March 01, 2005
Low Carb Craze
An estimated 30-50 million people have adopted a low-carb lifestyle spearheaded by popular diets and lifestyle eating patterns advocated by Dr. Atkins. Here are a few books to get you started exploring the possible variations on the low-carb concept - and some cookbooks to give you a taste of what's possible when you move away from low-fat and go low-carb.
The Low-Carb Cookbook: The Complete Guide to the Healthy Low-Carbohydrate Lifestyle with over 250 Delicious Recipes
If you're feeling limited by your new low-carb diet and find yourself stuck in a rut of chicken salad for lunch, eggs over-easy for breakfast, and a steak for dinner, it's time to branch on and explore the world of low-carb cookbooks. Flipping through the pages of something like Fran McCullough's Low-Carb Cookbook is an eye-opening experience, for sure. You'll find wonderful recipes from appetizers to soups to main courses to desserts. We've perused a number of low-carb collections, and we found a unique variety here, including many nut recipes (e.g., Rosemary Walnuts), several fried cheeses (like Walnut Parmesan Chips), and both eggplant and tofu pizza variations sure to entice those still craving their weekly Domino's. Others that jumped out at us: Crispy Chicken Cutlets, Margarita Shrimp, Lime Scallops, Rum Coconut Balls, Cheesecake with Chocoloate Drizzle, Brie Quiche, and Guacomole with Cauliflower as an unexpected appetizer combination. Of course, some of these recipes are not for the faint of heart or the "unconvinced" among low-carbers. "Spinach with a ton of butter," for example, might give you chest pains just reading about it since it uses four sticks of butter. But overall, the recipes sound great, seem easy enough to prepare, and are invitingly presented with McCullough's introductions to each. McCullough's section on stocking the low-carb kitchen is superb and exceptionally thorough. She offers lots of variety, explanations for each selection, brand-name guidance where applicable (or where the brand impacts the taste/quality). From white pepper to chipotle chile, to pickapepper sauce and coconut milk, you'll probably end up with quite a long grocery list, especially if you are just coming out of Atkin's limited induction period. All in all, it's an eye-opening and exciting introduction to the book.
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The Low-Carb Comfort Food Cookbook
Buy this book for the low-carb bread recipes if nothing else! One of the foods many low-carbers miss most is bread, and the Eades' come to the rescue in The Low-Carb Comfort Food Cookbook with recipes for "Magic Rolls" (and variations on the theme from raisin one to wheat ones to croutons). But Magic Rolls are only the beginning. You'll find a wealth of low-carb breads here, including Banana Bread, Cranberry Bread, and "Best Whole Wheat Bread" (and assorted variations ranging from pumpernickel to sourdough rye). But bread's not all... For pizza lovers, the Eades' also offer to different low-carb crusts, as well as a from-scratch sauce recipe and topping suggestions. Other lip-smacking recipes for those who crave down-home cooking or respond best to high-carb comfort food - presented here in low-carb varieties - include: low-carb lasagna, deluce mac and cheese, foccaccia, green enchiladas (and a section on Mexican food!), sweet and sour chicken, cheesy broccoli chicken, barbequed peanut butter chicken, tuna burgers, breaded halibut in sour cream, roasted asparagus salad, avocado slaw, 3 bean salad, and chicken and avocado salad. Plus, crepes and fillings like banana creme and desserts including a flaky pie crust, ice creams, custards, shakes, and more! There are some oddities here like ostrich patties and buffalo steaks for the more adventurous and meat-friendly low-carbers. But for those low-carbers who lean toward more vegetarian styles, the Eades prove it's possible, and this cookbook offers wide variety and great gourmet taste.