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Classic 30-Minute Meals: The All-Occasion Cookbook
An outstanding collection of Rachael Ray's best 30-Minute Meals, now in one volume. Features over 150 meals selected from eight of Rachael's bestselling titles.
352 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2006
5 people are currently reading
166 people want to read
About the author
Rachael Ray
83 books296 followersRachael 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.
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
August 1, 2009
30 minutes in Rachael Rae time is all i have to say. I have loved everything i've made from her book but if you don't have the equipment of the techniques down pat i find the meals often take me somewhere closer to 45 minutes.
August 6, 2007
i find Rachael Ray pretty annoying... her "$40 a Day" show is annoying with all the yum-o's and terrible tips, but this book takes all the cute perkiness of her and leaves her giggles on the dumb box. The cookbook is structured simply by Everyday, Parties, Date Nights, and Kid Chefs. The appetizer/sides, entree, drink and dessert parings alleviate the sometimes daunting task of having to plan out a meal. Look past the corny nicknames like You-Won't-Be-Single-for-Long Vodka Cream Pasta and Whatever-Your-Garden-Grows-Salad and you'll find a decent mix cuisines (even a fair amount of veggie), all easy to cook.
May 10, 2010
My sister gave me this cookbook a couple years ago for my birthday. I'm a big RR fan and I love this book. I haven't made a ton of recipes yet but have enjoyed the ones I have tested. It has some great pictures in it too. :)
January 23, 2011
I just really don't care for Rachel Ray's cookbooks. I never find anything in them my family would eat as they are all rather exotic sounding. Many call for meats, cheeses or vegetables that are hard to find here and kids certainly aren't going to be interested in say Eggplant "Caviar".
February 5, 2008
Easy recipes and yummy
Read
February 28, 2008Just got this book as a late Christmas present. There are some interesting sounding recipes in here I'm looking forward to trying.
March 19, 2008
Needs more pictures, but I like it.
October 9, 2018
Fabulous chicken taco recipe.
September 18, 2008
Love her receipes, love her TV show. I collect more cookbooks than I will ever use, but it is great to have them on hand whenever I need a new receipe.
February 27, 2009
This is a great cookbook. I would recommend it especially to young working people who do not have alot of time to cook but want healthy delishous meals.
July 20, 2017
love Rachael Ray, and there are so many recipes in this that I can't wait to try!
September 10, 2022
This is worth it for the carbonara recipe alone! I've made it so many times over the years and everyone loves it.
April 1, 2008
These meals take more than 30 minutes!
July 26, 2021
I loved watching 30min meals for supper ideas and I found this book at the Salvation Army for $4 and decided to get the hard copy. Her recipes are sometimes outside my comfort zone but always fun, fresh, and versatile.
June 23, 2022
Lots of good ideas and quick meals.
April 22, 2024
Lots of recipes that are tagged and waiting to be tried.
to-read-own
February 17, 2025I owe my culinary start to the Food Network and Rachael Ray's "30 Minute Meals." Yum-o!
December 1, 2009
This is a useful compilation of 30-minute meals from Rachael Ray. The book is nice and glossy, with many pictures of Ms. Ray, from childhood to present that help to personalize the volume. As most readers know, she has had shows on television, featuring her cooking suggestions as well as a more recent talk show. But that is secondary. The primary task of any cookbook is to provide interesting and doable recipes. Let's take a look at what is within this book.
First, and this is something important to me, there are lots of recipes! Often, in fact, two to a page.
Second, there is quite a variety of recipes--from pizza (Puttanesca pizza) to other pasta dishes (Pasta al Forno) to meat dishes (e.g., maple-mustard pork chops with grilled apples) to vegetable dishes (Seared greens with red onion and vinegar) to deserts (Black-and-white ice cream sandwiches). And so on. Characteristics of her recipes include the liberal call for "evoo" (extra virgin olive oil). Also, she uses a wide array of herbs and spices that "spice up" the recipes nicely.
A couple quick examples. . . . "My Sister Ria's Lazy Chicken." This features boneless chicken breasts, evoo, thinly sliced potatoes, thinly sliced onions, crushed tomatoes, small zucchini thinly sliced, and accompanying elements, such as a "couple glugs" (ugh) of white wine, Montreal steak seasoning, basil, oregano, and Italian cheese (shredded). Key point: These are easy to acquire ingredients. The instructions are straightforward; this is a 30-minute dish that will satisfy. I have made this for my family, who are often picky in their tastes, and the end result was appreciated by all.
A simple dish for watching sporting events on TV. "Pigskin Potatoes." Ingredients: Potatoes, evoo, and Montreal steak seasoning. Get the oven heated up to 425 degrees. Slice the potatoes lengthwise into thin wedges. Toss the outcome with evoo, to coat. Then, sprinkle on seasonings to one's taste and put wedges onto a cookie sheet. Finally, stick them in the oven until golden brown. Tasty munchies during a television session with football and other sporting events.
And so on. . . .
In short, this is, first, a nice introduction to the cooking style of Rachael Ray. Second, and more important, there are a lot of easy to make and tasty dishes presented in this volume. Not all are as easy, of course. But, in the end, this is a welcome addition to my library of cookbooks.
First, and this is something important to me, there are lots of recipes! Often, in fact, two to a page.
Second, there is quite a variety of recipes--from pizza (Puttanesca pizza) to other pasta dishes (Pasta al Forno) to meat dishes (e.g., maple-mustard pork chops with grilled apples) to vegetable dishes (Seared greens with red onion and vinegar) to deserts (Black-and-white ice cream sandwiches). And so on. Characteristics of her recipes include the liberal call for "evoo" (extra virgin olive oil). Also, she uses a wide array of herbs and spices that "spice up" the recipes nicely.
A couple quick examples. . . . "My Sister Ria's Lazy Chicken." This features boneless chicken breasts, evoo, thinly sliced potatoes, thinly sliced onions, crushed tomatoes, small zucchini thinly sliced, and accompanying elements, such as a "couple glugs" (ugh) of white wine, Montreal steak seasoning, basil, oregano, and Italian cheese (shredded). Key point: These are easy to acquire ingredients. The instructions are straightforward; this is a 30-minute dish that will satisfy. I have made this for my family, who are often picky in their tastes, and the end result was appreciated by all.
A simple dish for watching sporting events on TV. "Pigskin Potatoes." Ingredients: Potatoes, evoo, and Montreal steak seasoning. Get the oven heated up to 425 degrees. Slice the potatoes lengthwise into thin wedges. Toss the outcome with evoo, to coat. Then, sprinkle on seasonings to one's taste and put wedges onto a cookie sheet. Finally, stick them in the oven until golden brown. Tasty munchies during a television session with football and other sporting events.
And so on. . . .
In short, this is, first, a nice introduction to the cooking style of Rachael Ray. Second, and more important, there are a lot of easy to make and tasty dishes presented in this volume. Not all are as easy, of course. But, in the end, this is a welcome addition to my library of cookbooks.
November 4, 2011
We're a family of two and we eat a vegetarian diet, but I found most of the recipes in this collection were easily modified if they called for meat, poultry or pork. One of our favorites, that we make at least once a week, is the Spaghetti with Zucchini and Garlic, YUM-O! Not all of the recipes we tried were hits, though. Part of the fun with any cookbook is getting to make meals together and finding a new favorite dish (or dishes).
March 21, 2009
I have learned that cooking (relatively, considering the reality of McDonalds) can be quick, simple, fun, and delicious. There are some creative recipes in there, plus her instructions are easy to follow. Favorite recipes so far include the meatloaf, mac 'n cheese, and honey lime chicken. Thanks Ray, for the gift!
July 27, 2014
I really want to like Rachael Ray...she is so personable, but I have not had good luck with her cookbooks. There was so much in this book that I would never cook let alone try to get my family to eat. She also uses a lot of alcohol in her cooking and expensive ingredients. Not very family friendly.
April 26, 2007
While she's not my favorite Food Network cook (slow down, woman!) this cookbook has a ton of photos with easy-to-make meals. Some of the ingredients are still a bit "foo-foo" but I'm eager to try a couple out.
August 28, 2008
While I loved the instructions and organization of the book, many of the recipes contain exotic or expensive ingredients that I don't usually have on hand. For me, this cookbook is more an "occasional" book, rather than all "all-occasion" one. Very charming, none the less!
April 21, 2015
I don't like her cutesy language very much, and I found the format a bit difficult to follow, but everything I've made from this cookbook has been a winner. I checked it out from the library and may have to get a copy for myself (if I can find one).
May 24, 2015
I have to say to everyone that likes Racheal Ray's favorite meals that are on her 30 minute show this is a must buy you will not be disappointed. There are so many pictures which is a good thing. Love her stuff!!!
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews