The Six O'Clock Scramble: Quick, Healthy, and Delicious Dinner Recipes for Busy Families

I bought this when I returned to work when my daughter was 10 months old. I initially bought it for the downloadable shopping lists, but instead of going by week, I go by seasons, flip through to find 2-3 recipes that jump out at me, and buy the ingredients for those. The next week, I pick up where I left off. The meals have simple ingredients, interesting flavors, and are easy to prepare. 2 minor things: the meals are 30 minutes to prepare, but may take longer to cook, so keep an eye on that. Also, some of the recommended dish sizes are on the small side, so I sometimes size up (9x13 instead of 8x11, for instance) to make sure that it fits well without bubbling over.

I just took over cooking duties for a family of 4. The most I ever cooked was hamburger helper or canned sloppy joe's. Now I feel like a chef! The recipe's are so easy to follow and very tasty. I follow the weekly menu's in the book, so that way we get well balanced meals all week. The on line shopping lists are awsome. Just print it out and head to the store! One of the best things about this book is that it is introducing me to cooking. I am getting more comfortable to start experimenting on my own pretty soon! We have bought 2 books as gifts and recomended to everyone we can. I can't say enough good things about this book!

This cookbook has just been the best I have ever had. The recipes are quick and easy and healthy. We have tried new foods--especially different vegetables. Often they use fresh herbs. Each recipe is simple to make. In the past I tried new healthy recipes and often they didn't taste that great. From young to adult we have loved every one in this book. They are done by seasons so that way you are eating fruits and veggies out at the time. The only complaint I have is that the cover of this book curls back from the time I bought it. I emailed publisher and have not gotten a reply from two weeks ago. When I bought this book for my daughter who is getting married we got it bound and reinforced by Kinkos.

The Scramble hits just the right balance between "easy to prepare" and "good for you recipes." I never feel right just opening boxes and cans of prepared meals and calling that dinner. On the other hand, I need a few shortcuts too! The Scramble seems to emphasize fresh and varied produce and a nice mix of vegetarian and meat meals, perfect for a family like us that is trying to cut down on cholesterol and fat but still needs to churn out meals that appeal to the kids. I love the all the tips and the hints and the format. It lends itself to easy browsing. I have used the shopping list that is available on-line and for most weeks now, I have cut my shopping down to once a week! A great cookbook for those who have hit the "What's for dinner?" wall once too often.

Aviva Goldfarb has focused on a time when craziness and chaos plague many households with children -- dinnertime on weeknights -- and she has offered a method to tame the madness. Organized in a manner that complements and reflects her highly sucessful on-line recipe service,[...], her new book offers recipes organized in a way that makes weekly meal planning, cooking, and grocery shopping easier and less time-consuming. Our family has used the on-line service for at least two years. As a result, we are healthier, our kids try many more foods than they would otherwise (even dishes with vegetables in them!), and cooking is interesting and engaging (because of the variety of recipes) and easy (because of the limited number of ingredients for most recipes and clear instructions). The book, like the on-line service, offers recipes organized by week, and grocery lists are available online. The book's menus loosely follow the seasons of a year, and include many vegetarian options along with more standard fare, as well as soups and salmon recipes more than fancy enough for the occasional dinner guest. Helpful indices included at the back of the book offer both creative and practical approaches to meal planning as well. The Category Index allows you to quickly scan scramble favorites, crowd pleasers, kids' favorites, potluck and picnic dishes, 20 minutes and under dishes, and meals that can be made a day ahead, just to name a few. Nutritional information is provided for each recipe. I have not simply read this book, I have used the recipe service, featuring many of the recipes included in this book, since the service began. I wholeheartedly recommend this book for anyone who ever thought they could not cook, for anyone who wants to cook a little healthier, and for everyone who wants to make their evenings with their kids a little calmer. The Six O'Clock Scramble -- it's not just a book, it's a way of life!