annieb123
Written on Jul 8, 2020
Healthy Meal Prep Slow Cooker Cookbook is a recipe collection and meal plan guide by Lauren Keating. Released 30th June 2020 by Callisto on their Rockridge Press imprint, it's 174 pages (for the print copy) and available in paperback and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.
The book has a logical and easy to follow format. Following an introductory chapter which covers the background how-to of slow cooking and how to incorporate it in meal planning, other necessary tools, supplies, and ingredients, the following chapters include the recipes, arranged thematically by meal type: breakfast, soups stews and chili, vegetarian and vegan items, seafood and poultry, pork lamb and beef, and finally partial recipes for staples and other ingredients. Nutritional information is included in the footer at the end of the recipes and includes calories, fat, carbohydrates, proteins, fiber, and sodium.
The recipes have their ingredients listed bullet style in a sidebar. Measurements are given in US standard only. Special tools and ingredients are also listed, along with yields and cooking directions. Special classifications for each recipe (gluten free, nut free, 5 ingredient, vegan, etc) are included in a header bar. Most of the ingredients are easily sourced at any moderately well stocked grocery store. The book also includes a short author bio and a metric conversion chart, but lacks any index or a general ingredients index. The recipes themselves are varied, and represent a number of world cuisines. They're tasty and easily prepared and many are simple and easy to prepare, requiring few ingredients and little prep time.
My main quibble with the book is that the recipes are mostly not photographed. There are a few photos, and they're clear and attractive, but they only represent about 5% of the recipes included in the book. It is, however, a very well written book with a positive and upbeat "vibe". PS The Korean-inspired beef wraps are *phenomenally* delicious.
Four stars.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.