Review: Cook Yourself Thin Faster

Summary: Discover what everyone is talking about: the easiest, most enjoyable way to lasting weight loss. Following the smash hit original comes this brand-new collection of over 75 even easier recipes, plus smart cooking tips and real-life success stories. Finally, a diet to savor...

Cook Yourself Thin FASTER delivers more mouthwatering low-fat recipes, more skinny alternatives to your cravings, and more quick and easy meals in HALF the time! We know there’s hardly ever enough time to cook. With Cook Yourself Thin FASTER you can drop a dress size without sacrificing the foods you love and spend less time in the kitchen so you can enjoy . . . life!

Have your cake and eat it too with these delectable recipes:

Mini Blueberry Muffins
Seven-Layer Dip
Pineapple Mojitos
Asian Chicken Salad
Shrimp and Grits
Cheese “Fries”
Carrot Soup with a Kick
Flank Steak with Indian Salsa
White Pizza with Roasted Mushrooms

What are you waiting for? Cook Yourself Thin FASTER! -- Voice

Last year, I purchased a healthy cookbook called COOK YOURSELF THIN with Lauren Dean. I thought the cookbook had a lot of great, healthy recipes. So I was so happy to see that COOK YOURSELF THIN was so successful (it was a #1 New York Times Bestseller) that the author decided to write another one. The follow-up cookbook is called COOK YOURSELF THIN FASTER: HAVE YOUR CAKE AND EAT IT TOO WITH OVER 75 NEW RECIPES YOU CAN MAKE IN A FLASH!, and I thought this book was every bit as good as the first one.

I love it when I find healthy cookbooks that actually have appealing recipes! So often, the recipes are full of strange (and hard-to-find ingredients) or else they take a lot of time to prepare. At this point in my life, those options just aren't feasible. That's why I liked COOK YOURSELF THIN FASTER so much. The recipes are relatively easy-to-make with normal ingredients. Plus, there are gorgeous color photos of every recipe!

While there are truly loads of recipes that I want to try in the future, I decided to focus right now on those recipes that would fir into my current eating plan. I was so excited to find a healthy Spinach Dip recipe! I guess I always thought that Spinach Dip was relatively healthy, but that is not always the case. In the COOK YOURSELF THIN FASTER recipe, the Spinach Dip is made with fat free, plain Greek-style yogurt. As many of you know, Greek-style yogurt is very good for you; and it has a higher protein level that regular old plain yogurt.

I thoroughly enjoyed this dip, and it just tastes so fresh. The Greek yogurt does give it a little more bite than traditional spinach dip, but I really liked it. The dill and cayenne pepper also gave the dip a nice flavor. I think this recipe would be terrific to serve at your next party or even as a Super Bowl snack!

Spinach Dip

Serves 4

Nutrition Per Serving:
Calories, 53, Total Fat 2 g, Sodium 301 mg, Sugars 5g

1 (10-ounce) package frozen chopped spinach leaves, defrosted
1 cup nonfat plain Greek-style yogurt
1 scallion, chopped
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1 1/2 teapsoons chopped fresh dill
1/2 teaspoon salt
Pinch of ground red pepper
1 1/2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil

Squeeze out any extra water from the spinach with your hands. Measure out 1/2 cup of spinach and transfer to a mixing bowl. (Cover and refrigerate the remainder for another use.) Add the yogurt, half the chopped scallion, the lemon juice, dill, and salt and stir well to blend. Scrape out into a serving bowl. Sprinkle with the red pepper and drizzle with the olive oil. Serve with pita chips, toasted wedges of pita, or veggies.

Note: Toss the leftover spinach into chicken stock for a quick soup, or your usual pasta sauce.

From COOK YOURSELF THIN FASTER by Lauren Deen. Copyright © 2010 Lifetime Entertainment Services. Published by Voice. Available wherever books are sold. All Rights Reserved.

If you'd like to check out some other recipes that are in COOK YOURSELF THIN FASTER, you can take a look at the Dessert Pizza and Shrimp and Grits.

If you are looking for a healthy cookbook with easy-to-make recipes, then I highly recommend COOK YOURSELF THIN FASTER. Thanks to the publisher for sending me a review copy of this cookbook.

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