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Classic 30-Minute Meals: The All-Occasion Cookbookx$8.99
  (38 reviews)
Best Price: $8.99
An outstanding collection of Rachael Ray's best 30-Minute Meals, now in one volume. Features over 150 meals selected from 8 of Rachael's best-selling titles.
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Customer Reviews
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This is the one to own!
By A28OEF4TLCUJND on 2006-12-18
I enjoy Rachael Ray's cooking show because of its simplistic approach to cooking great food. Rachael is fun, very fun! But in contrast to her television program, her initial cookbooks were disappointing. Although her books had all her great recipes, I could never bring myself to buy them. They showed nothing of her personality in them. They lacked pictures and structure. Cooking and eating food is a sensual experience, and these books seemed boring; all of my senses were not stimulated - and I never bought them.
So I will admit I need pictures and gloss to get me excited about cooking! Watching her gets me excited about trying new things that I would have thought were complicated otherwise. This new book brings those things together: visuals of the food and pictures of Rachael cooking and simple recipes to follow. Plus, she throws in fun little notes. It's a book that finally reflects Rachael and her cooking. It contains the best of her recipes in one fantiatic book. If you've put off buying her book, this is the one to own.
Best of? Probably.
By A2ME8QMG05MGY9 on 2006-12-17
"Classic 30 Minute Meals" is the latest offering from the prolific Rachael Ray. This is not a 'new' cookbook but a collection of some of her 'greatest hits' from her earlier books. If you have her original "30 Minute" books, then you won't need this one. However, if you want some of the best recipes and want to skip some of her "filler" material (repeats, variations on a theme), then this is the book for you.
There are complete menus (which I really like) for everday dinners, parties, datenights, and even kid chefs. As usual, these are standard Ray fare: pastas, tex-mex, burgers and lots o' chicken recipes. But overall, the menus are well balanced, easy to prepare and full of fresh ingredients. Although I am not crazy about "Rayspeak" (EVOO, Yum-O, etc.) I do like her ideas. Because I am a seasoned cook, I have been easily able to make her recipes in 30 minutes - but I realize that some of the ingredient lists are a bit much and the prep time will vary depending on your skills and tools. I respecially like the datenight menus as I am an empty nester and now it is just my hubby and myself. (The only complaint I have is that sometimes her portion sizes are rather large - there is no way that I can eat a half pound of meat! So, on occasion, I do have to adjust a bit.)
I would recommend this to someone who wants to venture into Ray's world but doesn't want to buy the entire collection.
Nice introduction to Rachael Ray's style
By AQQLWCMRNDFGI on 2007-04-21
This is a useful compilation of 30-minute meals from Rachael Ray. The book is nice and glossy, with a plentitude of pictures of Ms. Ray, from childhood to present that help to personalize the volume. As most readers know, she has had shows on television, featuring her cooking suggestions as well as a more recent talk show. But that is secondary. The primary task of any cookbook is to provide interesting and doable recipes. Let's take a look at what is within this book.
First, and this is something important to me, there are lots of recipes! Often, in fact, two to a page.
Second, there is quite a variety of recipes--from pizza (Puttanesca pizza) to other pasta dishes (Pasta al Forno) to meat dishes (e.g., maple-mustard pork chops with grilled apples) to vegetable dishes (Seared greens with red onion and vinegar) to deserts (Black-and-white ice cream sandwiches). And so on. Characteristics of her recipes include the liberal call for "evoo" (extra virgin olive oil). Also, she uses a wide array of herbs and spices that "spice up" the recipes nicely.
A couple quick examples. . . . "My Sister Ria's Lazy Chicken." This features boneless chicken breasts, evoo, thinly sliced potatoes, thinly sliced onions, crushed tomatoes, small zucchini thinly sliced, and accompanying elements, such as a "couple glugs" (ugh) of white wine, Montreal steak seasoning, basil, oregano, and Italian cheese (shredded). Key point: These are easy to acquire ingredients. The instructions are straightforward; this is a 30-minute dish that will satisfy. I have made this for my family, who are often picky in their tastes, and the end result was appreciated by all.
A simple dish for watching sporting events on TV. "Pigskin Potatoes." Ingredients: Potatoes, evoo, and Montreal steak seasoning. Get the oven heated up to 425 degrees. Slice the potatoes lengthwise into thin wedges. Toss the outcome with evoo, to coat. Then, sprinkle on seasonings to one's taste and put wedges onto a cookie sheet. Finally, stick them in the oven until golden brown. Tasty munchies during a television session with football and other sporting events.
And so on. . . .
In short, this is, first, a nice introduction to the cooking style of Rachael Ray. Second, and more important, there are a lot of easy to make and tasty dishes presented in this volume. Not all are as easy, of course. But, in the end, this is a welcome addition to my library of cookbooks.
A Bargain with Bonus Photographs of Rachael from Toddler Days to Now
By A1K1JW1C5CUSUZ on 2007-03-14
I hear two views about Rachael Ray. Most people love her. A few people feel like all she does is open cans and toss in some tomatoes and onions to make a meal.
In both opinions, too little is focused on her recipes. In the beginning of her 30-minute cookbooks, you mostly got directions for how to add garlic and anchovies without offending your taste buds or those of your guests. She soon passed through that stage into showing legitimate time-saving ways to do typical American meals. From there, she began to consider classic recipes from many cuisines and find time-saving short-cuts that produced delicious meals.
To me, one of the delights of all her recipes is that she understands seasonings. Rachael Ray couldn't produce bland food if she tried! And her use of seasonings is imaginative, producing delightful variations to familiar combinations of flavors. Although as far as I can tell she doesn't have any Mexican relatives, Rachael really gets Mexican food. Although I adore Diana Kennedy's detailed, authentic recipes, I usually only have the time and patience for Rachael's way.
For the last few weeks, I've been checking out all of the Rachael Ray cookbooks and enjoying many fun, new tastes in my kitchen.
Rachael is so prolific that she produces recipes faster than many of her fans can begin using the newest ones. What if you just want a good sampling of her most popular 30-minute recipes? Well, this book is a great value for that purpose because it draws on so many others of her cookbooks.
Needless to say, this book cannot hope to replace Rachael Ray 365 for recipes and menus, but most people don't need that much variety. Classic 30-Minute Meals would make a perfect gift for a new college graduate or newly weds who are still learning to cook.
If you just like to see Rachael and remember the fun of her show, you'll love the photographs in this book, which are more about Rachael than about food. It's fun!
The book is dominated by the every day and parties sections. But date nights and kid chefs aren't too slim. I suspect that many people would have liked to see more of the every day recipes at the expense of parties. But if this helps you run more parties, that's not all bad.
Here are some of my favorite recipes in the book:
Cajun chili with scallion corn cakes
Goodness gracious, that's great goulash!
Mexican chunk vegetable salad
Spinach artichoke calzones
Weekday fiesta menu
Carbonara
Greek shrimp and feta penne
Chicken fried steaks with pan gravy and biscuits
Maple-mustard pork chops with grilled apples
Swordfish steaks with mango salsa and curry couscous
Tuna pan bagnat
Veal involtini with pancetta on a bed of spinach
Ria's favorite fajitas
Green chile quesadillas
Sausage, beans, and broccoli rabe "stoup"
Swordfish kebabs with tomato, onion, and arugula salad
Green minestrone
Chili verde
Broiled cod and Amalfi-coast lemon linguini
Make your own burrito bar
Tapas party
Grilled halibut sandwiches
Brandy and orange chicken topped with stuffed shrimp
Arugula salad with blue cheese, pears, and apricot vinaigrette
Veal scaloppini with wine, mushrooms, and green olives
Every day cioppino (fish stew)
Chicken paillard on baby greens
Southwestern stuffed peppers
Red snapper with olive salsa and green beans
Red snapper Livornese
Paella
Balsamic pork tenderloins
Tortellini with spinach-walnut pesto
Wild mushroom risotto
Baked stuffed flounder
Cod with burst grape tomatoes, parsley-mint pesto broth, and fingerling potato crisps with herbs
Poached grouper with tomato and basil
Ham with Jezebel sauce and cheese biscuits
Ham and fontina frittata
Asparagus velvet soup
Lobster tails Thermidor
Chorizo and shrimp quesadillas with smoky guacamole
Steak pizzaola with the works
Pork chops with brandied cherry sauce
Tournedos with mushroom caps, red wine sauce, Duchess-style potatoes and steamed broccoli spears
Tuna marinara with ravioli
Mexican rice bowl
Meat loaf muffins with barbecue sauce
Bacon-and-cheese mini quiches
Fruit Benedicts and egg scrambles
Spinach and mushroom lasagna roll-ups
Grilled t-bone steaks with chipotle-chili rub
Green noodles and ham
I can hardly wait to go cook some of these tonight!
RACH MAKES SOME YUM-O DISHES
By A3MQ672FYFNM7B on 2007-09-16
Includes some of Rach's best recipes. I love 30 Minute Meals because I do not have the time to be in the kitchen all day. Rachael has some really creative ideas (I love the everything chicken) and tips. She also isn't uptight like most of today's celebrity chefs are. I met Rach last year and she behaves exactly the same way off camera; always smiling and warm. I hope in the future she will release some DVD / Book sets together because it would make my life so much more easer. Some of the recipes do take more than 30 minutes to prepare but it's still quicker and easier than going out. I no longer go out to dine (at least not in casual restaurants) because the service is always abominable and the quality is always lousy. Because of Rach I am able to stay at home with my loved ones and cook great dishes, just like her!
- Classic 30 Minute Meals -- All Occasion
By AXJWFR0Q00YTJ on 2007-01-16
I have many of Rachael Ray's cookbooks - but they all start sounding the same after the first couple of books. Just minor changes to already established recipes. A few good ideas in the book, but not worth the money in my opinion.
- Lots of good stuff
By A2U3CSQKZ0I1Q5 on 2007-01-09
Lots of different dishes in here, from your very basic stuff, to a few outlandish and overly creative meals. I'm pleased with it though. One thing about Rachel's recipes are that they make you think about foods in different ways than you would have before.
- great
By A11SCC5QYLINYD on 2007-01-24
this is by far her best cookbook she has out.
tons of delicious recipes...if u are gonna get a r r cookbook this one is the one too get.
- Nice, simple recipes
By A1OA0FO5NO7NG4 on 2007-10-29
Nice simple recipes for everyday meals. So easy to follow, and with ingredients that aren't a pain to find at the local grocery store. The first thing I tried was the Chicken and Grapes with Creamy Mustard Sauce, which I was completely unfamiliar with, and it turned out great. My husband loved it.
- A great purchase
By AD73DRQ20IHM on 2008-03-23
First I'll tell you a little about me. I own a café, took formal studies on Culinary Arts and altough I have only been in business four years (plus the three of my Culinary education) my family is one that has always gathered around a kitchen, for every family reunion. So while I am not a terribly experienced chef, neither am I a complete neophyte at the kitchen range.
That said, I must say that this breezy book was quite a surprise. The recipes in it are good, easy and very clear. It reads almost like a conversation with Rachael, like she is your chum and you are cooking together. I have already tried several of her recipes and they are hehehe Yum-o!
I was a bit intrigued because I read some fairly contratictory reviews to other books by Rachael Ray. I love cooking, but I feel it a bit snobish to dismiss someone's recipes just because they lack formal chef training. In fact, some of the best cooks I know lack said training, and in the case of this book, I believe Rachael's practical talent is a plus! Not everybody can go to Culinary school, but almost everybody, in one moment or another, will find him/herself in the position to cook. Here's where I advice you to get one of Rachael's books. Especially this one.
Every recipe (unless she warns you beforehand) takes more or less, 30 minutes (unlike some others that say they take that time, but fail to specify that that is only prep time, and then you must bake/broil/boil for say an hour and a half!) and they feel like someone's tried and true family recipes.
Ingredients... well, living in Mexico, I find some of them a bit hard to find, but they are easily substituted by others like them, and while the result may not be the one expected from the original recipe, they are nonetheless good!
If you are like me, and have little time to cook for yourself (or are exhausted after cooking for others for 12 hours in a row) or just want great tasting food without a terribly lot of work, DO buy this book. I am already getting it as a wedding gift for two of my friends.
- Nice book- creepy pictures!
By A2GIRK1GGM6Z8J on 2008-03-30
So far this is a really nice cookbook. The recipes are simple, and don't call for too many crazy exotic ingredients. The layout is really handy because the recipes are grouped into menus, so that means I don't have to go crazy trying figure out what side dishes to serve alongside the main courses. What bugs me, and counts for the lower than five star rating, are all the creepy pictures of Rachael Ray. She looks the Joker! Jack Nickleson's Joker! Kidding aside, her photographs are outnumbering the food photographs at least two to one. It doesn't ruin the book for me, but it's odd to have someone beaming at me from the pages of a cook-book.
- Gift to son in law
By A3E6D26P0TG68E on 2007-01-18
My son in law and daughter love to cook. I gave them a kitchen themed Christmas this year. They love this book!
- Not quite 30 minutes, but still great.
By A2EYKFSY9PU0RF on 2007-06-27
I have to agree with some of the other reviewers that a lot of these recipes (unless you're a pro, which I am not) take longer than 30 minutes. However, they definately take less than 60 minutes, which I'm still very pleased with. Plus, everything I have cooked so far is just DELICIOUS! I started getting sick of making things out of cookbooks for just "so-so" meals. This cookbook, however, has restored my faith and I always look forward to trying a new recipe out of it.
- Not All That
By A2PC5JR8WO2S30 on 2007-10-30
The recipes ask for more "out-of-ordinary" ingredients that I want to spend money on and the recipes take a bit more time because of the involved steps in the directions. One book that I liked that had recipes for special holidays and everyday meals was "The Frantic Woman's Guide to Feeding Family and Friends."
- Great Gift!
By A3LM8YTRGM9006 on 2007-02-20
My friend kept borrowing mine so I bought her a copy! She loves it!
- great buy
By A2LBOW1M5DT9DB on 2007-05-12
great easy recipes. If you don't like to cook or if you do, this is for you.
- Great as always
By AJN65JL3FICS7 on 2007-05-29
Love this book as always it is an easy read so I can follow it, now if my daughter will just leave it where I can find it as she love to see anything with Rachael Ray
- Great for new Rachel Ray fans and old alike
By A3SP5CVXKDC24W on 2007-12-25
This is my first Rachel Ray purchase after watching her for just over a year and I'm more than pleased with this purchase. Her Classic 30-Minute Meals: The All-Occasion Cookbook covers a great range of her tastes and offers a great variety.
Her cooking style is simple and "normal", nothing that would require culinary school or a dictionary - which is why I enjoy her show.
If you're looking for a cookbook with a variety of recipes and serving suggestions and some great tastes, I recommend this one!
- pseudo chef
By ATNV5TDOVA4VA on 2007-12-29
I was frankly disappointed. I love her TV shows and expected to find lots of wonderful ideas. Maybe I'm just a "comfort food" lady from Texas who doesn't appreciate fine cuisine, but I found very few recipes I would try. They're just a little too "out of touch" for me and my family.
- Rachael Ray
By A3MM0710RI6XRY on 2008-01-02
Wife and daughter went nuts over this gift. For you guys looking for a gift this would be a good one. The reaction I got was like getting a pair of tickets to the World Series or Super Bowl. Oh ya, and I did check out the meals, just like the title says All-Occasion. Good stuff.
- Classis 30-minute meals
By AF1LS5MSLGVNI on 2008-02-07
I think Rachael Ray is great -- I watch her show frequently. However, I like cook books that contain pictures -- lots of pictures. Pictures for every recipe would be my preference. Also, I prefer simple recipes with very common ingredients. The book didn't go to waste -- I gave it to my oldest daughter who prefers to purchase fresh spices etc.... Nothing against Rachael -- I think she's a great cook and I will continue to watch her show!!
- Too much Rachel, not enough taste
By A1LIP4F0GRFF89 on 2008-03-22
If you want a cookbook with as many pictures of Rachel Ray as recipes, then this is the book for you. Overall it's okay, but I find the pictures of her smiling out at me on nearly every page excessive. The recipes are okay, but not very detailed on how to prepare them. If you buy this book you'll quickly need to discover that "evo" is "extra virgin olive oil" to cook anything. This is a great buy for someone obsessed with Rachel Ray, but otherwise go for the "Best 30-minute recipes" from America's Test Kitchen instead.
- Rachael Ray Cook Book
By A349CNYLIGZGCT on 2008-01-12
I love Rachael Ray. She has really tought me a lot about cooking meals in the evenings for my family very effeciantly. Would love to see a low fat version of her cooking.
- Another winning cookbook!
By A395YYVORFNKJ1 on 2008-03-19
Another great cookbook by Rachael Ray! I highly recommend you add this to your collection.
- love it!
By AASTJGD5SB0QS on 2007-07-04
i mark all the good ones with post it notes and it's pretty much full of them!!
- Yum-O!
By AFGDRQ8PFMLLB on 2007-12-28
I like cookbooks, can you tell? Anyway, good stuff - quick meals, what more can you ask for?
- Great Cookbook!
By A2OC3L5ILLGPB5 on 2008-03-17
This is my favorite Rachael Ray cookbook. All the recipes we have tried have turned out great. I also love that this cookbook is hardcover and easy to set on the counter as you cook. Definitely one to own!!
- Rachael makes it easy!
By A2BYUJACK00TXK on 2008-05-27
Rachael has a great book for those like us who need all the help we can get in the kitchen. Easy recipes and easy to follow.
- Needs more pictures
By APLIBVNVLV679 on 2008-08-10
Some of the recipes are good. But the pictures need to be of the food, not Rachel Ray.
- niece loves this cookbook
By AFEBCYDOVI0G9 on 2008-10-28
I got this book form my niece, she just moved out on her own. And she loves to cook.
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