Thanksgiving has finished for another year, and we at Smiley Library hope it was a happy one. Now, the December holiday preparations and festivities are in full swing. For some speedy dinnertime suggestions to keep everyone’s mood merry and bright, why not check out the following cookbook selections.
“Food52 Simply Genius” by Kristen Miglore contains her latest collection of tasty and approachable recipes for time-strapped home cooks. Turn frozen potato gnocchi into either an easy Asian-inspired sheet-pan dinner with chili crisp and baby bok choy or a skillet pepperoni pizza with kalamata olives and melted mozzarella. Most recipes include a “Great With” pairing suggestion such as ultra-smashed cheeseburgers with a salty coke. Finally, all vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free dessert recipes are each grouped together as a category within the recipe index.
In this next time-saving cookbook, a little prep once a week, can quickly help you put together four complete home-cooked dinners. “Prep and Rally” by Dini Klein, offers 10 weeks of menus, each with a ready-made grocery list. You can take a picture of it with your cell phone before leaving for the store. Not sure what to do with any leftovers? Not to worry, as a whole chapter of creative meal suggestions and recipes is provided. Now you can make the most of what’s on hand and cut down on food waste. Breakfast, brunch, and sweet treats round out this family-friendly book.
For those of us who have dietary challenges, turn to Danielle Walker’s “Healthy in a Hurry” for fast and friendly mealtime inspiration. Danielle’s recipes are free of grains, dairy, and legumes, as well as, processed sugar, additives and seed oils. A sneak peek of what you’ll find includes kid-friendly creamy bacon cheeseburger soup, teriyaki salmon packets, spicy Cajun chicken pasta, and brats with warm potato salad and kraut. Dessert lovers might enjoy banana-chocolate mug cake, salted chocolate cuties, and refreshing pineapple whip.
Casseroles, skillets, Instant Pots, soup pots, and sheet pans are featured equipment in Melissa Clark’s new cookbook, “Dinner in One.” Melissa’s one pot or pan recipes are streamlined so that there is less mess, less work, and more flavor. Meatball sub sandwiches on garlic bread come together using a sheet pan, and take advantage of store-bought marinara sauce. Turkey and bean tamale pie could be made using any variety of ground meat and is ready in about an hour. Green shakshuka with avocado, chili, and feta is one of the fifty or so meatless recipes. With fewer dishes to wash and a speedy cleanup, you’ll have more time for holiday shopping, decorating, and wrapping presents.