Rating: 
Summary: If you only buy one Cooking Light cookbook...
Review: ... this should be the one. The annual collections are great (and after using this for a while you'll probably wind up subscribing to the magazine and buying the annual collections, too), but they're definitely frustrating to search through.This, as the title states, is a "complete" (ie general purpose) cookbook. It's organized by categories, making it easy to browse through and look for something appealing--as you certainly will with such a wide variety of recipes! According to the introduction, it contains the "top 10%" of the 10,000 recipes that the magazine published since its launch in 1987. The book is well-illustrated in color, with lots of helpful step-by-step technique photos. Info boxes every few pages offer additional information on ingredients, equipment, tips and techniques, etc. Organization, typeface, and layout are as important to me in a cookbook as content, and I think this really scores on those counts, as well. Unlike so many cookbooks, it also boasts a well-laid-out, practical index (albeit with a few frustrating quirks, like listing Baba Ghanouj as "Ghanouj, Baba"). It took me just a minute to glance through and confirm that many of my favorite CL recipes are included. I got 5 Star Recipes as a gift, but I really don't use it. I don't agree with a lot of their "5 Star" choices, and it's really limited in scope. Quite a few of those recipes are repeated in this volume. For just a few dollars more, this would have made a MUCH better gift!
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful Receipes
Review: As I sit here munching on a piece of yummy Kalua and Cinnamon Brownie (although it is really more a cake) with only 64 grams of fat in the whole 8 inch square pan, I thought it was time to share my thoughts on this cookbook. The reason I mention the entire pan is that the portion sizes for most of the deserts are unrealistically small in order to come down to a small sounding fat count. This one thinks you can get 16 servings out of an eight inch square cake that is only a half an inch high! I don't know many people who will stop after a 2 inch square of this cake. I suggest you calculate the entire fat content for the pan, and cut up the pieces into more generous sizes that satisfy, rather then ending up eating a huge quantity of bitty pieces. Even a more realistic 4 inch square only has 8 grams of fat and it is good! Aside from this I have few complaints. This book is packed full of wonderful recipes, all of which taste great and also happen to contain a moderate amount of calories and fat. Most are very quick and easy. Some of the ones I will make again include the Almost Tempura Chicken, Tai Style Pumpkin soup, Mocha Pudding Cake, Raspberry Muffins and Fried Chicken Salad - the buttermilk breaded chicken in it are great by themselves and of course the Brownies. The only disappointment so far was the Microwave Pudding which was not flavorful enough for me. The portion sizes for everything except the deserts are generous. This is NOT the only cookbook you will ever need though. There is no breakfast section or even an entry in the index! This is pretty surprising considering that a good breakfast is a very important part of eating in moderation. There are breakfast like recipes scattered about, smoothies in beverages, pancakes and muffins in breads, and egg dishes under eggs, but no easy way to find them. The section on recipes containing no meat was small. The sweets sections were huge, especially the selection of breads, most of which hardly anyone will have the time to make. I kept thinking why not breadmachine recipes when I stumbled over a couple of them at the end of the chapter. The directions are clear, but do not contain enough information for an inexperienced to cook to prepare with confidence. There are enough photos to stimulate the eye, but not one for every recipe - which I personally don't mind. All in all a worthwhile and highly recommended addition to any competent cook's bookshelf.
Rating:
Summary: one of my favorites
Review: Cooking Light has become the first cookbook I turn to when planning meals or dinner parties. The recipes are easy to follow and there's a great variety (everything from a simple soup for a family dinner to fancy dishes to impress your guests.) But, as another reviewer noted, it's all about the taste. I have very seldom made anything out of this cookbook that wasn't wonderful. When I have friends or family over for dinner, they're always pleasantly suprised to find out that everything they've been enjoying is a healthy recipe. If I could only have one cookbook, I'd do quite well with this one.
Rating:
Summary: Greatest hits with lots of helpful hints
Review: First off, this is a greatest hits collection. The book has over a thousand recipes culled from thirteen years of the magazine. That's a pretty nice place to start. Then, unlike the annual books, this is an organized book so all of the desserts are together and such. But why buy this instead of "Five Star Recipes" (the "best of" book released a couple of years ago)? For starters, this book has at least five times as many recipes. Also, FSR is mostly pretty fancy stuff - great for entertaining but more complicated than most of us want for every day. This book has enough room for both the showy and everyday standards. For example, it has about six versions of meatloaf alone. But the part I wasn't expecting and found most wonderful are all of the sidebars filled with wisdom on the basics. For example, there's a nice section on tricks for boiling eggs that teaches you how to avoid getting the green rim around the yoke. Bottom-line: This is a winning cookbook. Veteran cooks will find good recipes and still learn new tricks. I'm also thinking that it has great potential as a bridal shower/college graduation gift.
Rating:
Summary: The Only Cookbook You Will Need for Light Cooking
Review: I am a big fan of the magazine 'Cooking Light.' I love the articles, but sometimes find the recipes too daunting for a week night - either too much time or too many ingredients. This cookbook is not like that. This cookbook is aimed at being the one-stop shop for all of your cooking needs. Whether it's the Thanksgiving turkey or weeknight fajitas on the table in a half hour, it's all in there. (There are in fact multiple fajita recipes!) The reecipes are designed so that a minimal amount of ingredients delivers the most flavor in the simplest fashion. This book has all of the most requested, best recipes from Cooking Light including the award-winning Italian Cream Cake. This book is logically formatted by food topics -- cakes, cookies, meatless entrees, poultry, sauces, etc...with numerous simple menu suggestions (and I mean really simple, do-able in under an hour). If you are someone that is looking for a top-notch healthy cook book, then this book could be for you. I hope you enjoy it as much as I have! All of the recipes have excellent written instructions that make every recipe a success every time.
Rating:
Summary: Healthy, Tasteful, Easy to follow Recipes
Review: I bought this cookbook a few years ago and it has been my favorite ever since. My family is into healthy eating and Cooking Light has hundreds of tasty,healthy, very easy to follow recipes. If i had the chance of buying only one cookbook in a whole lifetime, i would choose this one, as it has unlimited choices{pleasing everyone}.
Rating: 
Summary: Good Book, Good Eats
Review: I brought this book because I wanted to learn how to cook and now everyone thinks I'm great at cooking! I haven't tried many recipes out yet, but the ones I've tried are now the most requested in our family. I've really enjoyed the magazine as well, that's where I've gotten my first recipes!!
I enjoyed this book [...]
Rating:
Summary: A great cookbook!
Review: I got this cookbook when I was just getting serious about cooking, and was still intimidated by most cookbooks. It has never let me down. The instructions are great no matter what you cooking ability and the variety is stunning. There is something for every taste and who these days doesn't want tasty food that is healthy to boot. Buy it for yourself and then buy it for a gift because your friends are just going to have to have that recipe.
Rating:
Summary: Highly recommended. What a cookbook should be.
Review: I have a whole library of cookbooks, but this is the one I reach for time and time again. There are certain qualities that make this book superior; they include: - A well-organized index. Do not underrate this feature: The first step in deciding upon a recipe is what ingredients do I have on hand. With this nicely written index, I just look up the ingredient (eg. shrimp or plums) and there is listed a number of recipes.
- Simple common ingredients. Nothing too exotic or stuff you need to make a special shopping trip for. (I have several cookbooks that I never use for this reason.)
- Not overly complicated. I hate cookbooks that make things more complicated than should be, just to show off the skill of the author or chef. Recipes here are simple enough for beginning to moderate cooks, or those short on time. Isn't that all of us? (Approximate prep and cooking time is listed for each recipe.)
- Beyond the normal, done-to-death recipes. Though Joy of Cooking is considered the "Bible" I never use it. Why? Because the recipes are boring, done-a-thousand-times, in-every-cookbook lifeless. This cookbook offers simple, but slightly unusual recipes you're excited to try.
- Comprehensive. Seems to have a recipe for everything! (After using it many many times, I still have at least a dozen bookmarks in it for recipes I've yet to do but want to try.)
- Lowfat, with nutritional info provided. But I love the fact that flavor is not sacrificed -- you'll find lowfat milk listed, but butter and sour cream are also there when needed.
- Helpful extras. Like the substitution chart in the back (used it so many times!) and the list of cupboard basics in the front. The book is attractively laid-out, with color photos for some of the items (but not all). A lovely keeper, one you will use again and again.
Rating:
Summary: Brilliant!
Review: I have had this book for only a couple of weeks, and it's already become a staple. As some other reviewers have commented, the recipes are not as low in fat and calories as those in some other "healthy" cookbooks (for that, I recommend the Weight Watchers series), but it's great as an all-round cookbook for the health/weight conscious. Best of all, there are recipes for foods I thought I could never eat again... like spannakopita and baklava. Proof that you can eat well and stay slim!
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