I expected it would take quite awhile to get enough recipes together to
make a difference. However, thanks to Dana Carpender's newest low-
carb cookbook my collection has grown overnight!
15-Minute Low-Carb Recipes by Dana Carpender (Fair Winds Press,
2003) gave my collection a huge boost. From the introduction, I found
that the entire purpose of this book is to provide a cookbook filled with
recipes that take a maximum of 15 minutes to make-and that includes
prep time. Sound intriguing? I thought so, too.
This 253-page compendium offers more than just microwave or “tear
open a protein bar” meals. These recipes were all timed and each was
considered for health, feasibility and appropriateness to the book's
theme. Dana's introduction explains her reasons, her processes, and
offers detailed hints, tips and tricks to cut down prep time.
To give you an overview of the contents, there are thirteen chapters
divided by food type, such as “15-Minute Eggs,” “15-Minute Tortilla
Tricks,” “15-Minute Main Dish Salads,” “15-Minute Skillet Suppers,” and
Chapter 12, “15-Minute Condiments, Sauces, Dressings, and
Seasonings,” which has my favorite homemade sugar-free ketchup
recipe. Of course, I cannot forget to mention the last chapter, “15-Minute
Desserts.”
Written in an easy to follow, relaxed style, this book feels like an old
friend for those of us who have come to know Dana's work from her
2002 cookbook, the very popular 500 Low-Carb Recipes. If you are not
familiar with her previous book, I think you will be pleased with her
comfortable, confidant style and helpful insights.
There seems to be recipes to suit most everyone, from low-carb soups to
high-protein nuts. I especially appreciate that the recipes have short
instructions, are very fast to read-and they are easy to make. A few I
have tried and enjoyed include, “Houbyfest Eggs,” “Blintzlets,”
“Parmesan Chicken Breasts,” “Sour Cream Ham Supper,” and
“Cheater's Chowder.” And, I am wrapping “Cinnamon Splenda® Nuts” in
red plastic wrap tied with a thin velvet ribbon for Valentine's Day mini
gifts. (I will wait until next month to tell the recipients the gift was sugar-free!)
15-Minute Low-Carb Recipes by Dana Carpender is available through
book retailers on and offline. Get more information on Dana Carpender,
her books, projects and e-mail newsletter on her Web site at
www.holdthetoast.com.
Cherie' Davidson is a freelance writer and Web content developer who
lives in the Pacific Northwest with her toy poodle, Auggie Dog, her
“energy muse.” She has her own freelance writing business, Suitable
Words Publications http://www.suitablewords.com/, where she writes
and promotes Website content, designs and develops e-books, hires out
as a copywriter and writes a wide variety of articles, reviews and essays.
She has started a blog at http://suitablewords.blogspot.com and a free
article site at http://www.writerscontent.com - If you would like her to
review your book, writer her at cherie@suitablewords.com
