Wednesday, July 22, 2015

Cookbook Wednesday: Low Cholesterol Cuisine

Last Friday marked 18 months since my dearly beloved's surgery, and his recent EKG, blood work and visits to the specialist were all quite good.  Every day, I am happy that I took him to the doctor because he was just a little tired and out of breath.  Every day, I celebrate the fact that he's alive and well.  Every day, he moans about the fact that he's "not as healthy" as he was "before".  Yes? When? 1982? Bulletin, darling: I was younger, livelier and better looking in 1982, also.

But I digress: This is the first cookbook I bought when we were told that his cholesterol was somewhat high.  News flash: Doctors' offices are absolute crap at giving advice on how to eat when you have dietary restrictions.  If you're lucky, they have a pre-printed sheet telling you what foods to avoid (which is miles long), and what foods you can use (including water and fiber).  I really object to the terminology of "using" food.  What, is an apple like an illicit drug, which you "use"?  My nurse daughter said I was over-reacting; I told her I was linguistically right.  You "eat" food; you don't "use" it.  Still, I digress.  Let's just see the cookbook, shall we?

 I studied the tarnation out of this introduction, trying to learn the secrets of substitution, so I could just cook out of my head, which is pretty much what I've always done.  Ol' Mabel was much more helpful than anyone I had actually talked to, as long as you discount her acceptance of stick margarine, which we now know to be taboo, what with partially hydrogenated oils and all.


 At the beginning of every chapter, there's another section on substitutions to your own favorite recipes.  You can begin to see why I liked this cookbook.

 2 kinds of Chili made it into the meat section!
 Pizza sauce...not that any other similar recipe would be high fat if it didn't have meat...
 I do have to wonder about some of her choices.  Onion soup mix and salad dressing?  Sodium central.  Probably delicious nonetheless.
 Rice falls into the Potato (and Potato Substitute) section. Obviously. Again, not hard to adapt.
 Her husband must have a sweet tooth.  She included lots of cookie and dessert recipes.  That kind of thing separates impossible diets from realistic ones, in my opinion.
 Pie! Who doesn't love pie?
 This is Cookbook Wednesday, which I'm hosting while Louise is on hiatus.  Let me know if you want to be linked up!
Happy Wednesday, everyone!

6 comments:

Sue said...

Our favorite chile recipe and also several other favorites come from the Heart Association Cookbook which is held together with rubber bands. You're both right, in my humble opinion, we eat food, but the body uses it.

Big Dude said...

Good that hubby is still doing well.

Pam said...

You saved his life! I am so glad he has you to keep him healthy and happy. The cookbook looks like a keeper.

grace said...

my 33-year-old fiance is already getting reports of high cholesterol, so this is particularly timely!

Anonymous said...

Ah yes, 1982...

Dexter said...

I've had high cholesterol for years, but cannot take statins due to bad side effects. I've read through many cookbooks. For me, trying to recreate the tastes and textures of my "bad" diet just doesn't work. My motto is now to stick as closely as I can to unprocessed foods. Of course, I'm no cook, so that usually means just jamming down raw vegetables and some fruit and getting whatever the cafeteria at work offers as a healthy option. Cookies, though, can't give up my tea and cookies in the evening, so moderation is the key.

Mango Momma