Review by Booklist Review
This collection of everyday recipes will appeal to those who appreciate no-fuss cooking and beginner cooks looking for a little inspiration and time savings in their daily meal prep. Drawn from Rhee's popular blog of the same name, the dishes rely on simple methods, familiar ingredients, and clever shortcuts, such as eggs Benedict with hollandaise made in a blender or a microwave-only mushroom risotto. Some recipes are Internet fodder at this point and feel a bit basic to be in a book quinoa breakfast bowl, avocado toast, and artichoke-spinach dip, for example but Rhee comes into her own with smart, lighter copies of restaurant takeout fare like shrimp pad thai, chicken lettuce wraps, and burrito bowls. Twists include standard potato tots instead made with zucchini and carrots and Chinese orange chicken reimagined as batter-fried cauliflower. Total prep and cooking times seem a little optimistic; however, recipes are overall designed for speed and producing big flavor for little effort. A tasty debut.--Neumer Lara, Alison Copyright 2016 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Frustrated with the lack of time she had to prepare a healthy meals, Rhee taught herself how to use shortcuts, leftovers, and pantry staples. She shared her suggestions on her blog, which informs this bound collection of useful tips and 100 recipes for quick meals. While there are recommendations for shaving calories, such as swapping out Greek yogurt for sour cream, mayo, or cream cheese, Rhee's focus is on speed, which often comes at the expense of flavor or lower calories. Her sheet-pan steak and veggies, in which a steak sits atop mixed vegetables and is broiled, could easily have benefited from searing both sides of the steak in a skillet while the veggies get a head start on roasting, and easy swaps, such as using low-calorie mayo for the crispy chicken bites in Bang Bang Chicken or substituting half-and-half for heavy cream in a one-pot zucchini mushroom pasta, are overlooked. Readers can make those decisions for themselves: nutritional information is provided for each dish. There are still plenty of simple, flavorful, fast dishes here: slow cooker Korean beef, avocado pasta, linguine with clams, balsamic salmon with strawberry mango salsa, and spicy cinnamon sugar candied nuts are simple to source and well within the reach of even the most novice cooks. Those pressed for time or new to the kitchen will get the most out of Rhee's book. Though the concept of simple meals that come together quickly is not new, this book is a handy addition to the shelf. (Sept.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by Library Journal Review
Rhee presents all-new and reader-favorite recipes from her popular food blog Damn Delicious (damndelicious.net). Easy recipes such as spicy marinara baked eggs, slow-cooker French dip sandwiches, and mint mojito iced coffee can be made in 30 minutes or less and generally involve little prep or cleanup. The author covers all of the latest trends in convenience cooking: sheet pan suppers, one-pot meals, foods baked in foil packets, and more. Included are plenty of copycat recipes from popular fast food restaurants (e.g., Panda Express, The Cheesecake Factory, Chipotle) for budget and health-conscious readers along with dishes that can be prepared entirely in a microwave or slow cooker for college students or busy chefs. All recipes include nutrition information and labels identifying them as vegetarian, kid-friendly, or gluten-free. VERDICT Epicures may scoff, but Rhee's simple-to-make meals are satisfying and a superior alternative to frozen entrees or takeout. A must for anyone who struggles to find the time or energy to cook at home. © Copyright 2016. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
