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Average Customer Rating: 
(30 reviews)
Editorial Review: Devin Alexander, author of the New York Times bestseller, The Biggest Loser Cookbook, lets you have your cake and lose weight, too, with sinfully tempting — yet amazingly healthy — recipes for America’s all-time favorite foods.
Chef and former L.A. caterer Devin Alexander has maintained a fifty-five-pound weight loss for over sixteen years by transforming the dishes she and millions of other Americans love best into guilt-free (yet still outrageously mouth-watering) indulgences--Rigatoni with Meat Sauce, BBQ Bacon Cheeseburgers, Eggplant Parmesan, Sinless Yet Sinful Sticky Buns, and even Dark Chocolate Layer Cake with Chocolate Buttercream Frosting.
These simple-to-prepare recipes for the kind of delectable dishes people crave but feel they can’t eat when trying to be healthy and trim, actually can be the basis of a personal weight-loss plan. They can also be a way to add “off-limit” foods back into an already su...
Customer Reviews:
0 of 0 found this review helpful:
My favorite cookbook!, 2008-06-27
Wow! I was skeptical when ordering this book, but it is amazing. No weird food substitutions, just real food that's prepared in such a way as to keep the flavor and get rid of unneccessary calories and fat. The first recipe I tried was the "Chocolate Not Only In Your Dreams Cake". Oh... my... gosh! It was SO delicious, and for only 3 weight watchers points! I topped it with fat free vanilla ice cream and a little hershey's syrup, and didn't feel AT ALL deprived while my family had brownie sundaes. In fact, I bet mine was better than theirs! I can't say enough about that recipe. I ordered Hungry Girl cookbook at the same time, and I'll probably return that. Too many weird chemical and tofu substitutions. If you buy this book, you won't be sorry.
0 of 0 found this review helpful:
Buy This Book!, 2008-06-10
I was astonished that a "healthy" eating cookbook could offer so many choices that taste good and are easy to make. If you are serious about eating healthy but also enjoy unique and flavorful food, this is the book for you!
1 of 1 found this review helpful:
Healthy eating at its best - WOW!, 2008-06-10
When was the last time a cookbook actually motivated you to change? Typically I receive a book, look through it for fun, interesting recipes, try a few, and add the ones I like to my repertoire. I can honestly say that Devin Alexander's 'The Most Decadent Ever!' has done something that no other cookbooks have done - it has revolutionized the way I think about food to embrace a healthy diet.
In the age of numerous fad diets, I've seen many friends try, sometimes with dramatic success, only to be met with disappointment down the road. I believe that this is because many of the diets that exist are really designed for short term gains. To me it has never seemed natural to eliminate particular food groups from a diet (except of course for medical reasons) and would make long-term maintenance a challenge. I've avoided the fads and lived in a world of moderation - which has served me pretty well. For the first time, however, this book has opened my eyes to an approach to preparing meals that makes sense. 'The Most Decadent Diet Ever!' embraces all food groups yet provides guidance on creating dishes, ranging from simple to sophisticated, that indulge the senses, are thoroughly satisfying, and incredibly healthy. After completing just one meal I felt energized, great about myself, and eager to learn and try more.
My adventure began with planning "a day of decadence". Last Sunday, I decided to immerse myself in this cookbook (and put it to the ultimate test) by preparing the entire days' meals for my 3 year-old son and myself. My little sous chef and I prepared the following meals: vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry breakfast sundae (p35; breakfast); supreme and slender French bread pizza (p111; lunch); lemon-thyme chicken kebabs, tart cherry couscous, zucchini boats with goat cheese and sun-dried tomatoes, (p131, p171, p175 respectively; dinner). The dishes were simple to prepare and came out just like the pictures. And the taste was AMAZING! My son and I loved everything. It was actually hard for me to believe that healthy meals could have panache and be completely satisfying!
Along the way, Devin's book has taught me alternative ingredients and cooking techniques to maintain a healthy diet. Simply put - this book is EXCEPTIONAL!
I highly recommend that you plan your own "day of decadence" with Devin Alexander's book. One day of decadence may just lead YOU to a life of healthy eating.
0 of 10 found this review helpful:
Most Decadent Diet Ever, 2008-06-09
I was disappointed in it. I thought it would have a diet plan instead of just recipes. I returned the book for a refund.
30 of 33 found this review helpful:
Sensible Diet Plan and Easy Recipes, 2008-05-27
The Most Decadent Diet Ever: The Cookbook that Reveals the Secrets to Cooking your Favorites in a Healthier Way, presents a sensible diet plan and easy to prepare recipes.
The diet plan includes proteins, vegetables and carbohydrates, so all food groups are included. The recipes are heavy on meat from my point of view, but will appeal to many, as they are based on American favorites.
The book includes a sample 7 day meal plan. It also has tips and words of encouragement to help the reader. Deven Alexander shares what she stocks in her pantry and helpful tools to have in the kitchen.
There are lots of breakfast recipes, which is nice for those seeking variety for this meal.
I tried the open-ended buffalo chicken wrap and it was quite delicious. I also tried the spicy Szechuan steak salad and really enjoyed it.
Entrees included honey-glazed spiced pork tenderloin, skinny scampi and chicken piccata.
Alexander gets it: flavor can trump fat for making food taste good. To that end, she uses lots of flavorful--but not fattening--spices, oils and such.
What I don't like is the use of "fat free half and half", which consists of nonfat milk, milk, corn syrup solids (sugar), artificial color, and sugar. There are healthier substitutes.
Overall, if you like "All-American" type food, you will enjoy this cookbook of lower calorie--but still tasty--recipes. You will not feel deprived!
Ny the author of the award winning book, Harmonious Environment: Beautify, Detoxify and Energize Your Life, Your Home and Your Planet.
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