Rating: 
Summary: Pretty pictures and some good recipes, too
Review: Cooking Light Five Star Recipes is truly a nicely-packaged edition for the more "gourmet" cooks out there. Those recipes photographed are quite attractive, and the instructions and ingredient lists are quite clear.While this title includes some good makeovers of traditional (high-fat) family favorites, I've found that many of the recipes require somewhat unusual ingredients. Yes, I can find most of the ingredients in my local supermarket, but I must make a shopping trip. Additionally, many of the dishes require some extensive and dificult procedures not advisable for the inexperienced. I am an experienced cook, and I also am adventurous, so I am willing to try most recipes. While I've had no real problems, I don't recommend this for the beginning cook or those who wish to spend as little time as possible in the kitchen. Gourmands will appreciate the creative rewrites and menu suggestions. Those who wish for more healthy concoctions and who are not afraid to try new things will enjoy this book. For those who wish only for simplicity with reduced fat and calorie counts may want to consider a different title.
Rating: 
Summary: most used cookbook in my expansive collection
Review: Every meal I have made is a repeatable winner!
Rating:
Summary: My new favorite cookbook
Review: I got this book for Christmas and have used it many times already. Everything I have tried has been tasty but my favorites are fettucine alfredo and the ceasar salad. This is not a book for anyone looking to cut all fat from their diet but for someone who wants to reduce fat without sacrificing any flavor. I highly recommend it!
Rating: 
Summary: Good, but "The Complete Cooking Light" is even better.
Review: I love the Cooking Light cookbooks and magazine. For those of you unfamiliar with them, their cookbooks are well-organized, contain appealing photographs of many of the recipes, and include a wide variety of food types, including meatless dishes for vegetarians. In addition, most of the recipes are not overly complicated. I like too cook, but I am by no means an expert. If you're in the same boat, have no fear. You can handle most of the recipes in this book. In addition, they include helpful tips and photographs in sections where the recipes are a little bit more complicated. And for those of us who are health-conscious, they also include a thorough nutritional analysis in fine print after every recipe (e.g. calories, fat, fiber, etc.). Most importantly, the recipes are INTERESTING and DELICIOUS. It sounds like a cliche, but no one will know that the food is from a "light" cookbook unless you tell them. This book is no exception. It contains the editors' picks of their tried & true best recipes over 10 years. While it is a very good cookbook, however, I do like "The Complete Cooking Light" better. It contains many more recipes and, thus, greater variety. If you can only buy one, buy "The Complete Cooking Light." If possible, though, buy both!
Rating:
Summary: Love it
Review: I love this cookbook. It's practical and GOOD TASTING recipes. Love it!
Rating: 
Summary: Very misleading name!
Review: Since being diagnosed with diabetes a while back, and being a dedicated foodie and decent cook, I've been collecting recipes appropriate to my new situation. Happily, there's quite a bit out there, and I had hopes for this nicely illustrated collection since it's published by one of the most popular food magazines around. Instead, I'm appalled at what they consider "light" cooking! "Roasted Vegetable Pitas" at 5 grams of fat and 54 grams of carbohydrates each! "Broccoli-Rice Casserole" at 7 fat and 48 carbs per serving! "Mocha Fudge Pie" at 7 fat and 52 carbs per slice! They also seem to consider "one serving" of pasta as being about three times the usual recommended amount -- 1-1/2 cups instead ½ cup. I don't think they understand what's really needed by those trying to cut back on fat, starch, and sugar, or else their name is meaningless.
Rating:
Summary: Not all that and a bag of chips...
Review: The recipes in Cooking Light really weren't that light for me. Yes, they were definitely reduced from what the original recipe's dietary count was but, not the fat and calorie content I was looking for. I am trying to loose weight using a point system and, the calculated points for the recommended portions were quite large. I also found that many ingredients were hard to find in my area, if at all. Though, the recipes that I did make were all delicious.
Rating:
Summary: You'll never know you're cooking light
Review: This cookbook offers wonderful ways to eat well and reduce fat in your diet. I've already tried a variety of dishes, and I'm hopelessly addicted to their cucumber-dill salad dressing. What I love about Cooking Light is that they take familiar dishes and substitute lower fat ingredients while retaining the flavor of the full-fat dish. It's really hard to go wrong with anything in this book. If you are a dessert aficionado, you can take comfort in the fact that a large percentage of the book is devoted to cakes, pies, muffins and breads. The recipes are generally easy to follow, (excepting one ambigious request for four "cups" of spaghetti), vary from quick and easy to company-worthy and use ingredients I have no trouble finding in my local supermarket. If you are looking for the ultimate light cookbook, you have found it.
Rating:
Summary: You'll never know you're cooking light
Review: This cookbook offers wonderful ways to eat well and reduce fat in your diet. I've already tried a variety of dishes, and I'm hopelessly addicted to their cucumber-dill salad dressing. What I love about Cooking Light is that they take familiar dishes and substitute lower fat ingredients while retaining the flavor of the full-fat dish. It's really hard to go wrong with anything in this book. If you are a dessert aficionado, you can take comfort in the fact that a large percentage of the book is devoted to cakes, pies, muffins and breads. The recipes are generally easy to follow, (excepting one ambigious request for four "cups" of spaghetti), vary from quick and easy to company-worthy and use ingredients I have no trouble finding in my local supermarket. If you are looking for the ultimate light cookbook, you have found it.
Rating:
Summary: Good, but "The Complete Cooking Light" is even better.
Review: This is the cookbook for you if you like it easy, but good for your waistline. No one ever believes these dishes are from a "diet" cookbook.
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