Skinny Meals in Heels [Hardcover]

I love cooking and baking and have quite a substantial collection of cookery books. I really like Jennifer's new cookbook because all of the recipes are tasty, easily explained,healthy and best of all quick to make. Usually with a cookbook, I may only make five recipes from this book. I've only had this book for two days and already I've made four recipes and I'm making two more tomorrow. So far I've made the vegetable and spring onion pancakes ( so tasty and super quick to make). I made the stuffed chicken breast with spinach, cinnamon and dates for the girls last night and today I had the light chicken Vietnamese salad. For dinner since it's a Saturday and I'm having a lazy day, I'm making the Jamaican Chicken Curry.

I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys tasty healthy food that is quick to prepare.

I have Jennifer Joyce's 'Meals in Heels' - aimed at dinner party food that could be made ahead and finished at the last minute. This book is aimed at more everyday meals. The 'skinny' shouldn't be seen as a diet book - really more healthy eating - the food is less rich but still flavoursome. There aren't any calorie counts or details about carbs, proteins, etc. which a mainstream diet book would include. Most of the recipes can be made in 30-60 minutes. There are notes indicating the extent to which recipes can be made ahead, either wholly or partially which is always useful. Recipes are generally intended for four people.

The book is divided into chapters as follows: Snacks & Nibbles; Starters; Salads; Soups; Weekday Dinners in under 1 hour; Weekend Cooking; Puds.

Snacks include oven-dried cherry tomatoes with lemon-oregano salt, pickled vegetables and Turkish salsa with pitta crisps. Starters range from sashimi tuna, to steamed asparagus with an egg vinaigrette, beef & mango spring rolls, vegetable & spring onion pancakes with a chilli dipping sauce, vegetable yakitori, steamed globe artichokes with lemon & oregano dipping oil & spicy scallops with avocado & mango salsa to name a few. The salads are more in the line of main course salads such as palm heart with orange, prawns & avocado; Vietnamese chicken salad; potato & smoked trout. There are some really lovely soups of which my favourites are celeriac & roasted garlic; chipotle black bean with lime-pickled onion; tomato & chickpea with cumin; & caramelised onion & fennel.

There is a good range of main courses including a lovely vegetarian selection (although I doubt that the recipe involving squid ink pasta will go down well with true vegetarians). Recipes include pork & fennel tray roast with lemon & coriander paste; lamb steaks with parmesan pea purée; lamb with borlotti beans & roasted cherry tomatoes; Korean beef with sesame seeds; pork scallopine with lemon wine sauce; tostadas with spicy tomato turkey; crisp mustard & tarragon chicken. Veggie mains include Thai pumpkin curry and polenta with roasted aubergine. There are also some fish & seafood recipes such as Bengali salmon parcels with mustard yoghourt paste, seared scallops with crushed potatoes, steamed lemon ginger fish, & prawn tacos.

The weekend dishes aren't particularly complicated but take longer mainly because the cooking time is longer or they require marinading e.g. slow roasted pork with a spice crust or mustard rack of lamb with a shallot port sauce. There are still recipes which will be ready in a little over an hour. The short pudding section is mainly simple, fresh desserts including pineapple & mint granita, caramelised grilled mango, elderflower sparkling berries (vegetarians will need to use an alternative to gelatine) and raspberry sorbet.

The recipes are appealing and generally uncomplicated, and whilst healthy don't feel as is you are depriving yourself of anything.

This cookbook is a must-have for anyone who loves food and entertaining. Jennifer's user-friendly writing style means that this book is pleasure to cook from. She explains why the recipes are healthy, and includes lots of tips about preparing ahead of time.

So far I've been introduced to some amazing ingredients and am working my way through the rest of recipes. My family and friends have been delighted with all the food so far. I'd definitely recommend this book!