Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Gooseberry Patch cookbook review and GIVEAWAY!

Today is a great day because I get to review the newest Gooseberry Patch cookbook, "Simple Shortcut Recipes." And I have an extra copy to give away! Read on to find out how to enter.
I must say this is one of my favorite GP cookbooks to date, and I have many! These are recipes for every day; you know, the busy days that you just don't have time to make a from-scratch meal, but you don't want to order pizza again. When I receive a new cookbook, I put sticky-notes on every page that appeals to me; there are MANY in "Simple Shortcut Recipes!" For my review, I narrowed it down to three. The first one I tried is called, "Rainy-Day Meatball Stew."


INGREDIENTS:
3 potatoes, peeled and cubed
16-oz. pkg. frozen sliced carrots
1 onion, chopped
3 stalks celery, sliced
12-oz. pkg. frozen meatballs
10-3/4 oz. can tomato soup
10-1/2 oz. can beef gravy
1 Cup water
1.35-oz. pkg. onion soup mix
2 tsp. beef bouillon granules

Place vegetables and meatballs in a slow cooker. In a bowl, whisk together remaining ingredients; pour over vegetables and meatballs. Cover and cook on low for 8 to 10 hours, or until vegetables are tender. Serves 6.

I did not take pictures for the preparation of this dish...honestly, it was so easy that pictures would be totally unnecessary. But I did take one of my daughter enjoying her dinner!
VERDICT: This gets an A+. It is tasty, very easy, and everybody liked it. I will definitely make it again!
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Ok, onto recipe number two..."Kari's Buffalo Chicken Dip." I was really excited when I spotted this recipe, because someone brought a similar dip to a Super Bowl party I went to and I could not get enough! I couldn't wait to make it myself, and this did not disappoint! (NOTE: I made a half recipe, thus the smaller dish and amount of ingredients in the picture; however I printed the recipe as written.)

INGREDIENTS:
2 8-oz. pkgs. cream cheese, softened
1 deli roast chicken, boned and chopped
16-oz. bottle blue cheese salad dressing
1/3 Cup hot pepper sauce, or to taste
tortilla chips

As you can see, I did not use a deli chicken; but for the first time ever, I used canned chicken. I was suspicious at first but it's all white meat, with no preservatives...and it looks good! Great to keep in your pantry, which I now do!
Combine all ingredients except tortilla chips in an ungreased 13" x 9" baking pan. (Mine is 8" square.)
Bake, uncovered, at 375 degrees for 30 minutes, or until hot and bubbly. Serve with tortilla chips. Serves 12 to 16.

REVIEW: Super duper YUM!! In addition to the tortilla chips, I also cut up celery sticks and cucumbers to serve with it. And, Wheat Thins go great with it too. I'm already dreaming about making this again!
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The last recipe I will review is "Best-Ever Pot Roast." Pot Roast is one of my favorite dishes to make in my crockpot, so I love to try out new versions.

INGREDIENTS:
3 lbs. redskin potatoes, quartered
16-oz. pkg. baby carrots
2 onions, sliced
3-lb. beef chuck roast
1 to 2 Tbsps. oil
10-3/4 oz. can cream of onion soup
10-3/4 oz. can cream of celery soup
1/2 Cup water
Sea salt to taste

Place potatoes, carrots and onions in a large slow cooker; set aside. In a skillet over medium high heat, lightly brown roast in oil. Place on top of vegetables. Pour soups and water over roast; sprinkle with salt. Cover and cook on low setting for 10 hours. Serves 6.

REVIEW: As my husband said, this is the BEST pot roast I've ever made! Seriously, the flavors are perfect. I don't have a super-large crockpot so I had to cut down on the amount of veggies I added...even so, it was filled to the top. Cream of Onion soup proved to be hard to find, but they did have it at Walmart. OH! And I did NOT brown the roast first. I didn't have time. It was fabulous without the extra step.
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I hope you liked my review! Let me know if you try any of these recipes, I'd love to hear what you think! Would you like to win a copy of "Simple Shortcut Recipes?" Great! Just leave me a comment on this post by Saturday, March 31st. I will randomly choose a comment number on that date. Please make sure that your email address is provided either as a link to your name or in your comment itself; no email, no entry!

Thanks for visiting and best of luck!

♥ Jen

30 comments:

  1. Jen,
    All the recipes sound yummy! You have made me hungry. I love Gooseberry Patch! I will definitely try the recipes.
    Hugs,
    Donna
    p.s. Love the ladybugs!

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  2. Festive spring/summer background, Jen! I would love a chance to win the cookbook. Sounds like it's right up my alley.

    Carol (NJ)

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  3. I LOVE these cookbooks! You made me hungry from the recipes you posted. I think I'm going to try the Rainy Day Meatball stew since it sounds so yummy & is quick meal to serve from the crock-pot, I love those kind of recipes. Thanks for sharing!!!!!

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    1. Thank you Kim! Don't forget to leave me your email address or else I can't enter you in the giveaway! :-) xo Jen

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  4. I just took out a roast to thaw this morning so tomorrow plan on making the pot roast sounds yummy. e-mail: prmscrapquilt@bendbroadband.com

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  5. We literally eat that dip for dinner in my house. I eat mine with celery to make it healthy! Haha. It all sounds yummy! :-)

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  6. Love the recipe book...my family loves pot roast, we will try it for sure. would love to win a recipe book!

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    1. Thank you Joanna--I need your email to enter you in the contest, pretty please! :-) xo Jen

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    2. Jen, I was on your website and i see you had these sheep in your primitive merchandise. One was checkered ? Do you sell them, Or are they yours ?

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  7. This is so exciting to me...2 of the recipes are for the crock pot and I've been looking for good crock pot recipes since I have been ill and I haven't cooked much in 2 years. It's a shame cause I'm a great cook. Now I have to adapt and need easy recipes that still taste delicious. Well these recipes sound great and I think that cookbook would help me get back to cooking and serving nice meals. I hope I get that chance to own this book. Thanks for sharing. babidoll2012@gmail.com Eva

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  8. sounds like some awesome recipes to try!!!
    I'd love to have this cookbook because I'm always try to whip up something at the last minute!!!

    herkszoo2@q.com

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  9. Cant wait to try the Rainy day meatball stew for my kids and husband. With my crazy life any shortcut for meals is very helpfull. crystalf1@yahoo.com
    love Crystal

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  10. C'mon! Pick my name for this one! I think it's a winner (minus the dip - don't care for buffalo chicken). I could sooooo use quick dinner ideas. Going to put the meatball stew ingredients on my next shopping list. :)

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  11. I'm all about easy recipes! These look like they would work great for my family. Thanks for sharing these recipes!

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  12. Thank you for the great recipes. I love GP cook books. I need to collect more of them. Crock pot recipes are my favorite!!! Sandrastude@yahoo.com...Sandie

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  13. Pot Roast was on the menu for Saturday and now I know what exactly I will be doing with it. Thanks for sharing!! Love GB books. I am proud owner of 40+ books. ladybugmeg78@gmail.com

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  14. All 3 recipes sound yummy!! Love GP cookbooks!! Thanks for sharing the recipes! just.marilyn58@gmail.com

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  15. These recipes sound great. Thanks for the wonderful review complete with photos of happy family members enjoying the dishes. gatorgirlRo@gmail.com

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  16. I have been addicted to Gooseberry Patch cookbooks since they published the first one! These recipes sound yummy! Thanks for sharing them!

    rxmom

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  17. Jen, thanks for the chance to win Simple Shortcut Recipes. I love Gooseberry Patch Cookbooks! :) Teri jtbrian@wavecable.com

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  18. Ohhhh! I check Gooseberry Patch cookbooks out at the library where I volunteer all the time. Would love to win this newest one!:)
    Linda.Earnest@gmail.com

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  19. I like things that are simple and quick. Would love to win a copy to go with my other GP books.

    rmc18mom@gmail.com

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  20. everything sounds great! for sure i am going to try that pot roast! :) Karen

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  21. Jen,
    I made the pot roast yesterday and it was delicious!!
    Hugs,
    Donna

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  22. I saw this GP cookbook at a craft store recently, but had to do the "Want" vs "Need", so I didn't get it. I would love to win a copy though! Thanks for sharing.

    Ursula
    ujwzwei74@gmail.com

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  23. I love your blog, I am your new fan. I also love Gooseberry cookbooks. Would <3 to win the cookbook. Sue smr8fan@att.net

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  24. I love the recipes, thanks for sharing them. I have some of the Gooseberry Patch cookbook and they are wonderful. I can't get enough of them. I have went to garage sales and picked up some older ones, they are still good and I read them from front to back.

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  25. Hi Jen,
    I'm all for simple recipes! I live in La Serena, Chile and don't have access to these cookbooks in hard copy, but I have one in my Kindle and I love it. Your recipes sound like my kind of cooking! My Warmest Regards, Lamar Cancino
    lamarcancino@me.com

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  26. Will try to make all 3 of these recipes! They all sound really good!





    Patricia Clark
    pa-rdclark@att.net

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