Rating: 
Summary: Disappointing and outdated
Review: I was disappointed with this book. A limited ingredient list is used over and over in some uninspiring combinations; nearly every recipe relies on either soy protein powder or whey protein powder, and neither one in my experience results in desserts that taste like *the real thing*.
The only two sweeteners used are sucralose and stevia. No mention is made of other popular sugar alcohols like maltitol, xylitol, and erythritol. The book was published in Feb. 2003, maybe these sweeteners weren't as readily available then...
At present you can find better recipes and learn more about new low-carb products by going online.
Rating: 
Summary: inspiring!
Review: I've used three recipes (waffles, poppy seed butter cookies, and chocolate cupcakes). You've gotta read the front matter - some of the ingredients vary wildly in their performance for different brands. Allbright tells you that you may need to experiment to get results you're satisfied with. If you've eaten health foods before, the difference from store-bought sweets will be familiar.
I am VERY happy. My waffles are not airy white things - they are dark and very crisp and very, very delicate, as good with whipped cream and raspberries as with bacon.
I would have liked more guidance on some things: I've decided to measure soy protein like flour - fluff it first -though it doesn't fluff well. My waffle "batter" has a decidedly yucky texture, but it cooks up just fine. I would have liked to have known that, just for reassurance. I would have awarded five stars if the book had included tips about that kind of thing.
I'm writing this because I couldn't find a way to send email directly to Ms Allbright to thank her. So, Ms. ALlbright, THANK YOU!
Rating: 
Summary: Do Not Waste Your Money.....
Review: Let's not kid ourselves here, these recipes are just horrible! I understand that low-carb desserts are not going to be any and all what sugar/flour sweets are but the recipes I've tried from this book are literally inedible. "Maple Drops" (so dry I had to scoop them off the back of my throat with my finger), "Lemon Cookies" (unappetizing, hard, rubbery, gray-colored little hockey pucks), "Very Vanilla Waffles" (again, stomach-turning purple/gray in color and so dry they coated the back of the throat) were a total waste of expensive, special-order ingredients. The "Zero-Carb Waffle" is not so; eggs do have traces of carbs, too. The author touts that many of her "creations" are "full of healthy fiber"--what do you expect with a half-cup or more of psyllium husk in the recipes, the same substance as Metamucil! Maybe there is a good recipe in this book, but with the cost of the ingredients that I've wasted so far trying her recipes, I am putting this book away for good. I do recommend instead "500 Low Carb Recipes" by Dana Carpenter. Her book has a very short section of dessert/sweet recipes but they are pretty good and well worth it; and have been obviously tested before publishing. Plus you have many other recipes for snacks and meals making it well worth my money.
Rating: 
Summary: Finally! Perfect Low-carb healthy sweets without gluten!
Review: Low-carb diets have been effective for me, but I could never stay on them for very long because I can't stand the deprivation. By eliminating sugar and flour, I can now indulge in healthy snacks, guilt-free! I love the recipes in this book, and while a few of the ingredients are a little expensive and have a different texture from regular flour, they are definitely worth it! Trust me, I've been hunting for low-carb foods for five years, and they are very hard to find. Traditional diet (sugar free) cakes and candies are loaded with carbs, and the new commercially available low-carb sweets are made with maltitol, which functions as a laxative in many people. After five years, I am a little tired of strawberries with whipped cream. Thank you, Sharon, for putting cake back into my life! I feel relief and joy, knowing I'll be able to stick to my diet now. I would recommend this book to anyone attempting a low-carb diet.
Rating:
Summary: Finally -- Cake! Brownies! Muffins!
Review: Low-carb diets have been effective for me, but I could never stay on them for very long because I can't stand the deprivation. By eliminating sugar and flour, I can now indulge in healthy snacks, guilt-free! I love the recipes in this book, and while a few of the ingredients are a little expensive and have a different texture from regular flour, they are definitely worth it! Trust me, I've been hunting for low-carb foods for five years, and they are very hard to find. Traditional diet (sugar free) cakes and candies are loaded with carbs, and the new commercially available low-carb sweets are made with maltitol, which functions as a laxative in many people. After five years, I am a little tired of strawberries with whipped cream. Thank you, Sharon, for putting cake back into my life! I feel relief and joy, knowing I'll be able to stick to my diet now. I would recommend this book to anyone attempting a low-carb diet.
Rating:
Summary: If it sounds too good to be true...
Review: This recipe book was a terrible disappointment. After reading a few of the positive reviews, I was excited about getting this book, so in preparation I ran out and bought the expensive and odd-sounding ingredients listed: psyllium, whey and soy protein powder, lecithin granules, flaxseed meal, etc. I was looking forward to the good, even if not great-tasting treats. Granted, I must admit that I only sampled the Chocolate Chip Delights and Maple Pecan Drops before I couldn't stomach any more. The cookies not only looked odd, but they were horrible-tasting and difficult to swallow. I'm afraid I will be relisting this book for sale, although I wouldn't recommend its purchase. The fact that the book uses mostly ingredients that are not available in a regular market should have tipped me off to how inedible these "creations" would be. In my opinion, you should try a low-carb cookbook that uses recognizable ingredients.
|
