Low-carb meals in Minutes

I've had this cookbook for a few months and love it. I've lost 7 pounds (I wasn't actually overweight) while eating recipes from this book (mostly the middle section of moderately low carb) and thinking up my own recipes that match the formula I see being used in these recipes. My husband has lost 13 pounds, while eating some of this plus his usual fast food lunch and assorted junk. A very dediated friend has lost more than 40 pounds in 4 months eating 90% of her meals (or more) based on this book. I would find it very difficult (and somewhat nauseating eating so much meat, as I used to be vegetarian) to eat these meals 3 meals a day. But I've learned a lot from it. And the recipes are really good, tasty, great additions to my life-long meal planning. She offers ideas on substituting stuff you like, or find available, for stuff you don't/can't. She goes out of her way to offer simple preparation -- i.e., please buy the prepackaged vegis; don't knock yourself out, or you won't stick with it.One of the things I like about this book is that it offers entire meals, not just random recipes. This is a cookbook, not a diet book, but if you follow the meal plans, you'll be on a largely Atkins-style diet. But you'll be eating heart/healthy foods such as lean meats, vegetables, fruits, low-fat dairy, and only a very small amount of processed carbs.The book is divided into three sections, which largely match the phases of the Atkins diet. You'll see the people who criticize this book are all seeking nearly-no carb diets. If you want some wacky diet like that, this book isn't for you (though you could use the first 1/3 of the book). If you are seeking a more balanced way to dramatically lower processed carbs and improve blood sugar, while turning your diet to no-carbs and good carbs, here you go!I love it!

I follow the Zone diet, and I've had a hard time finding tasty recipes (Dr. Sears may be a fine scientist, but a chef he is not). The "Right Carbs" section of Gassenheimer's book follows the same 40-30-30 balanced approach as the Zone, and the lower- carbohydrate "Which Carbs" meal plans are easy to tweak into Zone-worthiness. Nutritional information for each meal is provided so you can make any necessary adjustments with little effort.The book also helps you plan and shop efficiently, so you can literally make the meals in minutes, no kidding - I usually spend about 20 minutes making the dinners. Not bad for "real" food. After dinner it only takes a few minutes to pack our lunches for the next day. I used the shopping lists in the book to compile master lists for each 3 or 4 days of menus, so I always have all the ingredients fresh and on hand. No more worrying about what on Earth to make for dinner.So far all the meals I've tried have been at least good, and several have been fabulous! I would be proud to take many of these dishes to my gourmet-cooking club meetings.Even so, none have long lists of ingredients or require extraordinary cooking ability.Depending on your personal situation, it may help you to know that:1. If you're on an ultra-low-carb diet these meals may not fit into your plan.2. Some of the ingredients are seasonal or might be hard to find if you live in a remote area. Substitutions are occasionally suggested by the author, and in other cases are obvious - if you can't get fresh figs, for example, substitute another fruit.3. Some of the ingredients can be expensive - scallops, hearts of palm, radicchio - but you can make economical substitutions and still have a good meal.Personally, I feel fortunate to have found a book that so suits my taste and lifestyle. I hope you also find it useful. Good Luck and Bon Appetit!!

Laying it straight out is "Low-Carb Meals in Minutes." Though being pushed by their marketing guys as a "hot diet," it is a legitimate and tasty cookbook and planner.A lot of the difficulty in diets is getting the infrastructure together. You've got to buy the stuff, budget things, and then schedule your meal plans.In "Low-Carb Meals in Minutes," you still need to do your homework, but Gassenheimer lays in out in a sensible, easy-to-follow way. She teaches you how.In fact, one of the first things you'll see is a two-week menu plan to get you going.I fully recommend this "Low-Carb Meals in Minutes," but I'd better stop writing. Her whisky pork chops would taste great about now.Anthony Trendl

Linda Gassenheimer was a guest on the TV food network's show "Cooking Live," and seemed like such a nice person who started low-carb cooking for her husband who'd been diagnosed with heart problems. She does a terrific job in the book of outlining what low-carb means, the foods to include in one's diet and the foods to avoid, and grocery lists for low-carb staples. The recipes are outstanding and simple. After trying out the menus out for a week, I've already lost three pounds. I've been on low-carb diets before, but it has never tasted this wonderful. Linda Gassenheimer's background as a gourmet cook has made a low-carb diet not only effective, but eye-popping!

This book speaks to me as a carb lover who can't have very many any more. Now I don't feel deprived, and the recipes are so good that I feel like I'm cheating. I, naturally, started at the back, looking to assuage my sweet tooth, and discovered "Mocha Fudge Cake". (You can even eat both servings without doing damage.) But that's not all -- great tips about shopping (keep a cooler in your car for anytime shopping) and storing food (freeze parmesan cheese). The book is well-organized, and helps you add low levels of carbs gradually so that you don't ever get hungry. And say goodby to prolonged binges. If you have a bad day or week, you can easily go back to the quick start section and get back onto healthy eating without starving yourself. As a run and grab kind of person, I now have lists of healthy flavorful things to grab. I like the fact that Linda allows room for your own creativity by suggesting ways to substitute in many of her recipes. From quick snacks to quick start all the way to those excellent desserts, you'll eat healthy without focusing on dieting.