Lean and Lovin' It: Exceptionally Delicious Recipes for Low-Fat Living and Permanent Weight Loss [Paperback]

Don Mauer (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 15, 1996

How did Don Mauer, who had been heavy all of his life, finally manage to lose weight and keep it off? Mauer-whose nickname was "Big Guy"-dieted for over thirty years. He tried every diet that came along. They all worked, but he would inevitably gain back what he lost, plus ten pounds more. Then Mauer discovered two words: low fat. An avid cook, he decided to revamp his own recipes, blasting away the fat and permanently losing 100 pounds in the bargain. The happy results of his success is Lean and Lovin' It: Exceptionally Delicious Recipes for Low-Fat Living and Permanent Weight Loss, which has over 200 low-fat recipes, ranging from 'Good Morning' Griddlecakes to Southern-Style Oven-Fried Chicken. Mauer goes to extraordinary lengths to replace fat with flavor in breakfasts like Buttermilk French Toast with Blueberry Honey (6.2g fat) and Lean Breakfast Sausage (1.8g fat). He transforms lean cuts of meat into rich-tasting dishes like Spicy Chinese Beef Sauté (7.5g fat) and Pork Tenderloin

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Don Mauer lost 113 pounds and still enjoys good food. His dedication to being lean and loving it comes through loud and clear in this passionate book. He's spent lots of time creating ways to deliver flavor and variety in a repertoire ranging from Tangy Spaghetti a la Matriciana and Herb-Infused Family Salad Dressing to Sensational Cream Cheese Brownies. For all the pleasure they deliver, Mauer's recipes are also remarkably efficient. His enthusiasm for Butter Buds, a frankly fake food, is the only off-note in this wonderful collection of recipes from a cook who can help you lose weight and keep it off.

From Publishers Weekly

After losing more than 100 pounds and resolving not to gain them back, the author, already a dedicated home cook, embarked on a plan to fashion tasty low-fat versions of his favorite recipes. The fruits of his experiments, most containing no more than 20% fat, have led to a syndicated column and local TV shows and are gathered in this useful, comprehensive collection. General recommendations include using low- or nonfat versions of dairy and dairy-based products, a stingy hand with oils (one tablespoon of olive oil in Spicy Shrimp Creole for four; one and one-half teaspoons of canola oil for preparing Blueberry French Toast) and a reliance on fresh, flavorful ingredients. Some readers may balk at using nonfat butter flavoring, e.g., Butter Buds, but even with the addition of a little real butter, many of the dishes would remain low in fat. Recipes are aimed to satisfy entire families (Macaroni and Cheddar Cheese, made with skim milk and reduced-fat cheese; meaty pasta sauces, calling for 95% lean beef; and plenty of dessert dishes, including carrot cake, brownies and oatmeal cookies). There are easy methods for making breakfast or Italian sausage (with ground pork tenderloin), a generous and versatile array of reduced-fat salad dressings, meat marinades, gravies and sauces and plausible new ways with old favorites (e.g., Green Bean Casserole made with nonfat milk, Swiss cheese and sour cream and corn flakes). Mauer reduces the fat and remains faithful to full satisfaction.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 448 pages
• Publisher: Houghton Mifflin (March 15, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1881527972
• ISBN-13: 978-1881527978
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 8.3 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,417,178 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The most abused book in my kitchen, December 19, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: Lean and Lovin' It: Exceptionally Delicious Recipes for Low-Fat Living and Permanent Weight Loss (Paperback)

When the Navy told my husband to shape up or ship out, we knew we had to do something about our diet. I pored over the local library selection of lowfat cookbooks and tried dozens of recipes. Most tasted like something between braised cardboard and sauteed rubber. Yum. Eventually I made it to the "L" section and stumbled across Lean and Lovin' It. Frankly, at this point I was pretty disheartened, (not to mention heart-burned from all that bad food), but I was determined that there must be one good lowfat cookbook out there. Well, I hit pay dirt with this one! The recipes in this one were not out of the ordinary eggplant and tofu creations that no one in this solar system actually eats. This guy had taken normal everyday foods that we human beings not only eat but LOVE and showed me how to take the fat out of them. You mean I DON'T have to change my diet to lose weight? I can just change the way I fix my food? What a revalation!!! I tried recipe after recipe in this book, and I was amazed at how good my food tasted in its lowfat form. More to the point, I was amazed at how my food still tasted like MY FOOD after removing that unwanted fat. Well, I kept cooking and trying those recipes and kept rechecking that book out from the library for so long, they finally told me I couldn't check it out anymore. I knew then it was time to get my own. I can't wait for it to arrive from Amazon because I already know this is going to be the most used and abused book in my kitchen. :-)

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely delicious recipes using easy-to-find ingredients., January 5, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Lean and Lovin' It: Exceptionally Delicious Recipes for Low-Fat Living and Permanent Weight Loss (Paperback)

My kitchen shelves are full of recipe books claiming delicious recipes for low-fat cooking. Many have ingredients only a gourmet cook would have or ingredients found only in organic food stores or specialty shops, neither of which is located within 60 miles of my home. Don's recipes are absolutely delicious and easy to prepare using readily available ingredients. All recipes I have prepared could be served to any guests without fear they "taste" low fat (in other words tasteless). Many authors use similar ingredients over and over and their recipes began to taste the same--not Don's, all have a unique taste. I can hardly wait for another cookbook from Don Mauer--I'll be one of his first customers.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars not bad, August 5, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Lean and Lovin' It: Exceptionally Delicious Recipes for Low-Fat Living and Permanent Weight Loss (Paperback)

most lowfat cookbooks make you think you're eating cardboard & sawdust. (no flames, please. i know that cardboard & sawdust are healthy.) this cookbook does a very nice job. it's also *simple*, void of arcane ingredients (one of its competitor books specifies "Vietnamese red rice," not exactly a staple on the Safeway shelves). the seafood recipes are particularly good. you can make these tasty dishes with minimum fuss and maximum enjoyment.