Almond Queijadinhas and The Complete 5-Ingredient Cookbook Review

The Complete 5-Ingredient Cookbook: 175 Easy Recipes for Busy People, written by Denise Browning, features a fun collection of recipes with only a handful of ingredients for any time of day along with time-saving tips, meal plans, and even guides for stocking the pantry. A few highlights include Frozen Peach Iced Tea, Tortellini and Caprese Skewers, Very Berry Salad with Candied Walnuts, Portobello and Caramelized Onion Tart, Sweet and Sour Pork Chops, Panfried Crispy Catfish, and No-Bake Dulce de Leche Chocolate Tart. I will also be sharing her recipe for Almond Queijadinhas following the review.

Disclosure: I received a PDF copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions and statements are my own. This post contains Amazon affiliate links. If you purchase something through the link, I may receive a small commission at no extra charge to you.

Denise Browning

Denise Browning was born and raised in Brazil and is currently based in Texas with her husband and two children. She is a Le Cordon Bleu–trained chef and creator of the food blog, Easy & Delish (originally From Brazil to You, but expanded in 2016 to include a variety of cuisines). Her work has been featured in Food Network Canada, Food52, Food and Wine Magazine, Huffington Post, The Daily Meal, Parade, Country Living, Smithsonian Magazine, and more. This is her first cookbook.

The Complete 5-Ingredient Cookbook

Chapters are divided according to the following: Quality over Quantity; Time-Saving Techniques and Sample Meal Plans; Breakfast and Beverages; Appetizers and Snacks; Soups, Salads, and Sandwiches; Vegetarian Mains; Meat and Poultry; Fish and Seafood; Sauces, Dressings, and Condiments; and Sweets and Desserts.

Before getting to the recipes, Denise begins with a few notes and helpful tips to get you started. She has created an entire section dedicated to stocking the pantry, refrigerator, and freezer with basic ingredients along with notable equipment and utensils to help make the job easier. There are even a few incredibly detailed, easy meal plans that span the entire week for those looking for Vegetarian, Low Carb, Gluten-free, Quick & Easy, and Global Feast ideas. I especially appreciate her notes following many recipes on how to use up any extra ingredients to minimize waste.

A couple of the recipes in each chapter are accompanied by a full-page photo of the finished dish. Measurements are listed in US Customary, but a conversion chart is included before the index. Titles are written in English. Each recipe has a headnote with background information, menu ideas, serving size, and cooking/prep time. Many also have waste-not tips on how to use leftover ingredients in other recipes or storage tips (plus the best way to freeze meals when applicable). Denise has also provided easy reference notes at the top to highlight whether the dish is nut-free, gluten-free, quick, vegetarian, vegan, dairy-free, or uses a special appliance. 

Almond Queijadinhas

These Almond Queijadinhas are a quick and easy treat made with sweetened condensed milk, coconut flakes, egg yolks, Parmesan cheese, and almond extract. Denise states, “Queijadinhas are a Portuguese treat that is very popular in Brazil. Its name comes from queijo (cheese), which is one of its ingredients and serves to balance the sweetness of the treat.” Simply whisk everything together, divide among paper-lined muffin tins, and bake until golden to create a rich and gooey snack with a unique blend of sweet and a hint of savory with the addition of the Parmesan. They can be served warm from the oven, at room temperature, or chilled.

After baking and cooling to room temperature, the Almond Queijadinhas can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 4 days. They do not freeze well.

Other Dishes

I also made Homemade Frizz Coffee, Baked Biscuit Wreath with Garlic Dip, Hot Chocolate Popcorn with Marshmallows and Sprinkles, and Mushroom Fettuccine with Shaved Parmesan. 

The Homemade Frizz Coffee has become one of my new favorite summertime drinks. Instant espresso powder is dissolved in hot water, then poured in a glass over ice along with carbonated water and half-and-half (or heavy cream for a richer drink). Denise even included the option to turn it into a cocktail with the addition of coffee liqueur, vodka, or Kahlúa. 

The Baked Biscuit Wreath with Garlic Dip was such a fun appetizer to share with the family. Refrigerated biscuits are cut, rolled into balls, and arranged around the border of a large cast iron skillet. Shredded mozzarella cheese, ricotta cheese, mayonnaise, minced garlic cloves, salt, and pepper are blended together then transferred to the center of the skillet. The mixture is baked until the biscuits are golden and the cheese dip is bubbly and served immediately.

The Hot Chocolate Popcorn with Marshmallows and Sprinkles was Claire’s pick. Microwave popcorn is cooked according to package instructions, arranged over drizzled chocolate with marshmallows, then topped with more chocolate and sprinkles. After giving it a few minutes for the chocolate to harden, the popcorn is easily broken into pieces to serve.

The Mushroom Fettuccine with Shaved Parmesan is an incredibly comforting meal packed with mushrooms, parmesan, and a lemony garlic cream sauce. There is minimal prep and everything comes together in less than 30 minutes.

The Complete 5-Ingredient Cookbook is a great pick for those looking for a variety of meal ideas from breakfast to dessert and everything in-between. Most of the ingredients are readily available in the average American grocery store. A few that may require further searching include chia seeds, chai latte powder, tahini, andouille sausage, panko breadcrumbs, tapioca flour, cacao nibs, white miso paste, nori, dashi, golden raisins, pearl couscous, red and yellow curry paste, and zucchini noodles.

Almond Queijadinhas Recipe

Excerpt from The Complete 5-Ingredient Cookbook