I am a long-time raving fan of Gina Homolka, the author and blogger of skinnytaste.com. In a frantic search for dinner ideas a few years ago I stumbled upon her blog and new instantly I had hit the jackpot. I love Gina’s recipes for many reasons including their simplicity, flavors, and fresh takes on old favorites. If you aren’t familiar with Gina and skinnytaste.com, it’s time to visit her blog and be blown away by the endless dinner ideas and meal plans!
To say that I was excited to get my copy of skinny taste Fast and Slow, would be the understatement of the year. First of all, this cookbook is beautiful. The pictures inside are lovely and definitely inspire me to cook everything in the book! Secondly, the cookbook is well organized, with sections devoted to healthy mornings, one-bowl meals, to meatless mains and so much more. Each recipe also has a key (just like her blog) labeling it quick, pressure cooker, slow cooker, vegetarian, gluten-free, dairy-free, and/or freezer-friendly. Every recipe has nutrition information and well thought out instructions.
Because I am long time fan, I have already tested and tried a few of the recipes in this skinnytate Fast and Slow. I have made Gina’s Avocado Toast, Lasagna Soup (ah-mazing), and One-Pot Pasta and Broccoli. Last night I made her Pasta e Fagioli. I am embarrassed to admit that I love the Olive Garden for this particular soup. If I am there, Pasta e Fagioli is what I eat. I love Gina’s take on this classic soup because it is light and healthy.
It so happens I had company last night and I made the soup two ways. One of my guests has a disease that requires her to eat vegan with no animal fat or any fat of any kind. You can find Gina’s recipe here. I made her version with one exception. I added my basil to the blender with the beans so my kids wouldn’t detect it and I wouldn’t have to chop it. For my vegan friend, I cooked the onion and garlic in a little bit of water instead of oil and omitted the Parmesan cheese rind. (which by the way does something amazing to the soup. I love so many of Gina’s recipes.This one will become part of my regular dinner menus because my kids ate it with gusto and asked for seconds!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Blogging for Books. I was not obligated to give this book a positive review. However, in all honestly, I would have purchased this book if I had not received a review copy! It is a cookbook worth its shelf space.
