The Food You Crave: Luscious Recipes for a Healthy Life Reviews

• Healthy Attitude and a Healthy Appetite

  
  By A2QYXG7494NC5F on 2008-01-18
  Ellie Krieger is different from the exercise fanatics and diet gurus out there in that she doesn't promise you'll lose 10 pounds or two inches off your waist if you adhere to a strict regimen over the course of a week. Instead, she provides all the tools you'll need to develop a healthy attitude toward eating that doesn't sacrifice flavor or require intensive labor. The crux of her approach is common-sensical: fresh ingredients, lots of whole grains, reasonable portions. But while the idea seems easy enough, Ellie makes it even simpler by outlining what ingredients to keep in stock (for a quick meal anytime) and what small but oh-so-important finishing touches change a dish from bland into brilliant. So far, I've made about a dozen of the recipes in this book (including 4 alone for one meal), and all have been met with rave reviews from the appreciative attendees. I recommend a meal consisting of the Oven-Fried Chicken, Garlic Fries, Zucchini Parmesan Crisps, and finishing off with the Ricotta Cheesecake with Fresh Raspberries. Let your oven do all the work, and stop worrying about your waistline!
  
  I am a fan of Ellie's television show and completely agree with her food philosophy. If we all learn to love the way food tastes, instead of over-processing and masking it in fats and chemicals, then we can once again relish our meals instead of feeling guilty about them. Ellie will show you how in this book full of great recipes. Not only does she transform comfort foods like mashed potatoes and meatloaf into her better-for-you versions, but she also provides recipes inspired by a variety of cuisines ranging from Asian, Greek, and Middle-Eastern and covering every meal, including side dishes and desserts.
  
  Don't expect a strict plan or any guaranteed weight loss. Ellie herself doesn't tout the "Never" approach and teaches us all that foods belong in three categories: Usually, Sometimes, and Rarely. The main reason most diets fail is because they are unrealistic and too limiting. Ellie's approach is different; it shows you a better way to eat "The Food You Crave." Anyone who wants to learn how to prepare delicious AND healthful foods should pick up a copy of this book!
  
  
  
  

• WARNING!

  
  By A1TZYKZBGM0HE9 on 2008-02-02
  This book should come with a HUGE warning to anyone who needs to or is trying to lose weight. Yes, Ellie cooks the food we crave (some of it's okay, but definitley not even close to great) and it is a bit healthier, BUT she sets you up to have ingredients galore in your house that anyone who, unlike Ellie, who wasn't a model in her youth, couldn't handle having in her house. It's easy for a woman who was model thin her whole life then gained to be a more normal woman to eat a few bites of whipped cream and say that that's enough. She's not wired like those of us who have ever been overweight. What exactly are we supposed to do with the rest of the ingredients after we've consumed the tiny piece she call a portion? Do you really think that anyone who's struggled can have the rest of the real whipped cream in the refrigerator? How long does that last before "just a spoonful won't hurt" seeps in and next thing you know you've eaten the whole darn thing. And forget this book if you're single! I mean, heck, check out the tiny plate on the cover. If it was on a plate with a salad and veggies, that's one thing, a real meal, but if you look closely, you'd never stop there if there was more left in the pan and clearly there is.
  
  I got this book as a gift much to my chagrin. I've lost a ton of weight and kept it off and have watched every cooking show their is. And I've found one thing across the board when it comes to healthy ones: any host who's lost weight and is wired the way all of the struggling and/or obese people in this country are, gets it and cooks accordingly. Those who haven't, their so called, "healthy cooking shows" are a joke. Now granted, some of the ones who have lost weight have gross food. That's because, for the most part, they're not chefs. If you're looking for a great healthy cookbook, find an author or tv personality who 1. has lost weight and 2. who is actually a chef. that's when the stuff makes you go, "wow", I can eat healthy...and enjoy it. Ellie's not a weight loss success story AND she's not a trained chef.
  
  If, on the other hand, you're that rare breed that can actually eat 2 french fries and feel satisfied, this book might be okay. Still very vanilla, but okay.
  
  

• Great Book!

  
  By A7LTQ58K1Z8A7 on 2008-01-17
  Bought this book recently at the book store and thought I would give my opinion at Amazon because this is where I usually purchase my books. The recipes are really fantastic and easy and oh so delicious. I have made pita chips several times and there isn't a chip in a bag that can even come close. I will no longer purchase any chips in a bag! The cost of making them yourself is about equivilant and these are healthy. My husband loves them. Can't wait to make more things from this great book!
  
  

• Nice cookbook with a good message

  
  By AQQLWCMRNDFGI on 2008-02-08
  The photography is a little stodgy, but the recipes are interesting! Ellie Krieger has a perspective on cooking. She begins by saying (Page 3): "Like you, I crave food that is bursting with flavor and aroma. Food that draws you in and leaves you satisfied. Guess what? That kind of food can be healthy." Thus, she is proposing a cookbook that features dishes that are both delicious and healthy. Certainly, others essay this terrain as well. But this stands on its own pretty well.
  
  Some key points up front: buy fresh food, stay away from foods with lots of additives, keep salt to a minimum, and so on. Pages 12-15 provide information on key nutrients and what ought to be in a well stocked pantry (I have more of these items than not!). The book, then, moves to recipes--Breakfast; Nibbles & Noshes; Soups & Sandwiches; Main & Side Salads; Pasta, Pizza, & Grains; The Main Course; Sides; Desserts.
  
  I just got this book and have only recently read it, so I can't say that I have actually made any of these recipes. But there are some that look doable and also look like they'd be very tasty! Breakfast? The "New York Breakfast" features simple toppings (such as cream cheese, smoked salmon, red onion, cucumber, tomatoes) over toasted pumpernickel bread. I want to make this in the near future. Sounds yummy! "Scrumptious Scramble" features scrambled eggs with tomatoes, onions, dill, etc. Looks easy to make and, again, seems like it would be great! Another dish that I want to make.
  
  Noshes and Nibbles? There are a bunch I'd like to mention, but I'll stick to just one that I find quite appealing. Grilled zucchini Roll-Ups with Herbs and Cheese." This looks really neat--and pretty easy to make. Grill thinly sliced zucchini; place on each slice goodies such as goat cheese, lemon juice, parsley, spinach leaves, and so on. The peanut soup recipe also looks cool (and I expect to make this, too, in the near future). Simple point: I love reading cookbooks where I find myself saying "I want to make that soon."
  
  Main dishes? Some that look pretty appetizing to me: Pork Medallions with Cherry Sauce, Tuscan Roasted Chicken and Vegetables. And so on and so on.
  
  In short, this is not a greatly visually appearing cookbook. But it has a host of recipes that look awfully tasty! I look forward to starting to play with the recipes herein.
  
  Addendum # 1 (several days after I originally reviewed this book): I just tried out the grilled romaine hearts (using a grill skillet). Very simple to make, very crunchy, and tasty! Simple to make, tasty, and healthy. Not a bad trifecta!!
  
  
  

• Fantastic!

  
  By A2ZUCQ0IMCIP7G on 2008-01-15
  I just purchased this book today, after having seen Ellie on Food Network, and I must say it's a fantastic cookbook! I only gave it four stars, as I haven't made any of the recipes yet (will do tomorrow!) but I can honestly say it's the first cookbook I've read that I've actually wanted to make 90% of the recipes in it! Ones that particularly caught my attention were: Apple Pecan Muffins, Buffalo Chicken Salad, Whole-Wheat Pancakes with Strawberry Sauce, Peach French Toast, Soft Asian Spring Rolls with Sweet and Savory Dipping Sauce, and Banana Cream Pie. The book is wonderfully laid out with nutritional information on all the recipes and beautiful, appetizing color photographs. I can't wait to get in the kitchen and start cooking! Will update my review once I've made some of the recipes.
  
  
• Finally a cookbook with GOOD healthy recipes!
  By A11Y3PAB5EEN7R on 2008-01-17
  I've also been waiting for E.K. to release a cookbook, and this was worth the wait!!
  Lots of extra advice, detailed information on each recipe as far as nutrition facts and what types of vitamins/minerals are in the dishes. I've made quite a few of these already, as I watch her show regularly, so it was nice to finally have them all in one neat, organized cookbook. I haven't made a dish that I (or my husband or daughter) have not loved.. and with a second baby on the way, healthy eating was the last (and worst sounding) thing on my mind. Somehow all of the recipes truly make me crave them. Ellie is a nutritional genius!
  
  
• Easy, Unique, Delicious, & Nutritious!!
  By A1CZ9WFNIDQT9O on 2008-01-17
  I love watching Ellie Krieger on Healthy Appetite on the food network. All her recipes are simple and healthy. I was so excited when I found out she was comming out with a cookbook. I purchased the book yesterday and sat for an hour lookinng through and tagging all the recipes!
  This cookbook is a winner! Its broken down by breakfast, snacks, side dishes, soups and sandwhichs, and maing dishes and ofcourse dessert.
  The best part about this cookbook, is it tells you the serving size of each recipe, and the nutritonal facts for each serving and what a serving should be!
  Another great thing about this book is that Ellie has written tips throughout the book , whether its cooking tips or health tips! She also throws in a ...did you know...tips every now and then!
  
  Bottom line.....great book, lots of healthy delicious recipes! you wont be dissapointed!
  
  
• Bright lights
  By A2HD288W3Y83C0 on 2008-02-29
  My comment pertains to trying to "see" the print. The publisher/designer has chosen "gray ink" instead of black ink for the print, and with my current level of vision, I need really bright lights and close proximity to the page so I can read the recipes. In spite of this problem, I have found the recipes inventive, marvelous, and accurate. Next time have all generations read the mock up of the book before publishing.
  
  
• The real deal
  By A2BSC5VBRL0JQD on 2008-01-21
  This is a great addition to my cookbook library. Ellie is one of the FEW real people on the Food Network ( a BIG nod to Ina Garten as well) and she is the real deal! In brilliantly written recipes and headnotes, she teaches the cook how to eat healthy,discarding the ersatz,the fat free and the fake. She uses real food in novel ways. Some of the stunning recipes I loved so far were the white gazpacho(yes,even in January),the asian summer rolls and ALL of the salads. Ellie shines a bright beam of well needed common sense and delectability aimed at anyone who wants to lead a healthy life.
  
  
• I Love Ellie!
  By AT2ACN6D0XF4V on 2008-01-23
  I love Ellie and I love her new cookbook. The recipes (each with nutritional data) are delicious, creative, healthful, global, easy, beautiful and, most importantly, they work! Sure, they're healthy, but they are yummy first and foremost...the healthy part seems secondary. Includes lots of tips on making your own recipes more healthful. Don't be turned off from this book thinking it's some kind of diet cookbook or yet another gimmicky book from a Food Network star...it's not. Ellie is knowledgeable, unpretentious, talented and passionate about what she does and it shows. Wonderful cookbook! Wonderful author! Highly recommend it!
  
  
• Finally!! Ellie Has a Cookbook!
  By A1Q2LTCINHIUFV on 2008-01-28
  I am just so excited this book is finally here!! I printed off every one of Ellie's recipes I could get my hands on from the internet and have been cooking from that sad pile of print outs for about a year now. And now all our faves are in this beautiful book! My first, and still my favorite Ellie recipe, is her Pasta Salad with Spinach, Walnuts and Feta Cheese. That one alone is worth the price of the book! Her Caesar Salad with Grilled Shrimp is a very close second - that salad dressing is absolutely the best! The other night I made her Roast Salmon with Grapefruit Shallot Sauce and it was positively fantastic. Her Chile Rubbed Steak Tacos with Avocado Salsa are a fabulous solution for my Mexican food obsession!
  
  I love her approach to food because I too prefer real food to lightened up diet foods with lots of chemicals. I'd rather have no mayonnaise than light mayo. It's so refreshing to find recipes that don't require a lot of packaged diet foods to make dishes that are lower in calories. I love to cook and eating healthfully used to mean lots of steaming and baking things bare...boring to make and to eat! But I get to cook and eat to my to my heart's quite literal content with her recipes! I am really looking forward to cooking and eating my way through the rest of this book!
  
  
• Long term weight goal success
  By AS6KU1VAIJA5K on 2008-01-21
  I have been dieting or eating unhealthy with alternate success for many years. Ever since I started incorporating Ellie's recipes into my daily meals - things changed... I keep on loosing pound after pound and I don't feel deprived or feel that I am on a diet. Things also changed for my husband, who only liked burgers and fries, pizza and apples pie and many other unhealthy foods. He now eats Ellie's energy bars and loves them! Ellie's recipes will not leave you deprived, they don't taste like "diet" food and because of it you won't be tempted to eat unhealthy foods thus ensuring the long term success. Ellie does not say there are foods you should never eat: she says that there are foods that you should eat often, sometimes and rarely rather than never. It is very healthy attitude based on demands of real people with real cravings for all kinds of food. The recipes are very easy to prepare and taste great and because she is a nutritionist, she ensures that you get plenty of things that are good for you. The book is well laid out, very easy to read, not cluttered with small text, has large photographs and many helpful tips. I met Ellie at one of her book signings and she said that she was able to share a lot more health information in the book than in her food network show, because she is simply limited in time to give all the tips that she would like. So if you want to lose weight, and improve the quality of your life and stick with it for the rest of your life - please buy this book. And also "Small changes big results" which is a wonderful book as well : ) Good luck!
  
  
• Healthy, Delicious Recipes with REAL food
  By AD1473HPS1SJE on 2008-01-29
  This is my current favorite cookbook! I love the Barefoot Contessa books, but Ina's recipes are just not very healthy! This is a book that you can use every day.
  
  I have loved Elie on the Food network since she started. This book is even better than I hoped it would be. I do not care for recipes that include a lot of fake ingredients -- like fat free cheese. Elie's recipes call for whole, nutritious foods. I have made lots of delicious recipes from this book: sweet and sour brisket, the best jambalaya ever, thai halibut, tuscan chicken and vegetables, fish tacos... Most of the recipes are fairly simple and help me get dinner on the table in about 30 minutes. The recipes that take longer mostly have long periods of unattended cooking. The nutrition information is very complete. As a Weight Watcher, I appreciate being able to easily calculate points. This is a must have for every home cook!
  
  
• How do I love you? Let me count the ways!
  By A27DDHWHE540I5 on 2008-02-23
  For reasons unknown to me, I can't stand watching the Food Network. Although I've cooked all my life and my friends insist that I should like it, it just grates on my nerves.
  
  So, it would be natural to understand that I did not know who Ellie Krieger was when I saw her have a food segment on my local noon-day news. I always stop what I'm doing during this daily 5 minute soundbite because it usually features recipes of interest to me. However, this time it was different. From the moment they said the title of the book, THE FOODS YOU CRAVE, and then the display of 3 dishes that Ellie had pre-made, I was SOLD!!! I came to amazon (where I buy all my books), read some reviews and ordered it that day. Two days later, it arrived.
  
  Now, some back story: I've cooked my entire life and was raised on a dairy farm where calories were not even known. Fresh milk, cream, eggs, beef, pork and produce came from our land. I learned to cook at my grandma's knees but the dishes I learned were for people working outside 10 hours a day. In the course of my 55 years, I kept packing on the pounds and packing on the pounds until a year ago, I weighed 280 pounds...on a 5'5" frame! Blessed with no health issues, I still realized that enough was enough and before I got diabetes or high blood pressure, I needed to lose weight. I joined a gym, hired a personal trainer to teach me to exercise safely, followed the Campbell's Soup "Soup for Life" diet change plan (available on their website) and 1 year later, I've lost 100 pounds and kept it off! I went from a size 2X to a size 14!!!
  
  Now, that said, because of my former eating habits and love of cooking, I had amassed over 500+ cookbooks that consume an entire 20' wall in my kitchen. They are old friends and can't be parted with but many of the recipes are so excessive with regards to calories that only when company is coming will I make any of them any longer. I've taken to having a moratorium on buying cookbooks and now find recipes On-Line that are healthier and more calorie conscious.
  
  So the very fact that I ordered yet ANOTHER cookbook, after a self-imposed ban, is saying something. I had no idea what to expect when the book arrived, but felt that if it didn't live up to what I saw Ellie make, I could give it away.
  
  I made myself a cup of coffee, sat down with the book in a cozy chair and began reading. I soon made another cup of coffe, and then another...and also got out my sticky tags that I mark cookbook recipes with for future use.
  
  THREE HOURS LATER...I had flagged FORTY-FIVE recipes that weren't "Hmmmm, these might be interesing", but "WOW! I've GOT to try these recipes, now!"
  And I did the most revolutionary act toward this cookbook that I've ever done: I could not/would not try any other recipe in any other book or website until I had made ALL 45 of the ones I tagged!
  
  It's been one month to the day that I ordered the cookbook. All I can say is, "What a life changing book!" I've also ordered 6 other copies that I've sent to friends that are personal chefs, retired and budget-conscious, and my 20-something daughter. Each and every one of them agrees with my initial assessment and we constantly email or call each other saying, "Did you try this one? How about that one?"
  
  I started a weekend by trying the following from Friday through Sunday: New York Breakfast; Vegetable Cheese Strata, and finally Peach French Toast Bake. My entire family was home and usually, we grab a bagel or a glass of juice or piece of fruit for breakfast. This time, everyone sat down, ate their fill and remarked...HOURS LATER!!!...how they were STILL full and weren't hungry. That was a miracle enough, right there.
  
  I then made from the same time span: Lemon-Chicken Soup with Orzo; Curried Butternut Soup; Mushroom Barley Risotto, and the astonishingly flavoured Sage-rubbed Pork Chops with Warm Apple Slaw (everyone's favourite by far; I've made it three weekends in a row).
  
  In the months time, I've made 38 of the 45 recipes and there isn't a one that has disappointed or even needed tweaking. Yes, I'll make the French Toast bake using a different bread or different fruit but I'll keep the ingredients and portions the same. And when it's just my DH and I and no kids, I cut the recipes in half and he takes the left-overs to work the next day.
  
  And the BEST news?! I've lost an additional THREE pounds this past month and yet eaten like a QUEEN! This one single cookbook has become my default setting for each meal that I make and I can't think of cooking without it. In fact, to make sure that when my DH and I travel, I've downloaded each single recipe that I've made onto a website and WORD so I'll have access to them from my PC or a website if I'm traveling without my laptop.
  
  I've never met a cookbook I didn't like but THIS one ranks as my All-Time personal favourite and I look forward to many dog-eared corners and sauce-splashed pages for years to come!
  
  
• The best cookbook I own!!!!
  By A37YFMNUID2A4X on 2008-01-27
  Ladies and Gentlemen this cookbook rocks! Everything I've made (lots) is delicious! My husband, and our children love her recipes too. They are easy to follow and YUMMY!!! Plus you feel good about what you are eating. PLUS, Ellie has these "mini" articles throughtout that help you learn QUICKLY why certain foods are better for you. Love that! Bless you Ellie!
  
  
• sorry ellie
  By A1YUZ852N2M0FP on 2008-04-28
  The recipes are fine. The problem is trying to read them. Why the publisher decided to use such a small font to print is beyond me. Would have given this a much higher rating with a print I could read. Gave me a headache and eyestrain.
  
  
• Ellie does it again!
  By A29ORRYY99NSZN on 2008-01-22
  I have been waiting for this book to come out since it was announced last year. It was well worth the wait. Just like her first book and show on food network, Ellie provides us with credible information and healthy recipes.
  
  A few things I love about this book:
  -All of the recipes prepared on her show are included in this book. This is especially important to me because I have been collecting them. My personal favorite are the Pumpkin Muffins.
  -Ellie has included a story about each recipe. I have never seen this done in a cookbook and I love it. I enjoy the story about her daughter playing food network.
  -It includes comfort foods made healthy. I am excited about making the Mac N Cheese.
  
  If you enjoy Ellie's show and previous book, this cookbook is a must buy!
  
  
• The Book You Crave
  By A3PGO8D8XTR2XI on 2008-01-26
  Ellie Krieger's new cookbook is so much better than I had expected. This is a big cookbook and I am enjoying all the recipes. Her vita is quite impressive and I knew her recipes would reflect her great knowledge of nutrition but I was not prepared for how delicious all the recipes are. She has outdone herself with this marvelous new book! I am so glad to have it and it is the number one book I use in my very large cookbook library!
  
  
• Good for healthy cooking newbies and foodies!
  By A1O5I47GNZFJG6 on 2008-06-11
  Despite Ellie Krieger's down-to-earth personality and sensibility when it comes to having a healthy diet, I've always found her Food Network TV show, "Healthy Appetite," to be a little-- pardon the foodie irony here--bland. For this edition of FitLit, the Fit Bottomed Girls decided to review her cookbook, The Food You Crave, to see if it delivers more spice than the TV show.
  
  To get a feel for the book, I made a recipe from each section of the book. I've been cooking for a number of years now and, unlike some people (cough, Erin), I really enjoy it, so although making eight recipes in about two weeks time seemed daunting, I was up to the challenge. (On occasion, I even pretended I was competing on Iron Chef and frantically sped about the kitchen pureeing and chopping feverishly. Although it's loads of fun, turns out rushing isn't the best way to cook. I almost ruined two recipes by forgetting crucial steps like, oh, turning off a burner. Oops.) Below are my notes from the recipes I tried.
  
  
  Breakfast: The Southwestern Hash and Eggs (p.30) was easy to make and pretty tasty. It's not overly interesting or different, just your basic potatoes, egg, black beans and red pepper hash. However, of all the recipes I tried, this was probably the best pick for cooking for the hungry man (or men, growl) in your life.
  
  FBG Tip: To make this recipe less time consuming, you can sub a can of diced tomatoes for the fresh tomatoes.
  
  
  Nibbles & Noshes: The Herbed Goat Cheese Dip (p.66) took me five minutes to make. It's tasty, has few ingredients and pairs wonderfully with fresh veggies or baked pita chips.
  
  FBG Tip: Many grocery stores don't have a great selection of fresh herbs, so if you can't find fresh parsley, mint and/or thyme, substitute 1/4 tsp. dried.
  
  
  Soups & Sandwiches: The Sweet and Spicy Grilled Cheese Sandwiches (p. 95) took the grilled cheese sandwich to new heights. Cheesy, decadent and filling with just 350 calories, if you love caramelized onions, this is your sandwich.
  
  FBG Tip: If you have a George Foreman Grill, forgo grilling the sandwiches in a pan and use the Foreman. It cuts the cooking time in half!
  
  
  Main & Side Salads: The Savory Chinese Chicken Salad (p. 110) is perfect for summer. It's light and refreshing, yet filling. If you're a fan of Pei Wei, it's very similar to their Asian Chopped Chicken Salad.
  
  FBG Tip: If you're vegetarian, grilled tofu works great in place of the chicken.
  
  
  Pasta, Pizza & Grains: The Arugula, Caramelized Onion and Goat Cheese Pizza (p. 173) was the most "foodie" of any of the recipes I tried. Definitely "Top Chef"-esque. It's tasty but probably not for everyone.
  
  FBG Tip: Try subbing the arugula with spinach and the goat cheese with feta. It's a variation worth trying.
  
  
  The Main Course: The Balsamic Chicken with Baby Spinach and Couscous (p.205) was a hit. It had bold flavors, vibrant colors and a beautiful presentation. The recipe dirties a lot of bowls and pans, but I'd consider the extended cleaning time a small price to pay for this ta-da dish.
  
  FBG Tip: Keep a box of frozen spinach on hand for this recipe. In a pinch, half of a box (thawed and squeezed dry) can be substituted for the fresh spinach, saving you time and money.
  
  
  Sides: I made the Broccoli with Toasted Garlic (p. 249) along with the Balsamic Chicken with Baby Spinach and Couscous. It paired quite nicely. My only advice is to steam the broccoli in the microwave (loved the ease of that, by the way) for the recommended time. My broccoli seemed more crisp than tender after the recipe's four minutes, so I microwaved them for a minute more, and they were way over done.
  
  FBG Tip: If you love garlic, feel free to use more (even much, much more) than the recommended three cloves.
  
  
  Desserts: I was the most excited about trying the Dark Chocolate Mousse (p. 301). As far as a mousse goes, it was fairly easy to make, and it had an unusual ingredient--tofu. The tofu blends to a smooth consistency, lending protein and a low-fat base to the mousse, and you can't even taste it. Promise.
  
  FBG Tip: This recipe is awesome and very awe-inspiring. Don't change a thing.
  
  
  Overall, I was really pleased with this book. She has great tips on grocery store shopping, there are quite a few pictures of the food, nutritional information is listed on all of the recipes, and there are great little tidbits of information sprinkled throughout the pages. There's also good variety to the recipes, ranging from high-end culinary fare to good ole fashioned home cookin'. Although some of the recipes I tried seemed daunting, with fairly long ingredient lists that were sometimes pretty costly, nothing I made was hard, and nothing took more than 45 minutes. In fact, most took 30 minutes or less (take note, Rachael Ray).
  
  
  However, my favorite part of the book was its attitude. Krieger says that basically all food is good in moderation, and she doesn't ban the really good stuff (butter, oil and cheese--oh my!). With that healthy attitude, I have a feeling Krieger is a closet FBG.
  
  If you're looking to expand your healthy culinary horizons, you might give this book a good look or try one of her free recipes online. You just might find something new to crave. Gosh knows I did. Dark Chocolate Mousse, anyone? --Jenn
  
  [...]
  
  
• GREAT WHEN GOOD FOR YOU IS TASTY!
  By A3OBRNKS4X8149 on 2008-02-16
  
  
  THE FOOD YOU CRAVE:
  And It Will Be Delicious!
  
  
  Book by: Ellie Kreiger
  Photography by Christopher Hirsceimer
  A review by Marty Martindale
  
  Besides this latest book, Ellie Kreiger has a show on the Food Channel, "Healthy Appetite," airing at 1:00 pm, eastern, on Saturdays. Once listening to her, it's easy to know she's a serious, well-trained dietician/nutritionist dedicated to making cravings delicious and simple. She's believable and makes a lot of sense. To help cooks grasp the importance of essentials nutriments, she provides a chart on page 12 where she explains what each nutrient does for our body mechanism. At the end of each recipe, she states the amount of protein, fat, carbohydrates, cholesterol, fiber and sodium per serving. She also lines out each's excellent sources vs. good source s of vitamins and minerals. Most of Kreiger's recipes are short, simple and to the point.
  Best of all, you know you have done your body a nutritional favor, not often an attractive alternative these days.:
  * Crab Salad in Crisp Wonton Cups calls for celery, mango, scallions and cilantro. She has you reshape wonton wrappers as cups, and gives dressing of her lime and red pepper flakes and olive oil
  * Edamame "Hummus" with Spiced Pita Chips: combine tofu, cucmin, garlic, olive oil and lemon with the edamame
  * Fettuccine with Creamy Red Pepper Sauce: onion, garlic, a jar of roasted red peppers, broth, feta cheese and some parsley for a garnish.
  * Curried Butternut Squash Soup: onion, garlic, squash, broth, curry powder, honey and yogurt (she provides a similar soup using frozen green peas)
  * Snow Pea, Scallon and Radish Salad: She simply dresses this mixture with rice vinegar, sugar and a bit of canola oil
  * Southwestern Slaw: jicama, red cabbage, red onion, cilantro, mayo, buttermilk and lime juice
  * Lemon-Gralic Marinated Lamp Chops: simply add oregano, zest, garlic
  * Pork Medallions with Cherry Sauce: chopped shallots, broth, balsamic vinegar and dried, tart cherries
  * Stuffed Turkey Burgers: ground turkey, roasted red peppers, mozzarella and whole-wheat buns
  * "Dirty" Brocolli: olive oil, garlic, dry break crumbs and oregano
  * Grilled Romaine Hearts: cut them length-wise, rub with olive oil and grill
  * Parmesan Mashed Potatoes: add buttermilk, nonfat milk and the cheese.
  * Honey-Roasted Sweet Potatoes: mix with olive oil, honey, and lemon juice.
  * Grilled Bananas with Chai Syrup: make chai tea, add peppercorns, cinnamon stick, a star anise, cardamom pods, cloves and fresh ginger.
  * Dark Chocolate Mousse: silken tofu, dark chocolate, cocoa powder, brandy, confectioners' sugar, heavy cream and shaved chocolate
  Marty Martindale's website is: FOOD SITE OF THE DAY.
  
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• Smart and practical cooking
  By A1VMRA4EHL3CN5 on 2008-02-11
  Purchased Ellie's book sight unseen. I had watched her on Food Network and liked her approach to cooking/eating. I love the recipe book. I made the Lemon Orzo soup tonight and my 14-year-old son asked me to "please cook more out of that cookbook." I am doing Weight Watchers and can find recipes that work well with that discipline.
  Recipes work well for those of us in a rushed world. They are simple enough, mainly relying on fresh ingredients and nice seasoning. I am glad I ordered this book and look forward to cooking many more recipes out of it!
  
  
• Deliciously simple
  By AYGGES42M5FMS on 2008-05-04
  Once I received this book it was hard to put down. I have tried many recipes in this book already. They are not only simple but full of flavor! If you are on weight watchers I would highly recommend this book. Most of the recipes are between 5 & 9 points. The snow pea, scallion, and radish salad is not only fresh but full of flavor and only 1 point per serving. The jerk chicken with cool pineapple salsa is outstanding, it's a perfect meal for those warm summer nights. The baked shrimp with tomatoes and feta is only 6 points and very satisfying. The balsamic chicken with baby spinach and couscous just coats the mouth with bursting flavor and textures and just 7 points.
  
  So far every recipe tried was quick, easy, full of flavor and FRESH. I would recommend this book to anyone who just loves food!
  
  
• Okay.... I sold mine
  By A18JIQEVNF75D5 on 2008-09-07
  I was really excited to get this book. I like watching Ellie's show on TV and I enjoy the tips she gives for healthy cooking. The book is nice. It has beautiful pictures, great tips, and average recipes... none that I would consider to be brilliant. And don't get me wrong. Some of the recipes are very good. The shrimp with feta is delicious and in lots of the desserts you will barely miss the fat and calories that she leaves out. However I think the concept "The Food You Crave" is flawed. It seems like a great idea--a cookbook full of everyone's favorites, made healthier. Unfortunately, when I crave these foods, the real version is more satisfying. I would rather have a little bit of the real thing, than an extra helping of the impostor. Back when I still owned this book I would find myself flipping through the pages, finding a pretty picture of something I wanted to eat, and then looking up another recipe for it that I knew would taste better. It just didn't get a lot of use in my kitchen. If you don't forsee this being an issue, go ahead and buy it. I actually ended up selling it to a friend who really enjoys it, so I think there is definitely an audience for this book. I'm just not in it.
  
  
• Finally, a book on how it's not about the dieting, but about the D-I-E-T!
  By A2CY6KPT7E3JLU on 2008-01-26
  I LOVE THIS BOOK! Ellie Krieger has the best approach towards food than any other "food or diet" person out there. I should know, I've read them all and tried them all. Jenny Craig, Weight Watchers, Atkins, South Beach, you name it, I've done it. The problem? It's not about being on a diet where you limit your food intake, or about depriving yourself of food. It's about your DIET. The food that you put into your body, how it's prepared and how much food you eat at a meal. Ellie shows you how to prepare dishes in a healthy manner, gives you recipes to prepare foods you love! Pasta, burgers, dessert dishes! Finally we can eat and enjoy our food while doing something great for our bodies! Thank you Ellie! MIP
  
  
• Ellie is the best!
  By A1AH8U3TLES152 on 2008-02-21
  Diets are easy. If someone tells me what to eat, what to avoid I can take the weight off. The rules are easy. Lower fat, increase water intake, increase activity and watch portions.
  
  But the real key to being healthy is maintnance and knowing how to incorporate food in your life. Any food that is "off limits" on a diet should be a red flag. I love Ellie's approach that food is lumped in 3 catagories: usually, sometimes and rarely. You need those "rarely" foods so you do not feel deprived and live in today's world. To say you will never eat pizza again when you are losing weight or maintaining..is a set up for failure. I am struggling to lose weight, but I have learned and accepted that I'd rather do it slowly, by making small changes that will last my entire life. I have lost weight quickly and put it back on just as fast. Ellie's recipes are not flavorless, no fat options. You won't find broiled fish without butter here. I also love that her portion sizes are real. I do weight watchers, and a cup of pasta is one serving. Ellie uses a a cup and half as a serving and it makes all the difference!
  
  As far as the cookbook is concerned..Ellie rocks! Every single thing that I have made (12 things and counting) has been outstanding! Everyone in my house loves her meals..Me, who has 30 lbs to lose, my husband who can stand to gain 20 lbs (he just eats 2 portions..he likes the food so much!) and my kids enjoy her food. I almost died when my pickiest 2 year old gobbled her turkey meatballs and asked for more. They had carrots and onion in them which made them super moist, but I was so happy he was getting some vegtables in him! Her balsamic chicken is the best, the miso glazed cod and Ive made several of her side dishes! I can see myself making everything in this book except the things with beans (my personal preference..I hate them).
  
  Cheers to Ellie! I can't wait for her to come up with more cookbooks and I love her show on Food network!
  
  
  
• Easy and healthy cooking for busy people
  By A1250LI8R0VKOY on 2008-03-01
  I LOVE this cookbook. Ellie Krieger's recipes contain easy-to-find ingredients, a reasonable number of ingredients, and really good instructions and photos. Every recipe I have tried has been extremely delicious, most are not terribly time consuming, and I can't say enough about how wonderful this cookbook is for busy people trying to eat healthy, flavorful food. So many diet foods have little taste, so it's hard to want to make and eat them. By contrast, eating healthy is much easier with Ellie's recipes because all of the recipes are bursting with flavor.
  
  
• Easy and feels good cooking healthy
  By A3D863DJS1T813 on 2008-03-24
  I bought this book because I enjoy watching Ellie Krieger's show on food tv. I have made about 10 recipes from this book and I have enjoyed all of them. She gives wonderful tips about using canola oil and canned pumpkin to eliminate butter/bad oil. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to trim some bad ingrediants out of their recipes as well as add nutrients/vitamins. Recipes are easy and basic--it's worth the buy.
  
  
• Very Tasty and Healthier!
  By AHHB57NTO014I on 2008-09-19
  I have really enjoyed this cookbook! I have made 6 recipes - The Thai/coconut chicken, Asian greens, turkey meatloaf, French fries, steak tacos and carrot cupcakes. All were very good and especially loved the turkey meatloaf, fries, coconut chicken and carrot cupcakes(for my son's 2nd birthday)! I got into a recipe rut and this has helped out tremendously. Healthier can be easy and tasty. I am an RD and love to cook - her book is fun, informative and full of good recipes. Highly recommended!
  
  
• Ellie Krieger Help for Weight Loss and Health
  By A112KQS0U90LCD on 2008-02-22
  This book makes so much sense. Instead of relying on foods that are "imitation," "artificial," and "instead of," Ellie replaces these negatives with "whole grain," "natural," and "fresh." Her tips are realistic, intuitive, and make sense because they look at "weight loss" as a by-product of healthy eating instead of weight loss being a result of derivation and "will power." Three cheers for Ellie!!
  
  
• Light and delicious
  By A1C1HC7HH2ZO81 on 2008-02-22
  Very good cookbook. It's nice to have a food reference with delicious recipes that you can trust are good for you... since they are coming from a person with nutritian knowledge.
  
  

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• Eat This, Not That! Thousands of Simple Food Swaps that Can Save You 10, 20, 30 Pounds--or More!