Ready or Not!: 150+ Make-Ahead, Make-Over, and Make-Now Recipes by Nom Nom Paleo (Volume 2)

Our family sincerely appreciates the efforts of Michelle and Henry in creating this fantastic recipe book. Several factors make this the go-to initial recipe book for those on a Paleo/Primal/Keto diet: 1) Your prototypical recipe book these days seems to be geared towards the Pottery Barn crowd stylistically speaking, which can be uninviting as a layout model to some of us. Here, the layout is in very attractive 'comic-book' layout and bright, vibrant coloring, inviting me to look at the recipes even when I'm not preparing to cook something. This is the first cookbook I've ever looked at all the recipes before making one; typically I'd just thumb through them casually, but this book is so attractive in it's presentation that you feel compelled to grab it and thumb through it. 2) This layout has the additional feature of being perfect for step-by-step cooking instructions. While the layout and style get a lot of deserved credit, the pictures and very clear yet concise instructions deserve just as much credit (I have yet to be confused by a single instruction/step). 3) Beyond the aesthetic and structural aspects of the book itself, it's physically constructed like an old-school encyclopedia in an elementary school library: the implication is that you will grab the book, your kids will grab it, pages will be pulled on hard, the cover will be banged and bashed around the kitchen a lot (and the car; yep, I've even grabbed this to take out the door to know what ingredients to pick up on my way home for dinner it's that good!). The book is constructed with the physicality of a tank, meant to withstand years of abuse. 4) Most importantly are the recipes. So far all have been above great and most are simply excellent. Quite simply put, we likely make around 20+ dinner meals a month out of these recipes since we opened this Christmas 2017. The option to use either slow-cooker vs instapot in many recipes is a fantastic feature. I now have a semi-regular habit of going to the butcher on Sundays, book in stow, looking to get cuts for the week of cooking ahead. 5) You don't have to have children or a family to appreciate this book in the least, though the recipe quantities are perfectly constructed around a family of 4 (in line with the co-author's family unit). The couple w/o children will find nice left-overs for lunch the next day. A couple with a pair of guests will find the perfect number portions to go around. The lone wolf will find a great way to meal plan without much work. 6) Probably the most telling feature of this book on it's quality and value are the ways it's giving the family a way to eat whole foods together, even when everyone isn't eating according to the Paleo/Primal/Keto (insert whatever label you prefer here) approach. Literally just cook the grain/starch on the side of any of these recipes and everyone is happy. 7) Umami finally gets it's fair share of the limelight. Some of the best items in here are ones that use heavy-doses of umami flavoring. This is what sets the book way above other Paleo recipes: their saliva-inducing responses upon first bite. Other highly notable recipes are the simplest: kimchi for instance. Some of the recipes are a bit more carb heavy (honey, dates for example) so it's not a one-size-fits-all, but what is in this age of hyper-individualization? I'll most certainly be purchasing the Nom Nom book sometime in the future.

I'm an idiot when it comes to cooking. I need a photos for every step in the process and I need to know what the dish should look like at the end of every step (because most likely mine will look nothing like it.) That's why, when I add a cookbook to my collection it HAS to have 2-3 photos for every recipe. I'm not imaginative to know how to cook with random items in my pantry, but less visualize how big to chop those onions. So I need lots of help in the kitchen and I need to be treated like a 6 year old when it comes to cooking. I need bright, big, colorful photos and text and very short, clear instructions. Well if you're like me, you'll love this cookbook. It is a thick, gorgeous, funny, well organized and well-indexed cookbook. Besides the fact that every recipe is clearly explained and accompanied by beautiful step-by-step photos, the dishes seem easy to make and delicious! She's also provided a "cheat sheet" with 4 weekly dinner plans for every day of the week, with a shopping list and daily prep tips. She's also organized the recipes by dish type (poultry, seafood, etc) and your level of panic when it comes to dinner (kinda ready! not ready!). I've tried a couple of recipes from her blog, and they were delicious! I can't wait to dive into these recipes. The funny thing is, I'm not even on the Paleo diet. I just like the recipes because they're delicious and I stumbled onto her blog by looking for easy Instant Pot recipes (and she has about a dozen of those too!) Do yourself a favor. Buy the book!

I was given a galley of this book in exchange for an honest review. I also pre-ordered the hardback copy, which should come today. Michelle Tam is my favorite paleo author. No one compares. Even when I’m not eating Paleo, I use her original cookbook regularly, and I’ve given away at least three copies to friends. I also refer to the website, NomNomPaleo.com, where Her Super Easy Tandoori Chicken appears—it’s terrific. I love the Ready or Not concept, in which she sorts recipes based on what you have on hand—or not. Paleo cooking cuts out so many ingredients, that it's important to have some staples on hand. But I bought the book sight unseen because Tam knows how to cook great food. The Cracklin’ Chicken Thighs recipe in this book is one of my favorite recipes—the chicken skin is like bacon, and the meat is tender and moist. I made the Sweet and Sour Soup, which is delicious, fast, and easy. I made her Wimpchi over the weekend—it’s the not-spicy version of her Kimchi recipe—also in the book. I’m dying to try the Betel Leaf Beef Rolls, her Thai Roasted Chicken, the Asian Citrus Brussels Sprouts Slaw, the Mango Cabbage Slaw, and the Potsticker Stir Fry. Both of her cookbooks have staples to substitute for non-Whole30-compliant condiments. The Sriracha in her first cookbook is a must-have. I’m anxious to try her Fauxchujang, a substitute for the noncompliant Korean Gochujang (served with Bo Ssam) and her Sunbutter Hoisin Sauce. I love Vietnamese food, so I was happy to have her compliant pickled carrots recipe from her original book, and there’s a recipe in this book for Fridge-Pickled Cucumbers. I own at least ten books on Paleo cooking, and this one, with her original book, Nom Nom Paleo, is the best!

Michelle Tam already runs a fantastic blog with many quality recipes available for free, but this book is 100% worth it. I love the concept of the book where the recipes are grouped according to how ready you are and / or how much time you have, which is helpful for meal prepping. In her typical manner, Michelle's book is informative, colorful, fun, and packed with adorable graphics of her family. Oh yes, did I mention the tasty recipes? One reason why I always go back to Nom Nom Paleo is because she does not use complicated or hard-to-find ingredients, and her recipes come together relatively quickly. Thus far, I have made: ginger sesame sauce, tex mex rice casserole, chicken thinga, bangin' baby back ribs, and none disappointed. If anything, I was very pleasantly surprised at how good and easy homemade ribs were! Even if you are a complete beginner in the kitchen, the book's step by step photos as well as many variations (3 ways to cook one dish: pressure cooker, slow cooker, stove or oven) are immensely helpful and clear. All in all, I must say this second book clear blew the first one out of the water (not that the first one was not good...) and I am very glad I bought it!

Love this book and use it a lot!!! Super easy to follow any recipe and they taste soooo good!!!

A great book to share and cook with the grandchildren.

Me encantan los libros de esta autora, tengo los dos. Tiene muy buenas ideas de aderezos, especias y acompañamientos. Me gusta la presentación que es completamente gráfica, llena de imágenes. Si tuviera que poner una pega seria que tiene demasiadas recetas de carne, pero se un libro de dieta paleo, es normal...

This book is incredible! Most importantly, Michelle's recipes are delicious. However, this book goes next level by being organized in such a way that you can prep some key sauces / marinades, etc. in advance and also use leftovers in different recipes/formats. I appreciate that the recipe index indicates if it is Whole30 complaint, freezer friendly, etc. as well as cross-referencing what recipes in the book will use the sauces you prepped as well as your leftovers. This book is brilliant. THANK YOU, Michelle and Henry for this masterpiece!