One sentence summary
This book by Ree Drummond provides delicious recipes to solve the problem of making dinnertime easier and tastier with comfort classics, freezer meals, 16-minute meals and more.
Book genre
Cookbook and reference
Main topic of the book
Dinnertime solutions – comfort classics, freezer food, 16-minute meals, and other delicious ways to solve supper.
Key ideas
- Over 100 easy-to-follow and family-friendly recipes with ingredients you already have on hand
- Crowd-pleasing dishes and tips for creating an atmosphere of cozy comfort, convenience and fun during mealtimes
- Make-ahead instructions and strategies for taking the stress out of dinnertime
- A variety of meal sizes – ranging from full sit-down entrees to pocket-sized snacks
- Ideas for special occasions, tips for entertaining, and understanding nutrition labels
Main parts of the book and a short summary
- Part I — Comfort Classics: This section provides recipes for masterpieces like Homemade Chicken Pot Pie, Salisbury Steak and Meatloaf Surprise. Hearty salads, hearty soups, and inspiring casseroles will have your family coming back for seconds.
- Part II — Freezer Food: From Freezer Burritos to Freezer-Friendly Lasagna, recipes in this section are great time-savers—they can be cooked ahead of time and stored in the freezer for busy nights.
- Part III — 16-Minute Meals: Family dinners just got easier—recipes like Grown-Up Grilled Cheese and Breakfast-for-Dinner Egg Pizzas come together in merely 16 minutes!
- Part IV — Extras: Build a Brunch menu and a casual dinner menu, get tips and tricks for hosting guests as well as understanding nutrition labels, and indulge in a variety of dessert recipes!
Key takeaways
- The book provides practical solutions for creating family-friendly meals that can be prepared quickly but still cooked from scratch using only the freshest ingredients.
- It promotes the idea of bringing everyone to the dinner table, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere.
- It provides a variety of meal sizes, ranging from full sit-down entrees to pocket-sized snacks, as well as ideas for special occasions, tips for entertaining and understanding nutrition labels.
Author’s background and qualifications
Ree Drummond is a New York Times bestselling author, award-winning blogger, food writer, and television personality. She is the author of five cookbooks, including The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Dinnertime. She is also a breast cancer survivor and lives with her family in Oklahoma.
Target audience
The target audience for this book is anyone who is looking for family-friendly dinners that require minimal effort but still allow you to cook from scratch using fresh ingredients.
Publisher and first publication date
The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Dinnertime was published by William Morrow Cookbooks in October 2014.