The Dinner Plan by Caroline Campion is a well-organized, eye-catching book that has some fantastic suggestions to get a healthy dinner ready no matter what your day has in store. The ideas take into account all sorts of different lifestyles, but they are most definitely geared towards family meals.
Title: The Dinner Plan: The Keepers Guide to Weeknight Meals and MoreAuthor: Kathy Brennan, Caroline Campion
Publisher: Abrams
Genres: Cookbook, Lifestyle
Publication Date: September 19, 2017
Rating:
From the authors of the IACP award-winning cookbook KEEPERS, an entirely new and personalized approach to tackling the dinner dilemma:
Between juggling work, family activities, mismatched schedules, and often bare refrigerators, there are all sorts of situations that make weeknight cooking a universally challenging—and frustrating—experience. The Dinner Plan offers five meal strategies—Make-Ahead, Staggered, One-Dish, Extra-Fast, and Pantry—that will help get dinner on the table no matter what the workweek throws at you. The 135 recipes—from main dishes to sides to salads and “lifesaver” condiments—provide lots of practical options whether time is super-tight, you haven’t had a chance to run to the store, or everyone is coming home at a different time.
And most importantly, all of the recipes are “keepers”—brag-worthy, reliable, crowd-pleasing preparations that you’ll confidently turn to again and again. Shrimp Scampi, Sheet-Pan Chicken Fajitas, Foolproof Carbonara, and Mexican Skillet Lasagna are just a few examples of doable recipes that will earn their place in any busy cook’s repertoire. Rounded out with plenty of tips and a bonus section on healthful snacks called The Forgotten Meal, The Dinner Plan is every home cook’s indispensable weeknight dinner guide.
❃ I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. ❃
Review: The Dinner Plan by Caroline Campion
❀ Excellent Layout
What sets The Dinner Plan apart from other time-saving cookbooks isn’t really the actual recipes. In fact, it is in the way the recipes are categorized as to whether it is a make-ahead, staggered, one-dish, pantry, or extra-fast. Knowing what type of ingredients are needed and the time commitment needed to prepare certain dishes takes the guess-work out of where to start. There are also tips included in the book that include what sorts of ingredients and equipment to buy.
❀ Great for Busy Families
If you have a family that eats at different points of the evening, you will most likely find a dish that will satisfy the needs of your family. Making a meal that can be served at any point of the day, or easily reheated makes some of these recipes really unique. For instance, the Kitchen Sink Burritos that I prepared can be made fairly quickly and then the fixings can be set out for anyone to put together at their own leisure. This recipe is also a much lighter and cheaper version than the ones you can purchase at a local burrito bar, as there are no added preservatives.
❀ Healthy Meals
The Dinner Plan by Caroline Campion is an interesting take on how to serve dinner to your family when life just seems to get in the way. If you are on the hunt for suggestions on how to eat healthy meals for a busy lifestyle, this may be the book for you. It will give you a new perspective on how to make meals without the stress over the time commitment involved.
About Lori
Avid reader. Contributor to The Candid Cover. Educator.
Ugh, I’m exactly the same! I never know what to cook, so getting ideas from other much more knowledgeable people is always great.
I love how it’s categorized too, as that is one of the biggest challenges for me: I’m lazy and busy as hell so when I cook, I intent it to last the whole week. This sounds like a terrific recipe book and exactly what I need in my life!
Thank you for the rec, and wonderful review <3
Anything to simplify my life is welcome! I hope that you find this one useful if you do give it a try. 🙂
Oh my goodness – I need this book!
This book sounds perfect for busy families! As a mom I have a hard time figuring out to cook, especially when school is in and I’m always trying to squeeze in healthy meals with work and homework and all that. This sounds like something that would give me an idea of what I can make to accommodate the tastes of everyone in the house! Those burritos look pretty good, too – definitely going to check this out. Great review!
I hope that you find it useful! There is definitely something in the book for everyone. 🙂
This sounds fab! I’m also always looking for recipes that are simple to make and don’t take a lot of time. Also, the cover is really nice I think, in a simple way.
My husband and I are always on the hunt for quick recipes, because I am usually home late from work and we don’t feel like cooking something extravagant. I will definitely take this one into consideration.
I am getting more and more interested in books like these too. It makes all the difference when you’re home late from work and lord, would I like something healthy too. It’s hard! 🙂
Exactly! I am pretty lazy after a long day and want to eat something healthy, but just don’t have the energy. This book does have a few great ideas to help! 🙂
I love all these things–especially burritos! Sounds like a plan I can follow!
Sometimes it’s hard to get ideas for healthy meals when there’s only one of you.
this sounds wonderful thanks for your review. even those of us retired at times need something quick