|
 Review
from www.LeslieBeck.com
written by Emily Kennedy, Nutritionist
Norene
Gilletz is a Canadian food consultant and writer best known for her
delicious kosher or non-kosher recipes. Her new cookbook offers hundreds
of meal ideas for people with diabetes, heart disease, weight-loss goals
and other specific dietary needs. This book is family-friendly, with a
healthy dose of good ol' fashioned common sense tips for preparing
home-cooked meals.
Variety
is the key to a healthy diet and this cookbook has it. With over 600 fast
and tasty recipes, there's something for everyone. The first quarter
of the book is filled with information on healthy eating, starting with
nutrition know-how, an explanation of the Glycemic Index (GI), and
guidelines of safe food storage and handling. Quick reference charts help
the reader estimate portion sizes, substitute high GI foods for lower GI
choices, and lighten up baking with lower-fat substitutions.
The
recipes are divided into 13 chapters including super soups, meatless
entrees, and sauces, marinades and dressings. Most recipes come with
variations just in case you're missing an ingredient or need to make it
kosher, vegetarian or lactose-free. The instructions are easy to follow
with plenty of details to guide less experienced cooks. Advice on
nutrition and chef's secrets make cooking for good health interesting and
enjoyable. Nutrient analysis is also provided - a huge plus for those who
are counting calories, carbs or grams of fiber.
The
Taste Test!
First,
I tested Curried Carrot and Cashew Soup, a mildly spicy vegetarian soup
that warms and fills you up on a cold winter's day. Using baby carrots
cuts down on the labor and time needed to dish this out to a hungry
family. Sautéing the apple, onion, potato and 2 pounds (1 kg) of
carrots took a little longer than the stated five to seven minutes.
However, that's the hardest part of this recipe. Once the vegetables have
softened, all you have to do is add 8 cups of vegetable broth and let it
simmer away for 30 minutes while you prepare other dishes. Try to use an
extra large pot to minimize the splatter when pureeing the soup with a
hand blender.
Next,
I tried Citrus Roast Turkey. This recipe is all about the marinade, and
marinating for the recommended two days with occasional basting yields the
most flavour. This turkey turned out sweet, slightly tangy with a
wonderful golden brown skin from the caramelized honey, orange and lemon
juices. I recommend setting a timer for one hour into the cooking time as
a reminder to baste the bird and maximize use of the marinade. As with all
large roasts, once out of the oven, cover the turkey with foil
(tenting) and let it rest before serving to increase the tenderness of
meat. I would definitely use this marinade for chicken or other
turkey dishes.
Lastly,
I tested Grilled Salmon Patties, a recipe that can be done on the grill or
the frying pan. This fish dish is very easy with only five ingredients
and one optional herb for extra flavour. If you don't have a lid for your
indoor grill or frying pan, these patties will take a little longer than
the six to seven minutes stated in the cookbook. The crisp Special K
cereal adds bulk and texture to these patties. Next time, I would serve
these salmon patties on a bun as an open-faced burger.
Final
Word
Norene's
Healthy Kitchen is an informative and practical cookbook for the kosher or
non-kosher home, especially if you, or someone you cook for, want to
shed a few pounds. The wide range of recipes and recipe variations would
save any dieter from boredom. This is an all-in-one cookbook that
considers convenience, taste and nutrition in every unique meal idea.
It would make a wonderful addition to any cook's library.
More
Info
| Order
Now
Norene's
Healthy Kitchen
- Eat Your Way to Good Health
by Norene Gilletz
Published
by: Whitecap Books
ISBN 978-1-55285-802-8
CDN $34.95, paperback
8" x 9", 512 pages
colour photographs throughout
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