Primal Blueprint Quick & Easy Recipes Cookbook Review

"On the heels of the phenomenal success of the Primal Blueprint Cookbook, and in response to the growing demand for healthy meals that can be made with minimal time and effort, Quick & Easy Meals delivers over 100 mouth-watering recipes with easy-to-follow instructions that will get you in and out of the kitchen in 30-minutes or less."

With the upcoming school adventure on the horizon, I was delighted that not only did Mark Sisson release another cookbook, this time full of quick and easy meals, but also that I was asked to give it a review.

Obviously I haven't yet tried out all of the recipes in the book. Some of them I've tried, some are new twists on already familiar dishes (Roasted Radishes, and various meatballs) and others I've already started pulling apart and tinkering with (Berry Pancake.) Some, however, require ingredients I don't, or won't have right away, but do fully intend to try soon! Hello, Squid with Tomato and Basil, or Chorizo and Almond-Crusted Halibut!

I found several of the recipes in this cookbook to be quite innovative in their simplicity. I really appreciate that. When I begin juggling full time work and full time school, simplicity will be my saving grace. Some have as little as 3 or 4 ingredients and take no more than 15 minutes to make. Perfect for those hectic days where you want good food, fast!

One of the things I noticed while reading through the cookbook initially is that many of the recipes can easily make use of already existing leftovers. I now know that when I have leftover spaghetti squash, it makes a delicious omelet! Being a single girl, there are always, always leftovers

Speaking of omelets, I was glad to see a number of recipes for eggs. For most of us eggs are a staple, and they can get a little old. Sure, I can get by eating boiled eggs four or five days a week, but sometimes you need to change it up a little. Omelets, frittatas, quiches, and "pastries" just to name a few. Cannot wait to try a Pizza Frittata very soon!

I'm happy to find a lot of flavor in this cookbook- as in recipes for sauces and rubs. That way even if I don't want to follow a specific recipe, and just want to change up my usual steak and veggies, there are sauce and spice ideas I can use without a lot of fuss. Some of them were shockingly simple, containing as little as 3 ingredients, but they were 3 well thought out ingredients.

Another thing I really was happy to see was new twists on old stand-by's. Instead of plain old egg salad, you can try Jalapeno Egg Salad. Instead of boring tuna salad there's Cranberry Tuna Salad or Sesame White Fish Salad. There are also a number of recipes for salads centered around greens, which is helpful to those of us who are less than creative in that arena (like me.)

I also appreciate that they included a nutritional breakdown for each recipe. It's helpful for those of us who want or need to track our macros occasionally. Some of the measurements or recipe sizes are problematic for us single eaters, as the recipes are often for 2 or more servings, but that can be gotten around with a little math.

One of the things that I think speaks volumes about the cookbook is the reaction of non-Primal food lovers. I can't count how many times I heard "Oh, that looks good!" Or "We should try this!" That says a lot right there. When non-Primal folks like the looks of the food, you know you've got a good thing going! (Not to mention it's always a good "in" for getting them to eat a little more healthfully if the food tastes great.)

Oh, and it comes with a handy grocery check list and erasable marker, to make grocery planning super-easy. It has just about everything listed that a Primal kitchen might need. If it's on that list, you know it's good to eat! I stuck mine on my fridge and have started marking the things I need for recipes I want to try, or marking things when I run out of them. It's very helpful, but would be better if it came with it's own magnet. (Not to be too demanding.)

And the best news? I'm giving away a copy of the Primal Blueprint Quick & Easy Meals at this year's upcoming Boarfest!

One lucky attendee will be taking home this cookbook, and there will be many other great goodies also from Primal Blueprint, including blender bottles, samples of Primal Fuel, t-shirts and temporary tattoos! If you'd like a chance to win this or a number of other great prizes, join us July 30th for the event.


FYI: I was given a copy of Primal Blueprint Quick & Easy Meals to review. I was not obligated to review it for this blog, nor was I obligated to give it a positive review.

Be Well,
Deanna