Rating: 
Summary: WHO EVER THOUGHT LIFE COULD BE SO SIMPLE!
Review: If you run as short on energy and time during the run of a day as I do, you will not want to be without this terrific book. Who ever thought meal preparation could be so simple for those of us who put in a full day at the office. The title says it all: "Fix It and Forget It" Forget the microwave section of your favourite supermarket and pass by the fast food outlets on the way home - too much of that will eventually play havoc with your health anyway. It takes just a few minutes each morning, when we do have the energy, to peel a few veggies, cut up a portion of meat if that is to your liking, toss it in the slow cooker with a dash of this and a dab of that and...voila, your meal will be waiting for you at the end of the day. The recipes are terrific in this book, particularly the stews and soups, and the flavourful goodness that comes out of the pot is out of this world! Buy the book; it's a real time saver.
Rating: 
Summary: Waste of money unless you only cook with canned soup!
Review: I was really shocked by this cookbook! Save your money and just borrow it from the library or just "google" for slow cooker recipes. This book looks like it's a collection of untested recipes. I was shocked that there was little variety in the recipes but rather a dozen beef stew, pot roast, chili etc type recipes. I don't need a cookbook with 15 calico beans recipes! And, like the other reviewers stated - most of these recipes are unhealthy and seem to involve nothing more than a can of cream of mushroom soup and an onion soup packet. Hey wait a second! This sounds pretty good!! And, easy too. Well, yes, if you like your cooking simple, hearty and like cooking with cream of mushroom soup, than maybe this is your cookbook after all!! I didn't like it because I prefer healthier recipes using REAL FOOD (processed soup and dry soup packs with cream and MSG are not my idea of food) and would prefer one REALLY GREAT pot roast recipe rather than 20 variations of one and no evidence that any of them have been tested. I also was hoping` for a `cookbook with some new innovative recipes. I would bet money that the bulk of these recipes could be found for free at allrecipes.com or via google.com. Hope this helps!
Rating:
Summary: A Must for Your Cookbook Collection
Review: I've compared this cookbook with Betty Crocker, Sunset, Hoffman, etc. In my opinion, it beats all of them. Fix It and Forget it is a collection of recipes from people all over the country. There are twenty different chili recipes to choose from, as well as appetizers, desserts, main dishes, and soups. The book is divided in these categories, listing several recipes per page. Each recipe is very simple to follow. So far, I've tried the Saucy Pork Chops and the Creamy Chicken Italiano. The pork chops were excellent, and I'm not a big pork lover. The Chicken Italiano was a step up from the Chicken Helper you can get in the supermarket. If I make this again, I'd put more spices in it. If you don't like a lot of spice in your food, then you'll enjoy this dish.
I'd recommend this book to anyone who has a crock pot and anyone who doesn't. Some of these recipes, like the pork chops, you can cook on the stovetop. There's something for everyone in this book.
Rating: 
Summary: Well-organized book, but simple recipes are often repeated
Review: Crock pot cooking is simple, and this cookbook follows that guideline. I like how the book is organized, and the pages are fun and easy-to-read. However, I was a bit disappointed at how many recipes were repeated. There are SO MANY recipes for pot roast, chili, beans, etc., and all of these recipes are incredibly similar. There are a few worthwhile recipes that I use over and over; however, there are better crock pot cookbooks out there. In addition, if you're looking for healthy foods or vegetarian-friendly recipes, skip this one. However, if you just need some quick, easy-to-use crock pot recipes, and don't mind wading through the duplicates, this one may be for you.
Rating:
Summary: You Mean I Don't Have to Slave Over a Hot Stove?
Review: I purchased this cookbook to help me on those days that I planned ahead for a meal but simply would not be home all day to watch over something cooking in the oven. With a busy family that spends time at hockey arenas throughout the year, a husband with a full-time job and a small business he owns, and finishing up my Master's Degree, we needed good meals that were ready when we are. This cookbook offers many delicious, nutritious, and easy to assemble dishes that you can throw in the crockpot (or slow cooker) and leave to live your daily life!Assembled in a binder format which easily lays flat, the book is divided into several recipe categories: appetizers/snacks/spreads, breakfast foods, breads, soups/stews/chilis, main dishes, bean main dishes, vegetables, desserts, and beverages. I was surprised that you could actually make desserts and beverages in a slow cooker (I had never considered doing this before) and was excited to try some of these recipes. Some of my family's favorites included Cheesy Potatoes, Macaroni and Cheese, One-Dish Chicken Supper, Barbara's Chicken Rice Casserole, Pork Chops & Gravy, Beef Ribs, Lazy Day Stew, and Applesauce. Most of the meals are easy to prepare and most "traditional" meals have several recipes so that you can pick your favorite. This is a great addition to any cookbook collection and a must for busy families! Enjoy!
Rating:
Summary: Waste of money unless you only cook with canned soup!
Review: I was really shocked by this cookbook! Save your money and just borrow it from the library or just "google" for slow cooker recipes. This book looks like it's a collection of untested recipes. I was shocked that there was little variety in the recipes but rather a dozen beef stew, pot roast, chili etc type recipes. I don't need a cookbook with 15 calico beans recipes! And, like the other reviewers stated - most of these recipes are unhealthy and seem to involve nothing more than a can of cream of mushroom soup and an onion soup packet. Hey wait a second! This sounds pretty good!! And, easy too. Well, yes, if you like your cooking simple, hearty and like cooking with cream of mushroom soup, than maybe this is your cookbook after all!! I didn't like it because I prefer healthier recipes using REAL FOOD (processed soup and dry soup packs with cream and MSG are not my idea of food) and would prefer one REALLY GREAT pot roast recipe rather than 20 variations of one and no evidence that any of them have been tested. I also was hoping` for a `cookbook with some new innovative recipes. I would bet money that the bulk of these recipes could be found for free at allrecipes.com or via google.com. Hope this helps!
Rating: 
Summary: Easy, economical and delicious!
Review: I found this book when searching for a solution to over-spending on eating out and breaking the fast-food cycle. It's a great solution. THE GOOD: Thanks to the comb-binding, you don't have to worry about the cookbook closing and losing your place while you are trying to prepare the ingredients for the recipes. The recipes are easy (almost all are 12 ingredients or less), delicious and many are the comfort foods from my Midwest childhood. I didn't realize you could cook meatloaf or bread in a crockpot, but thanks to this book, I know it now! The recipes are economical, in part to the crockpot's love of inexpensive cuts of meat. There is a great variety of recipes as well. The index is pretty standard and there are great tips sprinkled throughout the book. THE BAD: I agree with what someone else said: there are a lot of repeated recipes with just slight variations...I think that they could have listed the recipe once and added the variation below it; but that is no reason to pass up this great book. I would have liked to see the main dish section divided into beef, pork, chicken, seafood. As it is, they are just all together. I would also have liked to see nutritional summaries for the recipes. Someone mentioned that the lack of creativity in the titles bothered them---that doesn't really matter to me. I can rename it anything I want! Overall, although a bit disorganized, this is a fantastic find and a must for anybody that doesn't have time or energy for cooking but still wants eat good.
Rating: 
Summary: Ugh.
Review: I don't recommend this book at all. So many of the recipies sound unappetizing, are high in fat, and call for a can of condensed cream of mushroom soup. This cookbook doesn't promise to deliver much, and it lives up to this promise. First, there's a disclaimer that the recipies haven't been kitchen tested by the editors. Second, it promises numerous recipies that vary by only one ingredient. How many chili and baked beans recipies do you really need? Well, this book has over 30 for chili and almost 60 for baked beans. The rest of the book is stews and other dishes that would go perfectly with a side of Wonder Bread, like this sample recipie: Ham Bar-B-Que
1 lb boiled ham
1 cup of cola
1 cup of ketchup
Cook on low 8 hrs. HAM + COKE + KETCHUP = DINNER?
What kind of cookbook is this? Of course, not all the recipies are this poor, but only 1 of the dozen or so dishes I've tried is worth making again. If you're looking for a good slow-cooker recipie book, try Betty Crocker.
Rating:
Summary: Great Book
Review: The great thing about this book is that I can always find something to make for dinner with the ingredients I have on hand. It offers a lot of recipes with different variations. It is reasonably priced, the format is easy to read, and it includes tips on how to get the best results from your slow cooker. I have a number of slow cooker cookbooks which I enjoy and use, but I liked this one so much that I am now buying it for a gift as well.
Rating:
Summary: Indispensible for any crock pot owner
Review: This was an excellent and invaluable purchase. It has hundreds of delicious and straightforward recipes for any size crockpot. It's true that there are sometimes over a dozen variations of standard favorites, such as pot roasts, swiss steak, chicken and mushrooms, etc., but I didn't mind that at all. It actually helps when trying to think of what to make with whatever you've got on hand. If you don't have the ingredients for one Barbecue Ribs recipe, you're sure to have them on hand for the one that's 3 pages later. I actually found the repeats quite helpful in this respect. Even accounting for the repeats, there are a LOT of recipes for *different* kinds of meals in this book, including breakfasts, desserts, drinks, even breads, and the bulk of the book is recipes for main courses. I've made dozens of them and they've all come out deliciously. I have really put my 2 crockpots (small and large) to use with this impressive cookbook. We practically live out of them these days thanks to the recipes included. I honestly think it's the best cookbook I've ever bought.
|
