Weekend Cooking: Cook Yourself Thin Faster - Lauren Deen

Weekend cooking is hosted by Beth Fish Reads and is open to anyone who has any kind of food-related post to share. Book reviews (novel, non-fiction), cookbook reviews, movie reviews, recipes, random thoughts, gadgets, fabulous quotations, photographs. If you post is even vaguely foodie, feel free to grab the button and link up any time over the weekend. Please link to your specific post, not your blog's home page.

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One of my Game On buddies, Julie @ Booking Mama, recently reviewed a cookbook that caught my attention. I am still dieting, so how could I not be intrigued by a book whose subtitles include "A delicious way to drop a dress size", and "Have your cake and eat it too", and "Over 75 new recipes you can make in a flash". I can't say I really believed that I would drop a dress size by cooking these recipes, but what I did believe was this was a collection of yummy, healthy meals.

So I ordered it from the library to give it a test run. (Which, by the way, I would say good luck with that. I make messes when I cook!) The book gives some good, general, practical advice about losing weight. Calculating the number of calories you need to eat per day to maintain your weight. Keeping a food diary. Five changes you can make in your lifestyle to help you lose weight. Nothing revolutionary here, but reminders are always good.

The book is then divided up by chapters based on the meal (breakfast, starters, mains, sides/soups/salads, and dessert) with a dozen or more recipes in each section. All recipes are simple, with few ingredients and few steps, with caloric content and pictures for each. You are not required to use anything fake (fake butter, fake sugar...processed stuff). They just help you find healthier choices with your ingredients. And it pays off. The recipes I made were tasty, and every dish was between 250 and 350 calories per serving, the same as a Lean Cuisine dish.

I made Chicken Cordon Bleu, Orange Beef, Pork with Apples, Shrimp and Grits, and Fish and Chips. All the dishes were met with happy little faces and tummies in our family, which is the ultimate goal. This has been my biggest challenge throughout my dieting adventure since the beginning of the year. I normally cook a full meal every night, and many of the dishes are rich and savory. How to wean my family from the delicious, often fattening dinners to something that won't cause sounds of retching from the dinner table? This cookbook was one answer.

I probably got the most groans of appreciation from the pork with apples:

1 1/2 pounds loin pork chops

1 tsp salt

1/4 tsp freshly ground pepper

cooking spray

1 shallot, peeled and finely chopped

1 apple, peeled, cored and cut into eighths

3/4 cup apple cider

2 TBL heavy cream

Pound the pork chops to flatten. Season with S&P. Spray saute pan with cooking spray and set over medium-high heat. Add the pork and cook 3 to 4 minutes. Turn and cook for another 4 minutes until cooked through. Remove the pork to a plate and keep covered. Saute shallot and apple until slightly golden. Add the apple cider and cook until the liquid begins to boil. Add the heavy cream and stir. Return the pork to the pan, toss with the sauce, and serve immediately.

Calories: 270

I don't think I will actually go out and buy this cookbook, but will just occasionally check it out when I am in need of new meals. Do you have any go-to cookbooks that are healthy and simple? I am always looking for new material!


P.S. I am down 17 pounds since the beginning of the year!