make one new recipe from each cookbook on my shelf

I made the pot pie. It was incredible. I can’t wait to make it again. Basically it’s garbanzo beans and vegetables with excellent seasoning. An hour before it’s done you quickly make a dough of sorts and drop it on top. It was so delicious that my son enjoyed it as much as I did.

Every once in a while, without prompting that I know of on my part, I receive a cookbook in the mail from Cook’s Illustrated. Every time it happens I am a bit annoyed…until I open the book. Ok so sure I didn’t ASK for them to send it to me but now that I look through the pages…GODSEND!

Tonight I made the skillet baked ziti. It was quick and vegetarian. I happened to have everything on hand. Everyone liked it a lot. They won’t crave this dish but they won’t be disappointed to see it on the table either. Did I mention exactly how easy it was? No boiling pasta. Gotta love that!

By Leanne Ely

This book is fabulous. The recipes are easy and healthy. Occasionally I find them very smart as well. Like how in a lot of ground beef recipes she adds uncooked oatmeal. It adds bulk and fiber and not a single person in my family knew there was any oatmeal there at all.

Another smart technique is how she tells you to make extra…say mashed potatoes so that you can use them for Shepard’s pie the next night. This was very helpful.

I’ve made the following:

Crockpot Pea Soup (A+)
Baked Rigatoni (A+)
Greek Pasta (B)
Garlic Lime Chicken (A+)
Tuna Fusilli ( C )

Next up: Green chile and chicken casserole.

This book is one of my favorites and it really has helped “Save Dinner”.

I made hot fudge two nights ago. In fact there is still some in the refrigerator calling my name.

A while ago I made the frozen vanilla yogurt from this book as well. Both things I’ve made turned out really well. This book is divine. Every recipe is mouth-watering.

I made the red potato casserole side dish to go with our grilled burgers tonight.

Unfortunately it sucked.

Next! ::Quickly flags down the next cookbook in line of sight::