• jaelsne on April 29, 2010

  Everything that I've made from this cookbook turned out very well. The tastes are quite complex, considering the cooking ease. I like that Ellie Krieger includes side dishes that complement the main dish both in recipe timing and flavor.

Notes about Recipes in this book

• Start-right smoothie

  • mharriman on May 13, 2022

    The overwhelming flavor of this smoothie is wheat germ which I liked rather than loved. This was very easy and fast to prepare. Although filled with mostly healthy ingredients, it’s a pretty hefty calorie drink. Mine was 448 calories because I used 2% milk.

• Cherry-vanilla smoothie

  • hbakke on February 21, 2022

    Nice smoothie. I used almond milk and plain yogurt, but I think it needed the added sweetness from vanilla yogurt.

• Mocha java smoothie

  • southerncooker on March 10, 2022

    Made a half recipe. I used instant expresso powder and almond milk in this. It was delicious.

• Spicy egg and avocado wrap

  • southerncooker on February 26, 2022

    I made day before as suggested. It held up fairly well. I used Mae Ploy for the Chili sauce, Romain for the lettuce, and Joseph's Multi grain flat bread for the wrap.

• Cinnamon raisin toast with honey-walnut spread

  • southerncooker on February 10, 2022

    This was a quick, easy and tasty breakfast. I used a pear, but think it would also be delicious with a peach or apple. I ate mine with two chicken maple sausage links.

• Vanilla spice oatmeal

  • southerncooker on March 05, 2022

    This was delicious. I made one serving. My milk was spoiled, so I used 2 tablespoons vanilla almond creamer and 2 tablespoons water mixed to pour over finished Oatmeal. I used golden raisins in this and light brown sugar.

• Egg in a basket with smoked turkey and asparagus

  • southerncooker on February 24, 2022

    This was a delicious version of eggs in a hole. The asparagus and turkey were a nice and tasty addition. I used sprouted wheat bread I found at Aldis. Delicious.

• Chocolate and strawberry stuffed French toast

  • southerncooker on February 26, 2022

    I used dark chocolate since I didn't have bittersweet. For the bread I used sprouted wheat and flax bread. I'm not a fan of ricotta so I used low fat cottage cheese. Delicious.

• Asian chicken wrap

  • southerncooker on February 24, 2022

    Delicious and easy. I used Joseph's Multi grain flax Flatbread for the wrap.

• Roast beef sandwich with watercress and horseradish sauce

  • southerncooker on February 11, 2022

    I can't find watercress in my neck of the woods, so I used a baby mix of kale, spinach, and chard. I really enjoyed the sauce on this. It called for 2 tablespoons per sandwich, but I thought one was plenty. I did toast my sandwich and warmed the deli roast beef before adding my toppings.

  • mharriman on November 02, 2022

    I don't think you need a recipe to make a roast beef sandwich, but the sauce in this recipe takes the basic ingredients to the next level for an outstanding-tasting sandwich. Served with cauliflower soup. Will repeat.

• Tortellini-spinach soup

  • rrwrites on March 08, 2017

    The seasoning was lacking. It smelled so good but tasted bland. I would triple the dried seasonings. Also, this is only make ahead if you do not add the pasta. Or if you cook the pasta and store it seperately .

• Beef stroganoff with green beans and grainy mustard

  • jaelsne on April 27, 2010

    Delicious! Not anywhere near as creamy as the full-fat versions, but I think I prefer this "lightened up" recipe. It took more pots and pans than I would have liked, but it was worth it. I think I'll cook the noodles before making the rest of the dish the next time I make it (or use leftover noodles). The green beans were super-easy and tasted great. Ellie Krieger never lets me down!

  • eve_kloepper on April 12, 2013

    delicious for a weeknight. for guests or special occasions I'd make a traditional version with sour cream etc.

• Emerald stir-fry with beef

  • Jane on November 12, 2011

    Good, healthy stir-fry with lots of healthy veggies. I served it to three teenage girls who loved it.

  • mharriman on October 08, 2022

    I agree with Jane. This healthy recipe has an abundance of green vegetables. I added some hoisin sauce to the soy sauce and wine mixture for additional umami.

• Steak chimichurri with grilled garlic bread and grilled tomatoes

  • mharriman on June 14, 2024

    Wonderfully flavorful. I followed the directions for the steak, chimichurri sauce, and grilled tomatoes, and all three were excellent. Instead of the garlic bread, I baked two russet potatoes in the oven for our carb side. “Definitely make again” was my husband’s verdict.

• Better burger with green olives and creamy broccoli slaw

  • mharriman on August 19, 2023

    I cut all the ingredients in half for two of us. We liked the burgers and the slaw. The beef hamburgers had an interesting flavor with just a small amount of cumin combined with green olives and parsley. This was an Easy and simple weeknight dinner that was satisfying.

• Chipotle orange glazed pork chops with maple squash puree and spinach-green apple salad

  • aeader on August 20, 2017

    Cooked these on the grill. Very quick and tasty, although the flavors weren't as strong as I had hoped (but still very good). Didn't have OJ concentrate so used fresh and boiled it down to reduce.

  • mharriman on April 15, 2022

    Very good. Made all three components and we thought they complemented each other well. I didn’t have already-cooked butternut squash. I used a 12 ounce package of frozen microwaveable diced butternut squash and put the cooked squash in a pan and added the maple syrup and butter once microwaved. While on the stovetop, it did turn mostly into a purée. I made the spinach salad while pork chops were pan grilling. My pork chops were quite thick. I pan-grilled them for 5 minutes on each side. They were slightly pink on inside after 10 minutes —just right for our preference, not overdone but not underdone either. Will repeat, especially in Fall.

• Savory peach chicken

  • amandabeck on October 14, 2022

    Tasty way to jazz up boring chicken breasts. Ate leftovers for lunch which saved well.

• Panzella with chicken sausage

  • mharriman on June 07, 2022

    Just okay, nothing special. Husband and I found the amount of baguette chunks overpowered the rest of the ingredients and didn’t do much for them. We decided we prefer a baguette with olive oil for dipping on the side of a salad rather than in it. Not sure if that’s a personal preference or because of the ho-hum way the overall salad tasted to us. This salad recipe needs spices or different ingredients to make it pop with flavor. The pan-fried sausage was fine on the side but was really just there as an added protein. The salad would work with most any protein and definitely more exciting ones than plain chicken sausage.

• Flounder with almond topping, saffron rice and lemon broccolini

  • chefdiane on June 16, 2019

    Only did the fish - but it was a hit!

• Garlic-basil shrimp

  • mreils on August 02, 2018

    This is basic but good. I used more garlic than called for and also seasoned the orzo with herbs to add flavor.

• Salmon with chickpea ragu

  • jaelsne on February 02, 2012

    This was the kind of simple, rustic meal that made me imagine I was at a bistro somewhere near the Mediterannean. I made it just as written. The spicing made the vegetables sing!

  • mreils on August 02, 2018

    I had way too much liquid. If I make it again, I"d only use 3 cups of broth. Added more garlic and pepper. Still think ragu could have had more seasoning. It was easy to prepare.

  • mharriman on September 22, 2023

    I agree with mreils: way too much liquid. The ragu was more a soup than anything. I had and used half of the required fresh basil. Maybe that’s why the ragu was so bland, but I don’t think so. It needs more seasonings. Our Alaskan coho salmon fillets were superb but that’s due to the quality of the fish rather than the recipe. Not one of our favorite Ellie Krieger recipes- by a long shot. 5/4/24 update: reduced the broth by half and the outcome was much better.

• Prosciutto-wrapped cod with pesto potatoes and green beans

  • mharriman on June 08, 2022

    Very easy recipe that tastes great. Very straightforward directions. Even though there were just a few ingredients this added up to more than the sum of its parts. The prosciutto crisps up almost like bacon and delivers a bacon-like flavor. It also seals in the cod flavor and juices. The pesto potatoes and green beans were nice accompaniments.

• Sesame shrimp fried rice with cabbage

  • jaelsne on April 14, 2025

    Not a pretty dish for company, but a delicious and very easy weeknight meal. A lot cheaper than Chinese takeout and just as tasty.

• Pasta primavera

  • mharriman on May 25, 2022

    Very good. This was one of the better pasta primavera recipes I’ve tried- not too dry nor overwhelmed by sauce either. Like some of her her other recipes, there is lots of chopping. I found that prepping everything ahead of cooking made for a smooth cook time. I used DeLallo whole wheat penne rigate pasta - nice- and used all of the other ingredients listed. Satisfying main dish. Pinot Grigio went well with the pasta.

  • Rachaelsb on June 04, 2022

    Satisfying dish-nothing earth shattering but sometime you just need simple flavors that aren’t overdone.

• Asian noodle bowl

  • mharriman on December 31, 2023

    I halved all the ingredients for two people and still had enough for leftovers. Lots of fresh vegetables! This was a fast, easy recipe and tasted pretty good. I used leftover chicken from a whole roasted one, and that made the cooking even faster.

• Shrimp fra diavlo with spinach

  • wkhull on October 17, 2018

    I was out of white wine (yes, tragedy) and had to substitute a dry hopped cider; worked out great. I also unhealthified the recipe by serving with grated Parmegiano Reggiano.

• Sirloin steak with grainy mustard sauce and parmesan steak "fries"

  • mharriman on April 14, 2022

    Tasty. I had to make a couple changes, though: 1) steak ‘frites’ were turning brown at 15 minutes, so I sprinkled the cheese on them then, baked another 5 minutes, and put sheet pan in warming oven. Total time: 20 minutes not 35-40. 2) my 15 ounce sirloin steak was an inch + thick and raw on inside at 8 minutes. I sliced into strips and continued cooking for another 4-5 minutes. 3) liquid ingredients for shallot- mustard sauce thickened more quickly than times Author detailed, so I just offed heat until steak was finished. With three components going on at once, you really have to monitor what’s going on, but very doable if you’re not distracted. Beefsteak tomato was a nice addition but didn’t add a lot of flavor pop. A green salad with tomatoes would be my preference next time.

• Creamed spinach

  • jaelsne on January 20, 2010

    I thought that this recipe was just so-so, but fine as a low-fat alternative to yummy, rich, creamed spinach. I must admit I've never found an exceptional recipe for a low-fat creamed spinach.

• Aromatic beef stew with butternut squash

  • RenoCzar on February 15, 2011

    excellent flavor, easy to prepare

  • Rinshin on February 20, 2015

    Made this for 2 servings but the end result is more like 4 servings. Fun and delicious use of butternut. Taste is somewhat reminiscent of other Middle Eastern foods with the use of cinnamon, cumin, and hot pepper flakes. Certainly easy to make for weeknight meals. Serve with couscous of your choice. Takes about 1 hr, but I cooked it longer for more savory taste and softer beef.

• Baked beans with ham and green apple and cabbage salad

  • mharriman on April 20, 2022

    Very tasty! I had ham leftover from a family Easter dinner and recipe fit the bill. This was an easy and fairly quick mid-week recipe to put together. I made both components which husband and I liked together as a full meal. For the ham and beans- The ham complemented the beans and the beans complemented the ham. Molasses added a lot of flavor. Definitely will put on repeat. The liquid amount for the salad needs to be cut in half. I added more cabbage to make 12 ounces in order to soak up the liquid, but there was still a pool on the bottom of the bowl. Even with that issue, the drained salad itself was satisfying.

• Green apple and cabbage salad

  • mharriman on April 20, 2022

    The ingredient amounts are off for this salad. 1/4 cup of water added to the other dressing ingredients creates way too much liquid for the cabbage, scallions, and apples to absorb. Next time, I’ll cut the water by half (at least). This time, I increased the cabbage from 8 to 12 ounces, and there was still way too much liquid. Draining the salad components worked but I’d rather have the correct liquid amount to begin with. Overall, after draining the extra liquid, this salad was good (rather than great). It did go well with the ham and beans recipe on the preceding page.

• Chicken paella with sausage and olives

  • jaelsne on December 08, 2013

    I was unsuccessful with a different paella recipe, but I had all the ingredients at home (except chorizo) and decided to give this recipe a try. It's terrific! I surprised myself with this dish that was pretty easy but looks complex. My family loved it!

  • jaelsne on January 17, 2016

    An update--I made this again after a long break. It is indeed a delicious recipe. I may add shrimp when I make it again to add to its flavor. Note that you only need a couple of saffron threads--a little goes a long way.

  • mharriman on August 06, 2023

    I substituted chicken breasts for thighs and kalamata olives for Spanish because that's what I had on hand. This Paella recipe is easier to put together than most I've made, mainly because the bulk of the cooking is in the oven. Husband and I liked it a lot. Definitely good enough to repeat.

• Marinated chicken and grape skewers with garden lentil pilaf

  • mharriman on October 01, 2022

    This recipe made an interesting version of a dish with Middle Eastern spices with the seedless grapes adding a contrasting burst of tart flavor. I liked this better than my husband did. He said it was okay but nothing more. As promoted, easy to prepare and cook. The salad would be good on its own or as an accompaniment to lamb or beef. Hearty on a stormy night.

• Lemon-garlic turkey breast with roasted rosemary potatoes and brussels sprouts

  • jaelsne on March 26, 2010

    Delicious. It's nice that Ellie Krieger suggests easy-to-make side dishes.

  • jaelsne on December 01, 2017

    Updating notes for some of my favorite recipes. This one has remained in rotation for a number of years. It's easy and delicious.

• White turkey chili

  • nadiam1000 on March 01, 2019

    Delicious recipe - so flavorful. I used cut up chicken breast and a larger can of hominy. I did not have any ground coriander so I skipped it. I will add it next time if I have it, but the flavor was outstanding and even better the next day.

  • SalsaSister on January 30, 2022

    This is my favorite white chili recipe. I add 1/4 cup of half and half or 1 T. Heavy cream to make it a bit creamier and comforting.

• New tuna noodle casserole

  • AnnBanana on December 13, 2025

    Stunningly good for a healthy recipe.

• Salmon florentine and quinoa pilaf with pine nuts

  • Jane on July 19, 2011

    I really wanted to make this but I had cod not salmon so did it with that. The Florentine topping was quick and easy to make and had a great flavor from the sun-dried tomatoes, spinach and red pepper flakes. I served it with the suggested quinoa pilaf. Will definitely be making this again.

  • mharriman on May 06, 2023

    I liked the spinach and mozzarella topping but found using king salmon fillets didn't quite work. My king salmon was very thick, so I increased the bake time by five minutes. The center middle of the fish was still nearly raw and the outside edges were dry. This recipe would work better with a thinner fillet variety like coho. The quinoa pilaf went nicely, and it’s a good side dish to keep in mind for other fish entrees.

• Quinoa pilaf with pine nuts

  • Jane on July 19, 2011

    Good everynight side dish. Very quick and easy, good flavor from the fried onions and the parsley and texture from the pine nuts. I served it with the suggested fish.

• Cioppino

  • jaelsne on August 07, 2010

    Delicious and oh so easy. I may make a batch of the sauce/base ahead of time. It only takes five minutes to throw the seafood in the sauce and finish the dish. My family went crazy when I served it. A perfect recipe!

• Mixed berry cobbler

  • jaelsne on January 27, 2010

    This recipe came together in just minutes, and was delicious! I served it to a small group of women, and they loved it. You need to remember to thaw the frozen berries--I just stuck them in the fridge the night before. Yum!

  • SalsaSister on January 26, 2021

    One of my favorite easy, healthy-ish recipes. I use fresh berries instead of frozen with great results.

  • SalsaSister on April 28, 2026

    Made this a couple of times with both fresh and frozen berries. Both work beautifully. If I don’t have an orange, I use lemon zest. Still adds freshness and isn’t sour.