Cooking with Joy

In 2001, Bauer's 90/10 Weight-Loss Plan told readers that they could shed pounds if they ate healthy food 90% of the time and""fun food"" 10% of the time. About half of that book was devoted to actual recipes; this follow-up volume is almost all recipes. Appropriately, about 90% of the book is devoted to health-conscious dishes, which often call for skinless chicken breasts, fat-free sour cream, lots of vegetables and other low-cal foods. The menus are low in dietary cholesterol and saturated fat, and high in fiber, antioxidants and phytochemicals. Most recipes rely heavily on fresh ingredients and use only a few""reduced-fat"" items. Among the winners are Shrimp with Garlic and Feta, Grilled Jamaican Jerk Chicken and Herb-Marinated Flank Steak. In the""Fun Food"" section, Bauer presents desserts like Chocolate Chip Meringues and Strawberry-Topped Cheesecake as well as a few rich sides, such as Garlic Smashed Potatoes and Hot Artichoke Dip. Bauer believes that""learning to practice portion-controlled eating is the primary key to successful weight management,"" so all her recipes include carefully calculated serving sizes. Though many of these recipes are appealing, they'll be most appreciated by followers of the original 90/10 plan, since Bauer refers to it often and designs some menus around it, with intricate explanations of its various versions.