[.ca] Beyond Macaroni and Cheese (ISBN 0310219787)

The Pantry-Friendliest Family Cookbook Out There:
This collection of recipes, assembled by the MOPS (Mothers of Pre-Schoolers) from it's member's best-loved recipes was an answer to prayer for me! I found this little book after a long, frustrating and almost fruitless search for a family-oriented cookbook that didn't send me to the grocery store every time I opened it. My family has liked everything I have tried from this cookbook, it's all been ultra-easy to make, and the shopping is a breeze. The book is also full of little anecdotes, hints, suggestions, tips, and get-the-kids-in-the-kitchen activities which make this book a delight to read. But this review isn't without it's criticisms--I must say that one of my fellow reviewers is right--it does have quite a bit of butter in it, and admittedly, it's got its share of canned biscuits recipes (but boy, they are soooooo good!) but not enough to dismiss it outright by any means. After reading and reveiwing scores of "family" cookbooks, I found that for your family's menu, you really can't get it all in one cookbook--sometimes you're going to want to fall into the First Rule of Really Really Good Food and make a real crowd pleaser. (What's the First Rule of Really Really Good Food? You know it: The More Fat It Has In It The Better It Taste, n'est pas?) And of course, a lot of the time you're going to need help making it healthier, and then in some cases, there's the budget to consider. So with that in mind, don't expect this little book that's written primarily for quick and easy eats to have it all. If you need food that's healthy, I recommend Better Homes and Garden's Kid Favorites Made Healthy. But for myself, I find that sometimes I do want to spoil my family and make something easy and quick. I also want to watch my budget--which is why I'm happy using a combination of books, and this is just one of several. But it is a really good one and will broaden your menu without tiring you out. Keeping that glowing recommendation in mind, I will say I was frustrated by the lack of pictures and hope that subsequent editions have at least a few photographs or illustrations. I had a hard time imagining what the Buffet Eggs looked like, and the same goes for Crunchy Chicken Rolls (which are really good, btw). They also add some asides about food and how it relates to family, my favorite being "Create a few familiar standard menus for your family. Don't feel guilty about preparing the same two or three dishes together. You're actually creating memories of comfort foods for your children. We all have favorite memories of menus or foods that bring a sense of consistency and contiunity to our busy lives." Wise words, and a wise buy; so feel confident in buying this little volume of ultimately useful recipes! You won't regret it.

Too much butter!:
I just received this book and though the recipes are original and fairly simple, I am disappointed in the amount of fat in them. Most recipes have a generous amount of butter in them. I like the section on appetizers and snacks.This book has something for everyone, including a vegetarian section, but I would really like to see these recipes tailored to cut out some of the saturated fats and include some whole grains. White flour and sugar are also common ingredients.

The most useful cookbook ever:
Many cookbooks are tempting to read but impractical to cook from every day. This one on the other hand is full of fast, easy, and delicious recipies that are great for kids and adults. I have never made anything from this book that didn't dissapear at the table; the microwave carmel corn is especially good. This is an outstanding book to get for your self or to give as a gift to any mom or dad.

THE BEST COOKBOOK EVER!!:
All I have to say is I love this book! It is so easy to follow and the ingredients in every recipie are so practical. Most cook books have 5o ingredients and are so complicated. This one is simple, to the point and great for kids and adults alike. And most of the recipies take less than an hour!!

A Great Cookbook:
This book has many recipes that are tasty and easy to make. If you are a busy mom, this book is for you. The good thing is that the portions are big enough to where you can even freeze some of your food. There are also suggestions as to how to make mealtime fun for your family.