Weight Watchers' Simply the Best : 250 Prizewinning Family Recipes [Hardcover]

Weight Watchers (Author)

Book Description

Series: Weight Watchers | Publication Date: July 21, 1997

Weight Watchers has helped teach millions of Americans to lose weight and keep it off while incorporating delicious, good-for-you recipes into a daily diet. Now, Weight Watchers brings you the very best in low-fat, low-calorie cooking: an award-winning collection of 250 outstanding dishes from across the country. These recipes -- Weight Watchers members family favorites -- are sure to win kudos from your own friends and family. They're so delicious and easy that they're certain to become a regular part of your cooking repertoire -- and your family will love every healthful bite. Simply the Best has a recipe to please every palette: Asian Meatballs, Corn and Bean Chowder, Cranberry Basmati Rice, Chicken Tetrazzini -- plus a wealth of selections from soups and appetizers to main dishes and desserts. Simply the Best contains completely up-to-date Weight Watchers weight loss program information and each recipe includes complete nutritional data. Its stylish design and full-color photography make it attractive enough for gift-giving.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

If the old saying "butter plus salt equals flavor" is true, somebody neglected to tell the folks at Weight Watchers. Simply the Best is a testament that good food need not always be accompanied by dietary guilt and that flavor doesn't have to be sacrificed in the name of health. The book's more than 250 sensible low-fat recipes cover the culinary spectrum, from entrees such as Bella Braised Chicken to desserts such as Strawberry Crepes.

While the book is designed to accompany the popular Weight Watchers diet program, it can be used by anyone interested in healthy, delicious, low-fat food. The prizewinning recipes are contributed by Weight Watchers members and staff from across the U.S., Canada, and England. For chefs new to low-fat cooking, Simply the Best is an excellent resource for learning flavorful combinations to substitute for traditional high-fat, high-caloric fare. Most inspiring is the sheer variety of recipes included in the book and the unique variations on old themes. While it may sound unconventional to purists, the Apple Cranberry Pie with Granola Crust is wonderful, and the Chicken Marsala with Green Grapes would go well on any table.

From the Inside Flap

Simply the Best How do you find the very best, most appealing, low-fat recipes that actually taste great? By asking the experts. The 250 tempting recipes here are all prizewinning ideas from Weight Watchers members and staff—the people who understand the healthy eating guidelines of the Weight Watchers Program and experienced success firsthand following those guidelines. What's more, these blue-ribbon recipes have been tailored to Weight Watchers latest transformation for its Program 1 • 2 • 3 Success^™ weight loss plan. This just-released, ground-breaking way to lose weight is designed for busy people who want to eat and cook delicious meals without the guilt. 1 • 2 • 3 Success^™ is a breakthrough for Weight Watchers. It's easy to use and there are no forbidden foods. The luscious dishes in this book prove that healthy meals don't have to be a bore—or a chore. From all across the country, Canada, and even England, Weight Watchers members and leaders cook up fabulous fare that's welcome on any family's table. Sample Blueberry-Cashew Pancakes from Palmdale, California; a Grilled Portobello Sandwich that hails from Hendersonville, Tennessee; homey Scalloped Potatoes from Scarborough, Ontario, Canada; and a light repast of Angel Hair Pasta with Plum Tomatoes and Fresh Basil from a redheaded Duchess who loves her results with the 1 • 2 • 3 Success^™ plan. Perk up your dinners with hearty entrées such as Chicken with Apricot Sauce, a Texas recipe that tames the heavy sauces used in French cooking or the easy One-Dish Turkey with Stuffing from New York. If it's beef you've been craving, satisfy the urge with Mushroom-Stuffed Beef from Reno, Nevada or Braised Lamb Shanks from Bakersfield, California. But Weight Watchers doesn't stop at entrées—the book is full of luscious side dishes that make your meals complete. We didn't forget dessert, either. Savor a creamy Chocolate-Amaretto Cheesecake from Phoenix, Arizona; heirloom Oatmeal-Raisin Cookies from Brooklyn Park, Minnesota; or a decadent Brownie Pie from Ivoryton, Connecticut. There's nothing like having your cake and eating it too! Because you are busy, we've added useful icons so you can see at a glance recipes that can be made ahead, prepared quickly, or microwaved, as well as meals complete in one pot, vegetarian entrées, and ones that are spicy—you can adjust them to suit your taste. So take advantage of the expertise of the Weight Watchers family, and enjoy the wonderful recipes here—each one is a winner!

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 277 pages
• Publisher: Wiley; 1 edition (July 21, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0028619404
• ISBN-13: 978-0028619408
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 7.7 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (114 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #26,208 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

120 of 123 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Meals even for Non-Dieters, November 25, 1998

By 

Thomas Nadramia - See all my reviews

This review is from: Weight Watchers' Simply the Best : 250 Prizewinning Family Recipes (Hardcover)

My wife and I have been on the Weight Watchers 1-2-3 Success program for 5 months (with great results) and have found this book to be a Godsend. It is chock full of delicious recipes that are easy to make, healthy, and delicious. Among my favorites are the "One Dish Turkey with Stuffing"; "Glazed Carrots"; "Twice Baked Potatos"; "Apple Cake"; and "Pasta with Seafood in Lemon Dill Sauce". We will be cooking these recipes long after we are done losing weight. We have lost count of how many of the recipes we have tried, and I think there is only one we wouldn't cook again. This easily can become the most used cookbook in your home, even if you aren't trying to lose weight.

84 of 85 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What a wonderful, flavor-filled book of healthy recipes!, November 14, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Weight Watchers' Simply the Best : 250 Prizewinning Family Recipes (Hardcover)

Of all my healthy cookbooks, this is the one that gets used the most. The recipes use common, every day foods and are very easy to follow. My family and I love the recipes, especially the beef stew (YES! Beef Stew) and apple dumplings. The pictures are beautiful and make everything look good enough to eat. We've tried about half the recipes in the book, and haven't had a bad meal yet. If you're following the Weight Watchers 1-2-3 Program, the book is a companion to it, and it's so helpful when you're struggling with how to figure out points and meals for a day or week. What a truly wonderful book!

110 of 114 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars I've Lost *50* Pounds With this Book!, October 3, 2000

By 

"fleajuice" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Weight Watchers Simply the Best: 250 Prize-Winning Family Recipes (Paperback)

I've been on Weight Watcher 123 plan for 6 months and have lost 50 pounds in that time. I have used a number of recipees for entrees (Mexican Casserole), brunches (spinach frittatas), and even desert (a pretty good chocolate CAKE)! There are some unusual recipies in here like black bean pancakes that I've enjoyed...not just the plain old diet food.

My husband was NOT on a diet, so I never bother to tell him if I'm cooking "diet food" and he has never noticed a difference. Except...his waist size has gone down.

The recipes are easy to read and assemble, and I like the use of icons to show if it's a microwave recipe or a quickie meal, etc. And I also like that the ingredients for most of the recipies are ones that I would normally buy!