Ready Set Cook: How To Make Good Food with What's On Hand
Overall Ranking: 3) Staple
Who Wrote This and Why Should I Care?
Former food director of Real Simple Dawn Perry used to wake up at the crack of dawn to hit the farmers market and scour specialty food stores for peak-season vegetables and lesser-known spices. But as she started to have a family, she became less interested in spending her mornings and weekends food shopping and meal prepping than building couch forts and making play-doh spaghetti. If you're time-crunched for any reason, early meeting at the office or late night on the town, this book will help. Here, Dawn offers her very own playbook for getting good food on the table fast so you can spend more time doing what you love with your free time and energy.
In Ready, Set, Cook Dawn shares her secrets for creating delicious meals in no time. It starts with a well-stocked pantry. Dawn shows you what simple staples, whether store-bought or homemade, you can keep in your cupboard, refrigerator, and freezer.
As its name implies the purpose is to provide ideas, and tricks for creating good food with what you have on hand. A can of tomatoes transforms into Dawn’s 15-Minute Marinara, which then can be used as the base for her cheesy, creamy Freestyle Baked Pasta or as the beginning of her Cheater’s Tomato Soup (and a Special Grilled Cheese) or spooned onto her Crispy Chicken Cutlets and topped with a slice of mozzarella.
Whether you’re new to cooking and don’t know where to start or you’re a seasoned cook in need of a streamlined approach, this book is for you. No need to plan and shop ahead or dig through recipe boxes (virtual or otherwise), now you’ll have great meals in minutes without breaking a sweat.
Before you start cooking/baking
Special Equipment Needed
As the title promises I never needed, let alone wanted to use any specialty equipment/utensils. Extremely approachable for even the most basic of kitchens.
Recipe Breakdown
The book has a bit of a unique setup to it and is divided into three distinct parts: What to Buy, What to Make, and What to Cook. I will be separating them out to let you know what each section is about
All in all, the book breaks down as follows:
3 sections
322 pages
3 recipes
Part 1: What to Buy
Part 2: What to Make
Part 3: What to Cook
30% Breakfast, 32 recipes
10% Salad & Veggies, 11 recipes
11% Starchy Sides, 12 recipes
24% Main Things, 26 recipes
Veggie Mains, 6
Chicken Mains, 5
Pasta Mains, 6
Seafood Mains, 4
Meat Mains, 5
7% Afterthoughts, 7 recipes
8% Snacks and Drinks, 8 recipes
10% Sweets, 11 recipes
Ingredient Affordability:
General DINNER/LUNCH average total: $12.70
This cookbook's DINNER/LUNCH average total cost: $10.97
Why I Love it/Like It/Pass on It/Avoid It:
It is extremely difficult to pull off what Dawn Perry has accomplished with "Ready Set Cook," and this book unequivocally deserves a place on your kitchen shelf for weeknight meals. PERIOD. Perry set out to deliver "good food, fast, that was beautiful to look at and delicious to eat but didn't take more than a half hour of hands-on time," and in a world of cookbooks making lofty promises, "Ready Set Cook" actually delivers.
Anytime a cookbook follows through on its promises, it's a major win, and Dawn Perry accomplishes everything she sets out to do with remarkable consistency. No aspirational recipes requiring fancy equipment or crazy techniques. What truly sets this book apart is its practicality: not only did Perry keep her promise of meals ready in under 30 minutes, but in my testing of recipes against 25 other cookbooks, the average cost of the meals also came in significantly below average. Incredible.
Beyond its practicality, "Ready Set Cook" is simply fun and approachable. The recipes are written with a clear, encouraging voice, and the resulting meals are, without exception, finger-licking good. I would recommend you try her "Spicy Chicken Salad" and the "Roasted Potato Salid with Chorizo and Almonds" to get a feel for how good this food can be and how tasty you can expect the results to be. There's an undeniable joy in cooking from this book, knowing that a delicious and satisfying dinner is genuinely within reach, even on the busiest of weeknights.
My only criticism, and I offer this with the utmost praise, is that I found myself wishing for more recipes. This is a rare complaint for me. I often find cookbooks bloated with 200 or 500+ recipes, the majority of which are either mediocre, overly familiar, or simply impractical for the average home cook. "Ready Set Cook," in contrast, is a tightly curated collection where every recipe feels intentional and well-tested. I just wanted more of that goodness!
This leads to my "3) Staple" rating. While "Ready Set Cook" excels at providing flavorful, colorful, and easy-to-prepare meals using readily available ingredients and spices, many of the recipes lean towards being introductory in their flavor profiles. Her Chickpea Curry, for example, is a testament to the book's strengths: it's quick, easy, and delicious. However, those who have explored more technically intense versions of chickpea curry might find Perry's version to be a starting point. This isn't a flaw; it's a deliberate choice by Perry to make weeknight cooking accessible to everyone. She prioritizes ease and speed without sacrificing flavor, and that's a tremendous achievement.
In conclusion, "Ready Set Cook" is an outstanding cookbook that delivers on its promises of fast, delicious, and approachable weeknight meals. It's a must-have for busy home cooks who want to get good food on the table without fuss. While the recipes may skew towards simpler flavor profiles, this is a strength, not a weakness, making this book a true staple for consistently satisfying and stress-free cooking. I am seriously hoping for a second cookbook to come from her in the future.
Key Strengths:
Consistently Delivers on Promises: A key strength is the book's reliability. It consistently provides recipes that adhere to the author's stated goals: fast preparation (around 30 minutes of hands-on time), delicious results, and accessible cooking.
Practicality and Accessibility: The recipes prioritize practicality, using readily available ingredients, avoiding fancy equipment, and employing straightforward techniques. This makes the book highly useful for busy home cooks.
Budget-Friendly: The book offers recipes that are not only quick and easy but also cost-effective, making it a valuable resource for those cooking on a budget.
Fun and Approachable: The book has a fun and encouraging tone, making cooking feel less like a chore and more like an enjoyable activity.
Focus on Weeknight Cooking: The book is specifically tailored to the needs of weeknight cooking, addressing the common challenge of getting good food on the table quickly and easily.
Who Should Buy This Book?
Busy Home Cooks: This is the primary audience. Anyone with limited time during the week who wants to get delicious, home-cooked meals on the table quickly will find this book invaluable.
Beginner Cooks: The straightforward recipes, focus on accessible ingredients, and clear instructions make this a great choice for those who are new to cooking.
Budget-Conscious Cooks: The emphasis on cost-effective meals makes this a good option for people who want to eat well without breaking the bank.
People Who Want Reliable Weeknight Recipes: If you're tired of meal planning stress and want a collection of recipes you can consistently count on to work, this book is for you.
Those Building a Kitchen Library: This book is a great staple to have on hand for easy-to-go meals.
Recipes I Tried from "Ready, Set, Cook" and what I thought about them
Curry Spice Blend
This is a solid, beginner-friendly option for experimenting with curry-inspired dishes. Dawn Perry's Curry Spice Blend from Ready Set Cook offers a no-frills, approachable entry into curry flavors. While it may not deliver a flavor-packed punch as a more "mature" curry blend can accomplish, it succeeds in being mild, versatile, and accessible—perfect for those who prefer to skip the heat or intensity that curry sometimes brings. Its greatest strength lies in its simplicity: quick to make, straightforward to use, and built from pantry staples you likely already have on hand. A perfect quick and easy curry spice blend if there ever was one.
Ingredients 🫚
2 Tablespoons ground turmeric
2 teaspoons ground cumin
2 teaspoons ground coriander
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
Directions 📜
1) Just mix and stir
Whole Wheat Cumin Flatbread
These Whole Wheat Cumin Flatbread from Dawn Perry's Ready Set Cook are simple, quick, and satisfying. Everything comes together in about 20 minutes, making it perfect for busy days or last-minute meal ideas. The cumin adds a lovely earthy depth that elevates the flavor without overwhelming. The best part? It’s endlessly versatile—great for dipping, wrapping, or just snacking.
You probably already have all the ingredients at home so give it a whirl sometime!
Ingredients 🥚
1 cup all-purpose flour
½ cup whole wheat flour or all-purpose flour
½ teaspoons cumin seeds, optional
1 teaspoon kosher salt
½ teaspoon baking powder
¼ cup olive oil or vegetable oil, or other fairly neutral flavored oils
½ cup warm water
Unsalted butter, melted, for brushing
Directions 📜
1) Mix flour, cumin seeds, salt, and baking powder in a bowl. Add oil and water, stir until combined, then knead on a counter until smooth.
2) Divide dough into 8 pieces, shape into balls, and rest for 5 minutes.
3) Roll each ball into an 8-inch circle. Cook in a hot skillet for 1 or two minute per side, brushing with butter after flipping.
4) Enjoy
Chickpea Curry
Quick Pickled Veggies
The recipe is below, but I first I gotta rave about how quick pickled veggies are like a secret weapon for your kitchen. They’re zingy, crunchy, and ridiculously easy to whip up. Whether you’re tossing them on tacos, piling them into sandwiches, or just snacking straight from the jar (no judgment here), they bring instant flavor and excitement to whatever you're eating. The best part? You don’t need a ton of fancy ingredients or time—just a quick mix, and boom, you've got yourself a little jar of magic.
If you’re new to pickling, red onions are where it's at. They’re sweet, they’re sassy, and they look absolutely stunning with that pop of pink. Plus, they’re crazy versatile—throw them into anything, and people will think you’ve leveled up your cooking game. Making quick pickles feels like a cheat code: minimal effort, maximum payoff. Trust me, once you start, you’ll be pickling everything in sight. Have fun with it!
Ingredients 🧅
For the veggies you can choose whatever you think will be good. Below are what Dawn Perry recommends, but if you're nervous then like I said above I would recommend starting with a single red onion. Whatever you choose, the quantity of the veggies doesn't matter, just chop or slice enough to comfortably fit in your jar with a little bit of room at the top:
4 to 6 celery stalks, cut to fit the size of your jar
1 English cucumber or 3 Persian cucumbers, thinly sliced or cut into spears that fit your jar
1 red onion, beet, or fennel bulb, thinly sliced
1 bunch radishes, thinly sliced
4 to 6 fresh chilies, sliced
1/½ cups raisins or other dried fruit
Brine Ingredients💧
1 cup cider, white wine, or rice vinegar
1 tablespoon kosher salt
1 tablespoon mustard, coriander, or cumin seeds
1 tablespoon sugar
½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, optional
Freshly ground black pepper
"Zing!" Sauce
The "Zing! Sauce" from Dawn Perry's Ready Set Cook is fantastic and may be the easiest sauce ever! This recipe not only brought her chickpea curry to life but elevated it to new heights with its bold, punchy flavors. It's the kind of sauce that you'll find yourself wanting to drizzle, dollop, and spread on just about everything (pizza for sure).
I discovered that adding a tablespoon or two of almonds in the blender with it brings a delightful nutty twist to the sauce, enhancing its texture and flavor even further. It's my secret ingredient that takes an already amazing recipe into "next-level" territory. I wholeheartedly recommend giving this sauce a try. Plus, it's so easy and a great way to use up some fresh herbs as they get wilty.
Active time: 5 minutes
Total time: 5 minutes
Makes about ½ cup
Ingredients ☘️
1 cup chopped fresh herbs, such as parsley, cilantro, basil, mint, or a combination
1 jalapeño or serrano chili, seeded for less heat, roughly chopped
1 garlic clove, smashed
1 cup vegetable or olive oil
2 tablespoons lime juice
1 teaspoon kosher salt
Directions 📜
Combine the herbs, jalapeño, garlic, oil, lime juice, and salt in a blender or food processor and process until smooth. Sauce will keep in the fridge for about a week. Give it a stir before using.
Celery Salad with Cheese, Fruit and Nuts
Who knew the humble celery could shine so brightly? The crunch of the celery pairs perfectly with the sweet-tart apple and the cheese adds just the right amount of salty richness. The toasted nuts bring in that satisfying crunch and nuttiness, while the Sesame Ginger dressing ties everything together with a zippy, slightly sweet kick.
It's light, refreshing, and feels like a salad you'd get at a trendy café—but you made it at home! Plus, it's super versatile. You can swap out the nuts or cheese based on what you have, and it still works beautifully. Definitely a keeper for when you want something quick, healthy, and a little bit fancy. Highly recommend giving it a try!
Salad Ingredients 🥗
8 celery stalks, chopped, plus some leaves
1 sweet-tart apple or pear, cored and thinly sliced. I like it chopped even more
½ cup shaved Parmesan, pecorino, or sharp cheddar cheese
1½ cup chopped toasted hazelnuts, almonds, or walnuts
¼ cup dressing (I used the Sesame Ginger, so that is what will be listed below)
Flaky salt and freshly ground black pepper
Sesame-Ginger Dressing 🫙
2 tablespoons soy sauce or tamari
2 tablespoons rice vinegar
2 teaspoons grated fresh ginger
1 teaspoon sugar
1 scallion, thinly sliced
1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds
¼ cup vegetable oil
Spicy Lemon Chicken Salad
I really enjoyed this one top to bottom. This recipe technically has 4 separate parts to it (cooking the chicken, making the croutons, mixing the salad, and making the dressing) but it is easy to make one while another is cooking. Nothing more complicated than simple stirring or flipping.
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