Healthyish by Lindsay Maitland Hunt

Over the last five years, a monumental shift in the quality of healthy-centric cookbooks has taken place. The days of dowdy, picture deprived, textbook-like tomes are numbered. Stunning photographs and flavorful dishes using real food are far more inspiring to cooks and those desiring to make a change in how they eat. We want to  provide wholesome meals for ourselves and our families but we also want those meals to be appetizing and appealing. It is a much easier sell to our children and spouses when recipes are vibrant and fresh – at least this is true for my household.

Lindsay Maitland Hunt’s Healthyish: A Cookbook with Seriously Satisfying, Truly Simple, Good-for-You (But Not Too Good-for-You) Recipes for Real Life delivers our favorite foods (tacos, pasta and desserts for example) by making a swap or two that takes nothing away from the finished dish in terms of taste and comfort. No need to make drastic sacrifices or rebuild our larders (as long as we already stock quality ingredients) as everything here is approachable, uses everyday ingredients and delicious. 

Lindsay spent eight years testing and creating good, doable dishes that are designed for real life. Her goal was to provide the biggest, most delicious platefuls of food possible using vegetables and occasionally some bacon. Her five rules for creating balanced meals are: 1) making sure there is a balance of acid, fat and salt; 2) utilization of good ingredients so that we can keep it simple with no need to keep adding ingredients to boost flavor; 3) color and beauty are a major part of each dish which harkens back to my comments of appealing vibrant food; 4) flavor boosters and fun show up in her dishes and 5) providing maximum volume with minimum calories so we aren’t left feeling deprived. 

The author’s goal for this book was to provide: recipes that didn’t exist before and if they did, they were made faster, smarter and easier; recipes that cut extraneous ingredients; meals that can be prepared using fewer dishes, and these recipes are as efficient and as healthy as possible. Clear descriptions are given for novice cooks along with accurate visual references and streamlined methods provided so that both the novice and experienced cook can get dinner on the table easier and faster.

Linguine with trumpet mushroom “scallops”, Pork tenderloin and carrots with tangy romaine salad, and Easy chocolate buttons with nuts and dried fruits are a few examples of recipes that have been made healthyish. The dishes in this book can be made with normal everyday staples which is always a plus. Measurements are given in both volume and weight and the book is filled with helpful tips and suggestions to guide us toward success.

Special thanks to Abrams for sharing this one-pot dinner recipe from the book with our members today and for providing three copies of Healthyish in our contest below.

 

Sausage, Potato, and Cabbage One-Pot Dinner
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Makes dinner for 4

I’m going to be real with you-this isn’t a particularly quick dinner. But it does happen in just one pot, and it’s relatively hands-off once you get the cooking started. If you can’t find Yukon Gold potatoes, use fingerling potatoes since they’re also waxy (not starchy) potatoes. Bratwurst is ideal here for its mild flavor, but any lightly seasoned pork sausage will work, too.

INGREDIENTS

  • 3 slices thick-cut bacon (about 4 oz/115 g)
  • 1 large yellow onion, very thinly sliced
  • 1 teaspoon caraway seeds
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 cup (240 ml) dry white wine, such as dry Riesling, pinot grigio, or sauvignon blanc
  • 1 medium head cabbage (21⁄2 lbs/ 1.2 kg), quartered and cut into 1⁄2-inch (12-mm) slices
  • 1 cup (240 ml) chicken stock or vegetable stock
  • 4 large bratwurst sausage links (1 lb/455 g total)
  • 6 medium Yukon Gold potatoes (2 lbs/910 g), chopped into 1-inch (2.5-cm) pieces
  • 1⁄4 to 1/3 cup (60 to 80g) Dijon mustard
  • 1⁄4 to 1/3 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves from 1 small bunch

HOW TO MAKE IT

Heat a large pot over medium-low heat. Place the bacon slices flat in the pot and cook, turning a couple times, until crispy and most of the fat has drained from the bacon, 8 to 12 minutes. Transfer the bacon to a plate, leaving the fat in the pot. Let the bacon cool, then cut into 3⁄4-inch (2-cm) pieces.

Add the onions, caraway seeds, and 1 teaspoon each salt and pepper to the pot. Cook, stirring often, until the onions are completely soft, 10 to 12 minutes. Pour in the white wine and use a flat-bottomed spatula to scrape the meaty bits off the bottom of the pot. Continue to scrape until the wine has reduced by about half, 3 to 5 minutes.

Stir in the cabbage and stock, cover, and cook, stirring occasionally, until the cabbage is very soft, 20 to 25 minutes.

Stir in the chopped bacon and then nestle the sausages in the cabbage so they are completely covered. Add the potatoes on top, in an even layer. Sprinkle with 1 teaspoon salt and re-cover. Cook over medium-low heat until the potatoes are fork-tender and the sausage is cooked through, 18 to 22 minutes more.

Spoon the potatoes, cabbage, sausage, and any juices into serving bowls. Season with salt and pepper, dollop with mustard, sprinkle with the parsley, and eat hot.

Receipt Excerpt from Healthyish by Lindsay Maitland Hunt, published by ABRAMS © 2017.  Photo: Linda Pugliese

 

 

The publisher is offering three copies of this book to EYB Members in the US. One of the entry options is to answer the following question in the comments section of this blog post.

Which recipe in the index would you try first?

Please note that you must be logged into the Rafflecopter contest before posting or your entry won’t be counted. For more information on this process, please see our step-by-step help post. Be sure to check your spam filters to receive our email notifications. Prizes can take up to 6 weeks to arrive from the publishers. If you are not already a Member, you can join at no cost. The contest ends at midnight on April 15th, 2018.

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70 Comments

  • hedder14  on  March 7, 2018

    Would love to try the fact bowl. This book is right up my alley

  • jmay42066  on  March 7, 2018

    Triple chocolate, coconut, and cashew cookies

  • lauriesk  on  March 7, 2018

    I would try the Pesto-swirled scrambled eggs.

  • lpatterson412  on  March 7, 2018

    love this cookbook!!!

  • LLenhoff  on  March 7, 2018

    Stovetop strawberry-oat crumble (page 211). But I'm ready for all of it! Thanks.

  • PollySBA  on  March 7, 2018

    Po-ta-to

    Boil em, Fry em, COOK EM IN A STEW . . . with ham & cabbage

    Fave throwback

  • kmn4  on  March 7, 2018

    Cheddary corn and scallion muffins

  • CassieD82  on  March 7, 2018

    Whole wheat chocolate chip cookie bars!

  • Joy001  on  March 7, 2018

    Pesto chicken Caprese

  • ravensfan  on  March 7, 2018

    Chorizo breakfast tacos

  • abihamm  on  March 7, 2018

    Curried sweet potato soup

  • cheftina888  on  March 7, 2018

    Spiced chicken and chickpea flatbreads with cucumber-dill tzatziki and chorizo breakfast tacos

  • Shana.  on  March 7, 2018

    Carrot-pumpkin smoothie

  • cecrofts  on  March 7, 2018

    Kimchi fried farro. 🙂

  • southerncooker  on  March 8, 2018

    Breakfast Caprese with soft-boiled eggs sounds good.

  • JRumi  on  March 8, 2018

    Pork and mushroom stroganoff

  • Jenamarie  on  March 8, 2018

    Pesto chicken Caprese

  • Alleycat  on  March 8, 2018

    Old school.pizzeria salad. Yum!

  • contest718  on  March 8, 2018

    Pesto-swirled scrambled eggs

  • EmilyR  on  March 9, 2018

    Lemon meringue "pie" sundaes

  • Nancith  on  March 9, 2018

    Whole wheat chocolate chip bars–always looking for another good chip recipe.

  • daniellespinato1  on  March 9, 2018

    Smoky cauliflower and onion fritata.

  • sarahawker  on  March 9, 2018

    Chorizo breakfast tacos

  • Scotsman61  on  March 9, 2018

    Pork and mushroom stroganoff

  • ADeeRD  on  March 9, 2018

    smokey cauliflower and onion fritatta

  • LaurenE  on  March 9, 2018

    Chorizo breakfast tacos

  • laurel2000  on  March 11, 2018

    Banana avocado chai shake! This book looks so great!

  • robynnemellor  on  March 11, 2018

    Chicken and greens sauté with peanut sauce

  • mpdeb98  on  March 12, 2018

    Chicken and greens sauté with peanut sauce

  • Siegal  on  March 12, 2018

    What is ants on a date I want it

  • Laura1  on  March 13, 2018

    pesto-swirled scrambled eggs

  • Singleta417  on  March 18, 2018

    PB-deluxe toast with coconut and cinnamon

  • sgump  on  March 19, 2018

    The curried sweet potato soup sounds nice!

  • Karla123  on  March 19, 2018

    Brown rice and adzuki bean bowls…this would make the perfect power lunch.

  • robynsanyal  on  March 20, 2018

    Almond butter toast with maple-drizzled pear

  • jr0717  on  March 20, 2018

    The unapologetically mushy breakfast bowl, if not for just the name of the recipe!

  • Lmocooks  on  March 24, 2018

    Cucumber and harissa yogurt dip

  • JenJoLa  on  March 24, 2018

    Curried sweet potato soup. Yum!

  • choppergirl  on  March 25, 2018

    Pesto-swirled scrambled eggs

  • Uhmandanicole  on  March 26, 2018

    Smoky cauliflower and onion frittata

  • ket06e  on  March 26, 2018

    So many delicious sounding recipes to choose from! But I think i'd try the brown rice and adzuki bean bowls first

  • puddlemere  on  March 28, 2018

    Bahn mi rice bowls with spicy pork and Sriracha mayo

  • Sfgordon  on  March 29, 2018

    I would try Saucy butternut squash and white beans with pesto couscous

  • t.t  on  March 29, 2018

    Peanut butter granola

  • JenLuna  on  March 30, 2018

    I would like to try the hummus avocado flatbread with fried egg. Sounds delicious.

  • Coffeebean  on  March 30, 2018

    Curried potato soup

  • Dannausc  on  March 30, 2018

    Chocolate and peanut butter smoothie with a kick

  • lisambb  on  March 30, 2018

    Definitely a cookie. Not sure which.

  • mrscahughes  on  March 30, 2018

    I'm still trying to make up my mind.

  • demomcook  on  March 30, 2018

    The ricotta toast.

  • RickPearson54  on  March 31, 2018

    Ricotta toast

  • Grywhp  on  March 31, 2018

    The sausage potato and cabbage one pot dinner looks pretty good

  • Julia  on  March 31, 2018

    Salty watermelon, mint, feta and avocado salad

  • loriannjo  on  March 31, 2018

    Carrot-pumpkin smoothie

  • Shelley.b  on  April 1, 2018

    Cheddary corn scallion muffins

  • jenmacgregor18  on  April 2, 2018

    miso chicken noodle soup

  • sdg8trgrl  on  April 2, 2018

    Turkey, apple, and Brie baguette

  • lgroom  on  April 3, 2018

    Coriander rubbed chicken breasts with radish-lentil salad sounds yummy.

  • joyosity  on  April 3, 2018

    Those pesto swirled eggs sound amazing!

  • amferrer  on  April 3, 2018

    Chocolate and peanut butter smoothie with a kick!!!

  • KarenDel  on  April 3, 2018

    I'd like to try the Summer corn soup

  • Teruska  on  April 3, 2018

    Substituting tofu for pork in one of the bowls, I would make Recipe Online
    Bahn mi rice bowls with spicy pork and Sriracha mayo.

  • auntietina  on  April 7, 2018

    chorizo breakfast tacos. Mmmm.

  • jc214a  on  April 8, 2018

    Chorizo Breakfast Tacos.

  • RSW  on  April 8, 2018

    Carrot-pumpkin smoothie

  • orchidlady01  on  April 9, 2018

    Almond butter toast with maple-drizzled pear

  • purviska  on  April 12, 2018

    Smoky cauliflower and onion fritata.

  • lgroom  on  April 14, 2018

    Pesto chicken caprese.

  • rachael_mc  on  April 15, 2018

    Pozole with pinto beans and queso fresco

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