There's always the hope that a cookbook featuring healthy recipes will also have great taste. My fingers are always crossed… but health and diet books are a mixed bag in what they deliver. I think Author Gina Homolka's Skinnytaste seems to have found the right combination of interesting recipes, abundant beautiful (what does success look like) photos, the yum factor and sensible meal prep tips.

This is a great book for busy health-conscious eaters.It delivers big-time in the meal prep area.It focuses on doing as much as you can in advance. Finally, a sensible easy path to creating time for the home chef. Per Gina, "I'm beyond excited to join in by writing this book, which is loaded with totally manageable and absolutely delicious recipes that are sure to please the entire family. When I was brainstorming topics for this cookbook, I polled my Facebook community and the top three requests on your list were meal prep ideas, easy freezer recipes, and make-ahead recipes. Easy is the name of the game, so I combined all three into one book. "

How wonderful to read whole chapters on "freezer favorites" divided into vegetarian and meat & seafood. Think Freezer-to-Instant Pot Chicken and Dumpling Soup; Sicilian Rice Ball (Arancini) Casserole; Low-Country Boil Foil Packets. These recipes and other tips are time-saving strategies that will fit into your busy life and make it possible to say farewell to frozen boxed lasagna, pass on the processed pizza, and ditch the drive-through for good!

I am sure you will love also love the author's excellent time-saving strategies, including recipes to prep ahead so they can go straight from the freezer to the Instant Pot®, slow cooker, or oven. Using these flexible techniques, means you'll have meals on-hand months in advance, ready whenever the need arises, with no further shopping or cooking required.

Imagine stress-free mornings enjoying Lemon Blueberry Sheet Pan Pancakes for breakfast and grabbing a DIY Chicken Taco Kit for lunch on your way out the door. Healthy bites like Pumpkin Hummus and "Everything" Nuts will provide energy throughout the afternoon. For no-prep, effortless dinners, Roasted Vegetable Lasagna, Moussaka Makeover, and Greek Chicken Pilaf Bowls will make the entire family happy and fulfilled.

With Skinnytaste Meal Prep, cooking smarter and eating healthier just got a whole lot simpler. Take the following two recipes from this fabulous skinny cookbook for a taste run.

RECIPES

Recipe 1
Rotisserie Summer Chicken Bowls with Smoked Paprika Aioli

SERVES 4

SMOKED PAPRIKA AIOLI

1⁄2 cup light mayonnaise

Juice of 1 large lime

1 teaspoon smoked paprika

1 tablespoon finely minced fresh cilantro

SALAD

6 cup mixed baby greens

1 pound leftover Paprika Roasted Whole Chicken (page 248) or rotisserie chicken, skin and bones removed, torn into bite-size pieces (half white, half dark; about 3 cups)

1 1⁄3 cups halved grape tomatoes

1 1⁄3 cups steamed corn, from 2 fresh (or frozen) ears

1⁄2 small red onion, slivered

1 small (4-ounce) Hass avocado, sliced

Chopped fresh cilantro, for garnish

Make the aioli: In a small bowl, combine the mayonnaise, lime juice, paprika, and cilantro and blend until smooth. If it's too thick, you can add a little water to loosen.

Make the salad: Divide the baby greens, chicken, tomatoes, corn, red onion, and avocado among 4 plates. Drizzle each with 21⁄2 tablespoons aioli, garnish with cilantro, and serve.

Reprinted from Skinnytaste Meal Prep © 2020 by Gina Homolka. Published by Clarkson Potter, an imprint of the Crown Publishing/Random House, a division of Penguin Random House LLC. Photographs by Aubrie Pick.

Recipe 2
Roasted Cauliflower Shawarma Lettuce Wraps

Roasted Cauliflower Shawarma Lettuce Wraps

SERVES 4

WHITE YOGURT SAUCE

(MAKES 1 1⁄4 CUPS)

1 cup whole-milk plain yogurt (not Greek)

2 tablespoons mayonnaise

1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar

1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice

1⁄2 teaspoon kosher salt

1⁄2 teaspoon sugar

1⁄8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

CAULIFLOWER

3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

3 garlic cloves, crushed through a garlic press

1 teaspoon smoked paprika

1 teaspoon ground cumin

3⁄4 teaspoon ground turmeric

1⁄4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 1⁄4 teaspoons kosher salt

1 large head cauliflower, cut into 1-inch florets

1 medium white onion, sliced

1⁄4 inch thick

SERVING

16 large Bibb lettuce leaves (from 2 heads)

1⁄3 cup mild red harissa sauce (I love Mina)

2 cups sliced red cabbage

1 cup fresh cilantro leaves

1 cup fresh mint leaves

Prepare the white sauce: Combine all the ingredients in a medium bowl and whisk until thoroughly combined. Set aside.

Prepare the cauliflower: Preheat the oven to 450°F.

In a large mixing bowl add the olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, paprika, cumin, turmeric, cinnamon, and salt. Whisk to combine.

Add the cauliflower and onion to the bowl and toss to coat.

Spread the cauliflower and onion out on a large rimmed baking sheet. Roast, stirring occasionally and rotating the pan halfway through, until tender and browned on the edges, 20 to 25 minutes.

SERVE NOW: Fill each lettuce leaf with 1⁄4 cup cauliflower, then drizzle each with 1 generous tablespoon white sauce. Top with 1 teaspoon harissa and garnish with sliced red cabbage, cilantro, and mint leaves.

MEAL PREP: Divide the cauliflower, sauces, and toppings into separate containers and store in the refrigerator. To eat, reheat the cauliflower in the microwave for about 1 minute (or enjoy at room temperature) and assemble the wraps.

Reprinted from Skinnytaste Meal Prep © 2020 by Gina Homolka. Published by Clarkson Potter, an imprint of the Crown Publishing/Random House, a division of Penguin Random House LLC. Photographs by Aubrie Pick.

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Clarkson Potter Publishers

September 15th, 2020

ISBN: 9780593137314 • $32.50 • Hardcover

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Note: I only write cookbook reviews that I find have value for my readers. This article is not an endorsement, but a professional review. The publisher did provide this author with a review copy. No fee was paid by the publisher for this review. The opinions are my own, as good taste speaks for itself.

Useful links

​https://www.skinnytaste.com

https://www.melissas.com/