ready, easy substitutions, and suggested supermarket brands—as well as easy ideas for dressing up or rounding out your meal.
Getting a home-cooked meal on the table every day is an admirable goal, but it shouldn't get in the way of your life! In Bare Minimum Dinners , Jenna Helwig—food director at Real Simple magazine—shares delicious, easy recipes so you can spend less time in the kitchen and more time enjoying your meal…or doing whatever else you want! Chapters Bare Minimum Time (30 minutes or less); Bare Minimum Ingredients (7 ingredients or less, including salt and olive oil); Bare Minimum Hands-On Time (slow-cooker and Instant Pot meals); Bare Minimum Clean-Up (one-pot/sheet pan/skillet meals); and Bare Minimum Sides (super-simple vegetables, salads, and grains so you can feel good about serving healthy, well-rounded dinners). Throughout, Jenna offers helpful tips—for example, how to keep salad greens fresh and at the ready, easy substitutions, and suggested supermarket brands—as well as easy ideas for dressing up or rounding out your meal.
240 pages, Paperback
Published September 7, 2021
110 people are currently reading
305 people want to read
About the author
Jenna Helwig
11 books5 followersI'm the author of five cookbooks including the bestselling Baby-Led Feeding and the time-saving, stress-reducing Bare Minimum Dinners. I am the food director at Real Simple and, previously, was the food editor at Parents and Health.
I love to cook, bake, and eat, and am a giant cookbook fan. I also love to read fiction and am a particular fan of literary fiction and mystery novels. I live in Brooklyn, New York with my family.
I love to cook, bake, and eat, and am a giant cookbook fan. I also love to read fiction and am a particular fan of literary fiction and mystery novels. I live in Brooklyn, New York with my family.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 83 reviews
February 2, 2021
I got so excited when I saw this title on NetGalley. A cookbook that advocates for less effort in the kitchen? I am in favor of it! I was still really excited when I looked through the cookbook – great organization and lots of different kinds of recipes. The more I looked at it and the more recipes I tried (I tried a lot of recipes), I came to the conclusion that this cookbook is not for me, but it might be fine for someone else.
Most of the recipes I tried are some version of fine. There is one egregiously bad recipe in the advance reader copy I received and I hope it gets taken out before publication. Of the recipes I tried, the best was the Saucy Chicken in the Bare Minimum Hands on Time: Recipes for the Instant Pot or Slow Cooker section. It’s formula with several different variations of store bought sauce and skinless boneless chicken thighs. It’s great and exactly the kind of thing I would want to see in a bare minimum cookbook – you pick a sauce you like with chicken, cook them together in the InstantPot, and pair with the carb of your choice (or not). I cooked chicken thighs with a fire roasted tomatillo salsa and had tacos for a couple of dinners.
I was disappointed that a lot of the recipes were bland or dominated by one flavor. I am all for quick food that doesn’t have to be worthy of Instagram or a restaurant. But, it can’t just be fuel. I want to enjoy my food. I love onions, but the Any Onion Frittata was a lot of bland egg (I did add the onion powder to the egg) on top of a thin layer of tasty onions. My issue with a lot of her egg recipes was there wasn’t enough seasoning for the amount of egg. The Ginger-Scallion Turkey Burgers were all ginger, no scallion, and nothing to balance the ginger. I was going to talk about how I’ve been making the Spicy Oven Fries a lot, but I realized that I abandoned Helwig’s seasoning for the fries a couple of weeks ago. The idea and the methodology are great and I love the nutritional yeast on the fries.
The truly reprehensible recipe is the Black Bean Burger in the Bare Minimum Time section. I made this knowing it was going to be awful because Helwig says “no more seasoning required” about using canned refried black beans. I don’t know what canned refried beans she has access to, but in my experience, canned refried beans are bland. They don’t need more salt, but they do need more flavor. Or they should be applied in a thin layer, with other things with flavor and texture. My other issue with the recipe was texture – soft bread, soft refried bean “burger”, soft mashed avocado topping for the burger. The reality was much worse. The patties were fairly think and the panko didn’t give them any texture. Biting into the burger was an unpleasant mouth experience. This recipe made me angry. I tried it because I wanted to give Helwig a chance to prove me wrong. In the end, I mashed the patties up with some salsa and made molettes (an open face bean and cheese sandwich), which would have been a much better 30 minutes or less use of canned black refried beans.
I still like the concept of Bare Minimum Dinners, and I know we all have different palates. What I found bland and one note, someone else will enjoy. It’s a very usable rather than aspirational cookbook. I’ve rounded this up to a three star from a 2.5 because I support the concept if not the execution.
I received this as an advance reader copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Most of the recipes I tried are some version of fine. There is one egregiously bad recipe in the advance reader copy I received and I hope it gets taken out before publication. Of the recipes I tried, the best was the Saucy Chicken in the Bare Minimum Hands on Time: Recipes for the Instant Pot or Slow Cooker section. It’s formula with several different variations of store bought sauce and skinless boneless chicken thighs. It’s great and exactly the kind of thing I would want to see in a bare minimum cookbook – you pick a sauce you like with chicken, cook them together in the InstantPot, and pair with the carb of your choice (or not). I cooked chicken thighs with a fire roasted tomatillo salsa and had tacos for a couple of dinners.
I was disappointed that a lot of the recipes were bland or dominated by one flavor. I am all for quick food that doesn’t have to be worthy of Instagram or a restaurant. But, it can’t just be fuel. I want to enjoy my food. I love onions, but the Any Onion Frittata was a lot of bland egg (I did add the onion powder to the egg) on top of a thin layer of tasty onions. My issue with a lot of her egg recipes was there wasn’t enough seasoning for the amount of egg. The Ginger-Scallion Turkey Burgers were all ginger, no scallion, and nothing to balance the ginger. I was going to talk about how I’ve been making the Spicy Oven Fries a lot, but I realized that I abandoned Helwig’s seasoning for the fries a couple of weeks ago. The idea and the methodology are great and I love the nutritional yeast on the fries.
The truly reprehensible recipe is the Black Bean Burger in the Bare Minimum Time section. I made this knowing it was going to be awful because Helwig says “no more seasoning required” about using canned refried black beans. I don’t know what canned refried beans she has access to, but in my experience, canned refried beans are bland. They don’t need more salt, but they do need more flavor. Or they should be applied in a thin layer, with other things with flavor and texture. My other issue with the recipe was texture – soft bread, soft refried bean “burger”, soft mashed avocado topping for the burger. The reality was much worse. The patties were fairly think and the panko didn’t give them any texture. Biting into the burger was an unpleasant mouth experience. This recipe made me angry. I tried it because I wanted to give Helwig a chance to prove me wrong. In the end, I mashed the patties up with some salsa and made molettes (an open face bean and cheese sandwich), which would have been a much better 30 minutes or less use of canned black refried beans.
I still like the concept of Bare Minimum Dinners, and I know we all have different palates. What I found bland and one note, someone else will enjoy. It’s a very usable rather than aspirational cookbook. I’ve rounded this up to a three star from a 2.5 because I support the concept if not the execution.
I received this as an advance reader copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
March 28, 2021
These dinners are certainly bare minimum. There are not a lot of ingredients and most don't take much time. They may be rather minimal in flavor though. I was not inspired to try any of them and it's worrisome that most of the reviewers who did try the recipes reported that they were bland.
That said, this will be a great book for beginning cooks who want to learn how to throw things together. Most of the recipes call for purchased ingredients like fish sticks, pasta sauce, etc. I prefer to cook from scratch so these wouldn't be bare minimum for me (other than grabbing a can of home-canned pasta sauce from the cellar and other times when I have things already made up).
Example recipes -- baked fish sticks topped with bagged cole slaw mix with apple cider vinegar, put in tortillas, or pasta tossed with broccoli rabe, olive oil, walnuts, lemon zest and salt. Some are more complicated, but that gives you a feel for them.
There are icons to show vegetarian recipes but not gluten free. Nutritional information is not provided. Photos are provided for about 1/4 of the recipes. Most are the standard American diet kind of dishes.
I read a temporary digital ARC of this book for review.
That said, this will be a great book for beginning cooks who want to learn how to throw things together. Most of the recipes call for purchased ingredients like fish sticks, pasta sauce, etc. I prefer to cook from scratch so these wouldn't be bare minimum for me (other than grabbing a can of home-canned pasta sauce from the cellar and other times when I have things already made up).
Example recipes -- baked fish sticks topped with bagged cole slaw mix with apple cider vinegar, put in tortillas, or pasta tossed with broccoli rabe, olive oil, walnuts, lemon zest and salt. Some are more complicated, but that gives you a feel for them.
There are icons to show vegetarian recipes but not gluten free. Nutritional information is not provided. Photos are provided for about 1/4 of the recipes. Most are the standard American diet kind of dishes.
I read a temporary digital ARC of this book for review.
September 7, 2021
What a good idea! Helwig’s approachable, practical guide is one of the most useful cookbooks I’ve seen in recent years. My thanks go to Net Galley and Mariner Books for the review copy. This book is for sale today.
One of the drawbacks to growing up with easily available readymade meals, as most Americans have done, is that nobody has to learn to cook anymore. It’s optional, the way that baking elaborate meals and desserts used to be. But it’s always more expensive to order take-out food than to make it yourself; it has to be, since you are essentially paying them for not just ingredients, but also the labor costs, utility and rent, and other expenses associated with producing it. The meal that you pull out of your freezer is a bit cheaper, and so is the ubiquitous ramen, but neither is useful nutritionally. A lot of people have become born-again cooks over the course of the pandemic, and after all we have been through, it’s nice that at least some of us have benefited in small ways.
Most cookbooks—and I love the things, even the useless ones—aren’t especially helpful. They call for elaborate preparation; tools you probably don’t own; unusual ingredients that have to be hunted down; and then in some cases, produce far more food than a single person or couple can make use of. Helwig’s is different. Her recipes call for ordinary, inexpensive ingredients, and most of them require only basic kitchen equipment. Right up front she explains what pans, machinery, cutlery and other tools she recommends we buy, and although this chapter looks like the one that a lot of people will skip on their way to find a recipe for tonight’s dinner, I recommend you read it when you purchase the book. This reviewer is a Boomer, and I was thirty before I had a microwave oven. I know how to cook and am fairly good at it. Nevertheless, reading this chapter persuaded me to add one more item to my collection. Her practicality is undeniable.
The recipes that look the most tempting to me also require the largest number of dishes to be washed. That’s the way it goes, right? Chilaquiles; Apple Dutch Baby; Mushroom and Gruyere Quesadillas; yum! But she also has an entire chapter titled “Bare Minimum Cleanup” which faithfully adheres to a rule of one pot or pan, period. Because some nights we don’t care to be creative. We just want to grab the food, fix it, and get dinner out of the way so we can move forward with our evening. Helwig gets that.
The sole complaint that prevents my fifth star for jumping on board is that there are certain ingredients and flavors that appear too frequently. Not everybody loves cabbage, for example. Helwig rhapsodizes about its taste, low price, and versatility, and whereas the latter two claims are obviously true, the first is subject to the cook’s preferences. As for me, I do like cabbage once in awhile, but I don’t want it all the time. There are also a few other places where I would have preferred some more versatility.
Nevertheless, this book is a gem, and every recipe in this cookbook has more appeal than that freezer-burnt burrito you bought last March. If you are a newbie with a limited income and not much kitchen experience, you should get this book now. If you are more seasoned, you might want it anyway. And as a bonus feature, I notice that although almost every cookbook is frustrating to read digitally, this one is better than most. If you can get it in print, I still advise doing so, but if your budget only runs to digital versions, that shouldn’t stop you. Someday you’ll wonder how you got by without it.
One of the drawbacks to growing up with easily available readymade meals, as most Americans have done, is that nobody has to learn to cook anymore. It’s optional, the way that baking elaborate meals and desserts used to be. But it’s always more expensive to order take-out food than to make it yourself; it has to be, since you are essentially paying them for not just ingredients, but also the labor costs, utility and rent, and other expenses associated with producing it. The meal that you pull out of your freezer is a bit cheaper, and so is the ubiquitous ramen, but neither is useful nutritionally. A lot of people have become born-again cooks over the course of the pandemic, and after all we have been through, it’s nice that at least some of us have benefited in small ways.
Most cookbooks—and I love the things, even the useless ones—aren’t especially helpful. They call for elaborate preparation; tools you probably don’t own; unusual ingredients that have to be hunted down; and then in some cases, produce far more food than a single person or couple can make use of. Helwig’s is different. Her recipes call for ordinary, inexpensive ingredients, and most of them require only basic kitchen equipment. Right up front she explains what pans, machinery, cutlery and other tools she recommends we buy, and although this chapter looks like the one that a lot of people will skip on their way to find a recipe for tonight’s dinner, I recommend you read it when you purchase the book. This reviewer is a Boomer, and I was thirty before I had a microwave oven. I know how to cook and am fairly good at it. Nevertheless, reading this chapter persuaded me to add one more item to my collection. Her practicality is undeniable.
The recipes that look the most tempting to me also require the largest number of dishes to be washed. That’s the way it goes, right? Chilaquiles; Apple Dutch Baby; Mushroom and Gruyere Quesadillas; yum! But she also has an entire chapter titled “Bare Minimum Cleanup” which faithfully adheres to a rule of one pot or pan, period. Because some nights we don’t care to be creative. We just want to grab the food, fix it, and get dinner out of the way so we can move forward with our evening. Helwig gets that.
The sole complaint that prevents my fifth star for jumping on board is that there are certain ingredients and flavors that appear too frequently. Not everybody loves cabbage, for example. Helwig rhapsodizes about its taste, low price, and versatility, and whereas the latter two claims are obviously true, the first is subject to the cook’s preferences. As for me, I do like cabbage once in awhile, but I don’t want it all the time. There are also a few other places where I would have preferred some more versatility.
Nevertheless, this book is a gem, and every recipe in this cookbook has more appeal than that freezer-burnt burrito you bought last March. If you are a newbie with a limited income and not much kitchen experience, you should get this book now. If you are more seasoned, you might want it anyway. And as a bonus feature, I notice that although almost every cookbook is frustrating to read digitally, this one is better than most. If you can get it in print, I still advise doing so, but if your budget only runs to digital versions, that shouldn’t stop you. Someday you’ll wonder how you got by without it.
November 12, 2021
(Note: I received an advanced reader copy of this book courtesy of NetGalley)
This instantly proved to be exactly my kind of cookbook. All of the recipes here are mindful of one’s time and also budget, and many humbly consist of just several ingredients that are easily obtainable at any grocery store and can be conveniently joined together on a sheet pan, or in a pot or slow cooker. And with the exception of the desserts, each meal also tries to provide some kind of nutritional balance. But even with these general restraints, there is absolutely no skimping on taste or enjoyment here. The recipes are wonderfully rich in variety on multiple levels, from cuisine styles to dietary preferences. And although many of the recipes are quite simple, I also found them to be surprisingly inspiring as well, and have gotten me to thinking about similar meals that I could come up with on my own. Also, to help complete the package, author Jenna Helwig provides an array of other helpful pointers and strategies, like her general principles on how every meal should have at least one vegetable but should also have something about it you enjoy, and also a very helpful guide on what essential cookware and staples are needed to ensure a prepared kitchen.
In short, as someone who loves to cook, but also likes to be mindful of his other obligations and his bank account, this is the kind of cookbook that makes me immediately think - “Goodness, what more could I possibly ask for?”
And the immediate mental answer that comes back is a simple and honest, "I can't think of a single thing."
This instantly proved to be exactly my kind of cookbook. All of the recipes here are mindful of one’s time and also budget, and many humbly consist of just several ingredients that are easily obtainable at any grocery store and can be conveniently joined together on a sheet pan, or in a pot or slow cooker. And with the exception of the desserts, each meal also tries to provide some kind of nutritional balance. But even with these general restraints, there is absolutely no skimping on taste or enjoyment here. The recipes are wonderfully rich in variety on multiple levels, from cuisine styles to dietary preferences. And although many of the recipes are quite simple, I also found them to be surprisingly inspiring as well, and have gotten me to thinking about similar meals that I could come up with on my own. Also, to help complete the package, author Jenna Helwig provides an array of other helpful pointers and strategies, like her general principles on how every meal should have at least one vegetable but should also have something about it you enjoy, and also a very helpful guide on what essential cookware and staples are needed to ensure a prepared kitchen.
In short, as someone who loves to cook, but also likes to be mindful of his other obligations and his bank account, this is the kind of cookbook that makes me immediately think - “Goodness, what more could I possibly ask for?”
And the immediate mental answer that comes back is a simple and honest, "I can't think of a single thing."
March 23, 2021
My family and I have spent the entirety of quarantine cooking a new recipe every single night. Now that we have been in this thing for an entire year, it was so great to find a cookbook that really makes meal planning, preparation, and serving as simple as possible. The promise of 7 ingredients or less ready in 30 minutes or less is one that is super valuable to my busy family schedule. There are five of us here at home - my mom, who works late nights often, my sister (grad school student), my brother, and myself. We plan to continue cooking from this cookbook, but so far we have prepared three recipes: Cacio e Pepe, Korean Sloppy Joes, and the Roasted Shredded Brussels Sprouts.
The Cacio e Pepe traditionally just means cheese and pepper and is typically a spaghetti dish, but we really enjoyed this mac and cheese variation. We used one 8 oz bag of the Mac and Cheese shredded cheese blend from Stop n' Shop and the noted serving of grated cheese. The roux was quick and easy to make and the cheese sauce was one of the creamiest ones that I have tasted in a while. The only adjustments that we made were to the amount of flour used in the roux - instead of 1/4 cup we used 1/2 cup and we used Skim Milk rather than Whole Milk.
We prepared the Korean Sloppy Joes and the Roasted Shredded Brussels Sprouts together since that was the suggested side dish. We LOVE roasted Brussels Sprouts. Since both recipes worked best for four, and we are a family of five, we doubled both recipes. Going forward, the only ingredient we would not double is the 1/4 cup of water. By making it a half cup, we made it a little waterier than we would have liked. Overall, ALL of these dishes have left me excited to try more and I can't wait to share more of them on my social channels and my blog.
I will be sharing photos of what we prepared on both my blog and my Instagram page later this week,
https://www.instagram.com/bookslothlife/
https://stephanie-katherine.com/
The Cacio e Pepe traditionally just means cheese and pepper and is typically a spaghetti dish, but we really enjoyed this mac and cheese variation. We used one 8 oz bag of the Mac and Cheese shredded cheese blend from Stop n' Shop and the noted serving of grated cheese. The roux was quick and easy to make and the cheese sauce was one of the creamiest ones that I have tasted in a while. The only adjustments that we made were to the amount of flour used in the roux - instead of 1/4 cup we used 1/2 cup and we used Skim Milk rather than Whole Milk.
We prepared the Korean Sloppy Joes and the Roasted Shredded Brussels Sprouts together since that was the suggested side dish. We LOVE roasted Brussels Sprouts. Since both recipes worked best for four, and we are a family of five, we doubled both recipes. Going forward, the only ingredient we would not double is the 1/4 cup of water. By making it a half cup, we made it a little waterier than we would have liked. Overall, ALL of these dishes have left me excited to try more and I can't wait to share more of them on my social channels and my blog.
I will be sharing photos of what we prepared on both my blog and my Instagram page later this week,
https://www.instagram.com/bookslothlife/
https://stephanie-katherine.com/
May 26, 2021
I jumped on this cookbook because who has time to cook Instagram-worthy dinners after a 9-5 -definitely not me. I absolutely loved the way it was organized and the covers. The recipes are well laid out, well explained. In the true essence of the title, the recipes allow you to take less time in the kitchen however I needed more pictures because it's a cookbook.. I look forward to having this cookbook in my kitchen. A huge thanks to the publisher for my e-ARC in exchange for an honest review
December 21, 2020
Beautiful cookbook! Very clean and organized with lots of recipes for everyone. The recipes are divided by a 'doing less in the kitchen' concept so there are recipes that are ready in 30 min or less, some with seven ingredients or less, single pot recipes, instant pot or slow cooker recipes and some add ons recipes. Very good book! I received a free digital copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review
March 30, 2021
Beautiful photographs! Holds true to bare minimum including seven ingredients or less, 30 minutes or less, instant pot and slow cooker, and minimum cleanup. There are always recipes in any cookbook that are not to my liking but there were several appealing recipes that Helwig provides. Plus, as the author points out, be flexible; meat, meatless, and adjust seasonings. I was provided with an advanced copy of this book by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
December 3, 2021
I love the concept of this cookbook and I think it delivers on its claim: bare minimum dinners. I was happy to see that even though the ingredient lists are minimal and shortcuts are encouraged, the author sticks to real food options instead of canned soups, packaged mixes, etc. I was also happily surprised to see so many gluten free options and globally inspired flavors. I earmarked 19 recipes to try and can see them easily fitting into my busy weeknight dinner repertoire. If you have tons of time and are looking for gourmet recipes, this isn’t the cookbook for you, but if you’re a busy person who just needs to get food on the table for yourself or your family, this perfectly fits the bill.
February 6, 2022
The dinners contained in this cookbook are definitely as advertised, with few steps and ingredients. I think some spices may be needed to make the meals pop. It’s a good starting point for brand new cooks as long as they’re willing to deviate a bit for flavor.
This unbiased review is based on a complimentary copy provided by the publisher.
This unbiased review is based on a complimentary copy provided by the publisher.
August 4, 2021
LOVE LOVE LOVE when I see cookboooks on NetGalley!
They are my fav to read, to look at all the delicious pictures, try recipes and review.
Thank you Jenna Helwig for creating some awesome, quick (under 30mins) and SUPER EASY recipes.
I've tried a few already and can't wait to try more :)
They are my fav to read, to look at all the delicious pictures, try recipes and review.
Thank you Jenna Helwig for creating some awesome, quick (under 30mins) and SUPER EASY recipes.
I've tried a few already and can't wait to try more :)
January 18, 2022
Catchy title hooked me and it was actually filled with scrumptious and easy recipes.
March 1, 2021
This book de-mystifies cooking, breaking it down into a simple set of instructions that lead to fail-proof deliciousness.
The author had the inspired idea to divide recipes into groups of:
- those with few ingredients
- those with a quick prep and cooking time
- those that can be made in one pan
- those for the slow cooker.
Because sometimes you care about simplicity, and sometimes you care about speed, and sometimes you just want to throw a bunch of things into a cauldron and make magic happen.
I also valued kitchen advice thrown in-between the recipes (e.g., this is how to pre-wash your salad leaves), and the way some recipes can be converted from vegetarian into meant dishes (e.g., the lasagne) and vice versa. If you take nothing else from the book, the cooking mantra: "It's going to be fine" is one I'm planning to adopt for making food as well as for tackling life.
My favourite recipe was the Za'atar Roast Chicken (I fully intend to cook it again with another spice mix for variety, too).
The author had the inspired idea to divide recipes into groups of:
- those with few ingredients
- those with a quick prep and cooking time
- those that can be made in one pan
- those for the slow cooker.
Because sometimes you care about simplicity, and sometimes you care about speed, and sometimes you just want to throw a bunch of things into a cauldron and make magic happen.
I also valued kitchen advice thrown in-between the recipes (e.g., this is how to pre-wash your salad leaves), and the way some recipes can be converted from vegetarian into meant dishes (e.g., the lasagne) and vice versa. If you take nothing else from the book, the cooking mantra: "It's going to be fine" is one I'm planning to adopt for making food as well as for tackling life.
My favourite recipe was the Za'atar Roast Chicken (I fully intend to cook it again with another spice mix for variety, too).
October 24, 2021
The permission I need to use jarred sauces & canned ingredients.
May 19, 2021
I received this ebook from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I really like the thought of bare minimum dinners because so many recipes take so many ingredients and a ton of time to prepare and cook. This cookbook is broken up into really awesome sections - ready in 30 minutes or less; 7 ingredients or less; made in a single pot/pan; instant pot/slow cooker; and easy sides. I'm definitely going to purchase this cookbook when it is published!
I really like the thought of bare minimum dinners because so many recipes take so many ingredients and a ton of time to prepare and cook. This cookbook is broken up into really awesome sections - ready in 30 minutes or less; 7 ingredients or less; made in a single pot/pan; instant pot/slow cooker; and easy sides. I'm definitely going to purchase this cookbook when it is published!
October 4, 2021
As a lover of cookbooks, I can attest Bare Minimum Dinners stays true to its title. This cookbook is for those who have limited time and need simple recipes without sacrificing flavor.
The first thing I noticed when opening this cookbook was its format. It has a minimalist, clean look with photos for many of the recipes. One of my favorite features is the book being divided into five Bare Minimum sections:
- Time (30 minutes or less)
- Ingredients (7 ingredients or less)
- Clean-Up (one-pot/sheet pan/skillet meals)
- Hands-On Time (slow-cooker and Instant Pot meals)
- Sides (super simple vegetables, salads, and grains to round off your dinners)
This is nice for those who have a specific peeve when it comes to cooking.
To get a well-rounded feel of the book, I tested three recipes each from different sections - Instant Pot Turkey Chili, Chicken Enchilada Casserole, and Ginger Scallion Turkey Burgers. All three were simple, healthy(ish), easy to follow, and can be easily doubled/tripled if needed. I felt well taken care of as ingredients used were low-cost and easy to find in a general grocery store. Even better, taste was not sacrificed for simplicity. In fact, the recipes are flexible and leaves room for the reader to make the recipe their own with toppings and helpful suggestions to bring their meal up a notch.
I knocked one star off for lack of nutrition facts. I know they’re not 100% accurate depending on ingredients/brands used, but I use them to decide what recipes I want to make based on the general ballpark of the macronutrients.
Whether you are limited on time due to working long hours or attending to your family, Bare Minimum Dinners will be your saving grace if you need to get meals on the table with minimal effort.
Disclaimer: I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The first thing I noticed when opening this cookbook was its format. It has a minimalist, clean look with photos for many of the recipes. One of my favorite features is the book being divided into five Bare Minimum sections:
- Time (30 minutes or less)
- Ingredients (7 ingredients or less)
- Clean-Up (one-pot/sheet pan/skillet meals)
- Hands-On Time (slow-cooker and Instant Pot meals)
- Sides (super simple vegetables, salads, and grains to round off your dinners)
This is nice for those who have a specific peeve when it comes to cooking.
To get a well-rounded feel of the book, I tested three recipes each from different sections - Instant Pot Turkey Chili, Chicken Enchilada Casserole, and Ginger Scallion Turkey Burgers. All three were simple, healthy(ish), easy to follow, and can be easily doubled/tripled if needed. I felt well taken care of as ingredients used were low-cost and easy to find in a general grocery store. Even better, taste was not sacrificed for simplicity. In fact, the recipes are flexible and leaves room for the reader to make the recipe their own with toppings and helpful suggestions to bring their meal up a notch.
I knocked one star off for lack of nutrition facts. I know they’re not 100% accurate depending on ingredients/brands used, but I use them to decide what recipes I want to make based on the general ballpark of the macronutrients.
Whether you are limited on time due to working long hours or attending to your family, Bare Minimum Dinners will be your saving grace if you need to get meals on the table with minimal effort.
Disclaimer: I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
May 15, 2021
Originally posted on my blog: Nonstop Reader.
Bare Minimum Dinners is a cookbook and strategy guide written by Jenna Helwig. Due out 7th Sept 2021 from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, it's 240 pages and will be available in paperback and ebook formats.
This is a cookbook for the rest of us. I work full time in healthcare and to say this last couple years have been hectic is a massive understatement. There are so many days when I have come home and none of the adults in the household have had energy to put together much of a dinner at all. This book is packed with good recipes which are streamlined in terms of ingredients, time, hands-on prep, or cleanup.
The introduction includes a good overview of basic tools and supplies including a list of basic staple pots, pans, and tools to have on hand which would be a good jumping off point for newly-fledged folks living on their own for the first time. The rest of the chapters are arranged thematically: time-saving (30 minutes or less), 7 ingredients or fewer, single pot/pan for easy cleanup, instant pot & slow cooker (life savers for me for the last couple years of the pandemic), and easy side dishes to round out dinner.
Ingredient measurements are supplied in American standard measurements only. The nutritional information is not included. Each recipe includes a header with a short description of the recipe and approximate servings. Extra tips or recipe alternatives are listed in text boxes in the recipes. The recipes themselves are fairly straightforward and are made for the most part with easily sourced ingredients. Many are very simple, none of them are overly complex. The photography is abundant and clear and the recipes are illustrated simply and clearly. Serving suggestions are appealing and appropriate. Nearly all of the recipes also include tips and alternative presentations and variations.
There were, admittedly a couple recipes I tried which didn't thrill me. The refried black bean "burgers" were very very mushy and bland. All of the other recipes can be spiced up and changed up, but that one defeated me.
This cookbook is bare minimum (which is even in the title!). It's not haute cuisine, it's not for fancy company or special dinners. It's for when inspiration refuses to strike standing in front of the refrigerator and peering inside. This would also be a good selection for folks newly living on their own as the recipes are especially beginner friendly and require little in the way of exotic ingredients or tools/supplied.
Four stars.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
Bare Minimum Dinners is a cookbook and strategy guide written by Jenna Helwig. Due out 7th Sept 2021 from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, it's 240 pages and will be available in paperback and ebook formats.
This is a cookbook for the rest of us. I work full time in healthcare and to say this last couple years have been hectic is a massive understatement. There are so many days when I have come home and none of the adults in the household have had energy to put together much of a dinner at all. This book is packed with good recipes which are streamlined in terms of ingredients, time, hands-on prep, or cleanup.
The introduction includes a good overview of basic tools and supplies including a list of basic staple pots, pans, and tools to have on hand which would be a good jumping off point for newly-fledged folks living on their own for the first time. The rest of the chapters are arranged thematically: time-saving (30 minutes or less), 7 ingredients or fewer, single pot/pan for easy cleanup, instant pot & slow cooker (life savers for me for the last couple years of the pandemic), and easy side dishes to round out dinner.
Ingredient measurements are supplied in American standard measurements only. The nutritional information is not included. Each recipe includes a header with a short description of the recipe and approximate servings. Extra tips or recipe alternatives are listed in text boxes in the recipes. The recipes themselves are fairly straightforward and are made for the most part with easily sourced ingredients. Many are very simple, none of them are overly complex. The photography is abundant and clear and the recipes are illustrated simply and clearly. Serving suggestions are appealing and appropriate. Nearly all of the recipes also include tips and alternative presentations and variations.
There were, admittedly a couple recipes I tried which didn't thrill me. The refried black bean "burgers" were very very mushy and bland. All of the other recipes can be spiced up and changed up, but that one defeated me.
This cookbook is bare minimum (which is even in the title!). It's not haute cuisine, it's not for fancy company or special dinners. It's for when inspiration refuses to strike standing in front of the refrigerator and peering inside. This would also be a good selection for folks newly living on their own as the recipes are especially beginner friendly and require little in the way of exotic ingredients or tools/supplied.
Four stars.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
February 1, 2022
Admittedly, we're all busy people and the notion of doing more with less is admittedly appealing. That said, I am not quite sure that I'm ready to outsource quite so much to the world of prepared foods as I'm seeing in Bare Minimum Dinners. A case in point, the Fish Stick Tacos. Ditto for the Spring Roll and Lettuce Roll-ups that involve serving frozen spring rolls you wrap in the lettuce you bought and douse with the bottled sweet chile sauce. Nothing wrong with either, but that's dorm cooking and not worth shelling out $18.99 for a book.
Those items aside, there were a few items I'd be eager to take for a spin, such as the ginger-scallion turkey burgers (the ginger may well be a game changer, let's see), the apple-cheddar Dutch Baby (have been looking for an excuse to try them), the pumpkin-shitake ravioli (we'll be subbing in Greek yogurt for the half-and-half), the skillet pizza (with mushrooms, Brussels sprouts, and ricotta where you pan fry the veggies before removing them from the pan and then without burning yourself spread your pizza dough across the pan, top it, and plop it into the oven for baking) with home made dough as I have never seen a pound of dough for sale at my local grocery store and probably wouldn't want to buy it if I did. In addition, I think I'd be keen to adapt her baked chicken with artichokes to which I'd add, once the chicken's cooked, the feta and spinach from the calzone filling and put it all into a really interesting calzone that literally brings something new to the party. We will definitely try the addition of nutritional yeast to our roasted oven sweet potatoes and broccoli, which we do on the regular.
There are some interesting combinations here with which to experiment. On balance, we're not quite this pressed for time on a week night and I would prefer to prep some of the things over the weekend rather than rely quite so heavily on prepared, frozen, and other "convenience" items.
Those items aside, there were a few items I'd be eager to take for a spin, such as the ginger-scallion turkey burgers (the ginger may well be a game changer, let's see), the apple-cheddar Dutch Baby (have been looking for an excuse to try them), the pumpkin-shitake ravioli (we'll be subbing in Greek yogurt for the half-and-half), the skillet pizza (with mushrooms, Brussels sprouts, and ricotta where you pan fry the veggies before removing them from the pan and then without burning yourself spread your pizza dough across the pan, top it, and plop it into the oven for baking) with home made dough as I have never seen a pound of dough for sale at my local grocery store and probably wouldn't want to buy it if I did. In addition, I think I'd be keen to adapt her baked chicken with artichokes to which I'd add, once the chicken's cooked, the feta and spinach from the calzone filling and put it all into a really interesting calzone that literally brings something new to the party. We will definitely try the addition of nutritional yeast to our roasted oven sweet potatoes and broccoli, which we do on the regular.
There are some interesting combinations here with which to experiment. On balance, we're not quite this pressed for time on a week night and I would prefer to prep some of the things over the weekend rather than rely quite so heavily on prepared, frozen, and other "convenience" items.
December 26, 2020
Thanks to NetGalley and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for the digital galley of this book.
The division in this book is genius. Chapter one is pretty standard, getting your kitchen and pantry ready for what you’re about to cook, but the rest of them are divided by how you wanna fix things. Need an ACTUAL 30 min recipe? Check out chapter 2. Chapter 3 is all about ingredients, specifically not many, even MORE specifically 7 or fewer. Chapter 4 provides recipes for which cleanup is minimal in case you don’t wanna spend your entire night doing dishes. Need some recipes for that Insta Pot and or slow cooker life? Chapter 5 says “set it and forget it.” Finally, chapter 6 is all about the best part of Thanksgiving dinner, the sides. Oh well, that may just be me. These recipes will give you one shot items that you can throw on the side of any meal.
One of my favorite things, right off the bat in this book, is the option to “Make it Meatless,” in which Helwig explains that many of these recipes have just a little meat and that you can go without or substitute non meat things like tofu eggs. Yes, more meatless please and thank you. There’s a joke in there somewhere.
These meals are so simple, and yet, I cannot accurately explain to you how tasty they look. With vibrant, rich greens (bare minimum rule is that there must be at least one vegetable), they look healthy and like something I might actually stick with eating for more than one meal. When you cook for one, whatever you cook lasts a minimum of four days.
Best part of this one? You can get it now. It’s been out since September, and 2021 doesn’t look like it’ll be much different, at least at first from 2020, so stay home and cook! Check this one your at your local, indie bookstore, or request from your library.
May 3, 2021
I first want to thank the author and NetGalley for giving me an ARC of this wonderful book!
I picked this book up because I am a mom and quick easy meals are my go to. I was so excited to get into some cook book ARC’s because I usually pull what I am going to eat and make for my family off Pinterest but that gets SO OLD!
I really loved this cook book and the lay out that the author presented it in. She talked a little about herself but then gave you a list of equipment, bare minimums, how to meal plan and reduce food waste. I also really liked that there was an index in the front that listed what the meal was and if it was vegan or my favorite “These are the MVPs”. I thought that was a great touch to this book.
I have already put 3 of the meals on my list to make this week and I am really excited. I like visuals and this book has them for most of the recipes which is super nice. Everything in this book likes amazing, the only thing that I will say is I probably wont be able to make some of the dishes simply because I can not get some of the ingredients where I live. I think that if you live in a large city that offers a variety of ethnic foods, you will be fine!
Over all, this cook book is beautiful and I cant wait to try out some of the meals. They are all pretty simple and I think that if you have everything on hand, these meals will truly only take you 30 mins to make. As a mom, we eat a lot of simple dishes but there were some wonderful swaps to these dishes like a home made mac and cheese and a summer pasta. I am really excited for the enchiladas because the picture looked SO YUMMY!
I picked this book up because I am a mom and quick easy meals are my go to. I was so excited to get into some cook book ARC’s because I usually pull what I am going to eat and make for my family off Pinterest but that gets SO OLD!
I really loved this cook book and the lay out that the author presented it in. She talked a little about herself but then gave you a list of equipment, bare minimums, how to meal plan and reduce food waste. I also really liked that there was an index in the front that listed what the meal was and if it was vegan or my favorite “These are the MVPs”. I thought that was a great touch to this book.
I have already put 3 of the meals on my list to make this week and I am really excited. I like visuals and this book has them for most of the recipes which is super nice. Everything in this book likes amazing, the only thing that I will say is I probably wont be able to make some of the dishes simply because I can not get some of the ingredients where I live. I think that if you live in a large city that offers a variety of ethnic foods, you will be fine!
Over all, this cook book is beautiful and I cant wait to try out some of the meals. They are all pretty simple and I think that if you have everything on hand, these meals will truly only take you 30 mins to make. As a mom, we eat a lot of simple dishes but there were some wonderful swaps to these dishes like a home made mac and cheese and a summer pasta. I am really excited for the enchiladas because the picture looked SO YUMMY!
September 13, 2021
Sometimes it's all I can do to put food on the table at night for the family. Half of the weekdays I'm completely exhausted by dinner and all my grandiose ideas of putting together huge meals or following big, long recipes just go right out the window. When I saw the title of this Cookbook, I new that it would be right up my alley as I really need simple, no frill ideas for dinners that can be made really fast.
If simple, low-cost meals are your thing, check out this Cookbook. There are so many good ideas for inexpensive meals that are simple and fairly easy to put together. These are great for new cooks as well as for weeknights, after a busy day out.
The structure of the book is set-up nicely, providing explanations on equipment needed and how to use the book.
So many good, solid recipes that I have several now on my list to work in to my rotation with the family. There were even several side dishes that I'm going to start making as well.
Here were some of my favorite recipes throughout:
- Provini Pasta
- Ginger-Scallion Turkey Burgers
- Tuna and White Bean Salad
- Sweet and Tangy Beef and Broccolli
- Summery Pesto Pasta
- Black Bean Burgers
- Magic White Bean and Tomato Stew
- Slow-Cooker Salmon with Lemon and Dill
- Eat-with-Everything Slaw
- White Beans and Sage
- Two Ways with Roasted Brussels Sprouts
- All Purpose Yogurt Dip
- Peas with Walnuts and Parm
- Quinoa Pilaf
There is even a whole section for Instant Pot users. There isn't anything over-complicated in this one and it's overall very well rounded. I think this would be a good staple in a new to intermediate cook's kitchen.
If simple, low-cost meals are your thing, check out this Cookbook. There are so many good ideas for inexpensive meals that are simple and fairly easy to put together. These are great for new cooks as well as for weeknights, after a busy day out.
The structure of the book is set-up nicely, providing explanations on equipment needed and how to use the book.
So many good, solid recipes that I have several now on my list to work in to my rotation with the family. There were even several side dishes that I'm going to start making as well.
Here were some of my favorite recipes throughout:
- Provini Pasta
- Ginger-Scallion Turkey Burgers
- Tuna and White Bean Salad
- Sweet and Tangy Beef and Broccolli
- Summery Pesto Pasta
- Black Bean Burgers
- Magic White Bean and Tomato Stew
- Slow-Cooker Salmon with Lemon and Dill
- Eat-with-Everything Slaw
- White Beans and Sage
- Two Ways with Roasted Brussels Sprouts
- All Purpose Yogurt Dip
- Peas with Walnuts and Parm
- Quinoa Pilaf
There is even a whole section for Instant Pot users. There isn't anything over-complicated in this one and it's overall very well rounded. I think this would be a good staple in a new to intermediate cook's kitchen.
September 6, 2021
Realizing at four o’clock that you have nothing planned for tonight’s meal? That is a time to panic for a lot of us who want to stay on a budget and eat at home. The newest cookbook by Jenna Helwig, Bare Minimum Dinners, has so many ideas for a quick rescue. The author’s employer, Real Simple magazine is in known for many different recipes between their pages. However those recipes call for ingredients that are not readily available in some towns and grocery stores. On the contrary, Bare Minimum Dinners offers dishes made with simple ingredients and of interest to many different tastes. In addition, they are super easy to put together. I have forwarded quite a few favorites to my son in college, such as Shortcut Salmon burgers, Chicken Parm burgers and Skillet Pizza. These favorites for beginning cooks can be thrown together quickly but have a zing of different variety and flavor. Helwig covers the gamut of cookbook sections, but with simple recipes in the categories of side dishes, slow cooker meals, instant pot toss togethers and seven ingredient dinners. Gorgeous photos are throughout, helping the reader to choose a recipe and guide them in its final look. I highly suggest this volume of recipes as a wedding gift for young couples. I will be incorporating many of her recipes into my meals to try on my family. I am thankful for an ecopy of the book from Netgalley for an honest review.
October 13, 2021
What a perfect cookbook for ANY kitchen especially now that we are busier than ever but still want to eat at home. The author’s goals in this book are to prepare dinners fast without losing the big flavor. She shares her 9 commandments of Bare Minimum Dinners like letting go of “Instagram worthy” expectations as well as her Non Negotiable Dinner Rules such as always providing a veggie.
Chapter 1 sets the stage by setting the cook up for success with the right tools and pantry items. Chapter 2 contains recipes that gets dinner on the table fast. Chapter 3 is all about 7 ingredients or less recipes. Chapter 4 streamlines cleanup with sheet pan recipes and the like. Chapter 5 is dedicated to Instant Pot and slow cookers. And chapter 6 explores new takes on salads, grains, and veggies.
There are so many tasty dishes in this book, I can’t wait to try them all! There are recipes for exotic twists on old favorites like Korean Sloppy Joe’s and Casio e Pepe Mac&Cheese to simple twists on simple foods such as Mediterranean Tuna Sandwiches, as well as preparing old favorites in new ways like preparing a big batch of lasagna in the slow cooker.
This is a cookbook for the seasoned cook who wants to streamline the dinner hour as well as the brand new cook. This would make a great Christmas gift this year, don’t miss this one!
Thank you to Netgalley, Mariner Books, and Jenna Helwig for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.
Chapter 1 sets the stage by setting the cook up for success with the right tools and pantry items. Chapter 2 contains recipes that gets dinner on the table fast. Chapter 3 is all about 7 ingredients or less recipes. Chapter 4 streamlines cleanup with sheet pan recipes and the like. Chapter 5 is dedicated to Instant Pot and slow cookers. And chapter 6 explores new takes on salads, grains, and veggies.
There are so many tasty dishes in this book, I can’t wait to try them all! There are recipes for exotic twists on old favorites like Korean Sloppy Joe’s and Casio e Pepe Mac&Cheese to simple twists on simple foods such as Mediterranean Tuna Sandwiches, as well as preparing old favorites in new ways like preparing a big batch of lasagna in the slow cooker.
This is a cookbook for the seasoned cook who wants to streamline the dinner hour as well as the brand new cook. This would make a great Christmas gift this year, don’t miss this one!
Thank you to Netgalley, Mariner Books, and Jenna Helwig for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.
February 15, 2021
This is a cookbook for anyone who wants to minimize their time in the kitchen.
Recipes are divided into:
Bare Minimum Time: Recipes Ready in 30 Minutes or Less
- recipes include Fish Stick Tacos, Black Bean Burgers and Shortcut Salmon Burgers.
Bare Minimum Ingredients: Recipes with Seven Ingredients (or Less)
- recipes include Miso Avocado Toast with Fried Eggs, Simple Tomato Soup and Chicken Tender Fajitas
Bare Minimum Cleanup: Dinners that Come Together in a Single Pot or Pan
- recipes include Skillet Pizza and Chicken Tortilla Soup
Bare Minimum Hands-On Time: Recipes for the Instant Pot or Slow Cooker
- Instant Pot Smoky Beef Chili and Slow-Cooker Salmon with Lemon and Dill
Bare Minimum Sides: Easy Add-Ons to Round Out Dinner
- Cheesy Cauliflower Rice and Quinoa Pilaf
The book also includes a nice section on kitchen equipment, time-saving tips and shortcuts and a list of the most common ingredients used in the recipes in the book. The photos in the book are appetizing and each recipe includes number of servings, a short list of ingredients and easy to follow instructions. A great gift for a college student, someone who spends a lot of time out of the house or an on-the-go family.
I received a complimentary advanced reader copy of this book through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Recipes are divided into:
Bare Minimum Time: Recipes Ready in 30 Minutes or Less
- recipes include Fish Stick Tacos, Black Bean Burgers and Shortcut Salmon Burgers.
Bare Minimum Ingredients: Recipes with Seven Ingredients (or Less)
- recipes include Miso Avocado Toast with Fried Eggs, Simple Tomato Soup and Chicken Tender Fajitas
Bare Minimum Cleanup: Dinners that Come Together in a Single Pot or Pan
- recipes include Skillet Pizza and Chicken Tortilla Soup
Bare Minimum Hands-On Time: Recipes for the Instant Pot or Slow Cooker
- Instant Pot Smoky Beef Chili and Slow-Cooker Salmon with Lemon and Dill
Bare Minimum Sides: Easy Add-Ons to Round Out Dinner
- Cheesy Cauliflower Rice and Quinoa Pilaf
The book also includes a nice section on kitchen equipment, time-saving tips and shortcuts and a list of the most common ingredients used in the recipes in the book. The photos in the book are appetizing and each recipe includes number of servings, a short list of ingredients and easy to follow instructions. A great gift for a college student, someone who spends a lot of time out of the house or an on-the-go family.
I received a complimentary advanced reader copy of this book through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
May 7, 2021
I loved the division of sections in this cookbook. It made it very easy for me to navigate and decide which section I wanted to cook from. It has Bare Minimum Time - Recipes in 30 minutes or less, Bare Minimum Ingredients - 7 ingredients or less, Bare Minimum Cleanup - Dinners that Come Together in Single Pot or Pan, Bare Minimum Hands-On TIme - Recipes for the Instant Pot or Slow Cooker, Bare Minimum Sides - Easy Add-Ons to Round Out Dinner. There are literally sections to pick from depending on how hectic your day is which allows you to get dinner on the table. I liked the Pantry section. I love a well-stocked pantry. I bookmarked quite a few recipes I want to try. I'm looking forward to the Korean Sloppy Joes, Lemony Cod and Potatoes, One-Pan Chicken Dinner and Instant Pot Lemony Shrimp Risotto. I was really excited to see a section of sides that are quick and easy. Often these are neglected. So, while this cookbook may not be for the person that loves to be in the kitchen and cook with exotic ingredients, it's exactly what it claims to be, bare minimum. This book is perfect for the busy person that needs to feed their family.
I have already added this one to my Amazon wishlist.
Special thanks to Houghton Mifflin Harcourt and Netgalley for this advanced reader copy I received in exchange for my honest review.
I have already added this one to my Amazon wishlist.
Special thanks to Houghton Mifflin Harcourt and Netgalley for this advanced reader copy I received in exchange for my honest review.
March 9, 2021
I have been so excited to read and review Jenna Helwig's latest cookbook. I bought and loved her Baby-Led Feeding book when my one-year-old started eating solids and used it almost daily. Our whole family benefitted from the creative and wholesome recipes she supplied, so it's no wonder we would love her latest book just as well.
Every recipe we have tried from Bare Minimum Dinners has been delicious and loved by every member of the family--babies, big kids, and adults. Each recipe was easy to follow and the ingredients were always easily found in our standard grocery store. They really do only require the bare minimum in time and effort, which is so helpful and appreciated on busy weeknights. It's proof that you don't have to settle for takeout or toast for dinner on those nights when you want to do less.
Recipe favorites include the baked rigatoni, which will be on permanent rotation in our house, and the turkey enchilada bowls, which are easy to customize to everyone's liking. We couldn't be happier to have found some easy solutions to our busy nights.
Special thanks to Houghton Mifflin Harcourt and Netgalley for this advanced reader copy I received in exchange for my honest review.
Every recipe we have tried from Bare Minimum Dinners has been delicious and loved by every member of the family--babies, big kids, and adults. Each recipe was easy to follow and the ingredients were always easily found in our standard grocery store. They really do only require the bare minimum in time and effort, which is so helpful and appreciated on busy weeknights. It's proof that you don't have to settle for takeout or toast for dinner on those nights when you want to do less.
Recipe favorites include the baked rigatoni, which will be on permanent rotation in our house, and the turkey enchilada bowls, which are easy to customize to everyone's liking. We couldn't be happier to have found some easy solutions to our busy nights.
Special thanks to Houghton Mifflin Harcourt and Netgalley for this advanced reader copy I received in exchange for my honest review.
February 24, 2021
The title for this cookbook is SPOT ON. #BareMinimumDinners is a great cookbook for anyone looking for simple and clear guidance for making quick weeknight dinners. I think it would make a great gift for a young person starting out on their own, new parents, or anyone who wants to get more comfortable and confident in the kitchen. The book is well organized, and I think the section before the recipes start may be the the most valuable for kitchen newbies. It has great advice for must have vs. nice to have gear, staples to keep on hand, meal planning, and how to shop your pantry and fridge and improvise with what you have. The recipes themselves seem straightforward and within the abilities of any novice home cook.
My husband and I are pretty well versed in weeknight cooking. I don't think there are any truly revolutionary or original recipes here. Many seem to be basic versions or riffs on dishes that have been in our repertoire for awhile. There are a couple instant pot recipes I'm looking forward to trying, in particular the Lemony Shrimp Risotto and the "Pae-Sotto."
I don't think this is the cookbook for me, but I would absolutely gift it to a novice home chef.
I received this as an advance reader copy from #NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
My husband and I are pretty well versed in weeknight cooking. I don't think there are any truly revolutionary or original recipes here. Many seem to be basic versions or riffs on dishes that have been in our repertoire for awhile. There are a couple instant pot recipes I'm looking forward to trying, in particular the Lemony Shrimp Risotto and the "Pae-Sotto."
I don't think this is the cookbook for me, but I would absolutely gift it to a novice home chef.
I received this as an advance reader copy from #NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
April 25, 2021
For a book named Bare Minimum Recipes, it certainly delivers. They’re nice recipes for weekdays and the lazy weekends as well. I’ve seen some reviews about the recipes being bland, and I kind of agree.
However, in my opinion recipes should be guidelines. Add spices you like, add ingredients you think would be nice, be creative with it! And just taste as you go 😉
There are some really cool recipes that I cant wait to try, like ‘Skillet Harissa Beef and Cabbage’, ‘Kimchi Cabbage Cakes’ and the ‘Skillet Pizza’. Last night I made the ‘Korean Sloppy Joes’ and it was really good! Ofcourse I did add some kimchi.
It’s a perfect book for families or busy professionals, but also for lazy millennials like myself. It has very few ingredients, its quick, no hassle but it���s still really fun! Its very American (which I am not), but definitely has some international twists which I like. Highly recommend!
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing an Advance Uncorrected Proof of this title. All opinions are honest and my own.
However, in my opinion recipes should be guidelines. Add spices you like, add ingredients you think would be nice, be creative with it! And just taste as you go 😉
There are some really cool recipes that I cant wait to try, like ‘Skillet Harissa Beef and Cabbage’, ‘Kimchi Cabbage Cakes’ and the ‘Skillet Pizza’. Last night I made the ‘Korean Sloppy Joes’ and it was really good! Ofcourse I did add some kimchi.
It’s a perfect book for families or busy professionals, but also for lazy millennials like myself. It has very few ingredients, its quick, no hassle but it���s still really fun! Its very American (which I am not), but definitely has some international twists which I like. Highly recommend!
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing an Advance Uncorrected Proof of this title. All opinions are honest and my own.
May 23, 2022
I don't really like to cook, so I like super simple recipes that taste good. I tried out the fish stick tacos and they were pretty tasty. I did add a bit of sour cream and guacamole we had leftover from something else, so that added some flavor. The author recommends some simple things to flavor it up more if you want more flavor and sour cream was one of them. My husband liked them, too, and he's pickier about eating bland food than I am. It was a very easy recipe and just picked up a few things I needed for it with my regular grocery trip. The only thing I think would really add to this cookbook is a photo for each recipe. I like seeing what it looks like before making it, but it's not a deal-breaker that each recipe doesn't have a photo. This cookbook would be really good for someone who doesn't know how to cook, doesn't like to cook, or just doesn't have a lot of time to spend in the kitchen.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for a free eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for a free eARC in exchange for an honest review.
November 6, 2022
This cookbook will be a lifesaver for many busy parents, as the recipes are ready in 30 minutes or less. The author, Jenna Helwig is no stranger to the food industry, and her expertise is clear throughout the pages of this cookbook. The chapters are clearly delineated into the following: recipes ready in 30 minutes or less, recipes with fewer than 7 ingredients, recipes that can be prepared in 1 pot/pan, recipes that can be prepared in a slow cooker/instant pot, and easy "add-on's" for the meal.. There are even recipes included that fit all of these characteristics and this is marked in the book. Each recipe contains: ingredient list, preparation instructions, hints for preparation, rounding it out suggestions, and cooking tips. The recipes seem quite easy, tasty, and 'do able' for even amateurs in the kitchen. I highly recommend this cookbook with anyone looking to serve tasty, healthy, food in under 30 minutes.. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy on exchange for my honest review.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 83 reviews