Cooking Light Annual Recipes 2007 (Cooking Light Annual Recipes)

I love the Cooking Light Magazine for healthy recipes and for every day cooking. It is much easier to find recipes using the Cooking Light Annual Recipes than flipping thru various magazines. Even if you don't take the magazine, I recommend getting the cookbook as a good resource for cooking variety and recipes without a lot of additional fat, sodium etc. -- Beth Harris (Oakland, CA)

Avg. Customer Rating:

Amazon Price: $23.07 (as of 05/17/2008)
List Price: $34.95

Usually ships in 24 hours

Cooking Light 2006 Annual Recipes (Cooking Light Annual Recipes)

by Cooking Light

While this is a summary of the magazine's recipes it is well organized and easy to reference. Easy to follow instructions are a definite plus. For once, cooking without a degree in rocket science being required. -- Richard D. Peters "Happy Dinner" (Westminster, CO United States)

Avg. Customer Rating:

Amazon Price: $22.72 (as of 05/17/2008)
List Price: $34.95

Usually ships in 24 hours

Cooking Light Annual Recipes 2005 (Cooking Light Annual Recipes)

I've been a subscriber to Cooking Light magazine for several years now and I still love it. I got the 2005 book as gift and added it to my Cooking Light collection. The photographs in the book are beautiful and mouth-watering, but there are not enough (I like to see what the final product looks like when I am cooking). I do like that the nutritional information including calories, fat, protein, carb, fiber are listed for each recipe. I do find that many of the recipes have a long prep time and this a deterrent for me at this busy stage in my life. For the "true" chef, though, there will be no problem and the recipes will be wonderful to make. Generally, the ingredients are readily available, but for some of the recipes, there are ingredients that I have no idea where to buy them. The book is organzied by month--like the magazine. Really, overall, a beautiful book. Oh! I did make the cover recipe--it is REALLY GOOD! -- Erin "BamaVetStudent" (Auburn, AL United States)

Avg. Customer Rating:

Amazon Price: (as of 05/17/2008)
List Price: $34.95

Cooking Light Annual Recipes 2003

I own a lot of cookbooks... but I've never had one quite like this. This is the first cookbook where I look through the recipies, and think "Hey - I should make that some time" for most of the recipies. Other cookbooks seem to be literally filled with recipies that either don't look any good, or require exotic ingredients only availble to people in major metropolitan centers.

With this cookbook, however, I flip through the pages wishing i had time to make almost all of the 900 recipies. I've made about 20 things out of this book now, and have enjoyed almost all of them a lot.

Pros:
- Contains a good, detailed introduction for the novice cook, including information on herbs, cooking methods, etc.
- Contains almost 900 recipies that you can actually make and enjoy.
- Has recipies from almost every category - breads, meats, desserts, soups, etc.
- I totally disagree with the person who said the layout is lousy . I've never had trouble finding anything in this book.
- The recipies, while not being extremely low fat, *are* from cooking light, and hence are healthier in general than most other cookbooks. Plus, the recipies don't ever seem to sacrifice flavor for a *light* rating.

Cons:
- You'll spend longer in the kitchen trying to make more of these

Sorry - I don't really have a good con for this book :)

If you love too cook - you'll love this book! -- Matthew Hunter "Technology Geek" (Blacksburg, VA United States)

Avg. Customer Rating:

Amazon Price: (as of 05/17/2008)
List Price: $34.95

Cooking Light Annual Recipes 2002 (Cooking Light Annual Recipes, 2002)

by Oxmoor House

This is my sixth "Annual Recipes" book. I expect that it well be as well used as the previous five simply because Cooking Light recipes consistently provide the interesting and healthy meals we crave. This book contains all of the recipes from the ten issues published in 2001 as well as the "how to" sidebars for the recipes.

So what distinguishes this book relative to its predecessors? First, the opening pages contain the staff's favorite recipes. This is a nice place to start since the entire book can be a little overwhelming. The bigger distinction is that the magazine's special theme in 2001 was a series on how to cook various ethnic cuisines. These recipes strike me as be light versions of the authentic dishes without much dilution for American tastes. The cuisines featured include: Chinese, Italian, French, Caribbean, Greek, Spanish, South America, Middle Eastern, Indian and Mexican. -- Carol Peterson Hennekens (Colorado Springs, CO United States)

Avg. Customer Rating:

Amazon Price: (as of 05/17/2008)
List Price: $34.95

1,001 Low-Fat Vegetarian Recipes: Easy, Great-Tasting Dishes for Everyone -- from Appetizers and Soups to Entrees and Desserts

by Sue Spitler

"The dishes from other cultures and low-fat American favorites will have you reaching for this book often." -- Chicago Tribune, December 6, 2000

I suppose that this isn't a beginning vegetarians cookbook, in the sense that it does not guide you through what it means to be vegetarian etc, etc, BUT, I'd like to point out that nowhere on the book does it say that is what it is (there are books for that).

I also will agree that yes, in SOME of the recipies there are strange ingredients: fat-free half and half, cactus paddles, flavored cooking sprays... but there are over 1,000 recipies! Of course they had to get creative!

I think this cookbook is excellent, if you've been a vegetarian for awhile, and you like to cook, then this book is perfect for spicing up your everyday cuisine. The recipies are easy to follow, and so far (I've cooked a lot of dishes from this book) almost everything has been yummy. I'd like to add that if I can't find something I substitute. I use veggie bullion in place of stocks, and skim milk in place of fat free half and half, and I've never had any problems. The book has widened my scope on mixing vegetarian ingredients, enabling me to scan my pantry and whip up combinations I'd never thought of before. There is so much to chose from that you can keep it simple or get a little fancy!

Highly recommended! -- kathryn landon

Avg. Customer Rating:

Amazon Price: (as of 05/17/2008)
List Price: $19.95

The 1200-Calorie-a-Day Menu Cookbook : Quick and Easy Recipes for Delicious Low-fat Breakfasts, Lunches, Dinners, and Desserts

by Nancy S. Hughes

My wife and I have made about a dozen of these recipes and have never been disappointed -- they have been consistently delicious. We also use "Eating Well" magazine and a few other sources of tasty low-cal recipe, in addition to standard cookbooks.

Each recipe tells you the calories (important) and grams of fat (not as important) per serving. As with any cookbook, there are always minor modifications to make to suite your taste (for example, the lemon-mustard chicken with angel hair pasta recipe doesn't create enough sauce for our taste, so we increase those ingredients).

These are not "15-minute recipes," nor do they take hours. You have to want to cook; it's not uncommon for a dinner entree to have a dozen ingredients. But the rewards are worth it. -- Louis Gudema (Newton, MA USA)

I've tried recipes from a number of low cal/low fat cookbooks and many of them are so bland and tasteless my husband has begged me to never cook them again. Everything I've tried from this book has won rave reviews (especially the cajun chicken and beef stir fry). I also found them to be easy to adjust to personal taste preferences. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is trying to stay low cal without giving up taste. -- Jennifer Austin (Minocqua, WI USA)

Avg. Customer Rating:

Amazon Price: $10.36 (as of 05/17/2008)
List Price: $12.95

Usually ships in 24 hours

20 Minutes to Dinner: Quick, Low-Fat, Low-Calorie Vegetarian Meals

by Bryanna Clark Grogan

EXCELLENT! A must have. I have been vegan for a little over 7 months now and this is the first book I've found that is consistently good, fast, healthy,economical,and so delicious that even my non-vegan husband didn't pull a face when I presented him with the carrot-oat patties and brown gravy. Recipes for substitutes for egg, meat, fish, cream, and cheese are found throughout the text (the Melty Pizza Cheeze is mild and not disgusting like a lot of the faux vegan subs)as well as quick meal suggestions. I own a few other vegan recipe books and, although they have beautiful recipes, I find that they are not fast or simple enough for the everday- gotta -get- the- meal- on-while-kids-are-screaming- life that I lead. Some say the recipes take 30 minutes-I don't think that matters. If it is under 45 minutes then it is a quick meal. Gourmet vegan menus can take hours sometimes. This book will be the one with gravy splatters and juice stains. I highly reccommend it.

Amazon Price: $10.36 (as of 05/17/2008)

Healthy Cooking for Two (or Just You): Low-Fat Recipes with Half the Fuss and Double the Taste

by Frances Price

For years I have been tired of using recipes sized for 4 or 8-11 people, then get so tired of the food I've cooked that I never want to make the recipe again.

This book is one of the best cookbooks I have ever invested in. It's a relief not to have to eat leftovers for the rest of the week and not to be afraid to go to the grocery store afraid I'll overspend.

Great tasting recipes you'll never tire of, as there is hardly any leftovers. They're all easy to make. I use this book every week and for entertaining.

My blood sugar has returned to normal (along with my budget)- and it's so concise and meals so tasty, that you want to include them over and over again. Now I eat much more fish and vegetables and have tried new and varied ways of cooking.

The pan-fried catfish and Maryland crabcakes are the bomb. I've learned to poach chicken. Can't wait to get to the ground turkey section.

You can't miss with this cookbook. -- Susan Weiss (Cambridge, MA USA)

Avg. Customer Rating:

Amazon Price: $12.21 (as of 05/17/2008)
List Price: $17.95

Usually ships in 24 hours

500 Low-Carb Recipes: 500 Recipes from Snacks to Dessert, That the Whole Family Will Love

by Dana Carpender

The hardest thing about going low-carb for me was staying excited about eating from the recipes in my plan's book. Then I ordered Dana's book. First, Dana is not a diet doctor, she's real human like the rest of us, and her book is written in a very refreshing, down-to-earth tone. Second, Dana's book has taken the monotony OUT of my low-carb life. Let's talk fabulous stir-fry served over cauliflower "rice" ... absolutely amazing waffles ... terrific spicy Thai cucumber salad that was eaten up to the very last bite at my office picnic today ... and of course, desserts. The hardest problem I have with this book is not giving away the recipes to my friends and low-carb associates who try the dishes because, quite frankly, like any author Dana is trying to make a living too so I tell them they just have to buy the book so she'll be encouraged to write another one. I promise you that you will not be disappointed with this book!!! And yes, Dana has pretty much attained goddess status in my life ;-) -- "amazoncomwoman" (Converse, TX United States)

First let me say that I own many, many low-carb cookbooks, and this one is THE best I have ever read! Not only does it offer 500, yes, 500 recipes that are easy, fabulous and low carb, but the introduction and ingredient chapters were SPECTACULAR! The introduction was warm, witty and informative. I typically skim through the beginning chapters and get right to the recipes, but I couldn't put this one down! So many questions that I had were answered in the Low Carb Specialty Foods chapter, not to mention the Polyols chapter and the Where to Find Low-Carb Specialty Products chapter (she doesn't like paying through the nose for this stuff, either)!

The Ingredients You Need to Know About section was the absolute best--necessary and unique information about eggs, fats/oils, flour substitutes (what the heck are guar and xanthan gums, anyway--she answers that, too!), sweeteners (wow, I can have molasses!), vegetables (and I can have carrots, too!), and oh so much more. Her first recipe is addictive enough to eat every day (Heroin Wings)! I wish I could say that I've made all the recipes, but I'm so busy trying out the recipes from the first chapter, I haven't even looked at the other chapters yet, but believe me, I know they'll be outstanding.

This author is down-to-earth, funny and charming. I can relate to her so well. She stresses over and over again to listen to your body and let that be your guide regardless of whether the food is low-carb. This works so well for me. The BEST book you will ever purchase on low-carbing and low-carb recipes. DON'T MISS THIS ONE! -- J. Carroll (Cleveland, OH, USA)

Amazon Price: $13.57 (as of 05/17/2008)