Notes about Recipes in this book

• Breaded chicken cutlets (aka Grandma Jody's chicken)

  • sarahmjames on December 26, 2012

    We've made this twice and will make it again and again! Tried both panko and corn flakes. Both were delicious!

  • anwade88 on January 07, 2018

    I love this cookbook. That said, I found these to be fine—good even—but not really different than any other breaded chicken.

• Starter curry: curried chicken with apples

  • Phyla67 on January 04, 2014

    husband did not like this, apparently he doesn't like curry. Sigh.

  • ellencooks on August 05, 2015

    mild but good

• Porcupine meatballs

  • bernalgirl on March 13, 2019

    Reduce sugar to a less sweet/sour profile.

• Chicken pot pie with sweet potatoes

  • anwade88 on January 07, 2018

    Delicious. Would definitely make this again!

  • snoozermoose on December 05, 2021

    This is my go-to chicken pot pie recipe. I have fiddled with it quite a bit to get it to how I like it though. I use a regular potato instead of sweet potato, add a stalk or two of sliced celery, and increase the amount of chicken broth (and proportionally the amount of milk and flour mixture) to make it easier to cook all the veggies. Don't leave out the thyme! I forgot to add it once, and the pie was really missing out on a lot of flavor. It borderline bland without it. If you have a store-bought pie crust and leftover cooked chicken meat, this is an easy weeknight meal.

• Baked ziti with sausage and vegetables

  • anwade88 on January 07, 2018

    Delicious! Somehow this is best fresh out of the oven. It lost some of its spunk as leftovers. It was still quite good, but this is just wonderful fresh.

• Black bean burritos

  • breakthroughc on May 27, 2021

    I have made this recipe so many times the spine is cracked and the book opens to this page. My hubby never complains about “veggie” night when these are on the menu. Don’t skip the pickled onions as it is what elevates this dish. I don’t always add the corn and sometimes substitute chopped onion for the scallions. I always use the whole jalapeño as we like things a little spicy.

  • snoozermoose on December 05, 2021

    This is my favorite dish in the book. I don't particularly like beans or Mexican food, but somehow these burritos win me over every time. A food blog (Korena in the Kitchen) suggests the following modifications which I use every time: Use twice the amount of scallions, garlic, and cumin, and throw in a tablespoon or two of the sauce from a can of chipotle peppers en adobo. The pickled onions make the dish and I always make extra because I like my burritos extra pickle-y.

• Salmon salad

  • lisachile on June 25, 2015

    This was very good and easy for everyone to choose the elements they wanted to eat. I added lettuce too. It did take quite a bit longer than I anticipated as there was lots of chopping involved!

  • msmalnick on February 27, 2017

    One of my favorite easy dinners.

  • snoozermoose on December 05, 2021

    This was not my cup of tea. I felt like the salmon got lost in all the veggies, and it never quite came together. I found myself eating the salmon and the veggies separately and preferring it that way. That said, my hubby thought it was good, and I still use Jenny's method of roasting salmon all the time because it came out perfectly cooked and delicious!

  • jhallen on August 12, 2025

    This was a delicious summer night’s dinner. It was generally very easy. Agree with the idea of doing a deconstructed version so people can choose which veggies they like (although I liked them all). Also could do same thing with chicken versus salmon.

• Greek-style shrimp with feta

  • snoozermoose on March 11, 2024

    This did not work for me. The tomatoes were very acidic, and the overall flavor didn't come together for me.

• Mexican chocolate icebox cookies

  • breakthroughc on November 22, 2021

    These are interesting. They are good in a weird sorta way. They are really spicy. My friend just loved them, but I wasn't such a fan and don't think I would make them again. I think there is too much cayenne in them. The good news is that it is easy to eat just one.

  • snoozermoose on December 05, 2021

    We loved these! We like spice and thought the spice level was perfect. Slightly tingly without being obtrusive. They go great with vanilla ice cream. My only gripe is it's hard to tell when they're done because of their color.

• Lazy Bolognese

  • sarahmjames on December 26, 2012

    Made a double batch so we'd have some easy meals in the freezer right after our daughter was born. Very easy and very tasty.

  • spharo00 on March 11, 2013

    I left the onions out of this recipe and instead of using canned tomatoes (which I didn't have in the pantry at the time) I used the same amount of tomato-basil pasta sauce. I cooked it down for a full hour and then served it with lots of fresh Parmesan on top. It was tasty and had a nice bit of sweetness that I enjoyed.

  • westminstr on March 04, 2014

    I doctor this recipe by adding an extra garlic clove and 1 minced anchovy at the beginning. Add the optional wine and skip the water. With these changes, it is a good and easy sauce. It also works well with ground beef.

• Turkey chili

  • westminstr on March 04, 2014

    This chili is very easy, and pretty tasty given the minimal amount of effort involved.

  • snoozermoose on December 05, 2021

    This is the easiest chili recipe I've made, and it's delicious. It's my go-to when I want something quick and tasty.

• Butternut squash soup with apples

  • snoozermoose on December 05, 2021

    The combo of butternut squash and apple was too sweet for us. We wouldn't make this again.

• Baked sausage with apples, potatoes, and onions

  • anwade88 on January 07, 2018

    Simple and good which is sometimes exactly what you need for an autumn dinner. I would make again.

• Spicy shrimp with yogurt

  • ellencooks on August 05, 2015

    These were excellent!

  • snoozermoose on December 05, 2021

    I had really high hopes for this, but it was just okay for us. The shrimp wasn't as flavorful as I hoped, and the yogurt seemed a little out of place.

• Apricot-mustard baked chicken

  • bethihearyoucalling on September 06, 2013

    This was a disappointment. I really wanted this work but the sauce had only affected the test of the skin. The chicken itself was bland.

• Fried flounder with black bean and avocado salad

  • westminstr on March 25, 2014

    A good, basic weeknight meal. Easy to prepare and everyone ate it.

  • Ecngreg5 on October 24, 2019

    Great meal, enjoyed very much!

• Chicken with bacon-y Brussels sprouts

  • arparker23 on October 23, 2016

    Decent way to eat Brussels sprouts. I would at least triple the amount of vegetables called for in the recipe, though.

  • anwade88 on January 07, 2018

    Delicious. I would definitely make this again.

• Orecchiette with sausage and crispy broccoli

  • Kfaber on September 10, 2013

    Very easy weeknight meal- and tasty! Used Italian turkey sausage instead of pork sausage

• Tony's steak

  • westminstr on December 07, 2015

    I really liked this marinade. I cooked the steak inside on my cast iron skillet, a bit of an experiment. For indoor cooking it is easier to just use julia moskin's method with no marinade (dryer meat = better crust). However, I would make this again if using the grill in the summer.

• Monogrammed mini pot pies

  • anwade88 on January 07, 2018

    These are really delicious and the fun factor helps with young kids. I can’t think of a more perfect winter meal and will plan to make this again soon!

• Pork shoulder ragù with pappardelle

  • lisachile on January 03, 2013

    I've made this twice now. I used a drop of liquid smoke instead of hot sauce and did not use all of the fat called for. This was absolutely delicious. Highly recommended.

  • snoozermoose on December 05, 2021

    This recipe is the star of the book! It's insanely delicious (like a really nice Italian pulled pork). We like to serve it tossed with homemade tagliatelle but I imagine it would also be great on polenta. Pairs well with a nice lemony salad. Definitely a crowdpleaser.

  • jhallen on August 09, 2025

    Really delicious and it pretty much takes care of itself.

• Great-Grandma Turano's meatballs

  • westminstr on March 04, 2014

    The sauce recipe is flawed in that it contains 1 Tbsp of sugar and no salt. I tried it as written and it tasted just like it came out of a jar! Not the effect I was going for. I added quite a bit of salt to counteract the sugar and I have to say that once the meatballs had simmered in the sauce and it all rested overnight and was reheated for dinner .... I had a huge hit on my hands. Next time I will reduce the sugar in the sauce to 1/2 tbsp and be sure to season well from the beginning.

  • snoozermoose on December 05, 2021

    This is a solid meatball recipe that I enjoy even if they're not the best meatball recipe out there. The fennel seeds really make them special. I confess I've never used the sauce recipe so I can't comment on that.

  • Monkeyhippy on December 28, 2023

    These were easy and very tasty, though I’m baffled by the quantity of the sauce recipe. I halved everything (and still ended up with 20 meatballs) but had to add sauce I happened to have in my freezer in order for it to be enough to cook the meatballs. Next time I would halve the meatballs recipe (i.e. use 1 lb of beef instead of 2) but make the full sauce recipe.

• Whole wheat spaghetti with caramelized onions, spinach, and Parmesan (The no-mind-game version)

  • snoozermoose on December 05, 2021

    This was disappointingly bland. I was skeptical that something so simple would work, and I was right. Maybe it appeals to her kids but not to us two adults.

• Todd's minty pea dip

  • snoozermoose on December 05, 2021

    I was intrigued by this. I've never had anything like it but thought it was pretty good. It comes together super easily as well and is a nice green color.

• Beluga lentil soup with anchovies

  • snoozermoose on December 05, 2021

    My first time cooking with beluga lentils. Didn't realize the soup would turn black, kinda like a cup of dirty paint water. Not the most attractive dish as a result. The lentils were fine, but the soup itself was too fishy for us (and we both love anchovies!).

• Simple corn-tomato-basil salad

  • westminstr on September 04, 2014

    This salad was a bit *too* simple -- not delicious enough to justify the time cutting the tomatoes. I think some fresh basil would have improved it, also lime juice, garlic ... and pretty soon you have melissa clark's corn salad which is better.

• Beets and goat cheese "fluff"

  • snoozermoose on June 08, 2022

    Easy and tasty. Nothing mindblowing, but it was enjoyed as a simple side dish.

• Asparagus with chopped egg and onion

  • snoozermoose on December 05, 2021

    This was okay. The flavors didn't blow me away, and I was surprised at how much work it ended up being for a side dish, especially on a busy weeknight. I prefer simply roasting my asparagus. That said, this dish did look very pretty on the dinner table.

• Kale with avocado and pickled onions

  • breakthroughc on November 12, 2021

    This is a delicious kale dish. The combination of the pickled onions and avocado with the blanched Kale make a unique and well balanced dish. Hubby really liked it and he isn’t the biggest kale salad fan. I get a lot of kale in the winter in my produce box and will definitely repeat.

  • snoozermoose on August 28, 2022

    Pretty good side dish. It's not so good that I would make it again in a hurry but it's a solid use for kale.

• Kale, sausage, and white bean stew

  • breakthroughc on November 12, 2021

    This is one of my go to weeknight winter dishes. Supper easy and delicious. If you don’t like spice cut back on the red pepper flakes. I make as directed an it is perfect for us, but we like spicy things. Any type of sausage will work.

• Pizza crust

  • anwade88 on January 07, 2018

    This pizza crust is reliable. I find the dryness of the dough a bit annoying to work with. That said I still frequently turn to this recipe.

  • snoozermoose on December 05, 2021

    My go-to pizza dough! Not super easy to stretch but better than some recipes. You really can't beat the ease of this recipe though.

• Sausage and ricotta pizza

  • anwade88 on January 07, 2018

    Wonderful. This is a pizza recipe that is in our regular rotation now.

  • snoozermoose on December 13, 2022

    One of my favorite pizzas!

• Mushroom and onion pizza on whole wheat crust

  • snoozermoose on December 05, 2021

    Pretty tasty. Not the best pizza I've made but a reliable vegetarian option.

• Salad pizza

  • anwade88 on January 07, 2018

    This was interesting. It was different than my imagined idea of “pizza.” I felt it was too light for when I made it (fall) but definitely want to make it again in the spring when light, earthy flavors are better appreciated.

• Pan-roasted chicken thighs with braised leeks

  • snoozermoose on December 05, 2021

    I thought with this combo of ingredients, this would be a knockout, but the sauce was watery and the chicken was bland. The leeks were tasty though!

• Andy's homemade chicken stock

  • anwade88 on January 07, 2018

    Best stock ever. This is less of a recipe and more of a guide to chicken stock. I no longer use the “recipe” but I follow this method every time I make stock. Homemade stock is so worth it!

• Chicken soup with orzo

  • anwade88 on January 07, 2018

    My all time favorite chicken soup recipe. The homemade stock is a must and well worth the effort. This is a wintertime staple here.

• Tomato and white bean soup

  • snoozermoose on December 05, 2021

    An enjoyable hearty vegetarian soup. It went well with some crusty bread and some olive oil.

• Epicurious

  Interview with author Jenny Rosenstrach.

  Full review

• Wednesday Chef

  ...what really touched me about the book was the story of Jenny's marriage with her husband Andy...they seem to be true equals in the kitchen, which is something of a wonder to me...

  Full review