Reader's Digest Cook Now Serve Later: More time with the Family less in the Kitchen.

Reader's Digest Cook Now Serve Later: More time with the Family less in the Kitchen. (1989) ISBN:0-89577-314-7

This book is a collection of make ahead recipes, some for the freezer and some just for the fridge or pantry shelf. One negative is that you have to read the recipe to see what type of make-ahead meal it is.

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The recipes are from scratch with common ingredients and include some basic nutrition info. There are also a fair amount of full color photos.

I love the way they incorporated the packaging and storing instructions into the recipes. After the list of ingredients, the directions are broken into numbered steps. Between two steps you'll find a small red upside down triangle. Next to the triangle are the instructions for wrapping and storing the item.

If you can store it more than one way then both ways are listed here. The instructions continue after that as if you hadn't stored the dish, At the end are the serve later instructions on thawing, if necessary, and reheating.

There are recipes for dry pantry mixes, homemade frozen TV dinners, appetizers, fish, meats, grains, veggies, salads, sauces, desserts, breads, picnic and bagged lunches, plus a section on holiday entertaining including complete menus with recipes.

The index is well laid out and easy to use, plus there are handy equivalents and other reference charts on the front and back inside covers. To nitpick, the acknowledgments are more of a bibliography and instead of being by book name or author, it's listed by publisher.

Cook Now Serve Later has some classic family fare and a few dishes that will seem dated by now, but all in all this is a great make ahead cookbook with easy to follow instructions that still deserves a place in your kitchen.

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