Do you ever get bored with what you serve for dinner? I sure do – and so does my family. I tend to stick with the same meal options. Every day I say to myself I need to make something different.
I have a lot of recipe books – and there are plenty of great recipes I would like to try out. The problem is that I just don’t have the time to measure and weigh things, not to mention buy ingredients that I don’t normally have on hand. I need recipes that are simple to make.
I started a new job last month so I went from working in the morning to working in the late afternoon. By the time I leave work, pick my daughter up from her job, and get home it’s already 5:30 – 5:45. My husband gets home from work at 5:45. Most of the time he’s starving so I don’t have time for something that has a lot of prep work. I need something I can literally throw together and can be on the table in around 30 minutes or less.
Are you familiar with author Cathy Mitchell? She wrote the book Quick & Easy Dump Cakes. I wrote about her book last year. You can read the review here – Cathy Mitchell’s Quick & Easy Dump Cakes.
The term “dump” might not sound appealing – but it’s not as weird as it sounds. By “dump” Cathy is referring to dumping things into a pan, pot or dish without the need for weighing and measuring.
Cathy has another book with is very similar except this one focuses on main meals. It’s appropriately entitled Dump Dinners.
Dump Dinners is the same concept as Dump Cake – it’s meals with require few ingredients, little to no prep work and can be on the table in around 30 minute or less (some might take a wee bit longer).
Dump Dinners features around 250 recipes including soups, stews, main meals, breakfast, appetizers – even recipes for larger crowds.
Some of the recipes you’ll find within the pages include;
- Chicken Tortellini Bake
- Orange chicken
- Deep Dish Pizza
- Minestrone Soup
- Beef & Broccoli
- Meatball Casserole
- Meatloaf “Muffins”
- Mexican Pizza
- Lettuce Wraps
- Fijitals
- Lasagne
and much more!
One of the easiest recipes I have tried is lasagna. I would never attempt to make lasagna the traditional way. It just seems like a lot of work and too time consuming. The Dump Dinners recipe is so much easier. All you need is pasta sauce (jar), frozen ravioli (beef or cheese – we used cheese), shredded cheese and spinach (optional). Just like you would with a lasagna you simply layer the ingredients (sauce, ravioli, spinach, cheese… repeat). Then pop it in the oven and bake for the recommended time and BOOM! Lasagna! To be honest with you it tastes just like a traditional lasagna. You don’t notice the difference in taste (you do notice the ravioli but that doesn’t effect the taste at all).
One of my favorite things about the recipes in this cookbook is that many recipes that would call for a traditional dough are replaced with pre-made biscuit dough. It makes things a lot easier and quicker. In the past I would make my own dough. Now I use canned biscuit dough for a lot of recipes I’d make my own dough.
In addition to the recipes you’ll find pages with short cuts and substitutions, money saving ideas and make ahead recipes for things like chicken, beef and eggs.
You can also check the back of the book for a specific ingredient and it will give you the page number/numbers of the recipe/recipes that utilize that ingredient.
You can do the recipes “as is,” but I prefer to adapt them to my family’s preferences. I add my own seasoning (mostly black pepper, garlic and occasionally onions). You can also add in a few ingredients you feel would add to the recipe. Most recipes are very flexible allowing you to make them your own.
The only thing about the book I wish was different was the number of photos. There are only a few pages with color photos. I prefer to have photos of all the recipes (or at least most of them). I like to make sure the finished product looks the way it’s supposed to. Not only that, I am more likely to try a recipe when I can see it then just reading it off a page.
If you would like to learn more about this book visit BuyDumpDinners.com. You can also check out Dump Dinners on Facebook.
This book would make a great addition to your cookbook library. It would also make a great gift for newlyweds, new home owners, a college student or someone who simply doesn’t have the time to cook extravagant meals.
Do you own this book or any other book from Cathy Mitchell? What do you think about “dump” cooking and baking? Feel free to share your thoughts. I always love to hear from readers.
Kimberly
*I received a free product sample in order to do this review. There was no compensation. The opinions expressed are my own and not influenced in any way.
Janet W. says
Sounds like some great recipes! I’d love to try the Minestrone Soup recipe.
Cynthia R says
As the holiday season gears up I’m going to need some new easy to follow/do recipes to keep us going.
Natalie Brown says
I do get tired of deciding what to make for dinner. These dump recipes sound easy and delicious! I especially like the orange chicken and meatball casserole. Quite tasty!
Amy Z. says
I love easy recipes that don’t require a lot of time. I’d love to try making the Mexican pizza!