Stir Fried Beef with Garlic and Rosemary

Total Time: 30 minutes

Grade: B-

Make Again: No

Recipe Source: Everyday Food

I  didn't love this as much as I thought I would. It was an Italian twist on stri-fry served on top of polenta.

I guess part of the problem was having trouble getting the broccoli cooked properly. It tasted ok, but I don't think I will make again. The picky eater liked it, and it was easy, so maybe I'll change my mind, but I would cook the broccoli separately probably, then mix it in at the end.

Taco Salad

Prep Time: 30 minutes
Grade: B
Make Again: Yes
Recipe Source: Best 30-Minute Recipes 

This was a simple (and not terribly exciting) recipe.  You make a taco filling and add the extras.  It was good and I'd make it again when I had the ingredients on hand.  I baked up tortilla chips instead of using fried chips.  I also made a lighter dressing with salsa.

Hoisin Chicken Salad

Total Time: 35 minutes

Grade: C+

Make Again: No

Recipe Source: Best 30-Minute Recipes

I know I took a picture of this, but I can't find it. So much for my new photo organization.

This salad was fine, and simple, but not quite worth the effort. I think there are other chicken salads I would go for first before this one. I did adjust the dressing to use less oil and that probably made it less tasty. It was a little too vinegar-y.

Chicken with Rice, Broccoli and Cheddar

Total Time: 40 minutes
Grade: A-
Make Again: Yes
Recipe Source: Best 30-Minute Recipes

I got The Best 30-Minute recipes from the library in hopes that I would start cooking more again since I have a little bit more free time this summer.

All the recipes I've tried previously have been pretty good, and so far the two I tried this week are good options also.

This took longer than it should have because I was just being slow. But it still would probably take a little more than 30 minutes. I used fresh broccoli instead of frozen.

It was really good.

Beef Teriyaki

Total Time: 30 minutes
Grade: A
Make Again: Yes
Recipe Source: Best 30-Minute Recipes

I steamed some broccoli and white rice at the same time as this dish and it all was done within 30 minutes. This was very good and super easy to make. All you need to do is cut the meat in thin slices, and stir the sauce ingredients together. Then cook. To only make the Beef could probably be done in under 20 minutes.

The only ingredient you may need to buy for this is Mirin, which is at most grocery stores in the Asian cooking section. (It is cheaper though if you can get it at an Asian grocery store.)

Skillet Spaghetti and Meatballs

Total Time: 43 minutes

Grade: A-

Make Again: Yes

Recipe Source: Best 30-Minute Recipes

This was very good. The only reason it gets a "-" is because these skillet recipes end up with pasta that really, really soaks up the sauce, and becomes overgrown. It makes the leftovers not quite a good. 8 oz of pasta ended up feeling like a pound becuase it grew so much. I used 85% beef for this and it worked fine, instead of meatloaf mix. I also used less olive which was also fine. The only trouble I had was with the bread not mashing easily enough. Maybe I didn't cut enough of the crumbs off. I might just use fresh breadcrumbs next time. Getting out the food processor would add time, but maybe not, since I struggled with the bread pieces and that slowed me down.

Skillet Penne with Chicken Sausage

Total Time: 40 minutes

Grade: A

Make Again: Yes

Recipe Source: The Best Chicken Recipe

This was good. I've tried a lot of the skillet pasta recipes don't always like them. Actually, I usually like them, but feel like they are more effort than I want. This one is pretty easy. The total time is not all work, and entire dish probably could be made in less than 30 minutes if you were quick. (I bet this recipe is in the Best 30-Minute cookbook too, or at least something VERY similar.)

I loved that this had spinach in it, so it truly is a one-pot meal. I might add more spinach next time (just because I like it!) I felt like the Pine nuts were kind of lost in this dish, so I may just skip them next time.

Skillet Tuna Casserole

Total Time: 30 minutes

Grade: A-

Make Again: Maybe

Recipe Source: Cook's Country (February 2005)

Recipe Source: Best 30-Minute Recipes

This was very tasty, but I am reluctant to use this recipe a lot just because it uses a lot of heavy cream (why it was so tasty, of course!) It was good and very easy. I replaced the mushrooms with some roasted red peppers, and that is a great sub. But I will use regular peppers instead of roasted, because the charred bits were unappetizing.

Italian Sausage with Peppers, Onion and Potatoes

Total Time: 37 minutes

Grade: B

Make Again: No

Recipe Source: Best 30-Minute Recipes

This was fine, but I didn't love the potatoes in it, so I would probably just stick with the Hoagie version next time which is a little bit easier.

I used less sausage then recipe called for and I would have preferred more.

30-Minute Black Bean Soup

Prep Time:25 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes

Grade: B

Make Again: Probably not

Recipe Source: Best 30-Minute Recipes

This was fine, but I didn't love it as much as the long cooking version. Since the long version is not hard, it just takes time, I don't mind doing that one, and will probably stick to that recipe instead. Especially because it freezes so well, that I can have the leftovers when I need a quick meal.

Italian Sausage, Pepper and Onion Hoagie

Total Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: minutes

Grade: A

Make Again: Yes

Recipe Source: Best 30-Minute Recipes

This was quick and easy. AND there was time to clean up during final cooking, which I really like. I did spend more time browning the sausage than recommended, otherwise it might have been even quicker.

Moroccan-Style Chickpea Soup

Total Time: 26 minutes

Grade: A

Make Again: Yes

Recipe Source: Best 30-Minute Recipes

This was very delicious and super quick. The one thing I would change is to skip brining some ingredients to a boil in a separate saucepan. I believe it would be just fine to have this recipe take a few minutes longer than 30 minutes, and have one less pot to clean.

I used very old saffron, so I wonder if it could just do without. I wondered about the ground ginger in it, but it all tasted very good and I will probably make this again for a quick and healthy dinner.

Skillet Sopa Seca

Total Time: 30 minutes

Grade: A

Make Again: Yes

Recipe Source: Best 30-Minute Recipes

This is good and similar to a Cover & Bake recipe for Sopa Seca that I reviewed earlier, although is finished a little faster. In a way prefer being able to finish in the oven, but this one is done faster.

I MUST REMEMEBER to stop using my skillet and use my Dutch oven instead. I am having a lot of trouble with these 30-minute skillet suppers fitting in my pan and it is making cooking a little bit stressful and messy. I am using the asked for 12", but perhaps mine is a bit small.

I used half the amount of called for chorizo, because that was all I had, and I think I would always do it this way, because the chorizo has a strong flavor. I used the cured kind, not the crumbly kind that is easier to find at the store.

I also substituted cheddar for the jack cheese, and kindney beans for the black beans because that was what I had on hand. It was a clean out the fridge and pantry dish for me today.

Skillet Strata with Cheddar and Broccoli

Total Time: 35-40minutes

Grade: A

Make Again: Yes

Recipe Source: Best 30-Minute Recipes

This recipe works great with any bits of veggies and cheese that you have. I use it all the time to use up leftovers. Sausage and ham work well in here too.

I adjusted the main 30-Minute Skillet Strata recipe to use broccoli. I want to have a vegetable serving in it when I make this, which I think will be frequently, because it is delicious and fairly easy. So, it took me a little longer than 30 minutes, because of prepping and blanching the broccoli. I think it is important to dry the broccoli after blanching because there was a little extra liquid.

Also, I need to get my oven preheated before I even start, because it takes so long to preheat. I never got it up to 425, and it took much longer to cook. I used less butter in my version and I don't think it suffers from it.

I used 3 slices of wide pan bread, which worked better than the 5 called for. I had trouble last time fitting it all in.

So here is my version:

Skillet Strata with Cheddar and Broccoli
Serves 4

1 large bunch of broccoli, cut florets off into small pieces
2 T. unsalted butter.
1 small onion minced
salt
ground pepper
6 large eggs
1 1/2 c. milk (whole is best tasting, but skim works too)
1 teaspoon minced fresh thyme (or 1/2 t. dried)
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
3 slices high-quality sandwich bread, cut into 1-inch squares (or 4-5 slices, if using smaller bread)

Prep ingredients first, because you will be doing several things at once.

1. Preheat oven to 425, and adjust rack to middle position.

2. Melt butter in 10" ovensafe nonstick skillet over medium-high heat, swirling to coat. Add onion and 1/2 teaspoon of salt. If using dried thyme add now. Cook until onion softened about 6 minutes.

3. Meanwhile, bring an inch of water to a boil in a saucepan. Add broccoli, and cook for 1 minute until bright green (but not completely tender). Drain and lay on some paper towels to absorb extra water. Pat tops dry.

4. Meanwhile, whisk eggs, milk, fresh thyme and 1/4 teaspoon of pepper in large bowl. Stir in cheese.

5. Toast bread by carefully folding into skillet with onions until evenly coated. Cook until lightly toasted, 3-4 minutes.

6. Add eggs to skillet, and fold together until slightly thickened and bread is soaking up eggs.

7. Finish in oven until puffed and edges pull away from sides, about 12 minutes.

Serve right away.

Corned Beef Hash

Total Time: 32 minutes

Grade: A

Make Again: Yes

Recipe Source: Best 30-Minute Recipes

I had a tiny bit of trouble with the recipe, because the bacon takes longer for me to cook than recipes tell me it should. Perhaps I need to chop it smaller. Also, the "minced" onions it called for started to over-brown. So I will chop the bacan smaller and the onions larger next time.

I haven't had hash in ages, and this was great. I definitely will have it again, if only to use the rest of the bag of the hash browns that I bought.

Soba Noodles with Pork

Total Time: 29 minutes

Grade: B

Make Again: Probably not

Recipe Source: Best 30-Minute Recipes

I replaced the mushrooms (stir-fried) with broccoli (steamed in skillet), to suit my tastes. This was good and fine, and I did finish in less than 30 minutes, for once. But, it left my kitchen a disaster. I need to allow myself more time to prep and clean before I start cooking. If it takes 10 minutes more, it will save me 10 minutes later when I'm cleaning up, and I'll feel less stressed!

The flavors were fine on this, but nothing special, so I do think I will stick with other favorite stir-fry recipes.

Migas

Total Time: 25 minutes

Grade: A-

Make Again: Maybe

Recipe Source: Best 30-Minute Recipes

This was very good and easy. The only problem with the recipe is that it uses baked Tortilla chips, which I don't love on their own. I bought some, and they are expensive, and that doesn't really seem reasonable for a quick egg dinner. But sometimes I do have extra corn tortillas, so maybe I would make my own chips by spraying with oil then baking.

Skillet Spinach Strata

Prep Time: 23 minutes
Cook Time: 12-15 minutes

Grade: A

Make Again: Yes

Recipe Source: Best 30-Minute Recipes

Actually, this took me 40 minutes, and I still was not sure that the insides were cooked through. However, my oven was not at the specified 425, because it takes so long to preheat. Next time, I must start preheating before I start the recipe. That would save 5 minutes. The rest of the time overage came from spilling and cleanup, and possibly just being slower than the ATK cooks! I took more than the 3 minutes to toast the bread, because my pan was overflowing. I used 4 slices of a wide pan bread instead of 5 of regular, and maybe that was still too much.

Anyway, this recipe was excellent. I reduced the butter from 4 T to 2 T and it worked just fine. There was still a buttery taste to the final product. The only complaint I had was that a few bites had too much garlic. It was hard to distrubute evenly with the bread, so I will have to do that with more care next time.

Skillet Penne

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 18 minutes

Grade: A

Make Again: Yes

Recipe Source: Best 30-Minute Recipes

I didn't make it under 30 minutes, but I was close. I think the key is to start heating my pan right away while I was getting the garlic ready and prepping for the sauce. That might cut out 5 minutes actually.

This was very good, but I would prefer to have a flavorful sauce without the cream. I think I will try making with some italian sausage next time instead. To keep it quick, I could saute some bulk sausage in a separate pan, while pasta is cooking and add it before baking. I don't like putting my non-stick pan in a super hot oven (475) so I did transfer everything to a casserole, where it barely fit. That does mean one more pan to cook, but it seems safer to me.

UPDATE: The leftovers of this were not very good (especially those frozen and reheated). The pasta really became quite mushy. That is to be expected for this type of dish, but it seemed much more so than normal. I'm guessing the cooking method contributed.

Cookbook - The Best 30-Minute Recipe

Another Cook's Illustrated cookbook. Some of the recipes are simplified versions of previous recipes in other cookbooks. Some are brand new. I prefer the completely brand new recipes, because once I have tried the best version of something that is what I want.

Too see all reviewed recipes from the book, click here or on the 30min label below.