Gina Homolka - Skinnytaste Fast and Slow: Knockout Quick-Fix and Slow Cooker Recipes

Copyright 2016 by Gina Homolka
Photographs copyright 2016 by Helene Dujardin

All rights reserved. Published in the United States by Clarkson Potter/Publishers, an imprint of the Crown Publishing Group, a division of Penguin Random House LLC, New York.

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CLARKSON POTTER is a trademark and POTTER with colophon is a registered trademark of Penguin Random House LLC.

Skinnytaste is a trademark of Skinnytaste, Inc.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available upon request.

ISBN9780553459609

Ebook ISBN9780553459616

Cover design by Ian Dingman

v4.1

prh

CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION

I COOK BECAUSE I LOVE TO EAT. Im not talking about just good-for-you foods like salads and quinoaalthough, yes, those are great. The foods I crave range from classic comfort dishes to global cuisine, and everything in between. At the same time, I try to eat a light and balanced diet, and these two things dont necessarily go together. Thats what led me to start experimenting in my own kitchen eight years ago. I wanted to find ways to eat the foods I craved, but without throwing off all of my hard work to lose weight and keep it off. Plus, as a mom, I had to find a way to please not only my palate, but my picky familys preferences as well, because cooking separate meals is just not an option for me. The results of those experiments ultimately became my blog Skinnytaste.com, and later inspired my first cookbook, The Skinnytaste Cookbook.

My mission with my first cookbook was to help people create low-calorie food without sacrificing flavor. I also wanted to help take away some of the fear and intimidation that peopleespecially beginnersfeel about cooking. I was thrilled that the book was received so wellthanks to loyal Skinnytaste fans and so many others, it was a bestseller. What a dream come true! But, as I talked with people about the book, I kept fielding similar questions: Are the recipes easy? and Are the recipes fast? I dont have time to cook. At the same time, I was receiving emails and Facebook requests for more superquick weeknight ideas, as well as recipes for the slow cooker. With all of this feedback, I knew exactly what my next book should be about.

Skinnytaste Fast and Slow is filled with two types of recipes: quick and easy dishes that are ready in 30 minutes or less, and those that are made in a slow cooker. With this book, no matter how busy you are, you can enjoy a delicious home-cooked meal. Tasty, light, and time-saving! I want everything in these pages to help simplify your life, because I totally get itI understand the stress of having to come up with healthy meals the whole family will enjoy on a limited time schedule. Talk about pressure!

TAKE A TASTE

In this book, youll find 140 recipes that are light on calories and packed with nutrients and satisfying flavors, while being simple enough to make anytime. Many of these dishes are versions of the comfort foods I loved during my childhood, and others are my current favorites. All of them have been simplified and skinny-fied, so they slim your waistline and fit into your busy schedule. Ive spent a year testing and tweaking everything here, and I learned a lot along the way (youd be amazed what you can make in a slow cookerhello, brownies!). I hope that as you flip through this book, youll discover that you can enjoy great taste and good health, even when time is tight.

In each chapter, Ive dished out fast recipes, so you can get your meal on the table in less time than it takes to watch your favorite TV show, as well as slow-toss all the ingredients into your slow cooker in the morning and come home to a fabulous masterpiece. If dont whet your appetite, then I dont know what will! And, of course, Ive covered you from breakfast to dessert, and every meal in between. Youll even find some special chapters, um, sandwiched in between, including one on bowlsbecause I love the convenience and ease of tossing a bunch of yummy ingredients into a single bowland one devoted entirely to tacos. Ive peppered in time-saving tips, served up some prep and cooking strategies, and even whipped up a meal plan to give you a day-by-day map for eating well. Ive given you all the info you need to achieve your health and diet goals: Each recipe has a full set of nutrition facts as well as icons that indicate which dishes are vegetarian, dairy-free, gluten-free, and freezer-friendly. And the photographywell, dont be surprised if your stomach starts growling as you begin to turn the pages!

TACKLING THE TIME OBSTACLE

The truth is that most of us would love to cook or make all of our meals at home. Research shows that home cooking is healthier than dining out. Thats no surprise to me, considering that restaurant and take-out meals are enormous and typically loaded with calories, fat, and sodium. But despite these facts, many of us are still unable to make it happen. Whats the main issue? For most of us, its time.

With this cookbook, I hope to help you eliminate that excuse once and for all. If you have 15 minutes, then you have more than enough time to whip up my kid-friendly , for example. So many of these recipes take very little time to make; just look for the ones under the fast sections of each chapter. On the other end of the spectrum, the thrill of slow cooker meals is that you do some prep worksometimes as little as tossing everything in the cooker, though some recipes need a little sauting to build flavorand then you set the timer and head out the door! While you go to work, run errands, work out, or hang out with your kids, your dinner cooks itself. Sounds pretty great to me!

Taking charge of your cooking and eating habits can make a big impact on your health and weight. I hope that Skinnytaste Fast and Slow is a helpful tool to getting on the road to your very best selfand having fun while youre at it.

Theres one final point Id like to make about this bookand this one is crucial. The good-for-you food here actually tastes really good! Who wants to eat diet food and ditch all the good stuff? Not me! Remember, if you dont enjoy the process, it isnt likely to become a lifelong habit. I kept this thought in the back of my mind as I was in my kitchen testing recipes. Every dish had to meet three criteria: Deliver great taste, without many calories, and in a small amount of prep time. For you, its a weight loss win-winwin!

Ready to dig in? Lets go!

GINA HOMOLKA

RECIPE KEY

Look for these helpful icons throughout the book:

Quick (ready in 30 minutes or less)

Pressure Cooker

Slow Cooker