2010 HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE AND GIVEAWAY – The I Hate To Cook Cookbook

In case you haven’t figured it out yet, I like cookbooks. When I heard about this one I had to check it out, just because of the name. The fact that this year is the cookbook’s 50th anniversary made it all the more intriguing. Wondering what cookbook I’m referring to? It’s The I Hate To Cook Cookbook.

The I Hate To Cook Book

• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: Grand Central Publishing; 50 Anv edition (July 26, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0446545929
• ISBN-13: 978-0446545921
• suggested price $22.99

About The I Hate To Cook Cookbook

“There are two kinds of people in this world: the ones who don’t cook out of and have NEVER cooked out of The I Hate To Cook Book, and the other kind…The I Hate To Cook people consist mainly of those who find other things more interesting and less fattening, and so they do it as seldom as possible. Today there is an Annual Culinary Olympics, with hundreds of cooks from many countries ardently competing. But we who hate to cook have had our own Olympics for years, seeing who can get out of the kitchen the fastest and stay out the longest.”  – Peg Bracken

Philosopher’s Chowder. Skinny Meatloaf. Fat Man’s Shrimp. Immediate Fudge Cake. These are just a few of the beloved recipes from Peg Bracken’s classic I Hate To Cook Book. Written in a time when women were expected to have full, delicious meals on the table for their families every night, Peg Bracken offered women who didn’t revel in this obligation an alternative: quick, simple meals that took minimal effort but would still satisfy.

50 years later, times have certainly changed – but the appeal of The I Hate To Cook Book hasn’t.

This book is for everyone, men and women alike, who wants to get from cooking hour to cocktail hour in as little time as possible.

My Thoughts

For the record, I don’t hate to cook. There are days however, that after working all day and running around I just flat out don’t want to cook. It’s on those nights that I like to turn to quick and simple recipes. This cookbook is full of those. The book is broken down into chapters – 30 Day By Day Entrees, The Leftover, Vegetables Salad And Salad Dressings, Spuds And Other Starches, Potluck Suppers, Company’s Coming, Luncheon For The Girls, Canapes And Heartburn specials, Desserts, Little Kids Parties, Last Minute Suppers, Household Hints, and Good Cooksmanship. The recipes all contain ingredients you can easily find in your cabinets or local grocery store. Recipe instructions are super easy to understand. The only thing that I wish the recipes had was the cook and prep time, I often make a decision on what to make based on these and hate to have to read through a recipe to find them out. What I like best about this cookbook is that it’s written with humor, so you almost feel like you might have met or know the author. Word of warning, the book does not contain pictures. This book would make a great holiday gift for anyone who doesn’t like to cook, anyone who doesn’t know how to cook and anyone that collects cookbooks.

Check out the I Hate To Cook Cookbook on Facebook – http://www.facebook.com/pages/I-Hate-to-Cook-Book/107710009254196

Here’s a recipe for Seasoned “Baked” Potatoes, from Fix-It and Forget-It 5-Ingredient Favorites, p. 186 by Donna Conto, Saylorsburg, PA

Makes as many servings as you need!

Prep time: 5 minutes

Cooking time: 4-10 hours

Ideal slow-cooker size: large enough to hold the potatoes!

• Ingredients
• potatoes
• olive, or vegetable, oil
• Season-All, or your choice of favorite dry seasonings

1. Wash and scrub potatoes. Rub each unpeeled potato with oil.

2. Put about 1 tsp. seasoning per potato in a mixing bowl or a plastic bag. Add potatoes one at a time and coat with seasonings.

3. Place potatoes in slow cooker as you finish coating them.

4. Cover and cook on High for 4 hours, or on Low 8-10 hours, or until potatoes are tender when jagged.

WIN IT!

THREE WINNERS will each receive a copy of the I Hate To Cook Cookbook.

HOW TO ENTER. (MANDATORY)

To enter leave a comment on this post telling me how you really feel about cooking. Do you enjoy it or do it out of necessity?

BONUS ENTRIES

1 – Leave a comment containing a suggestion on reducing sodium in your family’s diet.
1 – Leave a comment on which of the sandwiches pictures above makes you hungry.
1 – Subscribe to my newsletter. (at top of sidebar)
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1 – Friend me on Facebook. (at top of sidebar)
1 – Blog about this giveaway, including a link here.
1 – Place my button on your blog. (in sidebar)
1 – Visit any of my blogs – Mom Knows It All, Val’s Views and Game Review Network – and leave a comment on any post. Then return here and leave a comment on this post telling me one thing you read or learned there. (That’s two comments you need to leave for this bonus entry, one there and one here.) Unlimited entries for this method of entry.
1 – Visit HereAndThere.US (my Mom) and leave a comment on any post (except a giveaway post) there. Then return here and leave a comment on this post telling me one thing you read or learned on my Mom’s blog. (That’s two comments you need to leave for this bonus entry, one there and one here.) Unlimited entries for this method of entry.

Leave an additional comment for each entry you qualify for. You must have completed the first entry according to the instructions to be eligible for any bonus entries.

THE SMALL PRINT.

US addresses only please. This contest will end on Sunday 10/31/10 at 11:59 pm est.  If you’ve entered any of my giveaways before then you know that only comments containing all of the requested information will be eligible for entry. The winner must contact me to confirm they wish to receive the prize within two days of my email notifying them they’ve won.  Good luck to everyone!

The product(s) featured in this review was provided free of cost to me for the sole purpose of product testing and review. This review has not been monetarily compensated and is based on the views and opinions of my family and/or self. Please note that the opinions reflected in this post have not been influenced by the sponsor in any way.

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED.