{Book Review} The Go Red for Women Cookbook

American Heart Association The Go Red For Women Cookbook: Cook Your Way to a Heart-Healthy Weight and Good Nutrition 

Publisher overview:

A HEALTH COOKBOOK FOR WOMEN BY WOMEN
The American Heart Association’s Go Red For Women social initiative has inspired hundreds of thousands of women to eat nutritiously, exercise regularly, and maintain a healthy weight. Now the iconic “red dress” can be your kitchen companion all year long, with 200 recipes to help you take charge of your health.

I was drawn to this book because heart disease runs in my family, I have a heart condition and regularly support the American Heart Association and their outreach. Truth be told, I was expecting healthy, blandish looking recipes not quite suited to my tastes.  Not the case at all. This book is the bomb. (Yes, I still use that phrase). Page after page of some of my favorite dishes and lots of new ones to try – all healthfully made with simple ingredients and bold flavors.  Here are some I’ve marked to make…soon:

Starters, sauces and breakfast items
White bean and roasted garlic spread with pita wedges 
Tzatziki (The cucumber sauce served on gyros and shawarmas … this one is made with Greek yogurt.)
Autumn apple fires with creamy cranberry dip (Sure our kids will love this.)
Chocolate peanut butter smoothies
Pinto beans and eggs
Baked oatmeal “pie”

Vegetables and sides
Spanish potato tortilla
Fiery kale with ham (Smoky with some heat, like we like our greens down here.)
Broccoli with caramelized walnuts
Stuffed zucchini
Cool lettuce-wrap tacos
Quinoa-corn toss (Anyone else led to pronounce it as kin-o-ah  instead of keen-wah…)
Skillet potatoes with garlic
Three grain pilaf (Made with wild rice, quinoa and bulgur – 6g fiber per serving.)

Salads, soups and stews
Lemony shrimp and feta salad

Penne salad with white beans and Asiago
Portobello ragout with sun-dried tomato polenta (Oh- my!)
Pasta primavera
Beef and broccoli
Chicken and black bean enchiladas
Down south chicken hash and corn cakes
Jerk chicken with mango-avocado salsa
Sauteed salmon with mango salsa
Spicy shrimp and grits
Coffee-rubbed salmon with horseradish sauce
Catfish tacos

For my sweet tooth
Pineapple sweet potatoes (Recipe relies primarily on natural foods for sweetness.)
Applesauce cake
Pumpkin pie souffles

The food photography in the book is minimal but lovely – just a few pictures on the back cover and in the center of the book. A few examples:

Not a calorie counter, I consider the nutrient balance in foods so the complete nutrition profile with dietary exchanges listed for each recipe is appreciated. The book also includes a vegetarian meal section (…Meatless Monday). There are tips for embracing a healthy diet and a chapter contains information to help assess and reduce heart disease risk.

I consider this cookbook an excellent primer for people who want to cook and enjoy a variety of good foods that are good for you.  Heart disease is the leading cause of death in our nation. This book equips heart healthy eating. A great gift for a friend, loved one… or yourself.

If you have this book, please share your favorite recipes.  If not, check it out.  You’ll be pleased.

As I make my way thru this book, I’ll share photos/results on instagram and twitter.

Take care, God bless and be well!
Nettye