The Skinnytaste Cookbook: Light on Calories, Big on Flavor

At the time I bought this, I'd heard nothing about it. I had simply rarely seen a cookbook with so many glowing reviews, especially for one with "skinny" in the title. I have reviewed scores of cookbooks on Amazon and have bookshelves full, like some do a reading library. But I must say, this is one of the most well-done I have personally ever seen myself. I can understand, now, the cult following it's received.First, let's touch on how "now" this cookbook is...by that I mean it has stepped out of old school cookbooks and how they have always been done, and considered today's audience and what they might need. So many of us are on special diets or have to entertain for a family member or guest who is and pull something together--whether that be gluten-free, vegetarian, something for a family who works during the day and needs crockpot meals, something for a family who works all the time and only wants to cook on weekends and then freeze the meals... this book took that all into account. Beside each recipe there is a color and letter coding-V for vegetarian, GF for gluten free, freezer friendly, crockpot etc. And, for those of us who count calories and want to know nutrients or carbs, it also has all that too! That took some time, but boy is it handy, even if you yourself only use it occassionally.The photos are plentiful and throughout and professionally done with good lighting that makes you want to eat it. I have had a few cookbooks that actually made me turned off to the meal due to the grey lighting or even ones I knew were fake like a slow cooker photo of mac and cheese that showed it browned on top (that does not occur in a slow cooker). Not so for this one, it's how the recipe turns out and they make you want to lick the page!But no cookbook is complete without good recipes and this one sets the bar. You could honestly set down any of these dishes in front of a family of boys who who never diet in their lives and they will want seconds and thirds--the taste is fantastic! These are truly restaurant quality meals, that are obviously tested and tried and perfected. I have seen many recipes for fish tacos, for example, but the ingredients here are totally different and more full of flavor. It's also easy to substitute things for even stricter diets.I LOVE that when the author finds brands that work best in a recipe, she also lists those. It feels like you are reading someone's personal cookbook that has cooked the recipe many times but found what brands stand out (for example King Author flour when using wheat flour. I agree.) Not in a commercial way or trying to sell it, but just to say which ones she personally uses. Some authors will not do this unless the company pays them to use their name in the book. This is clearly not the case and also clearly only done when it makes a difference in taste.There are great make ahead recipes and these feel original. I rarely ever eat out, preferring to cook all meals at home so I feel like over the years I have seen the same old tired recipes made the same old tired ways on the internet. These have new ways and methods and often they are with not only dieting in mind but they have a clear angle of a focus on health as well and satiety. The pages have facts for back up, like a recipe for PB & J overnight oats in a jar (make ahead the night before for a busy morning where you still need a good breakfast.) notes how filling and healthy oats are and why. (Which is true.)These are FANTASTIC recipes, not just the same ones redone with diet ingredients, but original and loaded with flavor. Nothing comes out bad, nothing comes out off, these are good enough to serve at dinner parties and more importantly--to make you feel like you are not dieting.Examples:TUSCAN PANZANELLA SALAD WITH GRILLED GARLIC BREADSUMMER LOBSTER ROLLSMONGOLIAN BEEF AND BROCCOLIFRENCH BREAD PIZZA SUPREMETERIYAKI GLAZED STUFFED PORK CHOPS WITH PINEAPPLE SALSAROAST BEEF SANDWICHES WITH CREAMY HORSERADISH SPREADCHICKPEA AND POTATO CURRYSPICY BLACKBEAN BURGERS WITH CHIPOTLE MAYOPEAR AND BRIE GRILLED CHEESESTEAK SANDWICHESBLACK BEAN BURRITO BOWLSCILANTRO LIME SHRIMPCHEESY BAKED PANNE WITH EGGPLANTSILKY CHOCOLATE CREAM PIELOADED NACHO POTATO SKINSITALIAN SAUSAGE WITH PEPPERS AND ONIONWARM APPLE PIE CRUMBLEGUMBOS, STIR FRIES, MAIN DISH SALADS, MEATLESS MAIN DISH CHAPTERSSHRIMP AND GRITSCOCONUT PANNA COTTA WITH RASPBERRIESDOUBLE CHOCOLATE CHUNK WALNUT COOKIESWINTER POTATO, KALE AND SAUSAGE FRITTATATHAI COCONUT MUSSELSC ROLLATINI STUFFED WITH ZUCCHINI AND MUSHROOMSLASAGNA (ZUCCHINI STRIPS ARE USED RATHER THAN PASTA AND I SWEAR YOU WON'T KNOW THE DIFFERENCE!)CUBANA STYLE STUFFED PORK TENDERLOINSALISBURY STEAK WITH MUSHROOM GRAVYYou get the idea. That is a very small sampling. At nearly 350 pages, you get loads of recipes and loads of photos. Whether you never eat red meat, eat only white meat, eat only seafood, eat no animal protein...or switch it up all the time, you can easily find a chapter on whatever suits your fancy or your mood that day.The dishes are GREAT, not just recipes but really things you savor.This one is done right, not just recipes grabbed to fill a cookbook but original ways of making skinny dishes taste better. It's a gem.

Stunning and mouth-watering photos accompany most of the recipes in this book. It's definitely one of the more beautiful and well laid out cookbooks I own (and I design books for a living). Each chapter's title page includes all the recipes in the section with a key to indicate: Vegetarian, Gluten-Free, Quick 30 minutes or less meals, Freezer-Friendly, and Slow Cooker. Awesome!These are repeated at the beginning of each recipe too so finding meals to meet a certain criteria is easy.Recipes: Five stars. This book will NOT disappoint. There's nothing worse than spending the time to cook something and then being supremely disappointed after if it doesn't taste as good as you imagined. Gina's recipes are delicious! And they're very easy to do. You'll start to wonder why you pay so much to eat out when you can have all this delicious food at home. If you're on the fence, try some of the recipes from her award-winning blog first, skinnytaste.com and you will be hooked. The food tastes just as mouthwatering as you imagine. Creamy pastas when you have that craving hit the spot (without all the calories and that heavy feeling), fried food no more because the baked version in this book is even better, and so many more to choose from. There's something in here for everyone.One thing to note, pay attention to the salt content. Gina notes in the beginning that she recommends Diamond Crystal Kosher salt, but I like to use what I have on hand, so salt lightly while cooking because you can always add salt before you serve. I bought this book to become familiar with the techniques of cooking lighter so that I can enjoy the foods I like wherever I am. And while I don't actually calorie count, the numbers for each recipe are included if you want to know, and it's definitely mentally helped me make my calories count.This book is more of a lifestyle change because you'll naturally start to become more aware of what you're putting into your body on a day-to-day basis when you're not able to make your own food, and this helps you arm yourself on those social nights out too. =) I find this book really enjoyable and I don't feel sick using Gina's recipes after eating butter or cheese like I normally would eating that stuff. The recipes in this book are light on calories and on your waist, but the flavors are fantastic! I should also note that I don't even use the low-fat options in the recipes all the time (I use what I have), and I haven't gained any weight. =)