Fix-It and Forget-It Healthy 5-Ingredient Cookbook

In the worthy latest addition to the Fix-It-and-Forget-It series, Comerford, along with a handful of contributors, offers 150 easy slow cooker recipes for all tastes and occasions. Although she fudges a little on her five-ingredient rule (spices, water, accompaniments like pasta or rice, and optional additions don’t count), Comerford offers an impressive span of reliable dishes the can be created with a minimum of fuss. Though some recipes feel unnecessary (Comerford spends four hours preparing a gluten-free Chex Mix in a slow cooker when a microwave version takes less than 10 minutes), most of the selections are worth the wait—like a rich butternut squash soup; a spicy beef roast; chicken cacciatore; raspberry balsamic pork chops; pears in ginger sauce; and sage turkey thighs. Ingredients are easily sourced, preparation is a snap, and readers with dietary restrictions will appreciate the book’s recommendations for salt-free, gluten-free, and fat-free variations, when applicable. Nutritional information is also provided for each dish. This is another solid, go-to cookbook in the stalwart series. (Jan.)