Bring the spa home-to your kitchen. You may have a bathroom full of beauty products, but it's time to turn your attention to beautifying your kitchen and the foods you eat. This cookbook shares the recipes of the luxurious Golden Door Spa. Chef Dean Rucker shares over a 100 recipes, each with a gorgeous photo to further entice you. Tips on how to eat less, reduce stress, exercise more, and lose weight are woven into the book. They encourage you to not only eat better, but to eat more consciously as well. As this spa specializes in holistic healing, these recipes focus on eating whole, nutritious foods, not just restricted calories. You will be not only well fed physically, but emotionally you will know that you are nurturing yourself. A whole foods diet is certainly the best, and Chef Dean Rucker carefully chooses which of the higher calorie foods are necessary for a satisfying dish, and when you can substitute low or non-calorie foods for flavor. The book is very balanced in that way, with no recipes being “too-much,” and none that are lacking. He shares his cooking tips, and teaches you how to do this on your own. Because he teaches cooking classes at the spa, I believe he knows just what lessons are most needed in the book. One lesson that I find to be especially helpful is on simple vegetable cooking methods. No meal is complete without vegetables, and you can use these methods everyday. Reading through the main dishes is like reading off your favorite restaurant's menu. They are often written as a complete course, and you are given step-by-step instructions for putting it all together. If this were a menu at a restaurant, I would eat there as often as possible. As for actually cooking the recipes myself, there are some fairly simple ones that I am comfortable enough to try. One new favorite is the Broccoli Basil Soup, which is delicious, healthy, and easy. Many of them are more elaborate, and would be perfect for a special occasion. For example, there is the Miso-Glazed Mero with Shiitake Mushroom Quinoa and Grilled Pineapple and Mango Salsa. All in all it's not that complicated, but it is sure to impress. He writes the instructions in a linear fashion and guides you from start to finish. This helps you stay organized and calm. He also lets you know which of the ingredients you can prepare ahead of time, which is especially helpful if you are cooking for company and have a lot to do. I am so happy to add this to my collection of cookbooks, and will be turning here first for healthy takes on the classics, and inspiration for new dishes. CommentsLeave a Reply | Eat With the Seasons: Winter
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