Comments

1. 
   On April 10, 2010 Jay K. says:

   In a previous book, Dr. Agatston gives a recipe for Shrimp Gazpacho (doesn’t sound as good as it is) that takes less than 5 minutes to prepare and is one of my all time favorites. It’s hard to believe that food which is so easy to prepare can be good for you and taste so good. And, in my quest to lose a few pounds and get ready for summer (and a class reunion!) my cholesterol has dropped from 265 to 189. I have never been able to budge that number, so I am very grateful.

   So, I was glad to see this book come out and it has not disappointed. It is filled with the same kind of recipes as some of the other South Beach books, but with a special section on grilling and grilled foods, and an emphasis on quick to fix, light fare made from ingredients that are fresh and available in the summer. I look for recipes that don’t have too long a list of ingredients, so that it is easy and less expensive. This book is filled with them!

   I won’t list a lot of the recipes as I see that other reviewers have already done that, but what’s also nice about this book is that there are recipes given that can be doubled or tripled and fixed for a crowd, taking into account the way we live in the summer, like Easy Summer Chicken Chili. And, each recipe has a paragraph written about it that gives hints like what cuts of meat are less expensive, and what each recipe is providing nutritionally and the ease of preparation. Statements like, “If you don’t have all the fresh herbs called for here, simply double up on the ones you do have.” makes it easy on the ‘becoming ever so much slimmer’ cook!

   A round of applause for the doctor, please. He’s done it again.

   Rating: 5 / 5

2. 
   On April 10, 2010 Professor Donald Mitchell says:

   Think of this book as Rachael Ray meets the South Beach Diet. Every dish is simple to prepare and healthy.

   If you know of more tasty, easy-to-prepare dishes that are healthy and support a lower weight, you’ll eat better. My suggestion for you is that you acquire all the South Beach Diet cookbooks you can. The Taste of Summer Cookbook will be one that you’ll cherish because the recipes take great advantage of the fresh foods available at low cost during the summer.

   My experience with the South Beach Diet has been just amazing. Follow the diet, and the excess weight effortlessly disappears. Add quantities of foods unapproved on the diet, and the weight piles on like magic.

   This book came along at just the right time for me. I was ready for some taste variations from what I normally eat to lost weight on the South Beach Diet. I feel very motivated to try these dishes and to drop the foods that I shouldn’t be eating!

   I thought the weakest part of the book came in the breakfasts. But that limitation is more than made up for in the great choices of soups, sandwiches, and salads for the rest of the day.

   There are separate sections for seafood, poultry, meat dishes, and vegetarians so you can match your protein sources to your taste and health preferences. If you are like me, you’ll be thrilled to see the many suggestions on page 11 to add even more flavor.

   Each recipe tells you how long it takes to prepare, marinate, cook, and rest before serving. You also find out which stage of the diet the recipe fits. You’ll also learn how many people are served. Naturally, Dr. Agatston gives you the per-serving quantities of calories, fat, saturated fat, protein, carbohydrates, fiber, and sodium.

   The book contains lots of good suggestions for preparing ingredients in advance to make it easier to serve future meals.

   Here are some of the recipes that most interested me:

   Soups

   Chilled roasted red and yellow pepper soup with avocado salsa
   
   Canadian spiced chilled tomato soup
   
   Curried summer squash soup
   
   Cucumber soup with grilled shrimp and dill
   
   Heirloom tomato gazpacho
   
   White gazpacho
   
   Garden white bean soup

   Sandwiches

   Club
   
   Mediterranean vegetable
   
   Monkfish and shrimp rolls
   
   Cape Cod sandwiches with homemade tartar sauce
   
   Chipotle rubbed steak wraps
   
   Pulled turkey

   Salads

   Green and yellow beans with fresh mozzarella and pine nuts
   
   Poached chicken, zucchini, and wheat berry
   
   Greek
   
   Endive with walnuts
   
   Jicama with creamy cilantro dressing
   
   Romaine hearts with tuna, edamame, and green goddess dressing
   
   Grilled Southwest steak, radish, and blue cheese
   
   Baby greens with tiny tomatoes, fresh herbs, and toasted pistachios
   
   Macaroni
   
   Sweet potato
   
   Slaw with sesame dressing
   
   Spanish rice with pumpkin seeds
   
   Citrusy hot pepper slaw
   
   Grilled shrimp with chile lime dressing
   
   Chicken with peanuts
   
   Grilled pork and plum salad with almond gremolata

   Seafood

   Blackened tuna with greens
   
   Lemony poached halibut with creamy cucumbers
   
   Paella
   
   Crab and shrimp cakes with caper sauce
   
   Grilled fish tacos with spicy melon salsa
   
   Spicy BBQ shrimp and rice
   
   Tropical shrimp and rice
   
   Bouillabaisse

   Poultry

   Grilled chicken with Asian plum sauce
   
   Spicy chicken and black bean tacos
   
   Grilled chicken fajitas
   
   Jerk chicken with romaine salad
   
   Chicken chili

   Meat

   Chimichurri burgers
   
   Beef satay with peanut sauce
   
   Herb marinated sirloin with asparagus and tomatoes
   
   Pork kebabs with scallion chili paste
   
   Grilled steak with Texas mop sauce
   
   Feta-stuffed sirloin burgers
   
   Moroccan spice-rubbed pork chops

   Vegetarian

   Indian curry

   Sweets

   Nectarines and plums with blue cheese and hazelnuts
   
   Chocolate cherry truffles
   
   Raspberry ices
   
   Peach pops

   Beverages

   Mango lassi
   
   Iced pom mojito spritzers

   The book concludes with sample meal plans for phase one and two of the diet.

   If you are like me, you’ll be thrilled with the many gorgeous photographs that make the dishes come to life. Seeing how to present the dishes will make your cooking turn out to be even more appealing.
   
   Rating: 5 / 5

3. 
   On April 10, 2010 bookfan2004 says:

   There’s something about the abundance of fresh ingredients in the summer that inspires me to be more adventurous in the kitchen. This newest edition to the fabulous South Beach Diet cookbook library is a winner. I’ve tried about six of the recipes so far and have several more on the agenda for this week. The family particularly liked PULLED TURKEY SANDWICHES (page 131) and the SPICY CHICKEN AND BLACK BEAN TACOS(page 137) which are so quick and easy, you’ll love them too. The GRILLED PORK TENDERLOIN WITH PEACH-LIME SALSA is a great dish to serve guests (page 150)and the nifty idea of using whole wheat tortillas to make homemade pizza is delicious. But my favorite is page 196, SOUTH BEACH DIET TIRAMISU. Love this book. Thank you Dr. Agatston.
   Rating: 5 / 5

4. 
   On April 10, 2010 Kim Daniel says:

   This is a wonderful addition to my cookbook collection. I love cool refreshing recipes and drinks for summer and the ones I’ve tried are delicious and they all look great. I also love grilling and there is an abundance of great recipes for the grill with lots of fabulous marinade and seasoning suggestions. I’m also a big fan of making the most of summer fruits and veggies, and this book does just that… Eating healthy food that tastes wonderful– It can be done! I love these cookbooks!
   Rating: 5 / 5

5. 
   On April 10, 2010 Hooked on books says:

   The beautiful, yet easy recipes in this book will make your mouth water. This is a great cookbook for anyone — not just followers of the South Beach Diet lifestyle. I plan to buy extra copies to give as gifts all summer long. Dr. Agatston has made eating right for better health so appealing, attainable and enjoyable. Who wouldn’t want to dine on delicious food while doing something good for your heart and health?
   Rating: 5 / 5