Product Description

If you’re like Rachael Ray, mealtime is a time to hang out and reconnect with family and friends. That means you could be making a late dinner for you and your sweetie one night and making brunch for your entire family the next day. No matter how many people join the party, Rachael firmly believes that cooking should be fun, easy–and done in 30 minutes or less.

Transforming recipes for four into recipes for two or eight can be a tricky guessing game. If you use twice the amount of chicken will you have to cook it twice as long? Is it possible to make a satisfying pot of soup for two without having to eat leftovers for a week? What’s the best–and most economical–way to feed a crowd of eight? With Rachael Ray: 2, 4, 6, 8 there’s no need to guess, because Rachael has designed right-sized menus for every occasion, with perfect meals for two, four, six, or eight.

For date night you don’t want tons of food, so Rachael’s Croque Madame sandwich with a Strawberry Balsamic Vinaigrette salad and a killer vodka cocktail strike just the right note. For family dinners, double dates, or those who love leftovers, Rachael whips up classic meals for four like Wingless Buffalo Chicken Pizza or Grilled Shrimp with Chorizo Skewers. For poker night with your buddies, Rachael knows exactly which ingredients stretch into a 30-minute meal for six, like Uptown Sweet and Spicy Sausage Hoagies. Throwing a dinner party is a pleasure when you’re armed with stress-free meals for eight like Italian Chicken Pot Pie and Boozy Berries and Biscuits. With complete menus for family dinners as well as easy and impressive meals for entertaining plus lots of super simple desserts that taste like a million, no matter what the occasion, the perfect meal for your crowd is never more 30 minutes away.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #29766 in Books
• Published on: 2006-11-07
• Released on: 2006-11-07
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 304 pages

About the Author
Rachael Ray is the host of the popular Food Network shows 30-Minute Meals, $40 a Day, and Tasty Travels, as well as her own syndicated talk show, Rachael Ray. In addition to helming the successful magazine Rachael Ray Everyday, Rachael is the author of 11 previous books, including the New York Times bestsellers 30-Minute Get Real Meals, 365: No Repeats, and Express Lane Meals.

Customer Reviews

I really like Rachel, but...
I rate this as an average cookbook for several reasons.

First, if you own any of her other books or any other good cookbook, then this one may not be your favorite. It doesn't add too much to the cookbook world that's not already out there.

Second, and most importantly, most of the recipes, though designed to be quick, 30 minutes or less, have too many ingredients to make it a really easy cooking or buying experience. Many of these dishes would be expensive if you didn't already have the chipotle sauces or other "specialty" items (that I don't normally have in my pantry). And, I just don't know how to get it all done in 30 minutes--I'd have to have a staff helping prepare the ingredients.

Have there just been too many cookbooks too fast for this author?

However, if you don't own any other cookbooks, and you do like a friendly, fun writing style, then this would be okay, because Rachel's recipes are good and she is a hoot.

Too sporty , Not enough meal appeal
If this hadn't been given to me as a gift, I'd have returned it. It pretty much caters to having friends over for watching sports on tv. A lot of sandwiches, burgers, potatoes. I wasn't attracted to the meal choices and half the ingredients seemed hard to find in the local supermarket: Piquillo peppers? Giardiniera? Manchego cheese? (I'll admit I'm pretty ignorant of certain ingredients, and some of these recipes seem like I'd spend more time searching at the market than preparing it).
Her recipes on tv seem so much better.

not interested!
I went to the store today and flipped through this book, taking my time to read the ingredients to each recipe. I must say there is not 1 recipe that I was interested in. I love her express lane meals and her 2 original 30 minute meals cookbooks, but I will not buy anymore. I'm just not happy with the recipes in them. I came so close to buying this here when it first came out and I'm glad I didn't. Saved me from having to return it.

I'm sorry Rachael, I really do like your other books, but lately, the recipes are not one's I would use.