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COOKBOOKS BOOKS

Posted in Cookbooks (Friday, March 19, 2010)

Food Inc.: A Participant Guide: How Industrial Food is Making Us Sicker, Fatter, and Poorer-And What You Can Do About It By PublicAffairs. The regular list price is $14.95. Sells new for $7.95. There are some available for $7.15.
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5 comments about Food Inc.: A Participant Guide: How Industrial Food is Making Us Sicker, Fatter, and Poorer-And What You Can Do About It.
  1. I purchased Food, Inc. after watching an Oprah show. This is a movie every adult should see. It angered me how big business works. We should be investigating on our own, showing dismayal with their practices and proceed to take action even if it is simply buying organic food (which I am now doing). It does taste better, is certainly better for you, even if you have to pay alittle more for it. It would be a good thing to show your support for the organic growers out there that you appreciate their effort to make our food as healthy as it can be. Big business is taking over - take note. They are doing simply horrible things to animals & humans. They are making it so we are not free anymore to farm how we want, they control everything. I appreciate this movie and have shown to family & friends. It is a great movie and a real eye opener!


  2. This book makes you open your eyes and ask the question,Why am i eating meat? Any kind.
    I never thought that i'd be thinking more and more about starting to become a vegan.
    I think that would be better for my health and my wallet.
    A must read.



  3. I bought this video so that I can pass along the message of this movie to everyone I can. It is sad and disturbing what has happened to agriculture in our country for the sake of profit. I have been sickened by the way animals are raised and slaughtered for years but this movie was an education about so much more. Living in Michigan, we see farmland vanishing all of the time and replaced with development because farming is not profitable. I am going to demand that, and support stores who acquire and sell local organic and humanely raised products. I am willing to pay more now so that hopefully they will become affordable for everyone. It is also an eye opener about so much more. There is no doubt in my mind that many diseases and conditions that are prevalent in our country today especially cancer are directed related to the content of this film.


  4. The book contained a lot of useful information about the horrible and dangerous state of our food production in this country; however, I would have preferred if had it been written more in the style of Fast Food Nation or Spoiled--one author and one consistent voice rather than as a series of disjointed essays.

    It is informative, though...so if you want to learn more, don't hesitate to pick up a copy,


  5. I ordered and watched the Food Inc. video. It was very enlightening in regard to what's happening to the food we eat and feed our children. It's time we educate ourselves and take back our land and food supply. It's up to each person to take responsibility for our health and the health of our children. I am anxious to read the guide.


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Posted in Cookbooks (Friday, March 19, 2010)

Ad Hoc at Home Written by Thomas Keller. By Artisan. The regular list price is $50.00. Sells new for $29.97. There are some available for $36.93.
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5 comments about Ad Hoc at Home.
  1. I've worked in restaurants and understand the concept of preparing a "staff meal" in which great ingredients plus last night's leftovers are used imaginatively to make a meal for the employees. Keller explains at one point that is the inspiration for Ad Hoc and for this cookbook, and therein lies the problem.

    If you have never baked or fried a chicken or brined a cut of pork, you'll find directions here. But you can find equally good and less fussy recipes in the Joy of Cooking or another more encyclopedic/basic source. Some of what's here is solid home-cooking advice, but other dishes are astonishingly high in fats. If I'm going to clog my arteries I'd rather find a more creative way to do it.

    Also, hidden in the recipes are a number of specialty ingredients that make it difficult to reproduce Keller's methods without a lot of advance mail-order shopping. And while some dishes can be made "ad hoc" or on the spur of the moment, others depend on advance preparation of enhancements such as pickled vegetables or spice mixes. Actually I love Keller's pickling section and that, plus the pictures, comes close to justifying the purchase of the book. But understand what you are getting, and not.


  2. I have absolutely enjoyed cooking from this book. Its detailed instructions are what work for me. Its creates successful dishes that are making cooking a fun experience.


  3. Ad Hoc is easily one of the best cookbooks I have read. It does what so many other books have tried to do before it, but much better. What am I referring to? Well, it makes cooking fun! The recipes it provides are absolutely delicious AND easy. It is one of the first cookbooks I have found that takes the type of cooking you would find in a 3 Michelin star restaurant, applies it to the type of food you might have eaten in your childhood, and makes it easy for anyone to make.

    Thomas Keller explains in the book that his idea for the restaurant started out as wanting just a temporary restaurant that would focus on a sort of "homecooking" like they usually served for their staff meals. His restaurant turned out to be an overwhelming success, and so it became a permanent fixture in his line of restaurants. Little did I know that it's also the type of cookbook I wanted. It helps you to become a better cook and teaches you about the meals you actually feel like cooking every day.

    I own several other excellent cookbooks, and most are either beautiful to look at, but extremely difficult for the amateur chef to replicate (The French Laundry cookbook, Alinea), or are easy to replicate, but not overly exciting to the point where you actually want to make the food. This one actually accomplishes both.

    In addition to the recipes you find in the book, it also discusses good equipment to have, techniques that might be beneficial, places to buy quality ingeredients, great pictures, and further recipes for staple sauces and condiments.

    The book is extremely thorough, well laid-out, and keeps your interest even if you want to read through it instead of just taking advantage of the recipes. The one negative aspect of the book in my mind is that the pictures, although beautiful and plentiful, don't show everything you might want to see. I love seeing the finished products before diving into a new recipe. The provided pictures in this book cover maybe cover 1/3 of the recipes. The book is already long and I can see why they would exclude many of the pictures, but on the other hand, there are several pictures that seem to have no point at all. These could have easily been replaced with more useful pictures of the food.

    Overall though, this is without a doubt a must-have. Whether you want something just to read through and admire, or something to guide you and help you create some excellent meals, Ad hoc will satisfy.


  4. I bought this book just because of Mr. Keller's reputation. I have two of his other books (The French Laundry Cookbook and Bouchon, which while full of delicious recipes, are hard to use on a regular night. My husband and I have enjoyed several recipes, notably the buttermilk fried chicken, which has become a regular at our house. Tonight we are having the pork ribs. The best thing about this book is that the meals can be made any night with relatively easy to find ingredients. They make our evenings special. Also, for non-uber foodies, like my mother and many of my friends, the food is not too far a reach for their palates. Excellent.


  5. Wished book would have had more interesting food recipes. Don't usually like chef cookbooks because I don't have a prep staff. Recipes were simple--perhaps too simple.


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Posted in Cookbooks (Friday, March 19, 2010)

Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day: The Discovery That Revolutionizes Home Baking Written by Jeff Hertzberg MD and Zoe Francois. By Thomas Dunne Books. The regular list price is $27.99. Sells new for $14.93. There are some available for $14.93.
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5 comments about Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day: The Discovery That Revolutionizes Home Baking.
  1. Tried this recipe and found it more cumbersome, and not great results. Jim Lahey's method produced perfect results first time.


  2. I try so hard to buy only healthy bread for my family but anything that has its first ingredient as "whole grain" is $3 or more per loaf! It was just easier to buy the $1 bread, especially in this economy!

    Then I read about Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day in a magazine and started researching it. Convinced it was as easy as it looked, I bought the book and started baking bread. It really IS that easy! I haven't purchased a loaf of bread from a store for over a year and my family loves it!

    I've shared this book with friends and family and many of them now bake their own bread too. This is so easy and it feels so good to be making healthy bread for my family! I will never go back to the unhealthy $1 bread from the super market again!


  3. So far I have only made the master Boule recipe. I have to say that it is very simple to make, and the bread looks beautiful when it comes out. The taste to me was bitter and not what I expected. The second batch I made, I added 1/3 cup sugar and cut the salt by 1/3 and it was much better. Haven't tried the other recipes yet, but I hope they get better. I invested a small chunk of $$$ to buy the supplies; pizza paddle, containers, baking stone, oven thermometer...and as of right now I would not call this a good investment considering the results. I think once I find the time to *tweak* the recipes in the book I will be happier. If you are a serious baker short on time you will probably like this book. If however, you are living on a budget and trying to save the $1.50 - $3.00 price tag on Walmart bakery breads, (like me) this book is probably not for you.


  4. I am new to this bread baking because I was always intimidated. This book erased all my fears. It is fantastic. I find myself going back to read in it almost daily. They make everything so easy. It is now a real joy to bake bread. Love knowing that I control what is in our bread. The real reward in the wonderful aroma filling up the house, and the incredible taste of the breads. Order your copy now, you won't regret it !


  5. This is one of my new favorite things to do. The book is so clearly written and it is so incredibly easy to make artisanal delicious homemade bread in literally minutes. I know the basic recipe by heart and I make it every week. It stays in the refrigerator and I have never ever had a failed loaf of bread. I use the same recipe for homemade pizza and it truly is simple and delicious. I have told everyone I know about this book but until you actually try it you will not believe the actual no knead part...which makes this the best bread book ever.


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Posted in Cookbooks (Friday, March 19, 2010)

I Can't Believe It's Not Fattening!: Over 150 Ridiculously Easy Recipes for the Super Busy Written by Devin Alexander. By Broadway. The regular list price is $19.99. Sells new for $11.68. There are some available for $12.95.
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5 comments about I Can't Believe It's Not Fattening!: Over 150 Ridiculously Easy Recipes for the Super Busy.
  1. I love cookbooks and trying new recipes. This book is excellent in that the recipes are all quick and relatively painless and they are healthy. I have tried several already and those have been kid-appetite friendly, tasty and truly are ridiculously easy to make.


  2. My hero Devin Alexander lost 55 pounds and has kept them off over a decade. She did it by taking all her favorite foods and creating healthier versions. She has written bestselling cookbooks for the Biggest Loser and under her own name. She also has her own cooking show on cable.

    This book is a different format from her earlier ones. First, the drawing of Devin on the front is remarkably similar to the one for the Hungry Girl series. The pages are slick and glossy and the color pages of the recipes are gorgeous.

    I made a list of all my favorite foods and recipes from restaurants, food courts at all my favorite shopping malls, county fairs, takeout menus, and comfort foods. I wrote them all down and started looking for cookbooks that gave me great tasting healthy alternatives.

    I had totally given up on burritos - until I tried her Fully Loaded Turkey Burrito Pocket. At 300 calories and 15 minute prep time, this is one of my favorite meals.

    I love tuna so the Spicy Tuna Salad (with chili sauce) was a new taste buzz for me. (I usually put Chesapeake Bay Seafood seasoning on my tuna; some cracked pepper and heat it up for a few minutes.)

    One of my favorite snacks is the Faux French Onion Dip (made with Greek yoghurt) and the Quick and Crunchy Potato Chips (made from real potatoes).

    All in all Devin continues to be extremely passionate about cooking and has fun with the healthy recipes she creates.

    I highly recommend all of her books.


  3. I got this a couple days ago and then realized I'd ordered it again. Oh, well.. it's a good book. Several things in it I want to try. Also ordered the Fast Food Fix!


  4. I have all FIVE of Devin's books and I find them all to be an asset in the kitchen. I just got this one, and so far have only tried the Mexican Mac and Cheese, but it was so easy and wonderfully delicious! I can't wait to keep trying these recipes because they all look so AMAZING! I love Devin's recipes because you don't have to sacrifice flavor OR portion size. With the help of Devin's books, I have lost 130 pounds!!! THANK YOU DEVIN!!!


  5. I greatly enjoy cooking, and have a good supply of delicious recipes in my collection, dishes my wife really likes and dishes that almost always turn out well. A number take quite a bit of time to prepare -- relaxing and fun for me -- and I make these when there's lots of time, especially those that freeze well. That way I have a good supply of low fat, delicious meals always on hand.

    However, we are always on the lookout for delicious, healthy meals that can be prepared from scratch in a short period of time. My wife has excellent (demanding) tastes, and is wonderful at putting together menus where the dishes enhance each other. I showed her this book, and she picked a dozen dishes she thought we would like.

    I've prepared six so far -- all six real winners.

    Breakfast Fried Rice
    Pomegranate Oatmeal
    Baked Brie Turkey Wrap
    Pierogies with Kielbasa and Sauerkraut
    Pan Fried Old Bay Salmon
    Mexican Mac and Cheese

    70 % of the recipes can be made with natural and organic ingredients; Alexander includes a list of those that can't. Of course, she provides nutritional date for each recipe.

    This book is a real winner; I'm happy to have another weapon in our arsenal of good, healthy foods.

    Robert C. Ross 2010


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Posted in Cookbooks (Friday, March 19, 2010)

Mastering the Art of French Cooking (2 Volume Set) Written by Julia Child and Louisette Bertholle and Simone Beck. By Knopf. The regular list price is $89.95. Sells new for $49.56. There are some available for $48.99.
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5 comments about Mastering the Art of French Cooking (2 Volume Set).
  1. I purchased Mastering the Art of French Cooking (2 Volume set) for my daughter, and she couldn't have been happier. We had just seen the Julia/Julie movie, and she had been looking for the first book at thrift stores! I was going the buy the first volume for her at a local bookstore, but fortunately I checked Amazon and found both volumes for less than the price of one anywhere else! She and her family have been having fun cooking (and eating) their way through Julia (though not every recipe). Thank you Amazon for the best bargain yet!


  2. I weent to boarders here in greeley colorado after checking amazon.com prices and they wanted $89.00 for the same thing i bought at amazon for $39.00, ffs i saved $50.00 buying from amazon.com. More and more i find the things i want are cheaper at amazon even with the shipping costs added in. I highly recomend checking prices when buying the things you want, but always check amazon, they have the things you want for the best price 9 out of 10 times, based on my personal experience.
    by Julia Child Mastering The Art of French Cooking, Volume One (1) (Vol 1) 40 Anv Rei edition


  3. This book deserves its iconic status. Clear instructions and great writing. A definite for every kitchen


  4. My wife loves the recipes, hates the lack of organization.
    This is not a reference book. Just like Julia, completely disorganized organization. You must page through to find what you are looking for. Or, do like Julie in the movie, start at page one and work your way through an adventure. The recipes are legendary.


  5. After seeing the movie Julie and Julia with myrell streep as childs my wife had to have the 2 volume set on mastering the art of french cooking, and the very first selection my wife made was outstanding. it was of course the same as the one featured in the film "beef bourgouyne" I loved it and we both look forward to many more delectable dishes My wife requested that she wanted the set and I did so at amazon.com


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Posted in Cookbooks (Friday, March 19, 2010)

The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Recipes from an Accidental Country Girl Written by Ree Drummond. By William Morrow Cookbooks. The regular list price is $27.50. Sells new for $14.15. There are some available for $16.88.
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5 comments about The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Recipes from an Accidental Country Girl.
  1. I purchased this book as a gift for my 17 year old daughter. She has been following the Pioneer Woman blog for some time, so she was very excited to see that a cookbook was published.

    When this book arrived, my husband and I stood there and looked at it for a long time. That is just how beautifully done this book is...it makes you want to flip through it and read it! The stories and photographs really add character to the book - making it more than just a cookbook.

    As for the recipes? They are awesome! However, these are not recipes that you would want to prepare if you are on a diet. They are good, old-fashioned, hearty foods like people would eat in the old days!! My daughter has only had this book for a couple of weeks and already she has made several recipes from it. My absolute favorite is the chocolate sheet cake. Chocolate sheet cake may not sound very intriguing, but trust me - this cake is good!


  2. The Pioneer Woman Cooks and the author's website show what an extremely talented woman Ree is. Her photography, her writing, and her delicious recipes all attest to this. It's hard to imagine anyone being disappointed with this cookbook because all of Ree's talents are showcased in the book.

    Ree's blog was the top blog in 2009 and also won awards in prior years. The fact that she shares her life with her readers in a very personal and humorous way, not to mention her wonderful recipes, made me a number one fan of her blog and also of The Pioneer Woman Cooks. I live in a small city in upstate NY and it's fascinating to me to see the differences in our lives, and at the same time, the similarities.


  3. After reviewing Ree's blog I thought why not pick up the book ... it was a great deal at Amazon, so ... I had nothing to lose. Not only are the pictures wonderful, but the book is filled with wonderful stories. You can't beat the recipes. Simple, yet delicious!! I have recommended this book to numerous friends ...


  4. This is a great cookbook to add to your everyday use. The recipes are so easy to follow and I love her stories. I haven't made anything that wasn't great! She uses everyday ingredients for the most part! Check out her website too, she is a great cook!


  5. If you are on a diet....probably not the cookbook for you. If you like to eat real hearty food, then you'll love the recipes as they will not disappoint. Experienced chef or novice chef can make these recipes as they have step by step photo directions. And, you'll find yourself reading the book (yes, reading a cookbook cover to cover) and thoroughly entertained by Ree and her stories that are thrown in between and with the recipes.


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Posted in Cookbooks (Friday, March 19, 2010)

Mastering the Art of French Cooking, Vol. 1 Written by Julia Child and Louisette Bertholle and Simone Beck. By Alfred A. Knopf. The regular list price is $40.00. Sells new for $20.00. There are some available for $22.85.
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5 comments about Mastering the Art of French Cooking, Vol. 1.
  1. I paid for volume one, but got both volumes for 20ish bucks. It was an amazing deal.


  2. I have enjoyed trying some of the recipes from this book.
    The book is important enjoyable on more than one level. I came to this cookbook by way of reading the recent autobiography by Julia Child, "My Life in France" which I high recommend. One of the goals of this cookbook was to preserve an important part of French culture.


  3. Bought this for my wife. She loves it, and I love the result. Very detailed. Not a lot of pictures like newer books have, but a must have for any cook.


  4. Read this cookbook like a novel - take your time and read through recipes before you start executing on them. Relax and enjoy the cooking process - the end product is worth the wait!


  5. Book arrived within a reasonable amount of time and was in great condition. Good price too!


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Posted in Cookbooks (Friday, March 19, 2010)

Hungry Girl 1-2-3: The Easiest, Most Delicious, Guilt-Free Recipes on the Planet Written by Lisa Lillien. By St. Martin's Griffin. The regular list price is $19.99. Sells new for $10.79.
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Posted in Cookbooks (Friday, March 19, 2010)

Now Eat This!: 150 of America's Favorite Comfort Foods, All Under 350 Calories Written by Rocco DiSpirito. By Ballantine Books. The regular list price is $22.00. Sells new for $12.64. There are some available for $14.02.
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5 comments about Now Eat This!: 150 of America's Favorite Comfort Foods, All Under 350 Calories.
  1. I have to be honest and say I am not a cook. I am devoted to my takeout menus. There is a reason I laminate them and keep them in a folder. I have tried losing weight eating. I ate low fat, no taste food and it only left me feeling miserable and desiring meat dishes and sweet desserts.

    My doctor suggested that I get healthy (translation: lose some weight or your heart, kidneys and other organs are going to quit on you.) He compared my body to a toxic waste dump and said the only thing that would help me was a return to eating real food I prepared myself. Enter Rocco's cookbook.

    Rocco was a guest chef on the Biggest Loser. After that show, he was encouraged and inspired to write a cookbook with real food and recipes that anyone could eat and still lose weight.

    This book includes all my favorite comfort foods that I tend to eat over and over again at fast food joints, order for takeout and at local shopping malls and restaurants.

    I am adding one new recipe a week to my meal plan. Here are a few of my favorites and how many calories and fat grams Rocco reduced in each recipe:

    1. Chicken Alfredo (made with whole wheat linguine) cut out 920 calories and 65 grams of fat.

    2. Chicken Cordon Bleu cut out a 1,000 calories and 75 grams of fat.

    3. Filet Mignon Béarnaise with Roasted Cauliflower -cut out over 400 calories 33 grams of fat

    4. Loaded Baked Potato Skins - cut out 450 calories and 33 grams of fat

    These recipes use fresh ingredients, sometimes cooking spray (you could substitute olive or canola oil), and sometimes natural sweeteners like stevia, etc.

    The taste is incredible. The portions for some recipes may seem small, but I offer this suggestion. Turn off your TV and computer. Sit and eat at your dining room table without distraction. Savor every bite. Not only will you enjoy your food more, you will actually taste it, and realize when you are full a lot faster.

    Bon Appétit!


  2. I heard about Rocco's new book at the South Beach Wine & Food Festival and was eager to get a copy and test the recipes. Favorite foods redesigned to be healthy and low in calories - this sounded too good to be true. The first thing I tried was the brownies. I couldn't believe the taste! No flour, no sugar, only 53 calories and they tasted amazing. Rocco has created ingenious substitutes for familiar dishes that actually taste like the originals. Aside from the obvious food results, here are some other things I like about Now Eat This!:

    Before and after fat/calorie comparison for each recipe
    Explanation of healthy cooking techniques
    Tips about ingredients and preparation
    Lead description of each dish
    I also enjoyed Rocco's introductory essay about his personal quest for a healthy lifestyle. This book is going to change a lot of bad habits. I recommend it to anyone who eats.


  3. I checked this book out from the library and intend on buying it. So far we have tried the Mac & Cheese (w/ Onion & Garlic Puree), Spaghetti Carbonara, Deep Dish Pizza, Nachos, & Brownies...all pretty much exactly as written and all in 3 days. The 1st three were AMAZING!! The Nachos were okay but I couldn't follow the recipe exactly due to our not having the black bean dip (subbed drained and rinsed black beans and green chilies)...if we'd followed it exactly I am certain that it would have been wonderful, as our version was "missing something". I am looking forward to trying the Indian Beef Curry and French Onion Soup soon. I LOVE that he incorporates Greek Yogurt into a lot of his recipes...such a wonderful healthy ingredient with a great texture, especially Fage brand.

    I would give this book 4.5 stars if I could, but the scoring would not allow. The reason being is that there is an insane amount of artifical sweeteners in this book. I understand that he is trying to keep the recipes' calories and fat grams under certain amounts but I have a hard time believing that he, as a world-reknowned chef and serious athlete, would use Splenda & sugar-free chocolate syrup, etc as a normal part of his diet. I was really hoping that he would have included more of the "whole food, nothing artificial"-type recipes, like those that he had on the Biggest Loser. For example, the Brownies, which are supposedly the "star of the book" according to an interview that I read, had a "chemical" finish. I really wanted to try the chocolate chip cookies but haven't been able to find the chocolate nips in the recipe, so I opted for the more accessible Brownies. Please note that I have been making whole-food black bean brownies and white bean chocolate cookies (LOVE THESE!) for YEARS, including a bean brownie that is 79 cal/piece (8x8 pan, 16 pieces), so I am quite familiar with and accepting of the flavor and texture differences between these and the "real things". I just wish that the desserts were more "whole food" and less "fake" ingredients. It IS attainable. I do not give my kids artificial sweeteners, so most of these desserts would be off-limits for them.

    All that being said, I LOVED the other recipes and look forward to trying more. I LOVE the variety of classic dishes from around the world. Thank you for this book, Rocco.


  4. OK, I have only made the brownies so far....they look nothing like the picture in the book and taste like bean paste. Considering they are made of bean paste, I guess that is not too surprising. Funny that the picture shows the brownies cooked in a metal rectangular pan, while the recipe calls for a square glass dish.

    I have also noticed that many of the glowing reviews of this book are written by people with only one review - always makes me wonder if they are real.

    Anyway, I am hoping that other recipes are better, but I am not too optimistic.


  5. Purchased at a retail book store for much more than I would have paid on Amazon... boo-hoo for me. Regardless, my initial good impressions have progressively soured... or more to the point, gone bitter.

    I've made all my family's dinners this week (and one dessert) out of this book.

    I made a good choice by cooking the chicken & dumplings Sunday - it was actually quite good.

    Monday was chicken burritos... ok, but if I do it again, I will substitute lowfat sour cream for the greek yogurt.

    Tuesday was fettuccine alfredo - the yogurt was the issue again, it overpowered the dish - I think I could come up with a better recipe using lowfat milk and lowfat parm.

    Wednesday (last night, St. Patrick's Day 2010) was shepherds pie - YUCK! for only a few more calories, real potatoes instead of cauliflower would have made a world of difference. The extra cal's from potatoes would have been offset by using a fat free gravy instead of the chicken broth based gravy called for in the recipe. Anyone who feels that cauliflower in a food processor is any kind of substitute for mashed potatoes must be completely without tastebuds... did I say YUCK yet?

    So to follow up this terrible St. Patty's Day Irish non-treat (shepherds pie is an Irish dish), I made brownies. THE BROWNIES ARE TERRIBLE - JUST PLAIN AWFUL - the picture on the brownie page is no way, no how the brownies from the recipe. They were bitter, the espresso powder overpowers the chocolate and the black beans give it a very strange texture that is not at all pleasing.

    Tonight (Thursday) was going to be his Sloppy Joes, but forget it - chalking this book up as a $20 loss and moving on with my life. Do yourself a favor if you think this is a cookbook for you: ask to borrow a friend's, borrow it from the library, or find another way to try out some these recipes for free before you waste your money.


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Posted in Cookbooks (Friday, March 19, 2010)

The Kind Diet: A Simple Guide to Feeling Great, Losing Weight, and Saving the Planet Written by Alicia Silverstone. By Rodale Books. The regular list price is $29.99. Sells new for $15.48. There are some available for $16.49.
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5 comments about The Kind Diet: A Simple Guide to Feeling Great, Losing Weight, and Saving the Planet.
  1. I've liked Alicia for a long time because of her obvious love for animals. In fact, I've often thought that Alicia and I could be BFFs if time and geography were different. But, I'm pretty frank with my IRL BFF so I will be frank with you too, Alicia.

    This book... I wanted to like this book. I really did. I pined for it for a long time until I finally bit the bullet and bought it, sure I would just be enamoured with it. I was sure that it would be the answer to all my food-related prayers.

    Yeah... not so much.

    I'm glad I have it; I'm glad I read it. There are a few good tips scattered here, yonder and there in it. A couple of good recipes too. As a result of reading about "daikon" in your book, I have it growing in my garden now. So, some positives there.

    But, all in all, this diet is not for the average joe (or jane). What all do you limit in this book? A LOT! Tomatoes, potatoes, soy milk, bread, this list goes on. Basically, you eat greens. A lot of them. I love greens but I love them alongside a nice, juicy, heirloom tomato! And I don't want greens for each and every meal.

    Now, I realize that there are many kinds of greens and many ways to "shake this up" but I live in a small town and there aren't that many kinds of greens here. Besides, I don't have the time to go out in search of a hundred different kinds of greens just so I'll have something to eat.

    Really.

    I kind of got the feeling that Alicia was a bit disapproving if you didn't go all out "superhero". That is her ideal, of course. But, that is pretty darn unrealistic for a lot of us. Or, at least it is for me.

    And, my last point and perhaps the biggest turn-off for me in this book... Alicia has her DOGS on a vegan diet. It says it right there in the book. This to me is taking it a bit far. I don't want to eat meat but I know that my dogs and cats are instinctually programmed to eat meat. That is how their bodies and digestive systems are made. To deny them their instinct is just wrong, in my opinion.

    All in all, I was disappointed. I wanted to love this book and looked so forward to it but... nah, it was a letdown.

    Sorry, Alicia... I do still love you though.


  2. I have loved every second of reading this book, I cannot put it down. It is soooo accurate and she is such a supportive mentor! I am a super green person, all her eco tips are really sound, and I come from a country where we eat a ton of grass fed beef every day but after watching Food Inc. and the Future of Foods, eating meats is the last thing on my mind! So I did my research and found this wonderful tool, that has given me hope, there is light and a support system should we decide to change, as a matter of fact, my whole family has decided to do it and I only wish more and more people would realize it takes very small steps to achieve big results that benefit us all!


  3. Can't believe so much time is spent on tryin to convert to vegan lifestyle. I expected more recipes(naturally, they should be fat free)
    Don't spend a dime on this book, unless you want to be converted. Useless !


  4. This book is well written and based on facts. The focus is primarily on the relationship your body has with the foods that you consume. I can almost hear Alicia telling me the information through the pages. It's a book for everyone no matter what their purpose in reading it.

    Personally I have always been the type of person who would never consider giving up meat "I love chicken too much" but after reading this book it became very easy for me to stop eating meat. I stopped in October 2009 and have never looked back.

    My life has improved after reading the book and by making some lifestyle changes I have lost weight, I am less frustrated and angry, my mood is ligher, and I am happier person. I am very grateful for this book.

    This will be a purchase you will not regret.

    Thanks Alicia!


  5. I was charged by Treetea for this book that never arrived.
    Never received a response to my inquiries.
    I filed a claim (I think) and still haven't heard a word from anyone regarding this.
    Be very careful when buying things.
    Very sad and disappointing experience.


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Food Inc.: A Participant Guide: How Industrial Food is Making Us Sicker, Fatter, and Poorer-And What You Can Do About It
Ad Hoc at Home
Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day: The Discovery That Revolutionizes Home Baking
I Can't Believe It's Not Fattening!: Over 150 Ridiculously Easy Recipes for the Super Busy
Mastering the Art of French Cooking (2 Volume Set)
The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Recipes from an Accidental Country Girl
Mastering the Art of French Cooking, Vol. 1
Hungry Girl 1-2-3: The Easiest, Most Delicious, Guilt-Free Recipes on the Planet
Now Eat This!: 150 of America's Favorite Comfort Foods, All Under 350 Calories
The Kind Diet: A Simple Guide to Feeling Great, Losing Weight, and Saving the Planet

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*Amazon.com prices and availability subject to change.
Last updated: Fri Mar 19 15:23:29 PDT 2010