Category: Cookbooks

Posted in Cookbooks

Mostly Meatless

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

Green Up Your Plate Without Totally Ditching the Meat

200+ plant-forward recipes for the modern-day omnivore looking to eat less meat

Vegetables take center stage in globally inspired nutritious meals, perfect for anyone following a Mediterranean diet

Attention plant-curious cooks, occasional vegetarians, even conflicted carnivores—anyone looking to reduce their meat consumption. This vibrant collection fills a needed middle ground with 200+ hearty recipes that center vegetables and make meat the sidekick. (About half the recipes include some form of meat!)

  • Re-engineers Your Favorites with Less Meat: Swiss Chard Enchiladas, Mostly Meatless Meatballs and Marinara, Bacon and Cheese Black Bean Burgers, and Parsnip and Chicken Shawarma bulk up comforting favorites with plants, while paring down the meat.
  • Vegetables at the Center (with Meat as a Seasoning): Embrace anchovies, bacon, and chorizo to season a heap of vegetables with a little meat—like in our Almost Beefless Beef Stew, Caldo Verde, and Breakfast Fried Rice with Spinach and Shiitakes.
  • Flavors from the Mediterranean, Asia, Central America, and Beyond: Recipes take inspiration from healthful eating traditions around the world, whether you’re craving Okonomiyaki, Hot Ukrainian Borscht, Peruvian Arroz con Pollo, or Mapo Tofu.
  • Emphasizes Ease and Efficiency: Cooking more plants doesn’t have to mean spending more time shopping or chopping. We streamlined at every stage of our recipes—leaning on widely available ingredients and shelf-stable pantry goods—to give you time back in your day.

Find more recipes like this on my companion blog, “Good Food, Good Meat, Good God, Let’s Eat!”

Posted in Cookbooks

Dinner Tonight

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

200 Quick Recipes for Inspired Weeknight Cooking

Bold flavors meet time-saving tricks in 200 recipes (all ready in 45 minutes or less) that make weeknight dinners fun and stress-free.

When time is short and bellies are grumbling, America’s Test Kitchen’s streamlined guide to weeknight cooking is ready for you. It offers great meals that don’t require a ton of work. These meals also bring new flavors to the table. No matter your craving, you’ll find a dinner that fits the bill in under 45 minutes with easy cleanup. You might enjoy chicken salad with a fantastic dressing. Try Avocado Chicken Salad Sandwiches with Jicama and Banana Peppers. If you want umami-rich noodles, consider Chili Crisp Noodles. Or perhaps you desire a deeply comforting soup like Spicy Tomato Soup with Tortellini and Sausage.

Edited by Jack Bishop, TV cast member, tasting guru, and creator of the twice-weekly Dinner Tonight newsletter (which goes out to more than 1 million fans), this collection of 200 go-to recipes delivers plenty of ways to improve your weeknight eating:

  • Fresh Ideas for Pantry Staples: Are you staring blankly at your pantry? These recipes give it new life (canned tuna = Spaghetti al Tonno; frozen peas = Pea and Pistachio Pesto Pasta).
  • Modern Flavor Boosters: Every recipe showcases a smart way to add flavor, like an Old Bay–spiked lemon compound butter that melts over salmon fillets and pools into a bowl of confetti grits; or honey and red wine vinegar, which become a sweet yet sophisticated glaze for chicken.
  • Flexible Swaps: Got parsley but no cilantro? Ground turkey but no pork? These recipes indicate when swaps make sense.
  • Riff on Recipes to Make New Meals: The sauce for Murgh Makhani (aka Indian Butter Chicken) is so perfectly spiced, you’ll want to try it with tofu or chickpeas—we show you how.
  • Comfort-Food Flavors in Low-Key Renditions: Chicken Piccata Meatballs, Pork Meatball Bahn Mi (can you tell we love meatballs?), and Mezzi Rigatoni with Spicy Gochujang Tomato Sauce offer maximum appeal with minimal effort. And that’s just the beginning of what you’ll find.

Need help deciding? Themed lists let you choose dinner based on your mood, the season, or what’s on hand. There are even tips for scaling recipes for two. With 200 recipes plus ways to spin them, you’ve got more than a year of great ideas.

Posted in Cookbooks

The Easiest Longevity Mediterranean Diet Cookbook For Seniors

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

Simple, science-backed meals to help you stay strong, sharp & independent after 60

Are you over 60 and looking for a proven way to stay healthy, active, and full of life? This is not just another Mediterranean cookbook—it’s your everyday guide to longevity, built on science, not trends.

Forget confusing advice or restrictive diets. With this easy-to-follow plan, you’ll enjoy delicious meals that protect your brain, heart, and joints—while keeping your energy and independence well into your golden years.

What You’ll Get Inside:

🍅 Easy Mediterranean Recipes for Longevity – Wholesome, anti-inflammatory meals with affordable ingredients you’ll find in any grocery store.

🧠 Nutrition for a Healthy Brain, Heart & Body – Recipes chosen to support memory, mobility, and vitality with every bite.

📆 4-Week Longevity Meal Plan – A clear, flexible roadmap to help you eat well without overthinking.

👓 Large Print & Senior-Friendly Layout – Big fonts, high-contrast pages, and one recipe per spread—no squinting, no confusion.

📸 Full-Color Photos – Mouthwatering pictures to inspire every meal.

📊 Action-Ready Nutritional Info – Clear portions and practical macros—no complicated charts.

Why This Book Is Different:

Unlike generic diet books, this guide is designed specifically for seniors. That means:

  • No fads or extreme restrictions
  • Just real food and real strategies backed by science
  • A focus on aging well—so you can stay sharp, mobile, and independent
  • Trusted knowledge, translated into everyday meals and habits

Whether you want to boost brain health, reduce inflammation, or simply feel like yourself again—this book makes it easy, enjoyable, and effective.

🎁 PLUS: Exclusive Free Bonus Resources!

✔️ Longevity Air Fryer Recipes Ebook — 25 quick, healthy meals ready in 20 minutes or less.

✔️ 4 Weekly Shopping Lists for 2 People — Ready-to-print, perfectly aligned with your meal plan.

✔️ Exercise Guide for Seniors Over 60 — Gentle, doctor-approved routines to boost flexibility, strength, and energy.

Start living with more energy, more clarity, and more joy—one meal at a time.

Posted in Cookbooks

The Ultimate Mediterranean Diet Cooking for One Cookbook: 175 Healthy, Easy, and Delicious Recipes Made Just for You

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

175 easy and healthy Mediterranean Diet recipes for anyone cooking for one and craving a satisfying, delicious meal.

Although the Mediterranean Diet has a host of health benefits, making the switch can feel daunting…especially if you only need to make one serving per meal. The good news is that it’s possible to prepare single-serving recipes that are full of flavor, easy to make, and economical—and The Ultimate Mediterranean Diet Cooking for One Cookbook is here to help.

This book allows you to make delicious, diet-friendly recipes for every meal from breakfast to dinner and everything in between. Each of the 175 single serving recipes is quick and simple to make to save you both time and money. And while the ingredients are common, the results are anything but. From single-serving, veggie-packed breakfast sandwiches to salmon with spinach and chickpeas, you’ll be able to enjoy delicious versions of all your favorite dishes, no matter what the occasion.

Whether you live alone or are just searching for the perfect meal for yourself, cooking solo never needs to be boring (or overwhelming) again!

Beth C.
4.0 out of 5 stars. 
A nice edition to the "For One" diet collection.
Reviewed in the United States on November 28, 2023.
Verified Purchase.
I have two other books in this series--Cooking for One and Baking for One--and I have used both quite a bit, perhaps the former slightly more than the latter so far. I have not had the opportunity to try all the recipes in this one yet, but so far most of them have been good. I particularly like the fish recipes in this one, but the pasta recipes have not quite worked out as well for me. My only complaint is that the ingredients in this one are sometimes harder to get in smaller quantities (especially things like ricotta cheese and feta, which always seem to go bad before I have used them all).
Posted in Cookbooks

The Mediterranean Table: Simple Recipes for Healthy Living on the Mediterranean Diet

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

Send your taste buds travelling with fresh and healthy recipes from The Mediterranean Table.

In the age of detoxes and elimination diets, it’s easy to forget that you can enjoy flavorful, satisfying food and live a more healthful life. Offering some of most nourishing and delicious cuisine in the world, The Mediterranean Table is your go-to source for transitioning to the natural, simple lifestyle of the Mediterranean diet. With more than 150 recipes, cooking tips, and a sample meal plan, The Mediterranean Table will take readers on a culinary journey through Southern Europe, Northern Africa, and the Middle East, all while sharing a time-tested tradition of healthy eating.

Containing everything you need to know about the Mediterranean diet, plus:

  • A 14-Day Mediterranean Diet Meal Plan providing weekly menus for stress-free healthy eating.
  • Over 150 Recipes for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert straight from Southern Europe, Northern Africa, and the Middle East.
  • Regional Spotlights celebrating the culinary traditions of the Mediterranean diet.
  • A Mediterranean Diet Overview explaining the history and health benefits.

Mediterranean diet recipes include: Breakfast Polenta with Pears and Hazelnuts, Classic Gazpacho, Shrimp and Chickpea Fritters, Moroccan Lamb Wrap with Harissa, Eggplants Stuffed with Walnuts and Feta, Lemon-Oregano Grilled Shrimp, Seared Duck Breast with Orange and Ouzo Sauce, Nut and Honey Baklava, and much more!

Savor satisfying and healthy meals with The Mediterranean Table cookbook.

Emily Lambert
5.0 out of 5 stars. 
Very Informative - Delicious Recipes.
Reviewed in the United States on October 22, 2015
Verified Purchase
In elementary school, we had an event called "Holidays Around The World" where we would "travel" from classroom to classroom (each class was a different "country") and try the different cuisines and learn about the culture. Ever since then, I've been fascinated with cuisines from around the world and I'm always looking for new recipes to try. Needless to say, this recipe book is one of my new favorites and I'm excited to add it to my collection.

The book includes a brief introduction as well as a more in-depth look at the Mediterranean diet, an overview of the countries included in the book, how to shop for your ingredients, etc. It also includes a sample menu, which I thought was really cool. The book has several different sections including Breakfast, Soups & Salads, Small Plates and Snacks, Sandwiches and Wraps, Pizza and Pasta, Sides, Vegetarian, Seafood, Poultry, Meat, Mediterranean Staples, and Dessert.

The Mediterranean Table is very informative and all of the recipes are very easy to follow. Each page also includes information on whether or not the recipe is gluten-free, vegetarian, and/or dairy free. Nutrition facts are also included, as well as the number of servings.

My favorite recipe of all is the Spanish Home Fries with Spicy Tomato Sauce (Patatas Bravas). It's a deliciously filling dish that can be dressed up with meat, such as chicken or beef. I can't wait to try some of the lamb dishes!

* I received this book in exchange for an unbiased review. All opinions are my own.