George Stella's Livin' Low Carb: Family Recipes Stella Style at Chef2Chef

George Stella (along with pastry chef-wife Rachel) have developed a wide range of recipes designed to compliment Atkins and other low-carb diet regimens. Rather than relying on packaged convenience foods that meet these dietary standards, they focus on home-cooked meals that satisfy the demands of low carb life without tasting like they were baked up in a factory. Flavors include Chinese (Szechuan stir-fry), Italian-American (clams casino), Southern (fried chicken), and American sweets (chocolate chip muffins and no-bake Key lime cheesecake). Snacks, salads, entrees, and desserts all see equal amounts of attention.

There's a heavy reliance on the sugar substitute Splenda, but in general this is real food for daily life. The condiment chapter contains homemade versions of ketchup, mustard sauce, barbecue sauce and even Thousand Island dressing, and makes a simple place to get started even if the only kitchen appliance you're comfortable with is a can opener. Each recipe clearly notes "special equipment" (like 8-inch square pans) as well as the yield, net carbs per serving, and separate times needed for prepping and cooking.

Because of the sugar substitute and number of recipes that alter classics in ways that compromise traditional textures in favor of lowering carbs (such as noodle-free lasagna), the book is most likely to be used by dieters, rather than all home cooks. Still, if you're looking for easy ways to tinker with your food intake that doesn't involve packaged mixes from the diet industry, Stella offers plenty of tasty options. --Jill Lightner

From Publishers Weekly
The low-carb diet may be a popular fad, but for Stella (host of Food Network’s Low Carb and Lovin’ It) it’s a permanent way of life. By the time he was 40, Stella weighed 467 lbs. and was suffering from congestive heart failure. On a whim, he and his wife decided to try eating a diet low in carbs. Much to their surprise, they both began losing weight while eating things they used to think were off-limits (like bacon, eggs and real butter). Stella never looked back after that. As a great food lover and professional chef, he wanted to make low-carb foods enjoyable and knew he had the ability to do so. Through much trial and error, he came up with what are now his favorite recipes, compiled in his very own cookbook. First, he explains his food plan, playfully stressing that he is a chef, not a doctor. He lists seven simple rules for following the plan, and then delves into his recipes. Each one has a personal introduction, and most also include helpful "Cook’s Tips" and useful inside info (like which brand names he prefers for certain recipes). Stella’s enthusiastic, friendly style is enticing, just like his food, and his recipes reflect his lively personality, making them doubly appetizing. Anyone who fears the dreaded diet deprivation will be delighted to find recipes such as Bald Calzone, Low-Carb Pizza, George’s Gorgeous Macadamia Banana Muffins and Stella Style New York Ricotta Cheesecake. Equally delightful is his claim that "when you’re low-carbing Stella Style, you don’t have to quit eating until you’re full."
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Reader Reviews
This is one of the best of the plethora of low carb cookbooks in the train that this glycemic index relevaltion has created. Why one of the best? How about a family of four losing a combined total of 560 pounds on it? How about a gourmet chef who gives us what worked with them to achieve this? How about unique approach and recipes which apply this? I was attracted to this after watching George on his FoodNetwork program. He is very humble, yet reliable credentialed chef who has experiemnted with many twists and combos of good cooking yet with low carb. It avoids lots of the scientific stuff but emphasizes what must happen in pantry and cooking to achieve a healthier diet habit. Sugar and carbs are of course the focus. His approach is doable and the taste is exceptional. I especially like his approach with heavy cream, butter and low-carb foods. What I find especially attractive is his breakfast section, one of the toughest meals of the day for most of us to habitually maintain healthy and yet one of the most important. So there is such variety and ease of prep here, with great muffin and omelet and blinis and quiche. Great advice to make them up in advance, freeze and then micro each morning with coffee. Try: "Ham and Cheddar Morning Muffins" or "George's Gorgeous Macadamia Banana Muffins" or "On-Hand Omelet." The other menu sections are equally creative, filling and easy to prep: Grilled Country-Style Pork Ribs with Bourbon Barbecue Sauce; Ham and Mock Potato Soup; Chocolate Pecan Brownies with Cream Cheese Frosting; Jicama Matchstick Fries; Minute Steak Salad; Tequilla Chicken; There are some 125 recipes in this collection, with easy to follow instructions and advice as well as some color photos. I appreciate the choice of paperback and resultant price for this. Great addition to one's collection or as only low carb source. Highly recommended. Comment | (Report this)