Customer Reviews

Holly Clegg's Trim & Terrific Gulf Coast Favorites: Over 250 easy recipes from my Louisiana Kitchen

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I have used Holly's Trim & Terrific cookbooks for 10 or more years. Her cookbooks are the ones I turn to over and over because when it comes down to it, I usually need something quick, easy, with ingredients I have at home and most importantly, something my family will gobble up. I believe I could put anything in front of my 12 year old son and tell him it was from Holly's cookbook and he would dig in and love every bite. He says she is the best cooker ever.
Gulf Coast Favorites - continues her tradition of fabulous tasting recipes that are quick & anyone can prepare them. Oh and the 'trim' part is a plus too. I like these southern & Cajun inspired dishes since we are from the south - these are recipes we are familiar with and love.
Thanks again Holly....Sheila

I agree with K. Brook's comment. And while I think portion reduction is a wise health tip for all Americans, I wonder if most using Clegg's cookbooks are doing the math. No guests at my party nor family members I know would generally be satisfied with a 1-cup portion of potato soup or a bite sized serving of brownie. I wonder if most are not doubling or tripling her portion sizes to fit with the typical American portions. If so, one could easily and unknowingly take a recipe listed as 200 calories and 4 grams fat per Clegg serving to 600 calories and 12 grams fat per typical serving. Not to mention that is just ONE recipe from a menu of several others you would be serving. Since I assume most buy her books for fat and calorie control please beware and DO THE MATH! Otherwise, enjoy!!!

Some of the recipes in here are fabulous and unique -- anything with sweet potatoes, the seafood ideas, the classic jambalaya, desserts and more are all worth the price.

But it's not what I would call "FIT" and many of the recipes are not "Gulf Coast" (there are lots of Thai, Italian and Mexican recipes that don't seem to fit the title).

The book misrepresents the nutritional information by drastically misrepresenting portions. Reading the Chicken and Dumplings recipe, it shows this recipe as under 200 calories per serving. Wow! Until you read that 2 pounds of chicken and 2 cups of carrots are supposed to make 16 servings. What? That's 1/8 cup of carrots and 2 ounces of chicken per person, in a 1-cup portion. Completely unrealistic, in my opinion. The same goes for some of the delightful, gooey desserts -- desserts made with full butter, caramel, chocolate, coconut come in under 200 calories, until you read that a serving size is 1x1 square. She takes one cake mix and turns it into 48 portions.

Delightful recipes, but not exactly "Trim" with all that butter, sugar, oil, etc. I would have liked to have seen more low-fat, low-cal, high-fiber ideas -- butter substitutions, more veggies to make the Chicken & Dumplings substantial without extra calories, whole grains or other healthy alternatives. These are pretty much regular recipes, divided into teeny tiny sizes to make the nutritional info look better.

Overall, I would recommend the book -- beautifully photographed, easy to follow, clear type and organized. But don't let the title or strange portions mislead you!

The recipes I tried taste like the original "fatty" dishes - nice to have the alternative with the same great taste! Recipes are easy and ingredients are found easily at grocery stores.

From: www.BasilAndSpice.com
Author & Book Views On A Healthy Life!

Book Review: Holly Clegg's trim&TERRIFIC(tm) Gulf Coast Favorites (Favorite Recipes Press, 2008) by Holly Clegg

Holly Clegg is the author of the trim&TERRIFIC cookbook series and Eating Well Through Cancer. Her focus is on healthy cooking, and in this case emphasizes a unique region of our country--the Gulf Coast. Her recent book takes the deliciousness of Southern home cooking, and lightens it all up, offering today's cooks healthier traditional favorites able to be prepared in a time-friendly manner. Her philosophy, "Never Sacrifice Taste."

Holly Clegg's trim&TERRIFIC Gulf Coast Favorites offers over 250 recipes from the heart of Louisiana. They cover the beginning--appetizers, to the end--sweet treats and even highlight special Cajun and Creole choices as well. Holly Clegg assumes that no food is forbidden, so foods that used to be loaded with fat, sugar, and calories have been trimmed down. She's included vegetarian recipes -indicated with a carrot symbol, prepare-ahead meals (snowflake symbol which means they're freezable), and diabetic exchanges.

Throughout the book are beautiful photographs, taken by David Humphreys, an award-winning professional photographer who has worked with Holly Clegg on six of her books. The back of the book hosts sections for menu and pantry suggestions, and a Cajun/Creole glossary (example: corn maque-choux, etouffee).

Each recipe includes a favorable comment from Holly Clegg, an ingredient listing using common items, simple directions, and complete nutritional information per serving. Many pages have a "Terrific Tidbit" to make the cooking process easier. Example, "If using frozen blueberries, don't defrost before adding to the mixture. Try using whole wheat flour to boost nutrition while adding a rich nutty flavor."--from p. 34 Blueberry Muffins With Tropical Streusel Topping.

Ideas of regional recipes to try:

Chicken and Sausage Jambalaya, Crawfish Cakes with Horseradish Sauce, Red Beans and Rice, Cheese Grits, Tropical Yam Trifle

A portion of the proceeds of the sale of Holly Clegg's trim&TERRIFIC Gulf Coast Favorites will go the America's Wetland Foundation, specifically aimed at the Gulf Coast region. Holly Clegg was approached by this organization and asked if she would participate in writing a book which uses indigenous recipes from the Gulf area. Throughout this unique cookbook, you'll find Wetlands Facts.

Holly Clegg's trim&TERRIFIC Gulf Coast Favorites is Southern cooking at it's best--prepared properly it is healthful and delicious--but not health food. A classic, it's an American cookbook for every kitchen.

5 Stars

purchased as gifts....really a great series of cookbooks...glad it is of the same high quality as Clegg's other cookbooks.

Take it from me...a busy women who does not have time to prepare extravagant meals but values health and lifestyle. Mrs. Clegg's newest book is my favorite (of course that is what I say about each new one). Even my husband says, "Is this from the new cookbook?" Smart. delicious, and nutritious meals of reasonable sized portions-not the super size servings of McDonalds-but reasonable portion sizes we should all use to ensure the health and well being of the ones we love.
This is great and highly recommended.

The book is a comfortable size and is filled with wonderful recipes. You can hear the sizzle and smell the zing!