{Cookbook Review & Giveaway} Meals in a Jar: Quick and Easy, Just Add Water

Thursday, May 30, 2013
Summer is here, and for many of us that means less of a desire to be in a hot kitchen.

Summer is the perfect time for ready-made meals. Meals where you can reach in the cabinet, pull out a jar, and add liquid, are perfect for busy and hot summer days.

Meals in a Jar to the rescue! Meals in a Jar is a step-by-step cookbook the includes instructions for preparing 125 natural meals from breakfasts to desserts.


I wasn't completely sure of the concept, so I gladly jumped at the offer to take a look at a complimentary copy of the cookbook for myself. I am not a big fan of the types of pre-packaged meals sold in grocery stores. The fresher the meal, the better. But Meals in a Jar offered the convenience of pre-packaged meals without all the preservatives and high levels of sodium.

Here are my thoughts on the book:

PROS

  • I liked the wide variety of recipes in the book. Everything from breakfasts (eggs, breakfast burritos, and granola) to desserts (cookies) was well-represented.
  • The step-by-step instructions are easy to follow.
  • There are tips for where to find many of the items included in the recipes such as powdered eggs and powdered sour cream. (Great! Because I would have no clue where to buy that kind of stuff).
  • The jarred-meals make great gifts and you can have fun with the presentation too.
  • They are easy and healthy alternatives to preparing meals for most occasions.
  • The book also includes tips for canning and vacuum sealing.
  • Most meals will last up to a year if properly canned and sealed.

CONS
  • In most cases, specific equipment is needed such as a dehydator or a vacuum sealer.
  • The recipes are for bulk preparation, often requiring that you make 8-12 meals per recipe.
  • Many recipes use ingredients that are not readily available in most household pantries, such as powdered milk, eggs, sour cream.
  • There is an initial time commitment required to prepare the canned/sealed meals. Although time is saved during cooking, you must set aside a huge chunk of time up front to make the meals.
  • One recipe makes anywhere from 8 to 16 meals. My family of 4 would never eat all of those meals in a year.

This is not the cookbook for me. However, if canning and vacuum sealing are your thing, this book would be the perfect addition to your cookbook collection.

The recipes did sound really yummy though. Most had me drooling. White chocolate cranberry cookies. Green beans with bacon. Mexican bean soup. Who wouldn't love those recipes?

WIN IT! 
If you think you'd like this book, you can enter to win your own copy.
a Rafflecopter giveaway


*Winner will be chosen at random using Rafflecopter and notified via email. Winner will have 48 hours to respond. If winner fails to do so, an alternate winner will be chosen. Same rules will apply to the alternate winner.

Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of Meals in a Jar to facilitate this review. I did not receive monetary compensation to write this review. All opinions are my own.

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