Pillsbury: Fast and Healthy Cookbook: 350 Easy Recipes for Every Day [ILLUSTRATED] (Hardcover)

by Pillsbury Company (Author) "In 1992, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, in cooperation with the Department of Health and Human Services, unveiled the "Food Guide Pyramid" to illustrate guidelines..." (more)
Key Phrases: dietary exchanges, hot cooked instant rice, combine egg product, Nutrition Information Per Serving Serving Size, Daily Value Total Fat, Very Lean Meat (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal
Here are low-fat or reduced-fat recipes from Pillsbury's Fast and Healthy magazine, along with tips and techniques, boxes on ingredients, detailed nutrition analyses, and lots of color photographs. Prep times are also given, and most recipes take under 30 minutes. The Pillsbury name and the popularity of the magazine will generate demand; for most collections.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
A Recipe from Pillsbury Fast and Healthy Cookbook

Spinach and Feta Quesadillas (prep time:  25 minutes)
1 (8 oz.) container (tub) fat-free cream cheese
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon pepper
8 (8-inch) flour tortillas
1 (9 oz.) pkg. Frozen spinach in a pouch, cooked, squeezed to drain
1 medium bell pepper, finely chopped (1 cup)
5 1/2 oz. (1 cup) crumbled feta cheese

In a small bowl, combine cream cheese, garlic powder and pepper; blend well.  Spread 2 tablespoons cream cheese mixture on each tortilla.  Sprinkle about 2 tablespoons each of spinach, bell pepper and feta cheese on half of each tortilla; fold tortillas in half.
Heat large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until hot.  Place 2 folded tortillas in a skillet; cook about 2 minutes on each side or until golden brown.
Remove quesadillas from skillet; place on platter.  Cover with foil to keep warm.  Repeat with remaining folded tortillas.  Cut each quesadilla into 4 wedges.  Serve warm.

Yield:  32 appetizers

Product Details

• Hardcover: 352 pages
• Publisher: Clarkson Potter; 1st edition (March 24, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0609600850
• ISBN-13: 978-0609600856
• Product Dimensions: 10.3 x 8.3 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #473,573 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

34 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best around, low-fat or no, September 6, 2000

By	Sharon "azriona" (American in Central Asia) - See all my reviews

Honestly, I like this book better than the Better Homes & Gardens cookbook. Why? The instructions are better worded, the ingredients clearly marked at the beginning of each recipe, there are lots of pictures of nearly every recipe, and on each page there's interesting "tidbits" of information about different kinds of foods (such as the differences between different kinds of potatoes, how to care for strawberries, the history of fat in meats).

A lot of the recipes are made from things that you would normally have in your pantry, so that shopping specially for a recipe isn't a necessity. The recipes are so fast you won't have time to set the table, and so easy to follow you'll feel like Julia Child.

Who cares if these recipes are healthy? They're too yummy to count the few calories in them!

25 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars One of the top healthy cookbooks., July 15, 2002

By	D. Schaefer (Joliet, IL USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Tired of bland food that's healthy? Are you looking to eat better food, not just for your hips, but your tongue too? Well, look no further. There are several reasons this Pillsbury book is at the top of the list in terms of cookbooks.

1. Nutritional Information
How many times do you buy a healthy cookbook only to discover it has NO nutritional information. This isn't just annoying (although it's extremely annoying indeed!) but it makes it hard to fit recipes into your fitness plan without extensive math.

2. Realistic portion size.
This is a key one; it's not a two-by-two inch piece of chicken that fills you up, its a chicken breast. This book has realistic portions that most people eat, for your kids but for you too.

3. Balanced selection
Not too many desserts, a great selection of other departments, and in general a well-rounded selection of food. Some are "ethnic" in nature, most of these being middle eastern or oriental. There are italian dishes and a few curry recipes as well.

4. Price
For the price, you get a huge cookbook, with a lot of information.

In general, there were very few cons to this book. It is a bit awkward to cook with due to its size; it is pretty hefty. A cookbook stand is reccomended (but I reccomend those anyway). If other healthy books have left you stranded, give this one a try. The food is tasty and it's healthy to boot. How many pleasurable things are also good for you? Not many, and that's why this book is such a gem.

25 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the BEST cookbooks around, July 9, 2000

By	"tburbey94" (Killeen, Texas USA) - See all my reviews

I discovered this cookbook online while searching for something that had healthy and real-life recipes. I have several other healthy cookbooks and while their recipes are good, they involve either a lot of preparation or ingredients that are hard to find. Or for that matter, ingredients that my family is just not willing to try. This book was a breath of fresh air. I've had it for 6 months and use it nearly every week at least twice. The recipes are delicious and really easy to make. Some of the desserts (low fat ones even) are to die for! I took one of the pies to a potluck and received raves all night! It's great! I would and have highly recommended it to a lot of people. Friends and family. And we all know that family will get back to you if you recommend a bad choice. At least mine will! :-) My only complaint about this book is that it's not a three ring binder. But then again, I believe all cookbooks should be binders. But it hasn't stopped me from using it again, and again, and again, and again . . . Well you get the picture.