So Easy: Luscious, Healthy Recipes for Every Meal of the Week by Ellie Krieger

So Easy: Luscious, Healthy Recipes for Every Meal of the Week Reviews

• 
  Steven Peterson

  Ellie Krieger's "The Food You Crave" is a terrific cookbook. I enjoyed a number of menus therein. This is a worthy addition to her body of work. One of the pluses of a Krieger book is her dual skill set--her ability to create tasty recipes coupled with her knowledge of nutrition.
  
  Some quotations from her Introduction indicate her approach (Pages 10-12): "If you love food and want to eat well but struggle making it happen with life's hectic pace, keep reading. . .Every recipe here hits the delicious healthy easy trifecta. Deliciousness is first and foremost. . .My golden rule: no food is ever off limits. . .The third part of the trifecta is the easy factor."
  
  One useful touch at the front of the book: what should be in one's pantry. The book, then, is divided into several chapters--two for breakfast, two for lunch, two for dinner, and two for dessert.
  
  "Breakfast is the meal of fresh starts" (Page 19). There are some very nice recipes for breakfast that capture one's attention. A Spicy Egg and Avocado Wrap features eggs, lettuce, whole-wheat wrap breads, an avocado, a tomato, cucumber, Thai chili sauce or hot sauce, salt, and pepper. Accessible ingredients and a pretty straightforward recipe. Yummy! Another: Egg Muffin Sandwich (her take on an Egg McMuffin; her recipe is more enticing!).
  
  "Now that the lunch hour is more like the twenty minute lunch, it is harder than ever to eat right at midday" (Page 65). Some interesting recipes to show how one might have a good meal with little preparation time. Lemon-Cumin Grilled Chicken Breast. Boneless chicken breasts, cumin, salt, pepper, olive oil/cooking spray, and lemon juice. Takes only about 15 minutes to cook this. Other samples: Ham and Cheese Panini; Chicken Paillard with Watercress and Tomato Salad; Open Face Chicken Parmesan Sandwich.
  
  Dinner: As a side dish, Garlic Mashed Potatoes are terrific! Krieger's recipe is simple and delicious. Double dipping--she also has a cool recipe for Herbed Mashed Potatoes. Want a fish dish for dinner? Flounder with Almond Topping, Saffron Rice, and Lemon Broccolini.
  
  All in all, a fine cookbook. Healthy, fairly simple to make. The couple items I have tried have been fine tasting. A good addition to a kitchen library!
  
• 
  Deb

  So far I have just cooked two recipes from the book: Roasted Tomato and Black Bean Soup with Avocado-Mango Salad but it is full of Krieger's usual delicious and healthy recipes.
  
  Link to recipes made: (
  http://kahakaikitchen.blogspot.com/20...)
  
  
• 
  Meredith Henning

  This one is great, much like her first book full of great recipes packed with flavor and variety! This one's on my birthday wishlist :)
• 
  Kelly

  Even though these recipes are supposed to be light and healthy, the trends from 2009 have changed a little... It's no longer recommended to have low-fat dairy products. Many of her recipes call for non-fat or low-fat products and/or ingredients that would be difficult to find (whole wheat baguette).
• 
  Donna

  Yummy, easy food... what more can a girl ask for? :D
• 
  Beka

  I definitely appreciate her healthy eating philosophy, but unfortunately none of the recipes stood out to me.
• 
  Ramona

  This has to be one of my favorite cookbook. Gotten a few recipes out this one. Can not wait to try them. Especially, the smoothie.
• 
  Kristen Barenthaler

  I’ve been trying to eat better and when I see books like this, it almost seems possible. So excited to try some of these recipes!
• 
  Laurel

  This caught my attention when I was browsing the cookbook section of the library. Easy, luscious, and healthy- that's my ideal for every meal. I've never seen Ellie Krieger, or Food Network, for that matter, but this looked promising. I read reviews, and there were comments about the recipes being complicated etc. I recommend reading the introduction and chapter headings before choosing any recipes. She explains that days have different paces, and if you match the recipe with the day, it will work. I gave this 5 stars not only because of the intuitiveness of it, but because the recipes really are luscious. I love her philosophy: "Deliciousness is first and foremost. As a born food lover I am driven by great taste, and it is the most important factor in everything I make. But just tasting good isn't enough. As a nutritionist it's essential to me that food not only pleases your tastebuds, but also fuels your body and soul, helping you feel great and get the most out of life." My husband is raving about these recipes, and the kids' plates are coming back clean. When the preparation isn't lickety-split, it's enjoyable and uncomplicated.
  
  Here's what we've loved so far, and all are restaurant quality:
  Honey Harvest Quinoa (my new staple breakfast- on hand, in the fridge to reheat)
  Steak Chimichurri (not exactly like Argentina's, Tadd Said, but we LOVED it)
  Chicken Paillard (lunch in 15 minutes! divine)
  Italian Open-Faced Sandwich (super-fast. yum)
  Apple Pancakes with Nutty Topping (topping is supuuurb. don't substitute the pure maple syrup in recipes like this. save the fake for Krusteez mix)
  
  That's all we've tried, but these 5 out of 5 were so yummy, and the rest look so good, I'm buying a copy of my own.
• 
  ashley

  Firstly, Ellie Krieger just makes me want to hug her. I swear she comes off as one of the most genuine and sweet people, like you know she truly cares that you are eating good and delicious foods. Her recipes are straight forward and easy, with a good mix of different cuisines and preparations. Unfortunately, not many of them appealed to me enough to try and make them. Admittedly, I'm not one for "healthy" eating, but I didn't walk away from this cookbook with more than a handful of recipes to try, and only a few that I think I will attempt again.
  
  I'm sure someone who is more focused on healthy eating would really get a lot of use out of this book, but it simply wasn't for me.
• 
  Kaylyn

  I love Ellie Krieger- this book comes off the shelf regularly & every time I make any of the recipes they come out delicious! I love her "food style"- it's fresh, & healthy without being "fussy!" Her recipes would honestly fit into a variety of "on trend" food diets- paleo, gf, whole 30 etc- she just does it in a way that comes naturally & isn't intimidating! The flavor combos are off the charts & you'll find yourself feeling very accomplished & proud of your results in the kitchen- trying lots of new & fresh ingredients & yet you won't have been stressed in the slightest to get to this new notch on the culinary ladder! ;)
• 
  Dana

  The recipes in this cookbook are broken up into breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert; and each meal is further divided in to one chapter devoted to quick, on the run, recipes, and one for more leisurely cooking. I really liked this set up, as my own life requires quick meals during the week, but I enjoy spending more time in the kitchen on weekends.
  
  You can read my review at
  Rantings of a Bookworm Couch Potato.
• 
  Renee

  Another great cookbook from Ellie Krieger, a woman I respect for making it on a network that I love, but let's face it, does not focus on healthy cooking. I especially appreciate the simple ideas for packed lunches and quick dinners. Cooking this healthy is still new to me and the techniques are not second nature yet, so even simple recipes are helpful, especially when there is little time for meal prep.
• 
  Cynthia

  This is a great cookbook! I have been using recipes from this book every night for the past couple of weeks. Initially I just wanted to eat healthier and control caloric content for dinner, but the added bonus is that my family loves everything I've made so far (with the exception of the littlest, but he only loves pasta anyway:). I've been so pleasantly surprised and would recommend this book to anyone.
• 
  Angela

  I don't own this title, but I will and that should be a perfect indication of how helpful, fun and fantastic this cookbook is. E. Krieger is thorough and very informative and I love every recipe I had the pleasure to try. My pizza loving, high-caloric intake husband will even try her dishes and has admitted to liking them, and if that isn't an endorsement, I don't know...
• 
  Mariya

  Great cookbook! I like Ellie Krieger's style for her passion around delicious and healthy meals. I would recommend though to get your pantry and fridge ready for this book. My family appreciates almost every meal made according to "So Easy" recipe. I say "almost" because there is still quite a long list to go and indulge :)
• 
  Erika Nerdypants

  Loved this book and will try to get my own copy. It turns boring, often fat and calorie laden foods into delicious creations, using simple healthy ingredients. I tried several of the recipes, and was impressed. Love the apple pancakes with nutty topping, and the broccoli salad was to die for. It used Greek yogurt, which I had never tried before, and all I can say is, move over mayo!
• 
  C

  Great, simple cookbook with a nicely balanced selection of healthy foods.
  
  We especially loved the White Turkey Chili - that one has become a staple in our house. I've made it for pot lucks and now know to make a second batch so we can have some - it disappears fast.
  
  The Dutch Baby Pancake with Peach Compote was a keeper, too - the pancake is easy to make and makes a few servings.
  
• 
  Alicia Ruggieri

  What a great cookbook for those of us who like to eat healthily and deliciously, but don't have a huge amount of time or money to spend on doing that! Ellie gives both *really* quick and more leisurely options for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, including what has become my favorite way to make tuna fish! Love this -- highly recommend.
• 
  Mara

  Great recipes, the layout is similar to her previous cookbook, The Food You Crave. I just wish there were more vegetarian recipes in it. There seemed to be more vegetarian recipes in The Food You Crave. I highly recommend any Ellie Krieger cookbook. She's the best!
• 
  Eileen

  The recipes look "so easy", tasty and different. I even went out and bought quinoa in order to make a couple of the recipes. There are quite a few recipes from this book that I want to try. Can't wait to get cookin'!
• 
  Stacy

  Finally a cookbook that is, as it title says, "So Easy." I love that there is a nutrition index next to every meal, to show you what you are eating, the calories and the nutrients and what not. Love this!
• 
  kk

  Lots of great healthy ideas. All of the recipes I used were time consuming. Fast, easy, nutritious and delicious. Most recipes contain simple items. You can use her recipes as is or tweak them to your own taste.
• 
  Theresa Bombard

  Trying some of the recipes this week-easy and tasty.
• 
  Joanne

  Easy and nutritious! I liked it so much I went out and bought it!