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Book Summary InformationAuthor: Elizabeth Yarnell Edition: Spiral-bound Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published) Published: 2005-11-28 ISBN: 0977013707 Number of pages: 96 Publisher: Pomegranate Consulting
Book Reviews of Glorious One-Pot MealsBook Review: Inspiring, but not without obstacles. Summary: 3 Stars
First of all, I read this book from cover to cover before cooking anything, and was optimistic; excited to get started. I think the author would agree it's most helpful if you think of it as more of a cooking philosophy than a recipe collection that combines convenience with healthy, delicious food.
My first dish was an African peanut stew with brown rice on the bottom, then chicken breasts, sauce, red peppers, etc. The author puts a lot of emphasis on determining layering based on types/densities of ingredients i.e., putting quick-cooking food on top like spinach. So I tried that.
One of the directions the book repeats often is that you know it's ready to come out shortly after you begin to smell it in the oven. This just seemed like mumbo jumbo to me; just not good science.
When it was finished, not surprisingly, everything had shrunk quite a bit. The layer of spinach that covered everything was a dark greenish brown layer, not what you'd call appetizing to serve. And where there used to be a full pot, the sides of the pot were almost black with what must have been evaporating, spitting, clinging and burning juices. A little shocking to see at first, but not as if it was going to taste bad, more like it was going to be a difficult clean up. Whatever, not a big deal. I moved on.
Like they tout, all the elements had retained a distinct flavor and form, not like a casserole with just big globs of who knows. And I was able to plate it up with everything sitting next to each other: spinach in one pile, veggies, sauced meat next to it, rice.
The breasts were very dry. Very. (I'm considering brining them next time, but I hate to ruin the convenience factor after all I'd read.) The rice was drier than expected, too. The book spends a lot of time swearing that you don't have to be careful with measuring most ingredients, but any combinations of grains and liquids are critical measurements so as not to make soup or stew. Perhaps they were expecting more veggie juice to travel downward instead of burning on the sides of my dutch oven.
The flavors of the veggies were good, concentrated as promised and it didn't seem like a total failure. I cleaned my plate, but didn't feel enthusiastic about it. The biggest disappointment came when I looked at my husband's plate and noticed the untouched spinach. When I mentioned he must have not liked it, he confessed that the dark color had scared him off and he couldn't even try it. And he's usually adventurous.
After all the invested time and ingredients, if it's not appetizing to look at, what have we gained?
But I haven't given up entirely. Maybe my pot was too large for the recipe. They say 2 quart is good for a two-person meal. Well, that may be smaller than the Le Crueset I used.
So, is shopping the answer, fellow Amazon browser? Is it ever not the answer?
Summary of Glorious One-Pot MealsWinner of an iParenting Media 2007 Outstanding Product Award! Award-winning Finalist for National Indie Excellence Awards 2007, Best Books 2006, Colorado Independent Publishers Association EVVY Award 2006. This truly different cookbook introduces a revolutionary, patented cooking technique for using whole foods to build one-pot meals in about 20 minutes. The only thing Glorious One-Pot Meals have in common with familiar one-pot meal methods -- such as crock pot stews, casseroles, skillet meals and stir-fries -- is that everything goes into one pot to cook. Specifically, for Glorious One-Pot Meals, a cast iron Dutch oven. Otherwise, there is nothing to compare to the ease, speed and convenience of Glorious One-Pot Meals and the surprising way that each ingredient maintains its integrity during the cooking process. You can even substitute frozen ingredients without adjusting the time needed to cook the recipe! This is a low-fat, whole food-based infusion cooking technique that locks in nutrients for fresher flavors, varied textures and healthier meals. Recipes are based on the power of two, making this a great solution for feeding families of one, two, four, or even ten or more. Each Glorious One-Pot Meal recipe contains a complete and balanced dinner of protein, grains, and vegetable side dishes with the bonus of minimal preparation and only one pot to clean. Great for vegetarians (about one-third of the recipes are vegetarian, and with this flexible cooking solution, any Glorious One-Pot Meals recipe can easily be meatless or even vegan!), heart patients or sufferers from any chronic disease (Multiple Sclerosis, diabetes, cancer, obesity, etc.) or food allergy. Kosher cooks should not be put off by the cover photo: Glorious One-Pot Meals are a natural for following the laws of kashrut as well. With an ingenious covered spiral so that the book will never flip closed and leave you short-handed in mid-pour, this cookbook includes more than just recipes: look for an entire chapter featuring tips for efficient weekly grocery shopping and advice on stocking a pantry and freezer for convenient meal preparation any time. A lifesaver for everyone from busy parents looking to get a quick dinner on the table to newlyweds learning to cook to empty nesters needing only to cook for two now to seniors concerned with time-saving, healthy and satisfying meals, more than 10,000 home cooks already know and love Glorious One-Pot Meals. Don't overlook the companion website (GloriousOnePotMeals.com) with resources to answer any questions. Once you master this unbelievably easy cooking technique you'll be able to intuitively create your own recipes for your family to enjoy!
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