I bought Cooking Light’s ”Fresh Food Fast” awhile ago, but it’s been more recently that I’ve started thinking more about using fresh ingredients. This book gets commendations for making cooking fresh more accessible, especially in our processed-food culture. The book promises that every recipe will be ready in 15 minutes or with less than 5 ingredients, which you know I love with my tiny kitchen.

They do keep that promise, but if you followed the instructions to a T, your grocery bill would be exorbitant. They get around the 15 minute rule largely by calling for pre-cut vegetables and microwaveable rice packets with vegetables included, which are much less cost effective than getting the raw ingredients and doing the grunt work yourself. That said, there are plenty of people out there who just don’t have the time, so this would work great for them! As with any meal plan, you have to manage the time you have vs. your budget and find your own sweet spot.

The recipes are very straightforward, and the photography is gorgeous. There are also helpful tips and recommended sides that come along with each recipe, so it’s a great book for someone who’s just testing the waters doing their own cooking.