Book Review: Busy People’s Fast & Frugal Cookbook by Dawn Hall

Since I’m always looking for new recipes to add to the cooking rotation, I was excited to review a cookbook, especially one that focuses on fast and frugal cooking- something we’re all focusing on these days. The cookbook is broken down into nine main categories-Breakfast and Brunch, Appetizers, Salads, Soups and Chowders, Main Meals, Side Dishes, Breads and Biscuits, Desserts, and Beverages- and each contains 12-30 recipes. The book also contains an introduction in which the author provides a list of tips on being frugal grocery shoppers. After making several recipes from this book, here’s a list of pros and cons for it…

Pro: Almost every recipe comes with a picture, something that’s a must for this chef.

Con: However, the pictures were clearly taken by an amateur photographer and some of them make the food look rather unappealing due to poor lighting, etc.

Pro: Since the cookbook is focused on frugality, the author provides tips on how to turn leftovers into new meals.

Con: Since it’s also focused on fast cooking, a lot of recipes utilize convenience foods (like cans of chunk chicken breast or using boxed cake mixes), when it’s typically cheaper and healthier to make that ingredient from scratch.

Pro: For each recipe, the author provides a grocery shopping list, meal suggestions, and tips on variations.

Con: There just weren’t very many recipes that I was interested in trying. While I’m honestly a pickier eater than most, I also have a huge sweet tooth and I wasn’t inspired by any of the dessert recipes.

In sum, while I appreciate the aim for frugality and quick cooking, this cookbook just wasn’t for this cook. Two out of five stars.