The Low-Carb Cookbook by Fran Mccullough

by Fran McCullough

Written by a James Beard Award-winning author who's also a writing teacher at the revered Culinary Institute of America, The Low-Carb Cookbook presents a colorful approach to the low-carb, high-protein diet so many people swear by. The author, Fran McCullough, has herself lost 60 pounds by following a low-carbohydrate diet, so you know you're in good hands. With more than 250 recipes, including appetizers, sauces, sides, main dishes, and delectable desserts, it'll keep you cookin'. She's definitely taken a gourmet approach to the recipes. While they're all tempting, notables include Three-Grain Pancakes with Raspberry-Orange Sauce, Nut-Crusted Swordfish with Romesco Sauce, and Crème Fraîche Ice Cream. Unlike the many other low-carb cookbooks out there, McCullough gives advice for tracking down the best prepared food products and additional tips for healthy food preparation (for example, she recommends organic meat and dairy products whenever possible and cautions that "free-range" chickens are allowed to stick their heads out of their cages--not necessarily given the chance to frolic freely on the farm). There's also an interesting comparison of low-carb books, including Protein Power, Dr. Atkins' New Diet Revolution, The Carbohydrate Addict's Diet, and The Zone, which boils down to they all emulate many aspects of the Overeater's Anonymous recommended diet. But where the diet books that started the low-carb craze may not be all that original, The Low-Carb Cookbook certainly is, with its wonderfully creative and classy recipes. The perfect choice if you want to rise from a food-boredom rut or entertain for friends--and not let on that you're counting carbs. --Erica Jorgensen

Genres: Cookbooks, Cooking, Health, Nonfiction, Reference

Mass Market Paperback

First published May 30, 1997

Reviews

[Kay · Rating 5 out of 5]

This isn't the newest of the plethora of published low-carb cookbooks, but it's the best I've read. The first 50+ pages of this book are devoted to the nitty gritty on carbs - an important and worthwhile read...and then the recipes. These recipes are not your boring if-I-eat-another-salad-I'll-turn-into-a-rabbit recipes (although salads are included), these are recipes you'd be pleased to serve to dieters and non-dieters alike. Just try the author's Cheesecake recipe. And remember while you're reading this that low-carb dieters can eat cream cheese, eggs, and heavy cream -- and still lose weight!!!