Healthy Helpings: 800 Fast and Fabulous Recipes for the Kosher (or Not) Cook [Paperback]

This cookbook by Norene Gilletz excites me so much that I don't know where to start in sharing a review with you. If you don't have it, get it. ...as fast as you can!

The cookbook covers so much that everyone is sure to find something that satisfies within the 411 pages of recipes -- 800 recipes no less! Did you see that? 800 recipes are included in the easy to read, colorful to look at, several recipes with photos of several dishes in each photo. The photos are all in one place and I think I like that very much. The title reads "800 Fast and Fabulous Recipes for the Kosher (or Not) Cook". I am not a Kosher cook but I have found so many recipes that I know I will use over and over again. But for those who ARE Kosher cooks, you will be very happy with this cookbook also. There is a whole section on holidays and celebrations that I'm sure will be helpful to you.

You can tell Norene Gilletz knew what she was doing in designing this cookbook. In the beginning she acknowledges all those who have helped her with ideas or tested recipes. She credits her Mother as one of several who inspired and taught her, or encouraged and advised her. She had willing taste testers and even had a focus group to keep her apprised of what people want and "need to know in today's kitchen".

"Healthy Helpings" is a healthy cookbook so for those who look for the nutritional analysis, you will be happy to know it is included with each recipe. There is a whole page of guidelines Norene used to analyze her recipes. I personally found it very helpful to know things like "4 to 6 servings" was analyzed for 4 servings or "optional ingredients and garnishes in unspecified amounts were not calculated". These are the questions that sometimes puzzle those who are trying hard to figure closely all the nutritional analysis.

As any thorough cookbook author would include, there is a list of staples for a healthy kitchen and it includes oils/vinegars, mayonnaise/salad dressings, dried legumes, tomato products, canned vegetables/legumes/fruits/fish/soups, pastas/grains/cereals, snack foods/cookies/crackers, breads/bread crumbs, beverages/juices/miscellaneous, and dried herbs & spices, baking supplies. There is also a section on perishables, frozen foods and herbs. There is so much information under each of the staple items and so much "healthy" information listed before you even get to the first recipe! I really like this in a cookbook!

The format of "Healthy Helpings" recipes is done in a single list of ingredients with directions below. There are two columns on each page, which seems to afford extra room to get more recipes per page. The print is large enough to read and is a nice feature without a feeling of paper wasting as in some of the other cookbooks I've bought lately -- the kind with large fonts and only one recipe per page and an obvious waste of paper. But not "Healthy Helpings"! I have the feeling that there was so much information to include that Norene and her publisher, Woodland Publishing, figured out the best way to get the most print on a page without it looking too crowded, etc.

Almost all of the recipes have the little friendly paragraph at the beginning of a recipe that we all love to read -- the little hint of origin or inspiration for that particular recipe. That feature means a lot to those who like to read cookbooks like they read novels (I'm one of them!).

I collect cookbooks and have thousands of them, but this is one that we will use over and over. In fact, I have made several of the recipes already and some even twice and I've only had the cookbook just a few weeks! My favorites so far are:

Chunky Monkey
Grilled Orange Teriyaki Chicken
Teriyaki Asparagus
Israeli Salad
Rainbow Rice Pilaf (the first recipe I tried from Healthy Helpings)

There are many other recipes I have marked to try so I already know this cookbook is going to take a prominent place on the cookbook shelves near the kitchen, probably next to Norene's "Food Processor Bible", which we use a lot also. In fact, I have loaded this cookbook with bookmarks and post-it flags to help me find the next recipe I want to try.

Another good thing -- the recipes call for ingredients that most of us already have in our cupboards. When I feel inspired to try a new recipe I can reach for "Healthy Helpings" and know I will most likely have all the ingredients on hand to make a healthy and satisfying dish.

I highly recommend "Healthy Helpings" as an addition to your cookbook shelf. At $19.99 it's affordable and makes a nice gift for yourself or to someone you'd like to help on their way to a more healthy lifestyle. I'm including the recipe for "Israeli Salad" below. Not only is it delicious and healthy, but it is also a very pretty dish to have on your dinner table.

Israeli Salad

1 head of Romaine or iceberg lettuce
4 green onions
1 medium onion
2 green peppers
1 red pepper
1 English cucumber, peeled
8 firm, ripe tomatoes (preferably Israeli)
4 Tablespoons olive oil (preferably extra-virgin)
4 Tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon sale (or to taste)
Freshly ground pepper, optional

Wash and dry vegetables well. Dice them neatly into 1/2-inch pieces and combine in a large bowl. Sprinkle with olive oil and lemon juice. Add seasonings; mix again. Adjust seasonings to taste.

Yield: 8 servings. Salad tastes best eaten the same day it is made, but leftovers will keep for a day in the refrigerator. Drain off excess liquid in the bottom of the bowl before serving.

Note: This recipe makes quite a lot so either halve the recipe or invite someone over to help eat it.

Reviewed and posted to CookbooksEtCetera@yahoogroups and Amazon.com by Monita Olive on February 24, 2004.

Even thought I've collected probably 100 "healthy eating" cookbooks, I'm always on the look-out for new selections (especially in the "healthy eating" category) that have certain characteristics:

· Captivating to read (I tend to read a cookbook as much for the margin comments, and personality, as much as for the great recipes) - Almost like reading a novel
· Unique recipes (not just a new twist on recipes I've already read elsewhere)
· Fresh ingredients, and interesting uses (that I never would have thought of) for easy-to-find ingredients
· Lots of tips and easy-to-follow instructions
· Beautiful photos
· Recipes that my WHOLE family (including my children) would find appealing

I was very thrilled when I found Norene Gilletz' book, Healthy Helpings. What an excellent book!! When I picked it up at the bookstore, I found myself reading it like a novel...always a good sign. Healthy Helpings is written in a nicely conversational, friendly tone.

This is the first cookbook (in the healthy foods genre) that really has it all. The recipes are healthy (using lots of fresh fruits, veggies, whole grains, etc), but not too restrictive about healthy oils (using just enough to create the desired effect). I would say it offers something for just about every type of healthy eater. With 800 recipes, it's bound to!!

Note that I'm not a kosher cook, but this book is quite interesting to me in that respect too. It's an education into the method of kosher preparation. I've always wanted to learn some of these things, and Norene has provided sections on holidays and celebrations that are particularly interesting reading.

I believe I've found the light eating cookbook that I'll actually be using regularly. Norene has done an excellent job of researching for this book. It's full of all kinds of helpful advice for food preparation and eating well(while controlling fat and calories). A huge number of delicious sounding recipes, most of which are comfort foods with a healthy use of fresh ingredients, all of which are available at my small-town grocery. I've already made a long list of recipes I need to try.

She's right up my alley with the occasional use of ingredients like quinoa, spelt and whole wheat. Don't let that scare you though! Not all her bread recipes have unusual grains. In fact, most have regular flours, or a combination of whole grain and regular. But everything I saw looked delicious and doable. The dessert section was what really got me, though. I'll have to try some of the recipes in this section first. Who was it who said, "Life is short...eat dessert first"?

You really need to try some of these recipes:

· No-Knead Cinnamon Babka
· Honey Mustard Carrot Salad
· Saucy Szechuan Pineapple Chicken
· Grilled Satay Chicken Kabobs
· Make & Bake Pizza with Herb Crust
· Israeli Salad
· Lousiana Chicken Salad


This cookbook is definitely my new favorite. I'll be using it regularly to help me with feeding my family (of diverse appetites). My kids are particularly going to love the healthy "Fudgy-Wudgy Brownies", and the many family-friendly variations on pizzas and quesadillas.

(...)

I did not realize that this was a reprint of the Meal-Leani-Yumm book and ordered not one but 2 copies which I returned. I think Amazon should mention in the discription that this is a reprint.

Getting past my annoyance about that. I will say that this is a great book. Many of the recipes have become standards in our home. They are easy and fast, the instructions are clear and the ingredients are avaliable in most large supermarkets. As a Weight Watcher the nutritional information for each recipe is very helpful. I have been cooking lighter for the last few years and this book has been a big help. The recipes and suggestions have carried over into some of my own recipes and family favorites. I often go to it just to see how Ms. Gilletz handles the fat in a recipe and use a similar subsitution in another recipe.

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