2008.08.22
Cookbook Giveaway -- "Eat, Shrink and Be Merry"
This may be a cookbook about healthy eating, but it is one of the most entertaining diet cookbooks I've seen in a long time. And trust me, I've seen a bunch!
Lately, it seems that the majority of the cookbooks I'm sent for review are either about weight loss, diabetes control or living with wheat allergies. I sincerely understand the need for books like that, but this "Eat, Shrink and Be Merry" is actually funny.
It's written by two sisters named Janet and Greta Podleski, and the pages are sprinkled with all kinds of fun information like Truth or Myth, Pop Quizzes, cartoons and quotes such as "I was a vegetarian until I started leaning toward the sunlight -- Rita Rudner."
The best part is that the recipes, which have cute names like Tuskinny Chicken and Salmon Cowell, actually look really tasty and appear to use mostly natural ingredients, not low-fat or fat-free versions of the good stuff.
I'm so tempted to keep this book for myself, but one of you can wrest it from my grip by writing to tell me why you badly need to "Eat, Shrink and Be Merry." The best story wins the book. Deadline is next Wednesday.
I'll share the recipe for Salmon Cowell below the jump. Have a GREAT weekend!
Salmon Cowell
Serves 4
Marinade:
1/4 cup frozen orange juice concentrate
1/4 cup hoisin sauce
1 Tbsp. reduced-sodium soy sauce
1 Tbsp. grated gingerroot
2 tsp. grated orange zest
Pinch crushed red pepper flakes
4 boneless, skinless salmon fillets (about 5 oz. each)
1. Whisk together all of the marinade ingredients in a small bowl. Place salmon in a large, heavy-duty, resealable plastic bag. Add marinade and seal bag. Turn bag several times to coat salmon with marinade. Marinate in refrigerator for 30 minutes.
2. Preheat grill go medium. Remove salmon from marinade (reserve marinade) and place on a grill rack that has been coated with cooking spray or lightly brushed with oil. Grill for 3 to 4 minutes per side, or until salmon is just slightly pink in the center. Do not overcook salmon or it will be dry. Baste salmon with reserved marinade during the last minute of cooking, if desired.
Calories per serving: 253
Total fat: 9.4 g
Saturated fat: 1.5 g
Protein: 29 g
Carbs: 11 g
Cholesterol: 78 mg
Sodium: 358 mg
Our goal before we retire next year is to lose weight. We plan on trying to start by 9/01 of this year, retiring on 9/01/09. I have a couple of Weight Watchers cookbooks; this one sounds like it would be fun with the names of the recipes you have shared. I really do need more variety when I try to diet, I get discouraged when I fix the same stuff the same way or blandly when I could really use some jazzing up with flavors. I need that cookbook!!
Comment by Kathy — August 22, 2008 @ 12:51 pm
I want it, I want it:-) This sounds like a "light, easy" way to fit into my jeans - LOL!! No, really, I have been looking for some healthy recipes, but yet delicious, so that I can serve it at get togethers at my new house!! Also, sounds like fun reading material...that I can keep for years to come.
Wendy
Comment by Wendy Phillips — August 22, 2008 @ 12:52 pm
This cookbook sounds great because it uses real ingredients, rather than low-fat or fat-free processed stuff. I would love to have this cookbook for a couple of reasons. First, we are expecting our second child in October and I will be nursing. I want to continue eating as well as possible so that I don't pass too much bad stuff on to the baby through my milk. Also, before becoming pregnant, I had lost a good deal of weight and I want to get rid of the baby weight and continue my journey towards my goal weight. Furthermore, like most expectant dads, my husband has put on the pounds right alongside me over the past 7.5 months! Finally, I will need some new recipes with which to experiment once I fall into a new baby routine and back into the bored-stay-at-home-mom-with-nothing -exciting-to-discuss-or-do club. Please pick me-- my family will adore you for it!
Comment by Lindsey — August 22, 2008 @ 2:03 pm
I have about 20-30 pounds left to lose and this would help a ton. I've seen their show before and a lot of their recipes look really easy. I saw one episode where they were making a lasagna and it sounded great! It is amazing how much healthier you can make a meal by just changing a few ingredients. Please count me in. I'd love to win. Thanks!
Comment by Ilissa H. — August 22, 2008 @ 4:22 pm
I'm on day four of no smoking...I need something healthy to put into my mouth besides candy cigarettes, lollipops, red-hots and various candi sticks from Cracker Barrel's bins. Maybe this book will help take off the pounds I've already put on in four days
Comment by Roanoke RnR — August 22, 2008 @ 5:25 pm
Oooh - this sounds like a fantastic book. I am the mother to four little boys (8, 5, 3 and 11 months). I plan to start a "real" diet lifestyle change in about a month when #4 son turns 1 year and can be weaned from breastfeeding. As the only female in a house of males (even the dogs, cats and fish are males), I need some female humor. Plus - I need recipes that are tasty and easy to make.
Good luck to all who enter!
Comment by Karon — August 23, 2008 @ 8:15 am
I'm constantly trying to lose weight, and my biggest challenge is trying to find quick, easy, healthy recipes. I'm also somewhat challenged in the kitchen, so having a cookbook that's fun, informative and easy to follow would go a long ways toward getting me in the kitchen and out of the fast-food drive thru!
Comment by Leisa — August 23, 2008 @ 11:33 pm
I am the proud grandmother of 4 beautiful children. The only problem with that is I gained weight with each pregnancy. I tell myself that I was just being supportive by gaining weight with the expectant mother. lol
Due to my love, gratitude and self sacrifice for my daughter's self esteem I have packed on the pounds. I need this cookbook because I love to eat, I need to shrink, and both would make me merry. Please send this book to me as a belated baby shower gift. I really need it.
Comment by Greatful Granny — August 24, 2008 @ 11:05 am
I just started graduate school and am currently living at home with my 2 dogs while my husband is away doing military training. It's so hard to eat healthy when it's just myself! I've been married a little over 2 years and my husband is in the Army. He's been gone for a little over 3 months. Right now he is doing training for his position. He will be be home in October and deployed next year. This will be a great way to get myself in shape -not only for him but for myself. I've started going to the gym, but need help with the nutritional aspect. I have around 40 pounds to go!
Comment by Amanda — August 24, 2008 @ 10:08 pm
i would actually like to have this book for my parents, my mom has copd and my dad has Parkinsons so them keeping a healthy weight is crucial and so many of the cook books give such bland tasteless foods, this one sounds like it has great healthy recipes that would be fun and affordable for them to cook and in portions that would not leave them a lot of left overs to deal with and my dad loves to cook so it will help keep his mind active and make him feel useful which is another vital part of helping his Parkinsons
Comment by opal gibson — August 25, 2008 @ 9:18 am
My mother, who is a great grandma, is 79 and diabetic and I would love to have this cookbook to fix her and myself healthy foods. I have heart trouble and need to lose some weight so this would be great. I am on a fixed income since my husband had a stroke and I would probably never be able to purchase it also.
Comment by Pat T — August 25, 2008 @ 12:22 pm
Lindsey:
I would absolutely love to have this cookbook! I'm in need of some old fashioned inspiration and I think this could be the answer to my weight loss misadventures.
Thanks so much for your column and blog.
Comment by Janet — August 27, 2008 @ 1:42 pm
I would love this cookbook, my husband and I recently started trying to eat better to lose weight and to have those recipes on hand would really help
Comment by Christy — August 27, 2008 @ 9:48 pm