ISBN: 9781936493425
Website: http://www.americastestkitchenfeed.com
My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
I have always been a fan of America's Test Kitchen. As a scientist, the repeated testing and constant tweaking to create the optimal recipe simply resonates with the chemist inside of me. Okay, I'm trying to be more healthy - better food choices and consistent exercise. As a part of the regime, I'm checking all the ingredients and calories that goes in my food and YIKES! In essence, this book is ideal for those who are trying to be healthier but not willing to give it all up.
Comfort Makeover's recipes focused primarily on well-known favorites, like Chicken Nuggets, Jambalaya, Chicken Parm, Lasagna, Mac n Cheese and so on. ATK takes the original recipe and swapped out what made the recipe unhealthy, while still retaining the taste and appearance. So before each recipe, there was a paragraph that described what was replaced and why. As an artist, I'm a very visual person and there are plenty of colored pictures for the eyes to feast on. There was about 3-8 pictures for every chapter. Even though it doesn't sound like a lot, it was the perfect amount without overshadowing the recipes. The directions were very clear and precise. There were also helpful tutorials and tips for easier prep work. The ingredients used are easily available at the supermarket. There was a calorie count, fat and saturated fat counts at the bottom of the page. And in the back, you will find a chart or two dedicated to the rest of the nutritional information for each of the recipes. The book does not lay open. You will need something to keep it propped open. The quality of the pictures were sharp, clean and a page length.
Appetizers - 18 recipes
Salads, Sandwiches and Pizza - 15 recipes
The Soup Bowl - 12 recipes
Classic Casseroles - 18 recipes
Baked Not Fried - 8 recipes
A Chicken in Every Pot - 10 recipes
Favorites from Land and Sea - 17 recipes
Pasta Night - 17 recipes
On the Side - 14 recipes
Breakfast and Brunch - 13 recipes
Chocolate Desserts - 13 recipes
Cookies and Bars - 9 recipes
More Sweet Treats - 14 recipes
I only tried out one recipe so far: General Tso's Chicken. It's one of my family favorites, so I had to give it a shot first. First off, I LOVE their chicken. I hate frying and their baked version was just as crispy and tender. Very easy and simple to make. On the other hand, the sauce was okay tasting. I might try a different sauce next time. See the image below for my attempt. I even placed in a takeout container. XD Tried to make it feel authentic.
UPDATE 4/17/13: I tried out another one today - Vegetable Eggroll. Instead of frying the little beauties, the directions was geared towards pan-frying and steaming. It's not the same, of course. How can it be? But you know what? This version was just as delicious and crunchy. It was really quick and easy. Took me about 30-40 minutes total. There was one modification I would like recommend to fellow readers - instead of chopping up cabbage and carrots, just get a bag of cole slaw mix and you will save a whole buttload of time.
I'm glad I got to try out this cookbook and definitely deserves a home on my bookshelf. It's perfect for beginners like me. The recipes are not intimidating and very easy to follow. All in all, I highly recommend.
Note: I received this ARC from the Amazon Vine program for an honest review.
No comments:
Post a Comment