June Issue Disappointing?

[ewatkins]

I went through the June issue over the weekend and really found very little that looked interesting. We are not big meat eaters, don't have time to make fancy desserts, and the Thai recipes also looked more complicated. Here's where you all come in -- any reviews of something great in June?

[SQ]

I agree(d?) with you. But the following thread might give you some ideas. It did help me.
http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/Forum1/HTML/007669.html

[Jewel]

I was disappointed also. I know every issue can't make me pant with desire, but I honestly didn't find one recipe in that one that I'm excited about! I know that I'll read reviews and go back to the issue with a more open mind, so I'm not worried! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif

[hka]

One of the responses given made me think of a great idea. Beth H you mentioned that a lot of the recipes mentioned in this months issue would be good for "weekend meals" and not easy week day meals. I totally agree with that. Wouldn't it be cool if they did an issue one month for recipes that were wonderful but easy to do for the week days? I love to cook but work full time so, usually when I go through the magazine I pick the easiest, most yummy sounding recipes to make since I don't have a lot of time at night to cook. Unless, of course, I didn't want to eat until 8:00. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif Unfortunately, I don't get to make a lot of the newer recipes and end up making easy tried and true ones so I can continue to eat healthy. Anyway, I wonder if I made that suggestion to CL if they might consider it?

[This message has been edited by hka (edited 05-29-2001).]

[emilycat]

Just to toss in a dissenting voice, I'm really pleased with the June issue .
I was particularly in terested in the grilling section with all of the sauces and rubs, and the Thai section (I plan on subbing tuna or some other seafood for the recipes that call for other meats). The desserts -- oh, Good God -- I don't think I've ever marked every dessert to make before http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif I'm a big custard/creme/puddingy dessert fan, so I loved that section. The inspired vege section looks great, too.
I do spend a good amount of time cooking each night, so prep time isn't ever that big of a concern for me, but I just wanted to offer another viewpoint http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

[mariakj]

I was initially disappointed in the May issue. I read it cover to cover and only folded one corner for a recipe to try. I just can't stand tofu, so that meant that a good chunk of the recipes were not interesting to me. After making everything that I wanted from the April issue I went back to the May issue and tried a few things and they turned out pretty well. Perhaps you will get more out of the June issue after you come back to it. I can't wait to get mine so I can check it out for myself.

[Beth]

I haven't gotten to making any of them yet, but I saw lots of things I want to try....those salads, and I love Thai food (Laab or larb is one of our favorite Thai appetizers or light meals). I thought everything in the "Start with the Best" article looked good, and I will probably want to try most of those in the Soul Food article too. That bean salad and the adobo flank steak had me salivating. Some gorgeous deserts, but I know it will take longer for me to get to trying any of those.

Keep in mind, the sauces and rubs can be prepared in advance, so you can get prepared on the weekend.

I have been kind of ho-hum about a couple of the issues earlier this year, so all this fresh out of the garden, hot of the grill stuff really appealed to me. I have also been like others above who've said they missed recipes or didn't think they looked that exciting until they saw them discussed here. I've found some new favorites that way.

[This message has been edited by Beth (edited 05-29-2001).]

[Lynn B]

I can't wait to get mine so I can have an opinion!!! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif
Lynn

[gertdog]

I'm still waiting in Ithaca for my June issue! If it doesn't come soon I won't be able to read it until after my vacation! And then I'll miss all the reviews and discussion (I know, I know, I can always read the archive). I'm interested in the Thai recipes that others have been talking about, and the salads, and the inspired vegetarian section... Where's my magazine???

I've been driving my SO crazy... every day I come home from work and ask "Did IT come today?" And he knows exactly what I mean... http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

[Wendy w]

LynnB and gertdog,

I hear you and am so with you as I would like to have it so that I can join the threads on this issue. I left on Friday to go to AZ for the long weekend. I was looking forward to having it to read on the plane. I am truly addicted as I had to go to a couple of stores and hoped to get a glance of it and found that they still had May.

I came home yesterday to 2 days of mail, but no magazine. My BF was disappointed well as he loves to go through it.

Other people in my region already have it and I have already received the bill for my renewal - which won't get paid until AFTER I get the June issue.

[ewatkins]

I'm glad I'm not the only one who thought these recipes were too complicated. My favorite recipes from CL are easy, weeknight, family dinners. If I want fancy cooking, I could get Gourmet, which I hate because it's all so time consuming.

[Peggy]

Wendy W,

You have my sympathy, as I am in the same boat. Left for a four day weekend and no June issue in the mailbox upon my return. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/frown.gif

I did flip though it at the grocery store and I thought it look terrific! Can't wait to get my own issue!

Peggy

[CHRIST1NE]

gertdog, oh my gosh, someone else from Ithaca!! I thought I was the only one. Anyway, hi neighbor and no I haven't gotten mine yet either. I actually broke down and bought it at Wegmans the other day simply because I just couldn't wait any longer.

I wasn't disappointed with June, as usual, I have more recipes marked to try than I will ever realisticaly get to.

[jliah]

I think I must have been hungry when I looked over my June issue of CL. I marked 23 I'd like to try!! I even thought I was being picky at the time!

I remember being disappointed when I looked through my March issue, but looks were deceiving. I LOVED 10 recipes I tried from that issue. My fellow BB friends talked me into trying lots of things.

SOOOO, take heart. You may be amazed by some delicious recipes. Sometimes we just need to be brave and try something new, but it's easier to be brave after reading a great review!!

For all the people on this board and all the recipes in the magazine, it seems that we don't really review that many recipes on this board. Are we all waiting for someone else to try those "iffy" recipes?

[patsyk]

Upon my initial perusal of the June issue, I too was disappointed. However, I have flipped back through it so many times in the last week, that I did find 4-5 recipes that I plan to try very soon. I lean toward things that are not too complicated or have too many ingredients that will be difficult to locate at the grocery.

As for the dessert section, not my style at all, so it was no good for me this time around! oh well, maybe next month!

I'll be sure to post reviews of anything I try this week - since dh is out of town, I can make whatever appeals to my taste without worrying that I'll get the "what is THAT" response when I serve dinner!

[Tiger]

I thought it was me. But I also wish they had more easy, fast, find the items in your pantry recipes. I like to cook and I like to eat healthy but sometimes I just don't have the time to search out ingre. or spend lots of preptime.
I'm going to the CL weekend and we are supposed to be meeting with the editors. Should I suggest this?

[Joyce]

I'm so happy it wasn't just me... we eat just about anything, but this issue just had no recipes that thrilled me at all. Most of the recipes also seemed more time consuming than usual.

[Beth H]

A lot of recipes in the June issue intrigued me -- although I agree that there seemed to be a lot of complicated recipes involving "exotic" ingredients (which I already had mentioned on the board). There are a lot of things that I think will be good "weekend" recipes, not a lot of after work, easy kinds of meals.

[valchemist]

thanks for posting that link, SQ.

I agree that some of the June recipes initially don't "grab me." But usually what happens in a case like this is that once I start seeing reviews, I try things myself and have a change of heart.

And as I said on that thread you posted, the June issue might just contain my one and only perfect 10 recipe ever. So for that reason alone, I love this issue.

[greysangel]

I would comment if I *had* the June issue!! GRRRRRR

Ok...rant over. I sort of felt that way about May, but then the chicken thigh recipes alone made up for the rest of the issue!

I think there is usually a little disappointment/sadness after first perusal but once some reviews get up there, it perks up. Maybe we get so excited about anticipation that there is always a bit of letdown at first?

JeAnne still waiting.

[Pat]

I agree that I am not thrilled about the June issue. I have not finished reading it carefully, but my first quick run-through was very disappointing.

[lorilei]

I have to say that, like emilycat, I was oddly attracted to the June issue. The Thai cooking section looks great... and although I haven't gotten through the entire issue yet, there appear to be a host of other things I'd love to try.

As for Tiger's concern: I've noticed that most CL recipes can be adapted to be "find the items in your pantry" recipes -- I've found that many times, more common ingredients can be substituted for some of the specialty ingredients that I don't have on hand -- with delicious results. And when I have the time, it's nice to make things that are "out of the ordinary" and healthy. I appreciate the fact that CL is using more adventurous ingredients than some other magazines -- and certainly hope that they don't change their tune anytime soon.

[luv2cook]

While I wasn't particularly enamored with the May issue, I have found several recipes to try in June.

Trying new food excites me so I may just wage war on those Thai recipes. I've rediscovered Fiesta and was quite impressed with their ethnic food selection and their seafood. their mexican cheeses are pretty good, too.

[Wendy w]

I flipped through it in the grocery store last night and found lots of things that looked good. The issue looks better than May! Went home, it wasn't there http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/mad.gif http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/mad.gif.

[laden]

Different strokes for different folk! I thought the June issue was the best one since the Jan/Feb issue. Can't wait to try some of these recipes.

[masimmons]

I don't think it has as many recipes that I am interested in as has the last couple of issues. However, based on past experience, I suspect I will change my mind especially as more and more reviews are posted. These really inspire me to try recipes that I would not normally or would not rush to try.

[TamiK]

I'm with you guys. There wasn't much in June that got me excited. However, I have made two of the recipes--the Pork au Poivre and the Pork Tenderloin with Tomatillos, Tomatoes and Cilantro (not the official title, I don't think). They were both definite keepers and are quick and easy. My goal this summer is to figure out what I can put together during the week when I don't get home from school until 6:00 and dinner needs to be on the table by 6:30. With a tiny bit of advance prep, both of these would fit that criteria. BTW, we aren't addicted to pork. I got my pork tenderloin at Costco, and was too lazy to freeze half of it, so made both recipes instead! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

[Beth]

Now see, I don't even remember those. Hope to get to trying some this weekend or next week.

[Grace]

Well, I just finished copying over the recipes that looked good to me from the June Cookpac into my CookWare software. I do this by going through the magazine, one page at a time, and clicking off the recipes on the Cookpac when I see a recipe I'd like to try (I don't like moving all the recipes to my software, no sense wading through ones that don't appeal to me when I'm searching for something). Anyhow, of the 76 total recipes in the June issue, I liked 41 of them! That's more than half, and that's more than usual. So this issue is especially good, in my opinion! Everything looks so wonderful. I have no idea how I'll manage to make all the ones I want to! Oh, if only there were more hours in the day, more days in the month, and if only my body required more calories (and I mean a LOT more) http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif !!

[browneye]

I am a dissenting opinion also!
I read the June issue on the plane yesterday, and marked dozens of recipes to try!
May issue didn't excite me, though once I made some, I entered them into my "keeper" list!

June's salads, fish recipes, Thai recipes, and vegetarian section, as well as the Make It Tonight, all had interesting recipes to me. Tonight, I am making the salad with Feta Quesadillas, Seared Tuna and Capers, Olives, etc. I will post review tomorrow.. We are going to the Bonnie Raitt/Jackson Browne concert after dinner tonight!