The Dinner Doctor

Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2008 6:15 pm **A Little Disappointed**

I hate to even post this, but I'm curious if I'm the only person who feels this way. Let me start by saying that I LOVE Anne's cookbooks. The pictures of her recipes are always gorgeous (and make you salivate!), the books are interesting reads...and I love cookbooks. I especially love any shortcuts I can possibly take. I love to cook but just don't always have the time to cook the way I'd like to. I own both Cake Mix Doctor (original and chocolate) books, the cupcake book and the Dinner Doctor book. That all being said, in the last couple of weeks I made a few recipes from The Dinner Doctor and was a little disappointed.

First I made the Butterscotch Pecan Foccacia, and it wasn't bad. I didn't love it, but I didn't hate it either. The people I made it for seemed to enjoy it though so that was a good thing. I made it earlier in the day then cut it into squares and took it to a friend's house for a Girls' Night get together. They all loved it. I bet it would have been great fresh from the oven! I will say that it sure was easy to make, and I'm sure I'll make it again. It would be a great addition to a brunch.

For my husband's birthday the next night I made the Carmelized Onion and Garlic Tart and the Banana Bread Pie. Neither were fabulous, but they weren't horrible either. I had a problem with the crust for the tart (the crescent rolls didn't quite fit the pan so I had to break into a reserve tube of Crescent Place and Bakes that I unrolled and used two of to fill in the extra space in the tart dish - that part never baked the right way), and the onions and garlic never got that nice brown color I wanted (and I had them on the stove for a LONG time - and I know how to do this - been doing it for years). The overall flavor was pretty good though. Definitely use the fresh thyme - you can really taste it!

The Banana Bread Pie wasn't bad - my husband loved it which is good since it was his birthday "cake" choice - but I wasn't in love with it. It sure was easy though.

The next week I made the Slow Cooker Macaroni and Cheese. I cooked it on Low as stated for about 3 hours or so. It was also only okay. I wish it would have been creamier. I make a homemade version that gets baked and is more like the custard style that this one is, but it somehow seems creamier. I definitely added extra dry mustard. Whatever the recipe called for wasn't enough in my opinion so I just sort of tossed more into the mixture. I also mixed it all in the crockpot sprayed with Pam instead of in a separate bowl. I might make this again because of the sheer ease of it. My husband really enjoyed it, and I've frozen the leftovers for him.

When I bought the book when it first came out I tried the All Day Beef Bourginon (think that's what it's called) in the crockpot. I was so excited to make it, and I was very disappointed by it. It's been awhile, but I remember it not being at all what I thought it would be.

Despite what it might sound like, I really am a huge fan of Anne. All of her recipes are great (some of those cakes...wow!). I am not a gourmet chef by any means, but I'm a pretty good cook. My mom was an amazing cook. I enjoy good food and cooking and baking for my family and friends, and I enjoy quick and easy preparation since time is pretty limited these days. These are all just my opinions so please don't get mad at me for them. I'm just curious if I'm the only Anne Fan out there who feels this way about some of the recipes.

Posted: Fri Feb 08, 2008 7:59 am **Dinner Doctor**

I read your review and have to agree. I LOVE the cake and cupcake books but have to admit that the Dinner Doctor was a little of a dissappointment to me. Most of the recipes were OK but not as show stopping as I hoped they would be. I gave my copy away. Sorry, Anne.... LOVE your cakes but the Dinner Doctor.... not so much.

Posted: Fri Feb 08, 2008 11:56 am

Cake Diva,

I'm glad to see that I'm not the only one out there who feels this way. I ADORE Anne and her concepts but am a little disappointed with the Dinner Doctor book. I haven't seen her What Can I Bring? book yet. Who knows...maybe it'll be better. In the meantime, just looking at the pictures of the cakes in the fronts of the other books is always a treat!

MOChick

Posted: Mon Feb 18, 2008 9:56 am

I have to agree...there are a few recipes that I absolutely love, but overall, I have not used much of Dinner Doctor. I really like the Spaghetti Casserole, Susan's Chicken Pot Pie, and Eggplant Parmesan. Other than that, I really don't use it much. Which is disappointing to me because I am the one always asked to bring dessert and use Anne's cake books religiously!! I do have the What Can I Bring book but have not tried anything out of it yet.
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~Erin~

Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2008 8:33 pm **A Little Disappointed**

I really love the Spaghetti Casserole, Mexican Lasagna and a few other select recipes. I have to agree that usually I am asked to bring dessert and almost always use one of Anne's recipes. I did make the So Easy Tuna Noodle Casserole out of The Dinner Doctor last night substituting canned chicken for the tuna. Everyone really loved it. I also added some cut up cooked bacon I had on hand. Litton's Favorite Chicken, Tex-Mex Layered Salad, Shrimp Curry In A Hurry, Poppy Seed Chicken Casserole, Chili Corn Dog Pie, Dun-Buttered Muffins are a few others I am fond of. I'm getting ready to try Bebe's Cola Ham and Easy Sweet And Hot Pickles. I didn't care for the Banana Bread Pie or Ham And Cheddar Not-So-Impossible Pie. I don't do "eggs", fried, hard-boiled, deviled, what have you. Yes, I eat them in cakes, cookies and such. French Toast, blintzes, quiches are out. I just can't get past the "eggy" texture. Probably why I have a hard time with tofu. That scrambled egg texture thing going on. Anyway just my thoughts.

Piper Sad

)

Posted: Tue May 06, 2008 4:06 pm

Hmmm . . . I'll have to go back through it, but I've loved everything I've tried thus far (can't think of all of them offhand). Litton's Favorite Chicken is a fave of my entire family (my parents included!).

I will say that I think I'm liking What Can I Bring? even better though . . ..

Posted: Sat Sep 27, 2008 4:37 pm

I don't post much in here, but had to come in and reply to the subject. So far, so good. I've tried several recipes in the cookbook and they've all been great. It has literally "saved" me on occasions when I had no idea what to prepare for dinner. My 91-year-old father is especially fond of the Parmesan Chicken and Biscuit Pie, but he also loves the Chicken Tetrazzini and the Steak and Gravy For the Kids.

Foodie, you inspired me to prepare Litton's Favorite Chicken the next time. Smile

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Posted: Thu Oct 16, 2008 1:14 pm

Suzanne, have you tried the Litton's Favorite Chicken yet? How did it turn out?

Posted: Thu Jul 30, 2009 11:30 pm

Smilie, sorry it's taken me so long to answer your post, but I didn't try the recipe until around May, 2009! Be that as it may, it was delicious. I made it for company, and got praises. I'll definitely make it again.
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Fiction is obliged to stick with possibilities. Truth isn't.
Mark Twain