Book Review: Dinner Is In The Jar
Please note: This is part of a series of reviews we are doing on food storage, emergency preparedness, and self-reliance type books. For more reviews click here.
Dinner Is In The Jar
Quick and Easy Dinner Mixes in Mason Jars or Mylar Bags
by Kathy Clark
Background: If you know Jodi and me, you would be surprised at how much we differ, while being very similar at the same time. When my husband and I met, he told Jodi (his sister) – “I met a girl I know you’re going to like- she’s just like YOU!” When it comes to cooking, meal planning and recipes however; the only thing we have in common is our deep and abiding love for Cadbury mini-eggs- which you would know about if you were a Facebook Fan. Anyways, I’m SO not into recipes. I wing meal planning, make things up, and barely measure stuff. Since incorporating food storage into my daily cooking however, I have found myself using more recipes and was even EXCITED to review this book. “Dinner Is In The Jar” is filled with meal mix recipes that can be easily stored in mason jars or mylar bags. By following the instructions, recipes, and guides you can create a suppy of easily prepared dinners using food storage ingredients for emergencies and convenience. A lot of the recipes have add-ons like meat, or cheese for when you are actually making them, but most of the ingredients are in fact “In The Jar”.
What I Liked: What I liked most about this book is the simplicity and instructions. Each recipe has a list of ingredients to put in your mason jar or mylar bag. With each recipes comes a page with labels you can photocopy that have the instructions for actually cooking the meal when the time comes. I also liked a lot of the meal ideas. They were meals that you would like eating and that sounded N-O-R-M-A-L. I’m not into fancy hard recipes.
Favorite Tip: My favorite tip is the step-by-step instructions on how to use mylar bags instead of mason jars. Mason jars can be expensive and using mylar bags is a great alternative. Kathy even suggests giving these as gifts and I could totally see myself decorating the labels, tying ribbons around them and using them as neighbor gifts come Christmas.
Feedback: If I had one suggestion for getting the most out of this book, I would plan on preparing the mixes in a group with friends, family members or neighbors. Some mixes require a lot of different spices or ingredients and I imagine buying the stuff in bulk would make it more cost effective. If you don’t plan on making these in a group setting, then probably plan on making large quantity of a few recipes, rather then a few of each kind of recipe – did that makes sense?
Summary: For someone looking to make pre-made mixes and have easy to use instructions, recipes, and labels “Dinner In A Jar” is AWESOME!
Tags: dinner is in the jar, Emergency Preparedness, food storage, food storage book
Filed under: Book Reviews, Recipes, food storage books
Thanks for this post, it's what I've been waiting for. I saw a video on youtube about putting meals in mylar bags, and I bought one of the books they suggested only to find out it didn't have what I wanted at all. I can't wait to check this one out!
I never thought of this. Right now my mother and I get together and make 25 meals each a month so that we do not have to cook just pull something out of the freezer and thaw and cook the meal in the oven. It has saved me because I have 5 toddlers and getting time in the kitchen to cook dinner does not happen. I am new to this food storage but I am have started and I am excited about what my food storage will look like in a couple more months of buying items for it.
I just bought this book too! I like how “normal” the recipes are as well. Nothing you would have to bribe your kids to eat.:) I haven't tried any of the dishes yet, but I'm looking forward to it. The book has inspired me to adapt a number of my own recipes to the same concept. My mind is actually racing with ideas!
Sorry for the double-post, our import feature appears to be a bit messed up.
” Mason jars can be expensive and using mylar bags is a great alternative. “
Mylar is a plastic, and with all the recent findings about how plastics release toxic chemicals (like BPA) into food and drinks– even the “food safe” ones– I think it would be better to invest in REUSABLE jars. More ecologically sound, too.
The only question I have is about longivity (sp?). I use a lot of jar books for gifts and stuff, some recipes have become my own favorites, but how long would you plan to store these for? It seems different ingredients have different “life span”. Would you suggest it for 1 yr?
I've probably sampled half of the recipes in this book after family members have prepared them and I can confirm that the meals are definitely yummy, and a healthy alternative to fast foods, and a great way to utilize food storage ingredients. I've shared the book with friends who've enjoyed making and eating the meals listed in the book.
“Remember that a government big enough to give you everything you want is also big enough to take away everything you have.”(Barry Goldwater)
“Remember that a government big enough to give you everything you want is also big enough to take away everything you have.”(Barry Goldwater)
“Remember that a government big enough to give you everything you want is also big enough to take away everything you have.”(Barry Goldwater)
I'm going to put this on my wall. Thanks.
I would take the shortest shelf-life ingredient and use that. Also it would depend on how you preserved it. If you use a foodsaver and suck the oxygen out of the jar i bet it would get a longer shelf life. And mylar bags can extend shelf life since they keep the foods protected from the light.
My understanding was that Mylar is aluminum and wouldn't contain BPA, I am definitely not an expert though so I could be wrong. We agree that reusable jars are a great option but like Julie said in the review, if it's just something you can't afford at the moment it's better to do SOMETHING and at least use Mylar bags and get started rather than do nothing because you can't afford the jars.
How long do the Dinner in a Jar meals last unopened?
Okay, so never mind my last question, it was answered earlier…I had decided to go with the ingredient that went out of date first, and that was also a suggestion…I have just bought this book, and it's FABULOUS!! I will be getting some friends together to make some of these up pretty soon, and will also be displaying these to some of the members who don't feel they have enough space for storing food. Love it!
How long do the Dinner in a Jar meals last unopened?
Okay, so never mind my last question, it was answered earlier…I had decided to go with the ingredient that went out of date first, and that was also a suggestion…I have just bought this book, and it's FABULOUS!! I will be getting some friends together to make some of these up pretty soon, and will also be displaying these to some of the members who don't feel they have enough space for storing food. Love it!