Simply Light Cooking - Hardcover

The introduction to this latest Weight Watchers compilation promises ``something for everyone,'' ``variety and flexibility...to fit your unique life-style.'' Which is just another way of saying that this is one more characterless Weight Watchers mishmash of convenience, contrivance, and clich‚. Several potato dishes, including ``creamy mashed,'' are made with instant potato flakes. Fence-sitting and substitute ingredients such as light cream cheese and margarine abound. Several high-cheese dishes, such as white pizza, give more than the recommended 30% of calories from fat. Brown rice and veal dishes coexist, to the advantage of neither, as do various ethnic accents--but few if any genuine ethnic dishes. And all this comes larded with a self-congratulatory text that gushes about ``today's'' taste and health consciousness, though scores of other cookbooks have better served that consciousness for decades. Sure, there are some perfectly decent low-fat recipes here-- but in an age when perfectly decent low-fat recipes crowd our shelves, that's not enough. -- Copyright ©1991, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

One might expect to find recipes for strawberry shortcake and oysters with herb butter in some cookbooks. But here? Weight Watchers, a diet leader for nearly 30 years, has produced a practical source for people who want to eat well and healthily, despite their hectic lives. Singles and families of four alike can call on this book for quick, nutritious meals. The meticulous recipes provide nutritional information along with preparation time and menu suggestions. Recipes are coded to indicate their cholesterol and/or sodium levels; they derive less than 30% of their calories from fat. The mouth-watering color photos make everything look good, but readers should take a moment to familiarize themselves with Weight Watchers cooking techniques before launching into brandy Alexander mousse or grilled rabbit in juniper berry marinade. Also, be aware that most rely on small amounts of ingredients; you may need only two ounces of tuna from a six-ounce can.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.