Another "cooking light for weight loss" cookbook? Upon first glance such a reaction is understandable, especially if you're not familiar with chef Kathleen Daelemans, who has been in the trenches of the weight-loss war and not only quickly commands attention with her writing but excites a mind and lifestyle change. Cooking Thin with Chef Kathleen freely shares the author's own experiences and struggles with weight as a child and an adult, and explains how this trained chef went from a size 22 to a 6. Daelemans has what it takes to be an empathetic role model for those who need to make changes to their diets for physical or mental health reasons. Her advice and recipes are aimed at real people.

Her self-effacing stories are at times painful (such as babysitting the night she should have been going to the prom), but the road that led her to healthy cuisine and weight loss is almost comical (though she certainly didn't believe it to be too funny at the time). After the excitement of moving to Hawaii to launch an Italian bistro at a seaside resort, the author, then a robust 205 pounds, was deflated when she arrived to find she had been replaced and put in charge of the establishment's spa cuisine.

The 200 recipes, as expected, are a mixture of healthy ways to prepare beef, chicken, fish, and vegetables. She has even included some full-fat recipes, such as a rich Lemon and Pecan Loaf. These are accompanied with reminders that it is OK to indulge occasionally, but a trip to the gym or eating "light" during the other parts of the day are the necessary balances to achieve weight loss. Even if it is not weight loss, just a healthier approach to eating you seek, Daelemans's book will inspire and entertain. --Teresa Simanton


From Publishers Weekly
It would be easy enough to hate Chef Kathleen she's cute, thin and the founding chef of one of the world's most luxurious spas. But it's also hard not to fall in love with her sassy conversational tone, her genuine warmth and encouragement (believe it or not, she was once a size 22) and her terrific recipes. Chef Kathleen tells of her own battles with dieting, what finally worked and how she kept the weight off for good. In the same witty, warm tone, she offers up luscious lower-fat lower-calorie versions of such favorites as BBQ Chicken Pizza, Meatloaf and Fast Fried Chicken alongside other healthy alternatives such as Oven-Baked Salmon with Ginger and Lime, Lentil Lemon Soup and Karen's Angel Food Cake. One of the most winning features of the book is the sidebar that accompanies each recipe and includes everything you wish other cookbooks would: tips on variations, time-savers and what to do if "the Queen's coming to dinner." Best of these sidebars is the "Guy-ometer": honest comments from a typical guy (Chef Kathleen's father), ranging from "Well, it wasn't steak... " (Linguini with Zucchini, Basil, Mint, & Parmesan Cheese) to "Now, this is real food!" (Pasta with Italian Sausage and Broccoli Rabe). This is a must-have for anyone who wants to eat healthily, and an invaluable kitchen companion that puts fun back into cooking. Illustrations not seen by PW. (July 1)Forecast: Coming from such a high-profile publisher, and addressing such a widespread need in an amiable fashion, Chef Kathleen's book is poised for commercial success.Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.


From Library Journal
Daelemans's Cooking Thin, the Food Network's first "healthy cooking" series, has just been renewed for a second season. The author, who lost 75 pounds after she was hired as chef of a luxury spa in Hawaii, knows whereof she writes, and her empathy and humor make for a very appealing book. She focuses on moderation rather than deprivation, and although her recipes are low-fat and low-calorie, she has not included the typical nutrition analyses that appear in most weight-loss cookbooks. The recipes are easy and include both make-ahead tips and suggestions for turning one dish into many. Testing the recipes was somewhat of a family affair there are tips from Mom and ratings from Dad, as well as some contributions from the author's siblings. Recommended for all subject collections.Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.


Review
Cooking Thin with Chef Kathleen brings her sucessful TV chemistry to the printed page.


Review
Cooking Thin with Chef Kathleen brings her sucessful TV chemistry to the printed page.


Book Description
The Food Network's newest star, Chef Kathleen Daelemans, is living proof that great-tasting food and dramatic weight loss can go hand in hand. A decade ago, she was unexpectedly chosen to become head chef of one of the world's most luxurious spas in Hawaii. One problem: she weighed 205 pounds and was a size 22 -- not exactly an advertisement for the joys of low-fat eating. But Kathleen wasn't about to give up her love of food, and she set out to create a cuisine she could be proud of. Her ground rules were simple. Every dish had to satisfy. Pleasure must rule. No one should have to weigh or measure food. And the "d" word was banned -- unless the "d" stood for outrageously delicious. Spa guests, movie stars, recording artists, sports figures, and supermodels flocked to the restaurant's tables. Critics from the New York Times, Esquire, Food & Wine, Bon Appétit, and the Los Angeles Times raved. Kathleen herself lost seventy-five pounds. Now, in this book, Chef Kathleen shares her sassy philosophy and the secrets of her weight-loss success story while giving you the tools to make healthy changes for yourself. Falling in love with her food is easy, with recipes like Split-Roasted Chicken and Potatoes, Buttermilk Baked Onion Rings, Sesame Ginger Shrimp, Green Beans with Lemon and Parmesan, and Dark Chocolate Cherry Cheesecake, and the book is packed with shortcut tips, comments from real people, and suggestions for transforming one meal into a second, equally delicious one. With COOKING THIN, the journey to vitality starts now.


About the Author
Chef Kathleen Daelemans is the host of Cooking Thin, a nationally broadcast weekly show on the Food Network. She founded Café Kula, a luxury spa restaurant at the Grand Wailea in Maui, Hawaii. She has been profiled in Family Circle, Shape, and Woman's World.


Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
IntroductionBeing hired straight out of Judy Rodgers"s Zuni Café kitchen to launch a seaside Italian bistro in a $790 million tropical paradise hotel in Hawaii, touted as "the world"s most luxurious," didn"t seem like a bad career move. Turns out, trading swank San Francisco life for island living nearly cost me my livelihood. Finding upon my arrival that I"d been replaced by a chef flown in from Italy definitely wasn"t the Aloha greeting I"d been fantasizing. Tropical dreams were dashed by a tsunami-sized uncertainty. Before I could phone Judy and plead for my job back, the resort owners whisked me off to a meeting and announced my new culinary appointment. "You will be the spa cuisine chef" is all I heard before I nearly lost consciousness. I spat the words right back, "What is spa cuisine chef?" "What is spa food and who eats it anyway?," I demanded. "Do I look like I eat low-fat foods?" Did I mention I was 205 pounds and a size 22 at the time? A fat chef behind the stove of the resort"s premier spa restaurant wasn"t good for the overall image of the place. Not only did I have to invent a menu, I had to cook and look the part. No more food fests . . . no more late-night refrigerator raids . . . no more ice cream? Returning to the city-by-the-bay so soon was not an option. My mother didn"t raise a quitter, or so she had pummeled into my psyche. Conceiving a future of fat-free foods had me trembling for Twinkies. I couldn"t imagine an entire restaurant dedicated to a cuisine that didn"t exist. My best research efforts unearthed only three books on the subject, all out of print. No wonder, since they were filled with photographs of pea shoots and carrot sticks three ways. You know, the kind of pictures that leave you salivating for something else. Fearing my career path had crumbled for good, I rang up Judy. She told me, "Look on it as a challenge and rely on basics. Grill and broil food, write your menus around vegetables, fruits, grains, and legumes. Choose leaner cuts of red meat, chicken, and fish. Get in your car and forage for island farmers. Use the freshest produce you can get your hands on and the food will speak for itself. Get advice from a doctor or nutritionist." I knew she was right, but how much weight could spa guests lose in a week? And who goes on a vacation to lose weight? Most people planning island getaways start dieting so that they can fit into their "resort wear" the minute the travel itinerary is set. The trek back to pre-seat-assignment size begins when the stewardess sets that little bag of honey-roasted nuts before you. Your seven-day license to eat freely reigns supreme and doesn"t expire until the plane touches down back in your hometown, right? We"re supposed to come home fat from holidays, aren"t we? Spa-goers came to the resort to be pampered, rubbed, wrapped, and healed. Clientele forking out 450 dollars a night certainly weren"t used to hearing the word no—as in no Dom Perignon, no filet mignon, no lobster thermidor, and no crème brûlée. I had to find a way to send these people home happier, not heavier. And I had to slim down fast. Controlling my cravings, tempering my taste buds, and losing weight was simply a matter of preserving my paycheck. I set out to create a cuisine I could be proud of and that guests could embrace. Having yo-yo dieted myself to distraction, I was determined to send guests back to the mainland with realistic tools to help them succeed at a life of healthy living. I found a nutritionist willing to help: Dr. Elaine Willis. I begged the good doctor to reinvent conventional wisdom by never mentioning the "d" word to our guests. Forward-thinking Dr. Willis indulged my instincts and deleted "dieting" from the official spa itinerary. I persisted in my pursuit to keep things simple by insisting that no one be required to weigh and measure their food or read a single book on health and nutrition. Dr. Willis and I worked together until we came up with a formula that yielded outrageously delicious, nutritionally sound cuisine. The restaurant was an instant hit. Word of the sumptuous cuisine spread quickly. Spa guests, movie stars, recording artists, sports superstars, and supermodels flocked to the café"s tables. The restaurant received dozens of culinary kudos and accolades from some of the nation"s most respected food critics. A little culinary trickery and a lot of innovation proved once and for all that food with less fat and no unnecessary calories can please even the most discriminating palates. If you"re thinking that a spa vacation at a multimillion-dollar resort is the only way you can lose weight, think again, because the only thing you"re likely to lose is a few grand. You can take advantage of all the secrets and amenities guests took home because everything you need to know is in this book. It"s fair to say that this is one "vacation" that really can last a lifetime, and since your journey doesn"t begin with a plane ride, you won"t need your Visa or American Express card. Okay, so there is no lei greeting, no limo driver, and no private butler in sight. Powerful personal trainers and private chefs catering to your every culinary whim are not part of the package. Room service, maid service, and in-room massage don"t come with this book either. There"s no one to draw your bath at night and turndown service is definitely do-it-yourself. The good news? Your journey to vitality doesn"t involve debt, starvation, or exercise boot camp. It will, however, result in long-term success. Guilt be gone! Losing weight and getting fit is within everyone"s reach. The program originally designed for the rich and famous has been simplified and refined for the very distinguished rest of us. I"m living proof that modest lifestyle changes can result in weight loss, a greater fitness level, and a little freedom from stress. Don"t get me wrong: you won"t wake up looking like a Hollywood movie star on day two, but you will achieve results. In my wildest dreams, I never imagined I"d become a spa cuisine chef, let alone a weight-loss success story, 75 pounds and counting. If I can do this, you can too!Top ten cooking survival tips1. Lose the complicated entrée mind-set. Keep dinner simple, especially if you"re time starved. Quick oven-broiled fish with microwave veggies is dinner.2. Who"s on the sauté station tonight? Build your culinary team. Enlist help, divide up the chores, make lists, delegate tasks, and follow through. Every able body should participate regularly in some aspect of meal planning, shopping, cooking, or cleanup.3. Build menus around naturally healthful ingredients. Three ounces of steak can be consumed in four bites and two minutes. A heaping bowl of Sesame Ginger Shrimp and Spicy Black Bean Salad will take many more bites than four and a lot longer, too. Don"t underestimate the psychological and emotional reasons we eat. They"re just as important as our nutritional needs.4. Cheat any way you can, but don"t compromise your waistline. Any shortcut you can pull off is worth it. If something from a can, bag, or box will mean the difference between your eating in or ordering out, by all means go for it. Read product labels carefully though, and make the healthiest choices you can.5. Fill up on the good stuff. Increase good calories wherever you can. Can you get an extra serving of veggies by tossing a handful of corn into the salad? How about peas and mushrooms in the mac "n" cheese? Roast asparagus in the same pan with the potatoes, and you"ve got two veggie sides instead of one.6. Use of high-impact flavor ingredients is highly encouraged. Resuscitate, invigorate, acidulate—use sea salt, kosher salt, ginger, citrus, vinegar, garlic, capers, anchovies, olives, fresh spices (no, they do not have the shelf life of books), and freshly cut herbs. Grow your own. They"re pretty and cheery. If the plants die, remember seeds are cheap, and dirt is free. 7. Pare down prep. Ten minutes in the kitchen after dinner tonight is easier to pull off than ten minutes before dinner tomorrow when you"re tired and starving. Peel the potatoes tonight. Cook off the noodles. Whip up the dressing. Wash the veggies. Marinate the chicken. We"re not talking the whole meal here. Just a task or two. 8. Plan to morph meals. Plan tomorrow"s supper today by making a double batch. A salad can become an entrée if you add a piece of chicken or fish. Grill extra veggies tonight and top your pizza with them tomorrow. When you"re cooking black beans from scratch, they can morph from soup to chili and from salad to salsa. Challenge yourself. See how many meals you can make from a single recipe. 9. Supersize—make your own TV dinners. Attack an overscheduled week head on. On nights you"re not so rushed, make a double batch of something you know freezes well. Store the second half in microwave-proof containers, clearly marked, with the full title of the dish and the date. A sumptuous title will inspire you to actually take the frozen dinner out of the freezer and eat it on one of those nights you"re tempted to pick up the phone and call for the next-pants-size-up, er, carryout.10. Choose the right tools. Use the right tool for the task and you"ll slash culinary frustration. Dull knives, the wrong spoon, a melted spatula, a fork with a broken handle, or a pot that"s too small creates kitchen stress. Who needs it? Keep your tools in good working condition and handy. So cook already. Plan to cook and you will. Plan not to and you won"t eat. Or worse, you"ll eat poorly.Cinnamon Apple Streusel MuffinsWeakness #457: crumb cakes. You know the ones. Those little four-packs loaded with crumb topping. I used to love to go to the half-off bakeshop and load up on crumb cakes. It was one of my worst pre-weight-loss habits because I couldn"t stop myself from eating way more than a portion, whatever that was. These muffins helped me kick my coffeecake addiction. I"m not suggesting for a minute that you replace a more nutritious breakfast with Cinnamon Apple Streusel Muffins. Not at all. These are special occasion calories you need to plan for.12 servings.For the topping1/3 cup firmly packed brown sugar3 tablespoons flour2 teaspoons ground cinnamon2 tablespoons cold butter, cut into tiny cubesFor the muffins13/4 cups flour1/3 cup granulated sugar2 teaspoons baking powder1/4 teaspoon salt1 large egg, beaten3/4 cup apple cider or apple juice1 apple, peeled, cored, and diced1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract1/4 cup vegetable oilPreheat oven to 400°F. Line a 12-cup muffin tin with paper baking cups; set aside.Prepare the topping: In a small mixing bowl, stir together brown sugar, flour, and cinnamon; cut in butter with a fork. Set aside.Prepare the muffins: In a medium mixing bowl, mix together flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, and salt. In a small mixing bowl, combine egg, apple cider, diced apple, vanilla extract, and oil; add all at once to flour mixture. Stir until just moistened. (Batter should be lumpy.)Spoon about 1 tablespoon batter into each prepared muffin cup; sprinkle with 1 teaspoon topping. Fill evenly with remaining batter. Sprinkle tops of muffins with remaining topping. Bake about 20 minutes, or until golden brown. Remove from pan; cool slightly on racks.Copyright © 2002 Kathleen Daelemans. Reprinted by permission of Houghton Mifflin Company.

FROM OUR EDITORS

The Barnes & Noble Review
You have to respect a chef who's gone from a size 22 to a size 8 on her own spa cuisine. Kathleen Daelemans, whose Cooking Thin show appears on the Food Network, did just that at her luxury spa restaurant in Maui, Hawaii, and got critical raves in the process. Whether you want to lose weight or just add some healthy recipes to your repertoire, you'll enjoy the 200 delicious-looking recipes in her book.

At the spa, Chef Kathleen's rules were simple: No one had to weigh or measure food; the "d" word -- diet -- was never mentioned; and every meal or snack time was an opportunity to get in good calories. She uses the same approach in her book.

Chef Kathleen starts off by giving the reader a big motivational talk, delivered in a casual, sassy tone. She encourages the basics of weight loss: exercise, caution with portion sizes, and proper organization, from having the right foods in the freezer to appealingly cut and washed fresh vegetables at eye level in the refrigerator. "Start with foods you like and weave in foods you know you should be eating," she advises. "Dump anything from your diet you're not passionate about."

Now on to the recipes: Chef Kathleen has a lot of good low-fat tricks to teach. There's a Roasted Vegetable Soup that gets deglazed right from the cookie sheet; a Spaghetti and Meatballs dish that the whole family can enjoy; lots of good vegetable and salad dishes, and an Instant Chocolate Banana Ice Cream made with frozen bananas, milk, and cocoa. She's figured out beet chips, parsnip chips, and Quick-Chocolate-Fix Candies made with chocolate chips, toasted almonds, and dried cherries or raisins. Most recipes also offer shortcuts for preparation or advice on how to extend the leftovers into another dish. (Ginger Curwen)

FROM THE PUBLISHER

The Food Network's newest star, Chef Kathleen Daelemans, is living proof that great-tasting food and dramatic weight loss can go hand in hand. A decade ago, she was unexpectedly chosen to become head chef of one of the world's most luxurious spas in Hawaii. One problem: she weighed 205 pounds and was a size 22 -- not exactly an advertisement for the joys of low-fat eating. But Kathleen wasn't about to give up her love of food, and she set out to create a cuisine she could be proud of. Her ground rules were simple. Every dish had to satisfy. Pleasure must rule. No one should have to weigh or measure food. And the "d" word was banned -- unless the "d" stood for outrageously delicious.

Spa guests, movie stars, recording artists, sports figures, and supermodels flocked to the restaurant's tables. Critics from the New York Times, Esquire, Food & Wine, Bon Appetit, and the Los Angeles Times raved. Kathleen herself lost seventy-five pounds. Now, in this book, Chef Kathleen shares her sassy philosophy and the secrets of her weight-loss success story while giving you the tools to make healthy changes for yourself. Falling in love with her food is easy, with recipes like Split-Roasted Chicken and Potatoes, Buttermilk Baked Onion Rings, Sesame Ginger Shrimp, Green Beans with Lemon and Parmesan, and Dark Chocolate Cherry Cheesecake. The book is packed with shortcut tips, comments from real people, and suggestions for transforming one meal into a second, equally delicious one. With Cooking Thin, your journey to vitality starts now.

FROM THE CRITICS

Library Journal