The "What's for Dinner?" Solution, by Kathi Lipp

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Don’t even START to think of this as a cookbook. It’s way beyond that. Sure, there are recipes, but this is a revolutionalize-your-kitchen, change-the-way-your-family-does-mealtime sort of tool. You’ll want to add this to your list of great gifts for newlyweds, but it would really be appropriate for any stage of life.

This book is full of practical advice from cover to cover, and by the time you finish, you’ll be inspired to clean out your cabinets, make room for a pantry, and plan a menu that makes meal-prep much easier. Each chapter is a specific goal. For example, chapter 7 is called “Organize Your Tools” and deals with getting your kitchen set up in a way that is most convenient for you. There are explanations, step-by-step instructions, and ways to work through each chapter as a group, making this perfect for homeschool co-ops, book clubs, or just you and your girlfriends. Okay, this would work for men, too, but the assumption is that the woman of the home will be handling the bulk of kitchen duties.

After dealing with the practical set-up types of tasks, the author gets into how to make a meal plan that fits your family. She deals with shopping, food prep, cooking, and storage of leftovers, with a good bit of information about how to cook for more than one meal at once to save time and money. I’ve read a ton of these kinds of organizational books, but this is the most practical, simple, yet detailed that I’ve come across. Now to put it into practice!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the netGalley.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.