Review: The Slim Down South Cookbook

SOUTHERN LIVING

THE SLIM DOWN SOUTH COOKBOOK

Eating Well and Living Healthy in the Land of Biscuits and Bacon

By Carolyn O’Neil, M.S., R.D.

“Carolyn O’Neil shows people how classic Southern cooking can be lightened up

 – and still delicious.” – Emeril Lagasse, New Orleans chef

“Slim Down South delivers real Southern flavor without all those pesky Southern calories.”

– Alton Brown, host of Good Eats

  

Birmingham, AL – You can have your biscuits and stay fit, too, with the new health-focused cookbook in the Southern Living collection: THE SLIM DOWN SOUTH COOKBOOK: Eating Well and Living Healthy in the Land of Biscuits and Bacon (January 6, 2014; Oxmoor House; $24.95/Hardcover). In the book, author, registered dietitian, and TV personality Carolyn O’Neil offers healthful menus and recipes for healthier variations of Southern dishes you know and love.

Southern cuisine can tempt with its deviled eggs, layer cakes and fried chicken, but incredibly delicious Southern food can also be good for you. Peaches, pecans, okra, greens and sweet potatoes fill Southern pantries with good health and great taste. It’s as easy as Carolyn’s mantra – just think SLIM: Savor the South (maximize your plate with Southern foods that offer nutritional benefits), Linger Longer (take time to eat), Indulge (satisfy your cravings so they don’t return with a vengeance), and Make it Happen (use Southern grit and grace to stay the course). Her “Slim Down Secrets” pop up throughout the book, with helpful tips from “Slim & Savvy Southerners” like Matt and Ted Lee and well-known Southern chefs like Hugh Acheson, Frank Stitt, and Michelle Bernstein.

The Slim Down South Cookbook is broken down by meal, starting with easy and healthy recipes for breakfast to help you “Rise & Shine.” Warm up with a hearty bowl of Dried Cherry-Pecan Oatmeal or get out the sauté pan and whip up a Veggie Frittata. Nourishing options for lunch will make you want to gather the girls for a midday nosh on Carolyn’s Baby Carrot Soup, Chicken BLT Salad, or a Chopped Chicken Sandwich with Sweet-and-Spicy Dressing and Crunchy Pecan Slaw. “Ring the Dinner Bell” and finish the day off on the right foot with recipes the entire family will enjoy like Cornbread Crab Cakes, Country Chicken & Buttermilk Soup, Apple-a-Day Pork Chops, and Skillet Fried Chicken. Company coming? You’re covered with easy-to-throw-together crowd-pleasers like Party-Style Pork Empanadas, Spicy 3-Bean Chili, Sweet Potato-Buttermilk Biscuits, and 5-ingredient Pecan Sandies.

Carolyn doesn't skimp on snacks or dessert either – the “Good Grazing” section is full of helpful tips on how to snack smarter, with recipes like Sweet & Salty Popcorn Mix, Fried Green Tomato Sliders, and Fruit Salsawith Cinnamon Crisps.  The dessert table might be off-limits in some healthy lifestyle guides, but not The Slim Down South Cookbook. “Desserts To Live For” is loaded with classic Southern treats with a wholesome twist like Bourbon Balls, Molasses Spice Crinkle cookies (only 70 calories each!) and Mocha-Pecan Mud Pie made with light ice cream. Carolyn shows that you can “lighten up the food you crave” with some easy substitutions “but, of course, they still have to pass the lip-smacking test.”

If you’re looking for a more structured diet plan, The Slim Down South Cookbook has exactly that: Carolyn shares a 14-day SLIM Eating Plan taken from her own food diary to help guide you through two weeks of healthful and nutritious eating with minimum stress and maximum “slim Southern elegance.”

This book is perfect for the modern cook looking to find a wholesome balance in food choices as well as life. As Carolyn writes, the “slightly slower rhythm of life in the South helps us to be more mindful of the foods we’re eating.” You can take the time to appreciate the china pattern and the company and enjoy your meals even more. With Carolyn’s valuable tips and delicious recipes from Southern Living, the South’s most trusted test kitchen, you can enjoy balanced, healthy Southern cooking and eating.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Carolyn O’Neil, MS, RD, Carolyn O'Neil is a registered dietitian, three-time James Beard Award-winning food journalist, and co-author of The Dish on Eating Healthy and Being Fabulous! With her refreshing food philosophy-"The More You Know, The More You Can Eat!,” she is leading the charge in promoting a healthy, fun-filled, and foodie-friendly lifestyle. Carolyn’s extensive media experience includes her weekly column on Healthy Eating for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and over twenty years as executive producer, anchor, and senior correspondent for CNN's award-winning On The Menu weekly program on food, nutrition, and cuisine.

Southern Living celebrates the essence of life in the South, covering the best in Southern food, home, garden, and travel.  Reaching more than 16 million consumers each month, Southern Living connects consumers with the region’s rich culture through a variety of print, digital, mobile, tablet and event platforms.  Headquartered in Birmingham, AL, the rapidly expanding Southern Living brand is part of Time Inc., one of the largest content companies in the world and the largest publisher in the United States.

Oxmoor House is an imprint of Time Home Entertainment Inc., a Time Inc. company, and publishes books and special edition magazines for Time Inc. brands such as Southern Living, Cooking Light, Health, and Sunset. Oxmoor House publishing partnerships also include Weight-Watchers, Gooseberry Patch, and Weber.  With more than 300 back-listed titles, it is recognized as one of the leading lifestyle publishers in the country. Oxmoor House books are distributed to the trade by Hachette Book Group and are available wherever books are sold. More information is available at oxmoorhouse.com.

Some of the recipes I will be trying:

BBQ in a jar

Veggie Frittata

Migas Tacos

Disclaimer: This product was sent to me by Oxmoor House for review purposes only. No payment was received for this review. My reviews are based on my personal opinions and experience using the item. All opinions are my own and 100%  honest.