1,001 Low-Fat Vegetarian Recipes: Delicious, Easy-to-Make, Healthy Meals for Everyone Review

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(More customer reviews)This is one of the best vegetarian cookbook ever. Most of the recipes are simple and fast to make, and all of them delicious.
It classified every meal into vegan, lacto-ovo, lacto, and ovo; and each recipe has the nutrionational guide too.
In the last edition they added the Smart Carbs chapter, for vegeterians that are also interested in wiselly choosing their carbohydrates.
I totally recommend this book for everyone that want to eat in a healthier way.

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This new edition of the vegetarian kitchen bible reflects current food trends and styles of cooking. Catering to the needs of today's busy cooks, from committed vegetarians to "flexitarians" to those simply looking for inventive ideas for peak-of-season produce, the recipes are easier and faster to prepare, with fewer ingredients and more concise cooking methods. The recipes, which all adhere to American Heart Association guidelines, emphasize "super foods" - foods that boast high nutritional, antioxidant, and phytochemical qualities - including blueberries, pomegranate juice, edamame, leafy dark greens, beans and legumes, nuts, seeds, whole grains, and soy. Included are recipes from every category, from appetizers through desserts, with more than 500 entrees, offering a superb assortment of satisfying meals that are low in fat and rich in flavor. Each recipe is labeled with an identifying icon for vegan, lacto-vegetarian, ovo-vegetarian, and lacto-ovo-vegetarian. Nutritional data and diabetic exchanges are provided for each recipe.

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American Heart Association Low-Fat, Low-Cholesterol Cookbook, 3rd Edition: Delicious Recipes to Help Lower Your Cholesterol Review

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(More customer reviews)I purchased this book because we have cholesterol issues in the family, and so far, I've made 3 or 4 recipes involving beef. They've been very dry and not visually appealing (with kids, this is important!:)) I've found most of the entrees have been time consuming to prepare as well, lots of ingredients. Truthfully, the only thing I'm enjoying from the book is the information in the beginning about cholesterol and how it affects your health- lots of great informative points on this but the recipes are just not very tasty. I also own American Heart Association's Meals in Minutes, which is much better.

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The nation's most trusted authority on heart-healthy living presents the third edition of this bestselling cookbook, with updated health information and 50 all-new recipes.Eating well is essential to living well. Choosing nutritious food can be complicated, however, especially in a world of fad diets and conflicting health advice. Now in its latest edition, the American Heart Association Low-Fat, Low-Cholesterol Cookbook helps you sort through the confusion. With more than 200 easy-to-prepare dishes and accompanying nutritional analyses, this useful cookbook is the perfect tool for creating meals that are sensible, healthful, and absolutely delicious. It also explains how cholesterol affects the body, how "good" and "bad" cholesterol differ, and how you can use the latest science and nutritional information to meet your heart-health goals.• Crab Spring Rolls with Peanut Dipping Sauce • Stuffed Chile Peppers • Lobster Bisque with Leeks and Shallots • Warm Mushroom Salad • Peppery Beef with Blue Cheese Sauce • Spicy Lentil Curry • Spinach and Black Bean Enchiladas • Cardamom-Lemon Muffins • Mocha Cheesecake

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The Busy People's Fast and Frugal Cookbook Review

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(More customer reviews)Any cookbook really has two things going on: the book itself, and the food it produces. This cookbook has so many advantages as a book that I'd like to be able to recommend it without hesitation. Recipes are sorted by prep time, so you can decide if you have 10 minutes to whip up some Hawaiian Sweet Potato soup, and the main dishes (including soups) are presented with a full menu. The book instructs you to set a timer before starting, and then gives you all the steps, and I found that by following the directions I was indeed able to get the meals on the table before the timer rang.
Each dish has a neatly sorted grocery list, and each main dish has a list for the entire suggested meal as well. Instructions are informal yet clear, nutrition information is clearly presented, and overall the book is so user-friendly that I think anyone will be able to succeed with it.
The recipes themselves are something else again. The author refers to these dishes as "down-home cooking" like your grandma used to make, and I guess it depends where you're from. Chipped beef on toast, candied vegetables, and eggs with sauerkraut are very exotic dishes to me. We're assured that these dishes are "delicious recipes that are healthy and easy on the budget," but it's hard to think of meals as healthy when they rely so heavily on things like pie filling and canned biscuits. In fact, cans feature very largely in these meals -- canned soup, canned fruit, canned vegetables, and even canned meat.
I cooked from this cookbook for a weekend, and I certainly could have cooked fresh food more cheaply than these meals. We tried out a dessert made from graham crackers, pudding, and whipped topping which totaled $4.00 -- more than a homemade cake, and neither more healthy nor more delicious.
Still, if you don't know how to cook, or are determined not to spend more than 15 minutes getting dinner on the table, this book could save you from continual drive-through. And if this is the style of cooking you prefer, then these might be faster, cheaper, and conceivably even healthier alternatives to the way your granny cooked.

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Perfect recipes for any cook with little time and even less money.Today's bad economy is forcing people out of restaurants and into thekitchen. But who has the time to cook? Dawn Hall shows home cooks how to prepare simple and fast food that's as healthy as it is easy on the budget.The Busy People's Fast and Frugal Cookbook is just the thing for today's economy minded meal makers.

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Fresh & Fast Vegetarian: Recipes That Make a Meal Review

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(More customer reviews)For the most part, author Marie Simmons avoids my pet peeve with some vegetarian cookbooks: an over-reliance on carbs or on meat substitutes. There is a chapter of meals based on breads and a fair number of the other recipes include grains or potatoes, but many are vegetable and/or bean-based. Many of the recipes are vegan (or could be if cheese is omitted).
As you can see from the list of recipes (below), there are a fair number of ethnic dishes from curries to quesadillas. My pantry is definitely lacking several of the ingredients the author uses (such as Bhutanese red rice, buckwheat, and tamari), but the international section of slightly upscale grocery stores (such as Harris Teeter, Wegmans or Whole Foods) should have most, if not all, of them. The author provides a page of mail-order sources for hard-to-find ingredients (or for cooks without access to a well-stocked grocery store).
Each recipe includes a brief introduction and suggestions about how to make it a meal by combining it with one or two of other dishes in the book. For example, the author suggests serving the Soba Noodle Salad with Snow Peas alongside either of the shredded Tuscan kale salads or Miso Soup with Spinach, Curried Tofu and Shiitake. Possible substitutions include replacing the snow peas with asparagus, sugar snap peas or green beans as well as replacing the sesame seeds used as a garnish with peanuts, almonds or other nuts. The author sometimes suggests how to tweak the recipe of a recommended side dish to better complement the pair. For example, when she suggests pairing the Red Rice Salad with Edamame, Tamari Walnuts and Ginger with the Cabbage, Pineapple and Peanut Salad along with the Broccoli and Red Onion Stir-Fry with Tamari Walnuts, she recommends omitting either the peanuts in the first dish or the walnuts in the latter dish so as to not feature nuts in all three dishes.
Many of the recipes also include possible substitutions. Possible substitutions for the Soba Noodle Salad include replacing the snow peas with asparagus, sugar snap peas or green beans as well as replacing the sesame seeds used as a garnish with peanuts, almonds or other nuts.
The introduction includes a brief overview of techniques (such as soaking vegetables and grating rather than chopping garlic), ingredients (including how to store various herbs and how to make your own spice blends such as Za'atar) and other basics (such as how to prepare hard-cooked eggs and toast nuts).
Each of the recipe chapters begins with a page or two of tips. For example, the chapter on vegetable sides includes tips on basic vegetable cooking (boiling, braising, roasting, pan-searing and skillet-cooking).
The first chapter, Soups That Make a Meal, includes recipes for:
*Roasted Tomato Soup with Avocado
*Chilled Watermelon and Tomato Soup
*White Bean and Fennel Soup
*Tomato and White Bean Soup with Spinach Pesto
*Lentil and Vegetable Soup with Smoked Paprika
*Red Lentil Soup with Coconut Milk and Toasted Cumin
*Lentil and Shiitake Soup with Leafy Greens
*Pureed Black Bean Soup with Piquillo Peppers
*Curried Chickpea Soup with Summer Vegetables
*Carrot, Sweet Potato and Ginger Soup with Baby Bok Choy
*Leek and Potato Soup with Roasted Cauliflower
*Winter Borscht
*Pumpkin and Tomato Soup with Cheese
*Farro and Kale Soup with Orange Gremolata
*Miso Soup with Spinach, Curried Tofu and Shiitake
*Curried Coconut-Squash Soup with Peanuts
*Vegetable, Black-Eyed Peas and Orzo Soup
*Easy Basic Vegetable Broth
The second chapter is on Main and Side-Dish Salads and includes recipes for:
*Red Rice Salad with Edamame, Tamari Walnuts and Ginger
*Black Rice, Mango and Sugar Snap Pea Salad
*Tomatoes and Potatoes with Avocado-Dill Dressing
*Toasted Bulgur, Tomato and Feta Salad
*Soba Noodle Salad with Snow Peas
*Toasted Quinoa, Corn and Avocado Salad
*Middle Eastern Bread Salad
*Green Bean, Corn, Tomato and Cucumber Salad
*Warm Green Bean and Tomato Salad with Mint
*Spinach, Avocado and Chopped-Egg Salad
*Shredded Tuscan Kale, Tomato and Avocado Salad
*Shredded Tuscan Kale Salad with Tamari and Sesame
*Summer Tomato and Olive Bread Salad
*Cabbage, Pineapple and Peanut Salad
*Curried Quinoa and Apple Salad with Dried Cranberries
*Basic Vinaigrette
*Japanese Vinaigrette with Ginger
The third chapter, Topped and Stuffed Breads That Make a Meal, features recipes including:
*Rosemary-Fennel White Bean Spread
*Broccoli, Dill and Lemon Spread
*Chickpea Spread with Pomegranate Molasses
*Beet and Tahini Puree
*Braised Swiss Chard with Pecorino Curls
*Tomato, Avocado and Tarragon Spread
*Roasted Red Pepper and Walnut Spread
*Multi-Mushroom Pate
*Cheese and Mushroom Melts
*Toasted Italian Bread with Mozzarella, Tomato and Olives
*Quick Melted Comte Cheese Crisps
*Grilled Comte Sandwich with Apple and Mango Chutney
*Toasted Flatbread (Naan) with Goat Cheese, Sauteed Greens and Crispy Shallots
*Curried Egg and Feta Breakfast Quesadillas
*Roasted Vegetable and Mozzarella Quesadillas
*Corn Tortillas with Mushrooms, Spinach and Manchego Cheese
*Summer Veggie Burritos with Goat Cheese
*Spicy Chipotle Chile Salsa
The next chapter covers Main Dishes and includes recipes for:
*Stir-Fried Tofu with Oyster Mushrooms, Bell Peppers and Spinach
*Tofu "Steaks" with Spicy Almond Butter Sauce and Baby Bok Choy
*Stir-Fried Curried Tofu with Coconut Green Rice and Cashews
*Pan-Seared Tofu with Eggplant and Curried Tomato-Mint Sauce
*Bulgur Pilaf with Roasted Vegetables
*Toasted Quinoa with Spinach, Roasted Tomatoes and Walnut
*Farrotto with Tomatoes and Pecorino
*Cumin-Scented Israeli Couscous with Caramelized Cabbage
*Red Quinoa with Scrambled Eggs, Asparagus and Tamari Almonds
*Shortcut Corn Risotto with Summer "Succotash"
*Vegetable Paella
*Lentil and Shiitake Ragout with Green Beans
*Curried Lentils with Walnuts, Spinach and Cherry Tomatoes
*Curried Potato, Shiitake and Broccoli Stir-Fry
*Twice-Baked Potatoes with Roasted Poblano Chiles and Queso Fresco
*Roasted Sweet Potatoes Topped with Quick Black Bean Chili
*Sauteed Cabbage and Crispy Potato Cake with Melted Cheese
*Cannellini Ragout with Leeks, Green Beans and Orange
*Artichoke and Potato Stew with Black Olives and Tomatoes
*Winter Vegetable Stew with Moroccan Flavors
*Coconut-Vegetable Curry with Cashews
*Curried Chickpeas with Roasted Cauliflower and Spinach
*Risotto-Style Penne with Tomatoes and Ricotta Salata
*Orecchiette with Ricotta, Broccoli Rabe and Blistered Cherry Tomatoes
*Gnocchi with Green Beans and Walnut Pesto
*Twice-Cooked Polenta Gratin
*Three-Mushroom Ragu with Stovetop Polenta
*Double-Corn and Jalapeno Polenta Gratin
*Skillet-Baked Eggs with Blistered Cherry Tomatoes
*Zucchini and Red Onion Mini Omelets with Romesco Sauce
*Quick Supper Frittata
The fifth chapter, Vegetable Sides That Make a Meal, includes recipes for:
*Quick-Cooking Artichokes with Lemon, Mint and Feta
*Spring Vegetable Saute
*Roasted Asparagus with Chopped Egg, Feta and Black Olives
*Roasted Asparagus with Warm Cherry Tomatoes and Black Olives
*Roasted Asparagus with Parmigiano-Reggiano Crumbs
*Twice-Cooked Green Beans with Curried Pecans
*Green and Yellow Wax Beans with Almond Pesto
*Pan-Braised Beets with Pistachio Pesto
*Sauteed Shredded Beets with Orange and Basil
*Pan-Seared Belgian Endive with Lemon, Honey and Thyme
*Oven-Roasted Mini Bell Peppers with Rosemary
*Pan-Blistered Mini Bell Peppers
*Stewed Red Bell Peppers and Tomatoes
*Pan-Seared Baby Bok Choy with Red Pepper Oil
*Broccoli and Red Onion Stir-Fry with Tamari Walnuts
*Broccoli with Olives, Orange Zest and Parsley
*Stir-Fried Broccolini with Sesame and Orange
*Broccolini with Sun-Dried Tomatoes and Pine Nuts
*Twice-Cooked Broccoli Rabe with Red Pepper and Garlic Oil
*Pan-Seared Brussels Sprouts with Hazelnuts
*Crisp-Cooked Savoy Cabbage with Asian Flavors
*Carrots with Moroccan Spices and Lemon
*Marinated Carrots with Dill and Mint
*Roasted Cauliflower "Steaks"
*Roasted Cauliflower, Red Bell Pepper and Red Onion with Rosemary and Garlic
*Swiss Chard with Fragrant Garlic and Salt
*Swiss Chard Ribs Gratin
*Curried Corn with Sugar Snap Peas and Mint
*Corn Saute with Jalapeno and Cilantro
*Mexican Corn on the Cob
*Japanese Eggplant Stir-Fry with Shiitake, Bell Peppers and Ginger
*Broiled Eggplant Towers with Tomato, Pesto and Mozzarella
*Skillet-Braised Fennel with Comte Cheese
*Stir-Fried Asian Greens with Crisp Golden Garlic
*Steamed Spinach with Ginger and Garlic Oil
*Crispy Kale
*Oven-Braised Leeks with Orange and Thyme
*Oven-Roasted Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms
*Oven-Roasted Mushrooms, Onions and Potatoes with Smoked Paprika
*Okra with Tomato-Ginger Sauce
*Roasted Potato Slabs with Romesco Sauce
*Roasted Sweet Potato Slices with Coriander and Lemon Dressing
*Curried Sweet Potato Wedges with Yogurt, Garlic and Mint Sauce
*Blistered Cherry Tomatoes with Balsamic
*Whole-Roasted Tomatoes with Warm Goat Cheese
*Blistered Plum Tomatoes with Bubbly Cheese
*Apple-Glazed Acorn...Read more›

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Cook Yourself Thin: Skinny Meals You Can Make in Minutes Review

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(More customer reviews)there are better options out there!
"Cook Yourself Thin" is a cute attractive book based on the cute and attractive television series on Lifetime television. While the recipes are tasty and fairly easy, I have a few complaints.
Firstly, the book contains NO nutritional information beyond a simple calorie count. If you are tracking your sodium, fiber, or fat intake, this book will not help you.
Also, some of the recipes are significantly higher in calories than similar diet books. You'll intake 596 calories for two stacks of eggplant and 539 calories for a portobello mushroom tuna melt. While these numbers are lower in comparison to NON-healthful recipes, there are definitely better options.
Despite these complaints, I do like this book. The presentation is nice and the recipes are delicious. As a healthful chef, I can definitely recommend "Cook Yourself Thin." As an earnest dieter, I think the book is acceptable - but not the best. I highly recommend "The Most Decadent Diet Ever" by Devin Alexander. It has more thorough nutritional information and a better serving size/calorie ratio.

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Lose weight without losing your mind!Cook Yourself Thin is a healthy, delicious way to drop a dress size withoutall the gimmicks. The ladies of "Cook Yourself Thin," a new Lifetime realityshow, offer 80 easy, accessible recipes in this companion cookbook thatteaches readers how to cut calories without compromising taste.
For some of us, losing weight has always been a struggle. The challenge:figuring out how to cook healthy, low-fat foods that won't leave you hungry,bored, or running for a gallon of ice cream! Cook Yourself Thin shows how tocut calories, change diets, and improve health without sacrificing the foodswe love.
Cook Yourself Thin is not a fad diet. It gives skinny alternatives to yourcravings. You can't live without your chocolate cake or mac 'n' cheese? Youdon't have to! (See Deep Dark Chocolate Cake, page 197.) There's neverenough time to cook? Cook Yourself Thin keeps it simple─with easyinstructions and fun recipes you'll want to make again and again.
What are you waiting for? Cook Yourself Thin!

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Betty Crocker The 300 Calorie Cookbook: 300 tasty meals for eating healthy every day (Betty Crocker Books) Review

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(More customer reviews)Everytime I swear I won't cram another cookbook onto my bookshelf I leaf through something that seems to stand out among the other cookbooks I have, or is complete enough that it allows me to give away several cookbooks so that one can take its place.
This is one such cookbook.
Very extensive cookbook with around 300 recipes, it's divided into the following categories:
Center of the Plate
Savory Skillet Meals
Casseroles and Pot Pies
Meatless Main Dishes
Sandwiches, Salads, and Pizzas
Soups, Stews, and Chilies
Slow Cooker Suppers
Grilling Good and Easy
30 Min or Less
Cooking for Two
Which is why I say it's like having several cookbooks...if I'm in the mood to grill, I can pull this out and do it with fewer calories, if I have limited time, it still has recipes for me, if I don't want leftovers I use the cooking for two section, and I love the slow cooker suppers for those days when I want to throw some things into a pot in the morning and come home to a hot cooked meal, making me feel like my private chef slaved all day to have dinner ready and waiting! :-)
Here are a few examples of some of the recipes. I've found them to include easy-to-locate ingredients and be family pleasers so that the rest of the house doesn't even have to know it's "diet" food since they tend to be good comfort foods:
Honey Glazed chicken breasts
Baked Oregano Chicken (this is a great one at only 180 calories)
Smothered Cajun Pork Chops
Beef and Peppers with Biscuits
Cheese Enchiladas
Philly Steak Casserole
Cheese Filled Tortellini Soup
Black Bean Taco Salad
Baked Chicken and Rice with Autumn Veggies
Country French Beef Stew
Chicken and Dumplings
Creamy Crabmeat Au Gratin
Tex Mex Scrambled Eggs
Cajun Oven Fried Trout
Grilled Pizza
Tex Mex Meat Loaf
There are also lots of ethnic dishes thrown in if you, for example, are in the mood for Chinese food, Indian food, etc. And the meatless maindishes will make even a hearty carnivore forget what's missing.
This book, unlike most of my diet cookbooks, contains FULL nutritionals, even the protein, sodium etc. If you are following Weight Watchers you'll know the fat and fiber of every dish going in.
The instructions are super simple. I cook all the time but even if you have only made Kraft mac and cheese up til now, you'll not skip a beat.
NEGATIVES: I try to leave negatives on any review even if I love something since nothing is perfect but this book is jam packed with recipes, many with calories even in the one hundreds and they are easy to prepare, healthy, and tasty and have full nutritionals. That's an A+ cookbook for me. I'f I had to say something others might not like, I might say it doesn't contain photos for all recipes (it does have several photos, just not for all) but bear in mind the book is already at almost 400 pages with its tips and recipes so you might not fit it into your cookbook holder if got any bigger. :-)
I love this one. It's both rare and well-done.
p.s. My calorie goal when I am dieting is 1250 calories per day. (This was scientifically figured out for me with a bodybugg. I'm a weight loss coach.) I burn 1950 calories per day usually in just normal activities so this deficit enables me to lose well if I also increase my activity( a little over 2 lbs per week) since a deficit of 3,500 calories equals a loss of one pound. (Your body uses fat stores for energy when it has a deficit.) Your calorie needs will vary of course based upon your height and weight and activity but there are several places online that you can get an estimate of what your body uses in order to figure out the deficit needed for weight loss even without a bodybugg. (All weight loss is, afterall, is taking in less calories than you burn.) This is great if you want to eat fresh food yet measure exactly what you are taking in as well.
But I'm not always on a diet. And to be honest, I use this book even when I am not on a diet. I like the recipes. I just get to eat more!
This keeps me satisfied and it's more of a food change than a diet.

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Vegetarian Express Lane Cookbook: Hassle-Free, Healthful Meals for Really Busy Cooks Review

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(More customer reviews)Let me put it this way. I had to figure out what to eat for the next week and we were already over budget on food, so I couldn't spend much. I flipped through this book and easily found four recipes that were mostly made up of staples I already had. And most of her recipes are so quick to make there is no excuse not to cook. Even the longer recipes she has alternatives to make them shorter. Chapters are set up by food headings such as Rice; Beans; Vegetables; and Pizzas. She also has ways of sneaking in new vegetables such as kohlrabi and bok choy and turnips without anybody being the wiser (except the cook). An amazing cookbook.

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There are no unusual ingredients or complex preparations in this cookbook: just a wealth of fast family recipes that can be on the table in less than 30 minutes. Pizza Salad, Cheesy Quesadillas, Spicy Fried Rice, Pasta with Fresh Tomato Sauce, Green Chili Corn Muffins, Caramel Brownies - there is plenty here to tempt cooks, whether they are vegetarians or simply want a break from meat. "Working moms will heave a sigh of relief when they see the corners the author has cut." - Philadelphia Inquirer "Just reading the recipes is enough to start the mouth watering." - Gannett News Service "An astonishing approach to meal preparation." - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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100-Calorie Snack Cookbook Review

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(More customer reviews)At first glance of this cookbook, I thought "wow! This is WONDERFUL! Such a pretty cookbook" However, a little more reading made me disappointed in things that are lacking...so I'd like to touch on both positive and negatives and allow you to make your own decision.
Incidentally, It always makes me leery when the majority of good reviews do not have the "Amazon verified purchase" stamp on them--especially when the review says they ordered the book but the lack of the "Amazon verified Purchase" stamp on the review dictates they did not. I'm not saying the reviewers are connected to the book company or author and didn't really order the book, but this book had so many funky dishes that it's the one case where I can't say I didn't wonder...just sayin'.
Positives: Really well produced. This book has photographs of almost every single dish on rich glossy stock paper right there next to the recipe. Nice touch. Really helps you not only see the finished product but also serving suggestions as well. Nice compact size too.
Not just low calorie, but low fat too. Nice.
Tasty dishes are included such as turkey sliders (but, um...here's the thing...the calorie count is without the bun so it might should be called turkey patty :-) ), smoked ham pita (yes, this one includes the pita in the calorie count), mini rice krispie treats (basically regular rice krispie treats, but cut to be tiny--but a good idea for a sweet fix), scottish oatmeal scones ( I want to make these; they look so good, but I have yet to find the "graham flour" you need in any grocery. I tried it with regular flour and wheat and didn't like the results), baby arugula blood orange and blue cheese salad, watermelon and feta salad, dirty rice,stuffed zucchini boats, etc. mmmm. all yummy
Negatives: But...aw, darn it...here's the thing that I wished had not been part of this otherwise wonderful treat of a book ( I mean, 100 calorie dishes! yahoo! You can eat lots of these and graze all day without guilt!)
First, I gotta say my honey and I both have a really weird-food-loving-diverse palette. But still...there are some dishes in here even WE wouldn't touch or, if we would, they sure aren't "cravable" so I thought I'd list the dishes and you can decide...Afterall, that would be fine if there were so many dishes that your choices were massive, but there are just around 200 recipes which is one per page...I will say one of her recipes has, in the description "Inspired by a recipe from a pal, this mixture has a flavor that most people have a hard time wrapping their brain around." See, to me, I might think that might be one I'd leave out of the cookbook if I need to start out saying that...but...Everyone's palette is different so it's best you make your own opinion:
here are some of the recipes in the book that I, personally, would rather eat a rice cake then cook:
*deviled eggs with capers, anchovies, and olives
*smoked trout on finn crisp crackers
*smoked trout with horseradish
*tomatoes and vodka (you dont drink the vodka. ha ha; you just mix *tomatoes with vodka and curry powder. that's it. wha? )
*pickled cherries ( I would need that shot of vodka to eat pickled cherries. Or I'd need to win something really good in a bet.)
*pickled carrots with carroway (just in case the cherries didn't cure your pickled food cravings. p.s. say that recipe name 10 times fast for fun.)
*smoked salmon ak-mok
*spicy sesame nori cottage cheese (for those who haven't tried it, nori is black seaweed. I like it on sushi)
*garlicky asparagus with anchovy
*sardines with mustard
(oh, how she does love her some seafood and raw seafood in a good deal of these dishes...just not my personal snack favorite. But I can't speak for everyone)
*wasa crackers with cream cheese and radishes (not odd, just bland)
*smoked salmon nori
*watermelon saandwiches
*smoked salmon tartare
*smoked salmon with asparagus and cucumbers
*scallops seviche (sic...author misspelled this, not me)
(oooo more seafood you dont cook..who needs to spend the time for snack treats, I guess, right?! **giggles**Actually, I like scallops ceviche but, again, I have weird tastes and I think most people would prefer to cook em.)
*avocado and shrimp seviche (more uncooked seafood...)
*ginger tofu
*green beans and tofu ( I like uncooked tofu but not over green beans with vinegar and I'm weird like that anyway)
*tea poached prunes (just stick those prunes in some tea and slurp em up!)
*strawberries with balsamic vinegar and black pepper
*date smoothie (why use bananas and strawberries when ya got dates, right?)
*lemony green and white beans with anchovy paste
*oven roasted parsnips
bok choy with sesame
*candied jalapeno peppers
*chutney stuffed jalapeno peppers
*horshradish yogurt dip
*and the ever-favorite chocolate spoons (really? seriously? the recipe is to melt chocolate and dip a spoon in it and then lick it? seriously? that's a recipe? **giggles** Ya think anyone will guess your secret ingredient here...just sayin...) that's just a sampling of a few things I don't care to pack in my lunchkit. And there's only one recipe per page in the book so there's not a large sampling, in my opinion, of enough other goodies.
Hmmm...just thought of something else. Another negative? I personally don't like to see cookbooks with odd ingredients that not everyone will have easy access to. That's just me...we're lucky to be near several natural food stores in Austin so I am often able to find even odd things but it should be noted as not everyone is going to easily find some of her ingredients needed even in a natural grocery or perhaps not be in the mood to make a special trip if that's not your everyday grocery store so it should be noted I think what some of the recipes call for:
*nori
*farro
*non-fat greek yogurt
*seaweed sheets
* beet greens (not beets)
*fish sauce
*rice noodles
*lemon grass stalks
*vietnamese chli paste
*pitted medjool dates
*olive paste
*black turtle beans
*mestemacher
*bulgur wheat
*powdered wasabi, ( I can get regular wasabi but can't find powdered)
*shelled fava beans
*fresh jalapenos and chipotles (easy to find here in Texas. Not so everywhere else)
*wheat bran (the powder, not the cereal)
*ground flaxseed
*Marcona almonds...I could go on and on...Yeah, it's not your everyday "what I have in my pantry" cookbook. But these may very well BE in your pantry. At least you can guage. It's up to you whether that's ok or not.
Also, many of the recipes are for drinks rather than things to eat, such as to add honey and vanilla to a glass of milk, or blueberries and lemon juice to green tea, or maple syrup and lemon juice to water (I tried this one. "Not so much"...it won't be a repeat try, I'm sad to say. :-) Liquid calories just aren't as filling for me personally but drink recipes may be something others would like included.
There are recipes in here I do like even if totally simple that remind you of snack ideas to help you shake things up a bit and get variety in your diet, even if just putting pb and j on a ricecake or ham and cheese on a pita or craisins on celery...not really recipes but good ideas from her. She also has a "recipe" for hollowing out the bread in a bagel and putting cheese on top. Another "recipe" she calls black and white edame is this: put salt and pepper on edamame. That's it...She could have listed recipes like this with several recipes per page rather than using a whole page for the above recipe of cheese on a hollow bagel or salt and peppering a vegetable for example (there are lots of 2 ingredient recipes which is good for ideas but dont need to take up the whole page in my humble opinion)...but the great idea fell flat with not making so many of the foods ones you crave everyday and can share with the whole family or friends. Will I keep it? Maybe so. I like even some of the odd recipes in here. but mostly the ones I like are just simple like cucumber sandwiches that I don't really need a recipe for but that reminds me of good low calorie ideas when I can't think of something.
I'm more likely to just tear out the ten or so recipes or ideas I like and put them in my recipe binder. Do I think most people will find it keepable? Probably not. I eat lots of fish and vegetables and that's a good deal of my diet. But I'm observant enough to know the majority of America isn't on a mediterranean diet and even if you scrap all the fish and raw fish dishes, isn't going to find putting peanut butter and honey on kashi cheddar crackers, or dipping pretzel sticks into a tiny tiny bit of chocolate a "recipe"...but if you, instead, take those recipes as good reminders of how to bring new ideas to your snacks...AND you have a diverse palette, well then maybe it would be worth it.
Hopefully this is enough of my own personal overview to help you decide if it's best for you. You may love all of the above...if so, now you know!
I love some of this cookbook, I love the idea of it mostly...but hope maybe there will be an improved follow up. The idea was good. the photography and style was good. But, sadly, I think it will not reach the appeal of a large audience...though it will provide a few new low cal snack ideas even so. I have a cookbook that has 200 calorie recipes that I use very often so I had thought this would be a favorite book of mine...but most of the recipes are for things I personally don't want to try, or I can't find the ingredients for them, or it's...Read more›

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Lickety-Split Meals: For Health Conscious People on the Go Review

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(More customer reviews)This is the best low-fat nutritious cookbook I've ever tried. I am a registered dietitian, and I still was thrilled with Zonya's book. I liked the recipes - clear instructions, nothing tricky, no exotic foods. I especially liked the format which gives you the order of meal preparation - my husband can use it. For many less-experienced cooks, knowing when to cook the rice, start the salad, etc. and get it all done on time can be intimidating.
Now, no excuses for high calorie fast food or TV dinners. I plan to buy a copy for my daughter-in-law and sister too. I also liked the fitness tips and other information on a healthy lifestyle.
Just the thing to start your New Year's resolutions off right.

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The Everything Low-Fat, High-Flavor Cookbook: From Appetizers to Desserts, 300 Deliciously Easy Recipes That You Won't Believe Are Low-Fat (Everything (Cooking)) Review

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(More customer reviews)This recipe book does not tell you what size a serving is, much less for what portion the nutrition information is calculated. Clearly in some instances it is not just for a single portion, and in other instances it is just difficult to tell. I have contacted the publisher for clarification and have not received feedback yet.The nutrition information is very important for people who must be on a low-fat diet, and so I just find that I do not use this cookbook. I would search for another one. There are many out there.

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Cookin' Healthy With One Foot Out the Door/Quick Meals for Fast Times Review

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(More customer reviews)This small, humor-laden vegan cookbook has many excellent recipes, and the Mushroom Stroganoff completely surprised some non-vegetarian friends that I had over to dinner one night. They wondered aloud how I, as a vegetarian, could eat something that obviously had lots of meat and dairy in it, and were surprised to hear it had neither. They also thought I must have spent a lot of time on it, but (thanks to pre-sliced mushrooms at Whole Foods) it only took 15 minutes to prepare. I have had several requests for this recipe every time I make it.
At first I was skeptical that the dairyless sour cream could taste anything like the real thing. I was pleasantly surprised! I'm not a vegan, but now it's the only kind of "sour cream" I'll eat. Very good with Mexican food.
The only recipe I could not make successfully was the blueberry coffee cake. I followed the directions to the letter, but ended up throwing the whole thing out. I may try again someday.
Delia and Polly sound like a couple of nuts. I like that in my friends, and hope to meet them someday.
Enjoy the recipes!

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A light-hearted look at easy and painless vegan cooking. Over 140 creative ways to spend minimum time in the kitchen-most recipes take less than 15 minutes preparation time, with easy-to-find ingredients.

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Frozen Assets Lite and Easy: Cook for a Day, Eat for a Month Review

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(More customer reviews)Like an earlier reviewer, I found that this book really suffered from being poorly edited. However, the recipes are delicious and the fat has been sensibly trimmed from most recipes. You can easily modify recipes to take out even more fat by using techniques like using cooking spray in a nonstick skillet for sauteing onions. Everything I have made from this book has been great, although I am jotting down lots of notes in my copy of the book as I have modified things a bit to suite my own style and experience. For example, her Cheddar Chicken recipe uses a very lowfat cheese sauce which is made without starting with a roux (flour browned in butter). I found it helped to use Wondra flour mixed in a jar with some of the liquid, like you would for gravy, instead of just tossing everything in the pan. This could cause clumping. She also has a crustless quiche recipe, but I plan on cooking it in a premade pie crust, with the extra fat and calories. I think my family would prefer that.
I really like how she has organized her recipes into "mini-sessions" of 5 or 6 recipes grouped by protein type. So, for example, you might do a chicken (breast) session or a lean pork session in one afternoon or evening, rather than cooking for an entire month in one day. Slowly your freezer supply of delicious food will build up.
I really, really do like this book, and having checked many freezer cooking books out of the library, this is the only one I bought. My chief complaint, however, is that it appears to have been rushed into print, and I lay the blame for this on the publisher, not the author. (This is just my theory, no one has confirmed it.) The author is a nice lady who deserved to have had support from her publisher.
Here are the problems:
First, the shopping lists for each mini-session often list the ingredients in a different unit of measurement than they are listed in the ingredient lists in the recipes. For example, with the chicken breasts they are listed alternately by weight, number of whole chicken breasts, number of chicken breast portions (not immediately clear that these are different), and by cups of cooked and cubed meat. Chicken breasts vary considerably in their size, so buying them buy weight is more useful information for recipes where they are going to be cooked and cubed.
Second, in some cases, the preparation instructions seem to have been copied and pasted without editing--e.g., boil skinless, boneless chicken breasts and then remove the meat from the bone?
Third, the list of ingredients in the recipes are rarely listed in the order that the ingredients are used in the recipes. This is a convention that we cooks are used to, and it is disconcerting to have them listed out of order. A cook is more likely to make an error and omit and ingredient this way.
Fourth, as noted in an earlier review, there are instances where the amount of some ingredients is given incorrectly. All I can say is keep reading the reviews here, and hopefully all major blunders will eventually be listed. I keep hoping that the author will post some errata information on her web site (you can find it easily in a web search), but it has not happened yet. Debi, if you read this, pretty please give us a "known errors" page!

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Everyday Cooking with Dr. Dean Ornish: 150 Easy, Low-Fat, High-Flavor Recipes Review

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(More customer reviews)I have this cookbook well stained with use! The soups, salads, entrees and yes the Carrotcake with cream cheese frosting, are wonderful! I would recommend this book to all no matter if they are vegan, not a vegan or have health issues. I have even incorperated many of the recipes into the meals of my still meat eating family, and yes, they love them also!
I will state that after I started following Ornish's program, I have lost over 20 pounds!
This cookbook is easy to read, easy to use, and has been the most important investment in my life!

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Renowned cardiac researcher and bestselling author Dean Ornish, M.D., has inspired millions of people to choose a healthier lifestyle and a low-fat diet. But low-fat cooking can be time-consuming and hard to fit into a busy schedule, so Dr. Ornish has found 150 wonderful ways to make it fast, delicious and fun.
Everyday Cooking with Dean Ornish includes 150 easy and extraordinary recipes that are extremely low in fat and cholesterol -- and high in flavor. You'll find slimmed-down versions of comfort foods that are delicious and nutritious, from French Toast and Hashed Browns to enchiladas and lasagna, from Creamy Corn Soup and Spicy Arkansas Chili to Southwest Pizza and Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting. The recipes are quick to prepare, the ingredients are familiar and inexpensive and there are hundreds of smart time-saving tips on cooking, shopping and serving. Now you no longer have to choose between good food and good health.

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Jacques Pepin's Simple and Healthy Cooking Review

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(More customer reviews)Tired of cooking the same old dishes and wanting to serve my family healthy meals, I recently purchased approximately 10 new cookbooks. I was searching for a cookbook with simple recipes that I could prepare on a daily basis. The books that I purchased were either too basic and boring or interesting but too complicated. "Jacques Pepin's Simple and Healthy Cooking" was exactly what I was searching for. His recipes are delicious and interesting, as well as, healthy and simple to prepare. I have used this cookbook every night that I have cooked since I purchased it. I think I have tried at least 1/2 of the main course & accompaniment recipes. My family enjoys eating the meals as much as I enjoy preparing them.
Oh, and don't mistake "healthy" as meaning "dietitic" or "tasteless". He does not sacrifice taste for health. He uses a lot of fresh ingredients that give the dishes a great flavor. He does not omit butter, salt, etc. from his recipes however, not much is needed to achieve a flavorful taste.
I was so excited about his book that I purchased "Cooking with Claudine" last week. The recipes look just as appetizing but, I have to admit that I prefer the layout of "Simple & Healthy", in which the recipes are laid out in courses opposed to being arranged in menus. "Simple & Healthy" is easier to search through, it has a side photo for almost every recipe and has suggested menus listed at the beginning of the book.
Unlike the other books that I purchased...this is a cookbook that you will actually use!

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Cooking the Fat-Free, Salt-Free, Sugar-Free, Flavor-Full Way Review

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(More customer reviews)I first saw this book in the new-book section of the local library. I took it home and tried several of the recipes. I found the book to be easy to read and the recipes, in general, good and easy to prepare. There is an emphasis on red-pepper and hot sauce in many of the recipes (the author is from Louisiana)and I would suggest going lightly on those ingredients if, you have children, like I do - they refused to eat the dishes they found too hot and spicy. I was unable to find the cheese often listed as an ingredient, but the author did list a source for ordering it if it was unavailable in your local grocery stores. Many of the recipes used baked bananas or un-cooked, mashed bananas as sweeteners. This is fine if you can eat the dish in one or two sittings, but bananas do not keep well and turn dark upon refrigeration, making the dishes unappealing to look at. The author also recommends using apple juice concentrate as a sweetener in many of the dishes and this worked well. The author included a wide variety of dishes and many that were vegetarian for those interested in meat-free recipes. I particularily enjoyed the chicken salad and some of the pasta salads. Over all I found the book interesting and informative enough to purchase and add to my collection of favorite low-cal cookbooks.

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The Cardiac Recovery Cookbook: Heart Healthy Recipes for Life After Heart Attack or Heart Surgery Review

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(More customer reviews)The Cardiac Recovery Cookbook: Heart-Healthy Recipes For Life After Heart Attack Or Heart Surgery by registered dietician and licensed nutritionist M. Laurel Cutlip and nutrition consultant Sari Budgazad offers a 216-page compendium of easy to make, good tasting and good for you recipes that are characterized by reduced saturated fat, cholesterol, and sodium. Each recipe is provided with detailed nutritional information and range from Breakfast Quesadilla; Flax French Toast; Mexican Pozle; and Baked Pork Chops; to Crispy Oven-Fried Chicken; Baked Trout; New Orleans Red Beans; and Summer Breeze Smoothies. There is something here for any and all dining occasions from appetizers and soups, to entrees and side dishes, to mouth-watering palate-pleasing desserts. While The Cardiac Recovery Cookbook is especially recommended for anyone recuperating from cardiac problems, these 100 quick and easy recipes will be equally appreciated by their families and friends wanting to join in the recovering cardiac patient at meal times.


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American Heart Association Quick & Easy Cookbook: More Than 200 Healthful Recipes You Can Make in Minutes Review

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(More customer reviews)My young husband had a heart a attack and with a new baby we have plenty of motivation to eat heart healthy. Someone bought this book for us and we cook from it every night. The recipies are easy, with few, easily found ingredients and tasty too. We are buying them for all of our family for Christmas - last year we sent them steaks!

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In our hectic era, who has time to spend hours in the kitchen creating tasty, healthful meals? Yet when we try to eat fast, we almost always resort to eating fat (think: fast food). This indispensable cookbook from one of the most trusted names in the health field breaks the fast-fat connection. Nearly every one of its mouthwatering, low-fat, low-cholesterol recipes can be prepared in under 30 minutes. Here is the opportunity for millions of Americans to start living the more healthful lifestyle they know they should.

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