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As a lifelong resident in the region where Rachael worked in a local gourmet marketplace when her first television segments aired on a local NBC affiliate in the 1980s, I knew of her long history as a cook and food maven. I have a few of her more recent cookbooks in my collection, but I didn't have a copy of the first book that she published as a result of those local TV segments, I was happy to add it to my collection of local restaurant and keepsake cookbooks from local authors, chefs and charitable organizations. Some have complained that there are no photos in this book from Rachael, and, while I like colorful images to illustrate recipes, I was more interested in the content of the recipes than photos, so I have no complaint on that score, knowing up front that this was the case with this first volume. If you are a fan of Rachael's, it's still a worthy addition to your culinary library.Read full review
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
Contains a lot of fun and easy recipes, like tacos, burgers, and lo main--mainly takeout kind of stuff. Not really great for those of us who like more of a "home-cooked" meal, and not great for vegetarians (ten pages of burgers...not so helpful). The recipes are simple, and ultimately feel a bit underwhelming, like the 3-ingredient salads--yeah, easy, but not so great. But then, what do you want out of a 30-minute cookbook
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
This is a great recipe book for all Rachael Ray fans. Though her other books -- particularly 20-Minute Meals 2 -- are more accessible for beginner cooks, the original volume has a lot to offer. The meals in this book are all relatively easy to prepare, giving oneself an extra 10 minutes for prep work (a common critique of Rachael Ray is that her recipes aren't *really* "30-minute" meals). The meals are quite tasty to boot; I especially like Rachael Ray's pasta dishes -- truly her forte. This book may be difficult to navigate for impatient cooks, as there's no index. But the chapter sub-headings are quite helpful (e.g., pizzas, tex-mex, etc.). And besides, part of the pleasure of cooking is diving into a new cookbook and skimming the collection of recipes in its entirety. This approach to reading a cookbook helps one get a "feel" for the author's approach, flavor, and overall cooking "philosophy." Rachael Ray's philosophy is based on clear, simple directions and "classic" dishes with a homemade twist. Her recipes are at times challenging, but I personally think a cook doesn't get "better" if she doesn't encounter a challenge every now again. Highly recommended to all.Read full review
She makes it kinda fun to cook, great & fast meals and I just like her shows alot. Im retired but my wife is still working and I hope to use some of these recepies for her when she gets home from a hard day at work. With this book I think I can do that! I now have Racheals first two[2] books and may purchase more in the near future. I know I love to eat simple,solid meals and I think these books will work for me! Just my 2 cents, Rick H.
Hey, you can't go wroung with Rachael Ray great recipes easy to follow with on hand pantry items.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
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