Eliza and I love to cook at home. As Eliza says "The clean up is the worst part.". Apart from that, there is nothing I do not enjoy about cooking, and eating, at home. It is cheaper, generally better for you, and is all around more fulfilling.
Not too long ago Eliza picked up Rachel Ray’s book called "30 Minute Meals". This book gives you about 200 recipes that you can, supposedly, make in 30 minutes or less. I managed to try two of them this weekend.
Chicken and Dumplings
On Friday I made recipe #148, Chicken and Dumplings. I cropped the recipe slightly to make just enough for Eliza and I, which works out great – because we generally do not like to have much in the way of left overs. I rate this recipe about an 8 out of 10. Its fairly easy to pull off, yet the details to follow jump around a little too much for how I work. The end result was a very enjoyable meal for sure.
Four-Season Burgundy Beef
Tonight I made recipe #150, Four-season Burgundy Beef. This recipe had a much better flow to it than the last one. It flowed much more to the way I cook, which made it easier to follow. The end result was good, but probably not as "full of taste" as the chicken and dumpling recipe was. Perhaps it was the type of wine I chose, or maybe next time I make it I will add a little more spice.
All in all these recipes were very easy to follow, they did take about 30 minutes to complete, and they tasted great. The bang for your buck is outta this world, I think I paid about 18 dollars (give or take) to feed myself, my wife, and my mother in law. If I was to buy that much food in a restaurant it probably would have cost about that per plate, not counting drinks.
I love to cook, and look forward to trying out the other 198 recipes.
Update: Definitely check out Daniel’s video of him cooking his 30 minute meal, and winning a bet with his Mom.
