Review: The Best Make-Ahead Recipe Cookbook
As a personal chef and mom of three kids, I am always on the lookout for make-ahead recipes that can be reheated and still taste like I just took the dish out of the oven. My go-to sources for recipes and research is the America’s Test Kitchen and Cook’s Illustrated. I picked up a copy of The Best Make-Ahead Recipe cookbook from the editors of Cook’s Illustrated and found a comprehensive reference/cookbook for my make-ahead needs.
Not only does the book contain over 300 recipes, it includes many tips and techniques for just about everything. There are 10 chapters with such topics as Breakfast and Breads, Stews, Chilis and Sauces, Double-Duty Cooking, Slow Cooker Favorites, Oven Ready Entrees, and even Make-Ahead Holiday Menus. Each chapter goes into extensive detail about the topic to be covered, as well as many side notes on tips and techniques used in the recipes in that chapter. Some tips include the best slow cooker or cookware to buy, how to trim various cuts of meat, conversion charts to increase servings per recipe, the best chicken broth, marinara sauce, or pie crust on the market, and the best way to mash potatoes. There are hundreds of such tips throughout the book that make it an invaluable resource.
The recipes are thoroughly explained and include all the steps that were taken to arrive at the best possible resulting dish. Some may find the extreme detail unnecessary, but it provides insight into why such steps were taken. I rarely purchase a cookbook that does not have an overabundance of color photos. Even though this book includes only about 15 full-page color photos, it has illustrations and black and white photos on every page. One feature that I have found to be extremely helpful is that every recipe includes directions for storing (for both refrigerated or frozen items) and for serving the item right away. Not only are the directions given, but it is explained why it is done that way so you can adapt them to other similar dishes.
I would highly recommend The The Best Make-Ahead Recipe cookbook. Recipes are included for the everyday cook, as well as those looking for special occasion dishes. With topics covering all aspects of meal preparation from appetizers to desserts, it is a complete make-ahead meal resource.
