I really wanted to like this cookbook. I really tried to like this cookbook but after being disappointed multiple times I finally came to the sad realization that these recipes were not for me.
One star is for the sections containing inspirational stories about Oprah's struggle with food and dieting. These were wonderful to read and I found many of the things she said relatable. One star is for the recipes that I did like.
The recipes I enjoyed the most were Spicy Bean and Collard Greens Soup, Turkey Chili, and Turkey Meatloaf. I felt both of these were fairly easy to make and the ingredients were affordable and easily sourced, with the exception of the dried chiles as these may be more difficult to locally source for some people.
The Chicken Tikka Masala was very good but felt fussier than it should have, and for that reason I put that recipe into the "good, but..." column. Also in that column is the Penne Pasta with Chicken, Sun-Dried Tomatoes, and Basil.
Sadly there were recipes that elicited a response of pure disappointment. These were the Kale and Farro Soup (just blah), My Smothered Chicken (very one dimensionally spicy), Art Smith's Unfried Chicken (again, one dimensional with the heat), and the Barbecue Chicken (which was somewhere between ok and meh).
There is a salad section that I did not cook from, and to be honest felt no desire to cook from. The pictures looked lovely but after so many meh and blah experiences I just couldn't justify the time and energy to be disappointed again.