Normally when I'm flipping through a cookbook, when I encounter the recipes, I'm inspired. Or maybe I learn something, or tuck away a new idea to try later. Not so with this cookbook. Although the author does provide lots of wisdom to take away in both the introduction and ending chapter of the book (which are formatted to remind readers why they should enter the grocery store with a plan, lest they leave with canned tuna and peaches and no idea how to put food on the table during a power outage), the recipes themselves are... bizarre to any passionate home chef. "This can't possibly work," is the thought that went through my head looking at each of the recipes. And yet... they do. I can tell that an enormous amount of testing and love went into these recipes. Considering the almost insurmountable challenge of having to combined pantry and shelf-stable foods into meals, the author has done it! While some of the meals I didn't enjoy (notably, the chicken basil which calls for thinning jarred Alfredo sauce, which while edible and fine, wasn't the tastiest and instead I'd swap for a "cream of" soup base), if one finds just a few of these recipes, they're a great addition to anyone's monthly dinner menu. I'll also say that I leaned on the "everyday meals" instructions, which allow for better texture of rice/pasta and more fresh ingredients. I also used leftover chicken instead of canned as suggested for testing (if it's not good with fresh chicken, it definitely wouldn't be good with canned!). But overall, this fills a particular niche that very few other cookbooks dare to venture. How to cook with canned food, and make it into meals. In the instances (which are becoming unfortunately all too regular) of power outages or emergencies, I can't imagine a better resource. And for the everyday home chef, there's something incredibly convenient about having starter dinner ideas where at least 3/4 of the ingredients are already in your pantry (just add some fresh meat and veggies and you're done!). All in all, this is very well worth the money. I'd just advise readers that this is not a book to sit on the shelf. You have to try, completely disbelievingly, the recipes, and see for yourself how they turn out.