SCIENCES

Dinner: The Playbook; A 30-Day Plan for Mastering the Art of the Family Meal

by Jenny Rosenstrach
Ballantine. Aug. 2014. 240p. notes. index. ISBN 9780345549808. pap. $20. COOKING
COPY ISBN
Rosenstrach (Time for Dinner) regularly dissects the family dinner on her popular blog Dinner: A Love Story, covering topics such as how to shop, choose recipes, and manage stress. When her family fell into a lackluster dinner rut in 2007, the author resolved to cook 30 brand-new dinners in 30 days. Here, she offers busy families a framework for undertaking a similar challenge, giving them an arsenal of meal plans, recipes, and planning tools (e.g., rules, steps, and report cards to capture recipes and feedback). Among Rosenstrach's recipes are superfast weeknight offerings (chicken sausages with kale slaw) and fancier "keep the spark alive" dinners (grilled Thai steak salad) meant to remind readers why they love to cook.
VERDICT Families and novice cooks who accept Rosenstrach's challenge will definitely find a few "keepers" here to add to their repertoire.
Reviewed by Lisa Campbell , Jul 01, 2014
Comment Policy:
  • Be respectful, and do not attack the author, people mentioned in the article, or other commenters. Take on the idea, not the messenger.
  • Don't use obscene, profane, or vulgar language.
  • Stay on point. Comments that stray from the topic at hand may be deleted.
  • Comments may be republished in print, online, or other forms of media.
  • If you see something objectionable, please let us know. Once a comment has been flagged, a staff member will investigate.

RELATED 

NONFICTION

The Best American Science and Nature Writing 2024
by McKibben, Bill & Jaime Green
NONFICTION

Hungry Beautiful Animals: The Joyful Case for Going Vegan
by Halteman, Matthew C.
NONFICTION

The World Beneath: The Life and Times of Unknown Sea Creatures and Coral Reefs
by Smith, Richard
NONFICTION

Power Metal: The Race for the Resources That Will Shape the Future
by Beiser, Vince
NONFICTION

The Church of Stop Shopping and Religious Activism: Combatting Consumerism and Climate Change Through Performance
by González, George
NONFICTION

Not My Type: Automating Sexual Racism in Online Dating
by Williams, Apryl
More
ALREADY A SUBSCRIBER?

We are currently offering this content for free. Sign up now to activate your personal profile, where you can save articles for future viewing

ALREADY A SUBSCRIBER?