Pretty Delicious: Lean and Lovely Recipes for a Healthy, Happy New You

Although I didn't watch, Candice Kumai was on the first season of Top Chef. I was intrigued with this book for it's low fat, healthy aspect, since I'm trying to loose weight and get healthier. Candice is also the host of Lifetimes Cook Yourself Thin and has a couple of other cookbooks out.

This book is a bit busy with lots going on the pages. Usually that bothers me but for some reason it seems to work in this book. It also has a girly feel which begins right on the dust jacket with part of an arm covered with pearls and a pink bracelet. The hand is reaching for some pancakes which are sitting on a pink cake stand. There are lots of gorgeous photos through out the book. All the pages have a border of what looks like flowers and sometimes lace. The book has hints and tips on almost every page along with a recipe and some background for the recipe. Most recipes include an ingredient she calls Foods with Benefits and is noted in the background section before each recipe as FWB. Nutritional info is also included with each recipe.

At the beginning of the book she has information on slimming ways to stretch food and save calories and cash, her Foods With Benefits Philosophy, Rules to cook by, Tips for staying slim and rich, and steps to shinny success. In addition to great sounding healthy recipes she devotes a chapter to Skinny Sweets and Splurges, which she notes is just for once in a while, and a chapter to The Pampered Pantry, with recipes for healthy hair, skin and nails.

So far I've tried three recipes, Chinese Chicken Salad Chop Cups, Asian Almonds, and Spicy Salmon Burgers with Creamy Chili Sauce. All were delicious. The Asian Almonds are especially addictive. My son and daughter in law tried the cover recipe, Pumpkin Pie Pancakes with Apple Butter and I hope to try that one soon too, as they said it was delicious. I'm looking forward to many more healthy delicious meals from this book.

Candice Kumai cooks with real food and keeps calories and fat to a minimum. She's found a delicious way to feed your food cravings while eating healthy. If you're on the look out for recipes that fit that bill then this is a book you should check into.