trisha's table -- a book review

Trisha Yearwood's Trisha's Table:  My Feel-Good Favorites for a Balanced Diet is one of those spate of recipe books produced by television chefs -- in this case, also a famous Country Music artist -- capitalizing on the demands of an increasingly health-conscious world.  In her third cookbook, Yearwood has given us a book where the emphasis is squarely on lighter options.

While Yearwood herself notes she's no nutritionist,this collection relies more heavily on fresh produce and less sugar.  That means some recipes that follow the trend -- like kale chips, raw power balls, and quinoa burgers.  But most of the recipes in this volume show more invention than I've seen in lots of other cookbooks of this variety -- things like a sweet potato salad with Greek yogurt and angel-hair pasta with avocado pesto.

Yearwood here takes a decidedly more contemporary approach than in her previous books.  There are plenty of full-on indulgences for her "20 percent" days:  Cinnamon orange rolls, slow-cooker Georgia pulled pork, and key lime cheesecake with raspberry sauce.  (The cheesecake is a recipe I will be forced to try soon.)  Just as in her show, Yearwood's relatable personality and down-to-earth culinary sensibility make for positive encouragement.  She doesn't force readers to rid our pantry of gluten, but she does advise -- with all the Southern gentleness you'd expect -- that we try tofu in place of cheese in our lasagna.  

Make no doubt about it, this is a cookbook to add to your collection.  And the pictures only add to the book's appeal.

____________________
I received a free copy of this book as part of the Blogging for Books program in exchange for my honest review here.