Stars: ****
I reviewed Passover by Design earlier this year and loved it so I was quick to say yes to her newest book.
KBD Lightens Up is for those who are aiming to eat healthier without sacrificing taste. There were quite a few recipies in the book that didn’t appeal to me but that’s because I’m quite a picky person, especially when it comes to vegetables. However I must say they were unique and many of them combine ingredients or cook in ways I never would have thought of doing.
Before you even get to the recipes, the book provides some important information on The Kosher Kitchen (in case you aren’t used to keeping Kosher) and How to Lighten Up (the basics of eating and creating healthy dishes.)
You will also find a section titled Supermaket Savvy which explains the terms on food labels that can be so confusing such as High Fructose Corn Syrup, Nitrites and Resistant Starch. The Definitions section expands on that with definitions of such words as Antioxidants, Capsaicin, Cruciferous Vegetables, Flavanols, Free Radicals, Lycopene and Phytochemicals. The Superfoods section tells you the foods that are high on the health benefits chart, what it’s potent properties are (i.e. Antioxidents, Protein, Lutein, Iron….) and what it’s health benefits are (i.e. heart health, rich in complex carbs, cancer prevention….) Tasty Tidbits explains things such as organics, Genetically Modified Organisms, Free-Range, Farmed vs Wild Fish, Seasonal, Locavore, All-Natural and No Sugar Added.
After that is a section on Flour and the different kinds. I had no idea there were that many kinds! Then the Grains section which mentions the well-known such as Barley and Oats and the less well-known wuch as Quinoa and Spelt. The Oils section explains the different types of oils from Canola Oil to Walnut Oil. The Sugars section explains the different between sugars from White Table Sugar to Maple Syrup. The Seeds and Nuts section, as I’m sure you can guess, is all about different Seeds and Nuts.
Turn the page to find Gadgets for Healthy Cooking. Find out what tools Susie finds useful such as gel mats, silicon spatulas and bamboo steamers. Finally there are some ideas for entertaining such as holding a tasting party, having a fruit smorgasboard, a fun way to pack up leftovers for your guests and having a spritzer bar.
After all this wonderful information you will find the recipes in sections: Appetizers, Soups, Salads, Poultry, Meat, Fish, ‘Eggs, Pasta, and Dairy’, Side Dishes and Desserts. The recipies, as with Passover by Design are wonderfully thought out, easy to understand and have beautiful photos accompanying them (see above two pictures.) Many of the photos make your mouth water. I haven’t tried any recipies yet but will be making something for our Hanukkah dinner. Perhaps the Teriyaki Butternut Squash Rounds.
Go to the website for more info including a free 16-page sampler.
About the Author:
Susie Fishbein is the author of the wildly successful cookbooks, Kosher by Design, Kosher by Design Entertains, Kosher by Design Kids in the Kitchen, Kosher by Design Short on Time, Passover by Design, and Kosher by Design Lightens Up . She has spent the past few years traveling around the country giving cooking demonstrations. She has appeared on The Today Show with Katie Couric, Allie & Jack, Sheila Bridges Designer Living, as well as several network news show cooking segments. She has taught at the prestigious Degustibus cooking school in New York. Susie Fishbein is a mother of four children — three girls and a boy. (Excerpt from Kosher by Design website)
About Kathleen
