Customer Reviews

Canyon Ranch Cooking: Bringing The Spa Home

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I know people who go to spas, and they have mixed reactions about the food at Canyon Ranch. Some say that they starve to death because the portions are so small, and others claim that the entire eating experience is out of this world. Although I've not been to Canyon Ranch, I must say that this cookbook inspires me to think seriously about it.

First of all the layout is truly a graphic masterpiece. The photographs and information are laid out in a very logical, colorful and exciting way. The visuals make you want to rush out to the store and start cooking as soon as you open the book.

This book truly offers healthy food with real taste. The top choice for menus that we've tried in our house were: the duck breasts with blueberry sauce, spaeztle (German noodles) and braised cabbage. Dessert was blackberry cobbler.

Preparation is clearly spelled out, and fairly easy in comparison to other gourmet type recipes in the cookbook market presently. I managed to successfully prepare this menu for 8-10 people, and without any rehearsals!

The duck breasts were amazingly delicious (and very expensive to make - but with a little creativity, you could avoid the additional costs meat-wise), the spaetzle was weird in texture and taste but quite good and a hit -- beats the usual rice tenfold! -- and the cabbage was a great surprise and the tastiest favorite of all the various foods offered (guests were looking for seconds and thirds). The blackberry cobbler (which could be done with any kind of berry) was light, not too rich, and a huge hit. It has replaced my usual calorie and fat laiden recipes for fast desserts and it impressive to look at as the grande finale!

This menu worked well with the ten and twelve year old taste testers. One hated the blueberry sauce over the duck and the other loved it. However, they heartily ate everything else (especially the cabbage and cobbler!).

Making multiple courses (for 8-10 people)was not a problem for this menu, as the multiplications of the ingredie! nts added up without any problems. If you have a hefty appetite, be certain to make more than you planned to. The final servings are on the small side for such a lengthy prep time. (I believe in leftovers after working in the kitchen for so long!)

The recipes take some time to plan for (many call for elaborate marinades which add the flavor sans fat), and most definitely are not "comfort" foods, although it is a great book to browse while sitting in front of the fireplace as the recipes are perfect for the hot summer ahead!

Note: This cookbook is a 10 except for the convenience of preparation and overall cost of ingredients which caused me to lower my review to a 9.

I like to cook for friends, and I don't mind accommodating their dietary needs. In fact, I consider it a challenge. In that light, the words "low fat" struck fear into my heart.

I bought this book with the expectation that the food would at least look good. I didn;t expect that it would rock my gastronomical world.

From our first nibble of Canyon Ranch Guacamole to our last morsel of Pears in Phyllo (filo to me) the tastes were amazing.

I made:
Canyon Ranch Guacamole
Five Onion Bisque
Hearts of Palm and Endive Salad with Papaya Vinagarette
Mashed Potato and Shallot Casserole
Mustard Topped Rack of Lamb with Spinach Salad
Pears in Phyllo

Granted that this might be a bit more, quantity-wise, than would be expected at the Spa, but it was low fat and it left the diners, myself included, in thrall.

It also helped that I started with a show-stopper, the guacamole. It had a rich somewhat salty flavor - a good trick with little salt and negligible fat. Here is the spoiler: It is made from asparagus! Nobody could figure it out.

The book is no-nonsense and, while stating the benefits of a low fat diet, it doesn't preach. It also assumes a pretty good level of technique and access to decent ingredients.

One low fat cooking caveat: Ignore instructions that tell you to spray no-fat cooking spray on baking sheets. Use non-stick sheets or parchment paper. If you really need the spray, spray it on the parchment paper. It took an exhauystin half hour to get this stuff off of my baking sheets.

I have thoroughly enjoyed every recipe I have tried from this beautiful book, and I have tried several.
The baked fish and chips impressed some of my non-healthy eating guests so much they wanted the recipe and plan to never deep fry again. The price may seem high, but was worth it for some of the unusual techniques alone. I never thought of smoking food with tea inside of a steamer basket.
There are two reasons I did not give the book 5 stars. One, because I do not like the hardback format - this is a cookbook to be used, not some pretty picture book to lay on the coffee table. Secondly, the book has margarine listed as an ingredient listed in several recipes. The latter is a very small complaint that is actually addressed by the author in the introduction, apparently Canyon Ranch switched away from margarine while the book went to press, and the introduction lists proper substitutions. Maybe both will be corrected if there is to be a second edition.
I highly recommend this healthy eating cookbook - for its delicious foods, beautiful photos and layout, unusual techniques, and proper nutritional analysis with each recipe.

I have two other low-fat cookbooks, and this one is by far the best. The ingredients may be more expensive, and preparation may take a little longer compared to other recipes, but that's what makes everything taste so good. I am actually cooking more now that I have this cookbook, and am very excited to try more of the recipes!

I have fallen in love with this cookbook! The recipes are delicious (the lemon chicken recipe yielded a PERFECT chicken!) and even my meat-and-potatoes husband has thoroughly enjoyed the healthy meals. The stilton and pear salad was a hit at a dinner party and everything I make from this book just gets better and better. I was expecting hours of work for just one recipe but even with starting from scratch it wasn't bad. And, the book is beautiful to boot.

Following a cath proceedure to reopen two small blockages in arteries around my heart, I have eaten about 80% of my meals from "Canyon Ranch Cooking." The book was a gift from a neice about 4 years ago and I must admit it sat on our cookbook shelf for the past four years. No more! Since being released from the hospital I have lost 12 pounds by my change of diet alone and I was not eating that unhealthily my proceedure. This book makes planning and preparing heart smart meals a breeze - and the food is elagantly delicious. Thanks to the Canyon Ranch and Jeanne Jones. Dallon Weathers, Columbia, South Carolina

Typically I can get bored with low fat cookbooks. They are either too extreme or require too much pureeing and straining to cook on a regular basis. In addition to being very well art directed, this book is simple, tasty and realistic. I have tried several of the recipes and everything has tasted great. If my husband doesn't get suspicious that it's low fat I figure it's doing a good job.

We might have turned the corner. So many of us are now buying into changing our diets for the better, and cookbooks such as this beautiful one are great helps.

For here is outstanding, healthy and good tasting dishes that look great as well. I especially find here some wonderful main entree type recipes which are "relatively" easy to prepare if one has good sources available: "Seared Ahi Tuna on Warm Potato and Leek Salad with Sun-dried Tomato Dressing"; "Escallopes of Salmon with Horseradish Sauce"; "Mahimahi With Basmati Rice Cakes and Napa Cabbage Slaw"; "Raspberry Cornish Hens"; "Marinated Duck With Blueberry-Maidera Sauce"; "Zenzero Grilled Lamb Chops with Cucumber Sauce";

Of course there are yummy salads, soups, appetizers, desserts, shakes and smoothies---all healthy oriented, with complete nutrional breakouts for each recipe, and great color photography. Also included are Menu Ideas and Weekend Canyon Ranch Style Outing.

My sister who visits the Canyon Ranch Spa yearly gave me this cookbook. It was so fabulous that I bought my best friend and sister-in-law one for their birthdays. If you are trying to lose weight and love to eat, this is the book for you. I am a gourmet cook but was overweight. I lost 25lbs and thought my cooking days were over. The recipes in this book are so tasty. I can still have great dinner parties and serve healthy low fat meals. I could never afford to visit this Spa but trust me this cookbook is the next best thing!

Several years have passed since I wrote this review...I still hold to it...oddly at that might seem....

My friends (quite a few, now, from Silicon Valley) over the years(indeed, those who could afford to do so) have been to Canyon Ranch. Someday, I will go there as well....

Our friends from Paris love the Rack of Lamb.... the Turkey Mole. from those who are used to truly rich Sonoran Mexican cuisine, is to die for!

The notes on basic stocks (easy to make, and so much cheaper than those in the gourmet sections of the finest grocers') are incredibly worthwhile...please do simmer these on your stove during a chilly grey day...and your entire home and heart will fill with content!

Please do enjoy this book.............here is a copy of the first review! It is still quite accurate!

BTW, I've never written such a review before...this book is really a good one as cookbooks go!
Cheers!

The old review:

I know people who go to spas, and they have mixed reactions about the food at Canyon Ranch. Some say that they starve to death because the portions are so small, and others claim that the entire eating experience is out of this world. Although I've not been to Canyon Ranch, I must say that this cookbook inspires me to think seriously about it.

First of all the layout is truly a graphic masterpiece. The photographs and information are laid out in a very logical, colorful and exciting way. The visuals make you want to rush out to the store and start cooking as soon as you open the book.

This book truly offers healthy food with real taste. The top choice for menus that we've tried in our house were: the duck breasts with blueberry sauce, spaeztle (German noodles) and braised cabbage. Dessert was blackberry cobbler.

Preparation is clearly spelled out, and fairly easy in comparison to other gourmet type recipes in the cookbook market presently. I managed to successfully prepare this menu for 8-10 people, and without any rehearsals!

The duck breasts were amazingly delicious (and very expensive to make - but with a little creativity, you could avoid the additional costs meat-wise), the spaetzle was weird in texture and taste but quite good and a hit -- beats the usual rice tenfold! -- and the cabbage was a great surprise and the tastiest favorite of all the various foods offered (guests were looking for seconds and thirds). The blackberry cobbler (which could be done with any kind of berry) was light, not too rich, and a huge hit. It has replaced my usual calorie and fat laiden recipes for fast desserts and it impressive to look at as the grande finale!

This menu worked well with the ten and twelve year old taste testers. One hated the blueberry sauce over the duck and the other loved it. However, they heartily ate everything else (especially the cabbage and cobbler!).

Making multiple courses (for 8-10 people)was not a problem for this menu, as the multiplications of the ingredie! nts added up without any problems. If you have a hefty appetite, be certain to make more than you planned to. The final servings are on the small side for such a lengthy prep time. (I believe in leftovers after working in the kitchen for so long!)

The recipes take some time to plan for (many call for elaborate marinades which add the flavor sans fat), and most definitely are not "comfort" foods, although it is a great book to browse while sitting in front of the fireplace as the recipes are perfect for the hot summer ahead!

Note: This cookbook is a 10 except for the convenience of preparation and overall cost of ingredients which caused me to lower my review to a 9.