Rachael Ray: Just In Time

by Rachael Ray

In this irresistible collection Rachael continues to work her 30-minute magic with nearly 100 awesomely delicious brand-new recipes. From pasta to pizzas, soups to sammies, and chicken, fish, and meat, you’ll find a 30-minute-meal to suit every appetite.

But what if you don’t have even 30 minutes? No worries, Rachael has you covered with her quickest-ever 15-minute meals. Why order pizza when you can have Proven c al Tuna Melts, Italian Surf ‘n Turf Salad- even a fabulous paella- on the table in just 15 minutes? You’ll never reach for the take-out menus again when super speedy Pea and Parsley Soup with Canadian Bacon and Skillet Tamale Pie are the delicious alternatives.

And what about those days when you want to slow things down a bit? Rachael’s got the perfect recipes for those times, too. Her 60-minute meals like Paprika Chicken Stew with Potato Pierogies, Chicken, Corn and Tomatillo Lasagna, and Swordfish Rolls with Spaghetti Squash don’t require any more effort from the cook, but they tale advantage of a little extra time in the oven or simmering on the stove to develop those great, deep flavors we all crave on lazy days. Among these dishes are some of Rachael’s “Double Duty Dinners,” recipes that you cook once, serve twice, but look and taste so different that no one will be the wiser (such as Chicken in Creamy Mushroom Sauce with Chive Egg Noodles in which the base magically morphs into Tarragon-Tomato Chicken and Bread Soup another night).

You’ll also fine fun Rachael Ray signature meals like:

BLD (meals you can eat for breakfast, lunch, or dinner)
MYOTO (Make Your Own Take-Out Meals) that feature ethnic flavors but no mystery or fats
Date Night Dinners and Fancy Fake-Outs that are every bit as elegant as the fare from your favorite little bistro
The Kids Will Eat It meals (besides chicken nuggets) that will bring even the pickiest eaters to the table

This is Rachael’s most versatile book yet, the one that will help you get the very most out of every minute you spend in the kitchen- whether you’re rushing to the beat of the clock or taking advantage of a little extra time to stop and smell the veggies roasting. Either way you’ll be dishing up some of Rachael’s most appealing recipes ever- and all on your own schedule.

Genres: Cookbooks, Cooking, Food, Nonfiction, Reference, Food and Drink, How To

336 pages, Paperback

First published October 10, 2007

About the author

Rachael Domenica Ray is an American cook, television personality, businesswoman, and author. She hosted the syndicated daily talk and lifestyle program Rachael Ray. Other programs to her credit include 30 Minute Meals, Rachael Ray's Tasty Travels, $40 a Day, Rachael Ray's Week in a Day, and the reality format shows Rachael vs. Guy: Celebrity Cook-Off and Rachael Ray's Kids Cook-Off. Ray has written several cookbooks based on the 30 Minute Meals concept, and launched a magazine, Every Day with Rachael Ray, in 2006. Ray's television shows have won three Daytime Emmy Awards.

Reviews

[Clare · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a fun cookbook to read. I would have given it more stars except that some of the pages are white print on an orange background which I found very difficult to read. The recipes are light and fun, like Rachael Ray's show. She has recipes for those who have 15, 30, or 60 minutes to prepare a meal. Ray's comments about each dish sound so much like her that I could almost hear her voice. Preparation of these meals is quite simple though I would have to go to the grocery store to buy the fresh spices she uses for most dishes. Also, as a woman living on her own, the meals are all too big for me. Hopefully she will come out with a cookbook with recipes for 1 or 2 people at some point.

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

i like the variety here, though it did seem a little light on the vegetarian/veggie-centric recipes. there was some cream thrown in here and there, but nothing crazy like some of the other food network stars' recipes (you know who i'm talking about). i am a little skeptical about how accurate the timings are on some of them, but i guess only experimenting will tell.

and the real test: did any of these recipes sound good? YES. i bookmarked 10+ recipes (french onion burgers with oven fries and dijon gravy, french country tuna burgers with green bean salad and poutine, shrimp and bread bowls with olive-pesto dressed tomatoes, polenta egg bake and roasted sausages with vinegar and grapes, etc), shocking for someone who normally bookmarks 1-2 from a book. will update this review when i try out some of them.

i had one very minor complaint: that the headnotes got a bit much. there's semi-meaningful, entertaining rambling, and then there's cheesy, unhelpful, make-it-stop rambling. there were some cute anecdotes and helpful notes, but a number tended towards the latter end of the spectrum.

[Xyra · Rating 4 out of 5]

What amazes me most about this cookbook is that the timing is correct. I tried one of the 30 minute meals thinking there is no way it would be done in 30 minutes and, by golly, it was!

The recipes are easy to read and follow and very tasty.

One recipe note: since these books were first published more has been studied and written about the use of olive oil. In many of these recipes you really should not use the EVOO recommended, but just plain olive oil. An easy substitution.

Overall, the Rachel Ray cookbooks are amazing, but personally I have issues with some of her abbreviations and slang.

My aunt loves her show and cookbooks. This was originally a gift I gave her, but founds it's way back to my library when she moved to a smaller house. My aunt would make notes in the margins on the recipes she used - those notes make the book even more precious.

[Kristie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Typical Rachael Ray fare.

[PJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

The recipes I've tried so far have been good.

[Anne · Rating 2 out of 5]

She uses expensive ingredients to reduce time spent and recipes are very similar.

[Jami · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wonderful recipes, although I have a few complaints:

1) There aren't enough pictures!! She puts in a handful (and really, I mean six or seven) in the beginning of the book and that is it. With more than 100 recipes, this was quite disappointing.

2) All the meals make 4 servings. It is just my husband and I, so it makes it inconveinent to "half" all the ingredients.

I am going to check out her 2-4-6-8 book. That might help with the portions. Also, I recognized several of her recipes from her show 30 Minute Meals. Pictures are available on the Food Network website; so if you are wanting more visuals like I am, you may want to see if you can find one on there.

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love Rachael Ray, but you can't really diet and eat her food. Also, I'm single, so it's a pain to halve recipes so they are just for me, so a lot of times I don't bother cooking recipes from books. She does have a lot of great ideas though and I like that she added a 15 minute meal section. Pictures would have made this book much better.

[Carolyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Since the beginning of January, about 90% of the meals I've cooked have come from this cookbook. Her recipes are pretty easy and quick. Plus, most of them are really big on taste. I'm having a lot of fun! My favorites so far are, Balsamic Chicken with Pesto Gravy, Tomatillo and Chicken Tostadas, and Tuna and Tomato Bread Stoup. Yum-o!

[Brittani · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was given this book as a wedding gift. The recipes are too much for my husband and me. The recipes also take a lot longer than what the book says. I gave up on this book fairly quickly as an inexperienced cook, but I may try again in the future.

[Erin J · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love Rachael Ray's cookbooks, as far as the layout, editorials, and information. The recipes can be very difficult for me to recreate because of the difficulty of getting some of the ingredients. Also, I have a grocery budget :) . Overally though, the pictures and commentary are great.

[Crystal · Rating 2 out of 5]

Good recipes, but I don't really look for 60 minute meals from Rachael. I need yummy and satisfying time savers, and I didn't get enough of them from this book.

[Anastasia · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one was along the same lines of the 30 minute meal cookbook I reviewed already. I haven't tried anything from it yet, but I will tomorrow. Wish me luck! =)

[Amanda]

I found many tasty fast meals from this and other books by her.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Rachel Ray and I love this cook book! :)
My favorite recipe is the Stuffed Pepper Stoup. Yum!

[Nicole Shelby · Rating 3 out of 5]

thanks for this gift, my sister J

[Dana Cordelia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like Rachael Ray, and this is a really useful cookbook. The recipes are tasty and (for the most part) easy to follow and prepare.

[Leigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay, her constant reference to Extra Virgin Olive Oil as EVOO quickly becomes irritating but that's a nitpick. The book is fun to read and the recipes are delicious. Highly recommended.

[Meghan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Never disappointed, I always find easy recipes.

[Heather · Rating 1 out of 5]

Now I remember why I don't really like Rachael Ray. There is about one recipe out of this entire cookbook that I might try. There's too much meat and her style is too cutesy for my taste.

[Mckinley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting idea - separating recipes by time to make.

[ALN · Rating 3 out of 5]

The recipes I tried were great, all took me longer to prepare. Maybe it took me longer because I'm just a home cook.

[Heather]

She is just as annoying in book format!

[Clint Spotleson]

I'm 100% positive I have NEVER read this book.

[Gabriella · Rating 1 out of 5]

No recipes in this book appealed to me, and even the "veggie" section was filled with turkey, ham, etc.