By Mary Jo Rulnick
Price: $11.24 at Amazon.com

Reviewed By Meenu Gupta

I like the title of the book. "Frantic" is a good choice to complete the alliteration- "Frantic, Feeding, Family, Friends." The book caters to the needs of busy moms, as cooking time for almost all the recipes is less than 30 minutes. When kids are yelling for something new, hubby is groaning with hunger but you are tired, choose from the varied easy recipes. Rice Krispies Baked Chicken for dinner, blueberry pancakes for kids, Grilled Lemonade Chicken for summer, and Classic Cheese Sammies for spring. There are recipes for any time of the day and any season.

I also found the ready-made grocery lists and menus handy.

The book is like a wikipedia of kitchen. It defines cooking terminology, description of the commonly used herbs, which is a helpful reference. My favorite part of the book is the "Food- Stain Removal Chart". With a toddler at home, I badly needed it. It saves time,you won't have to search in Google next time your kid  spills ketchup on the couch or wine glass topples on white tablecloth.

Chardonnay is best served with chicken, Bordeaux is served with red meats ad beer complements spicy food better than wine. The book has many such good party ideas and menus of upto 8 items. The menus include healthy Broccoli Salad, Fruit Punch and Barbecue Beef for the non-vegetarians.

I also like the "PIT STOP" simple but useful tips at the end of every chapter. I didn't know earlier that apple eaters have fewer headaches or brown rice lasts longer if stored in the refrigerator.

One thing, however, that I didn't like about the book, is the table of contents. I would have preferred the names of the recipes instead of the chapter names like "Fall Plan One", "Winter Plan One". But the book is a practical attempt towards healthier, quicker and easier meals.

9 out of 10 binkies from me.

Meenu Gupta is a reader, member of Mothering Heights. Her other works can be found at www.indiacurrents.com, www.epicindia.com.