Robin Takes 5

500 Recipes, 5 Ingredients or Less, 500 Calories or Less, for 5 Nights/Week at 5:00 PM

by Robin Miller

Price: $29.99
ISBN-13: 9781449408459
ISBN-10: 1449408451
Format: Paperback
Size: 7 1/2 x 9 in.
Page Count: 372 pages

“Crammed with 500 recipes at under 500 calories each, every one using five ingredients or less, Robin Takes 5 (Andrews McMeel, 2011) is the only cookbook you need for work week dinners. Created and compiled by Robin Miller, the host of Food Network’s Quick Fix Meals, the vast collection of globally-inspired dishes shows you don’t need much to create a fabulous meal – just fresh ingredients and a little ingenuity.” ––Grandparents.com http://bit.ly/y069tG

“From the host of Quick-Fix Meals on Food Network, Robin Miller’s newest cookbook is a must have if you like fast recipes that are also good for you.” ––Taste and Tell http://bit.ly/AkW302

“In my wildest dreams it never dawned on me that delicious dinners could be made with only five ingredients. … That’s why I was intrigued when I recently was offered a review copy of Robin Miller’s Robin Takes 5, which is a cookbook of 500 recipes with five ingredients or less and 500 calories or less. … I think this book would be perfect for someone who is just starting out cooking, or maybe someone who wants to cook at home but doesn’t have a lot of time to commit to it; however, I also think it has its uses for people who cook regularly. For me, this book was a great source of meal inspiration.” ––An Edible Mosaic http://bit.ly/zUcl8L

“The book boosts 500 recipes that have a maximum of five ingredients (not counting oil, salt and pepper). For the most part, these are easy recipes, and they are sophisticated enough to appeal to parents who want more than chicken nuggets and pizza. About 380 of the recipes are for dinner entrees, including cashew-crusted chicken with roasted jalapeno chutney, gruyere-wrapped steaks with port wine glaze, crunchy Asian slaw with fried noodles, and bittersweet fudge with dried cherries. … Icons set off recipes that are perfect for entertaining or have low sodium. All recipes, including desserts, contain less than 500 calories, and many contain less than 500 milligrams of sodium.” ––Winston Salem Journal http://bit.ly/yutBqn

“[Robin Takes 5] is chock-full of concoctions with five ingredients or less. Plus the recipes all have less than 500 calories per serving. The book’s 500 simple-to-prepare recipes range from soups, side dishes, and pizzas to hundreds of entrees and more than 50 desserts. Every recipe is approachable, and uses ingredients that can be found at local supermarkets.” –The Orange County Register http://bit.ly/tevSXH

“This tasty collection from Robin Miller, star of the Food Network’s Quick Fix Meals, shows how to make delicious, healthy and fast meals with only a handful of ingredients. A natural for my beach bag or busy days back home, this handy time-saver includes 500 recipes, each weighing in at 500 calories or less. Plus, thanks to Robin’s background as a nutritionist, each one includes nutritional information and they’re all sodium-conscious. Many selections include less than 500 milligrams of sodium and there’s even a helpful icon that makes it simple to spot the lowest-sodium dishes. Although geared to help you control both calories and sodium, the cookbook doesn’t scrimp on flavor or variety. ––Boomer Brief http://bit.ly/uFoeFi

Serves 6 • Prep time: 10 minutes • Cooking time: 15 minutes

This is my twist on the classic French salad that also boasts tuna, green beans, and hard-boiled eggs. I decided to leave those items off the pizza, but you can certainly add them after the pizza is cooked. What follows is a unique combination of flavors that works really well on pizza dough.

1 pound fresh or frozen bread or pizza dough, thawed according to package directions
2 cups thinly sliced roasted red peppers
1/2 cup pitted kalamata olives, sliced into thin rounds
1 cup shredded Gruyère or Swiss cheese
1 teaspoon dried oregano

Preheat the oven to 400°F.

Roll the dough out into a large circle or rectangle about ¼ inch thick. Transfer the dough to a pizza pan or baking sheet. Top with peppers, olives, cheese, and oregano. Bake for 15 minutes, until the crust is golden brown and the cheese is bubbly.

Nutrients per serving:
Calories: 322
Fat: 12g
Saturated Fat: 4g
Cholesterol: 20 mg
Carbohydrate: 39g
Protein: 12g
Fiber: 1g
Sodium: 826mg

Serves 4 • Prep time: 10 minutes

Because cooked beets are sweet, it’s great to pair them with tart Granny Smith apples, salty and pungent goat cheese, and nutty, crunchy pistachios. When you create your own dishes, try to pick opposing flavors that will work well together on the plate. It’s all about creating a balance.

2 cups thinly sliced cooked beets (not pickled)
1 Granny Smith apple, cored and thinly sliced
1 tablespoon sherry vinegar
¼ cup crumbled goat cheese
¼ cup shelled pistachios

Combine the beets, apple, and sherry vinegar in a large bowl and toss. Fold in the goat cheese and pistachios. Season to taste with salt and freshly ground black pepper before serving.

Nutrients per serving:
Calories: 156
Fat: 7g
Saturated Fat: 3g
Cholesterol: 7 mg
Carbohydrate: 19g
Protein: 6g
Fiber: 4g
Sodium: 299mg

Whether you are cooking for one or are a busy parent feeding the whole family, Robin shows you how to prepare mouthwatering and simple recipes with few ingredients, and each with 500 calories or fewer. Using her background as a nutritionist, Robin includes nutritional information for every recipe. Her recipes are also sodium-conscious. Main dishes with less than 500 mg of sodium per serving and sides and desserts with less than 250 mg of sodium per serving are noted with a helpful icon.

The book’s 500 recipes range from soups, side dishes, and pizzas to hundreds of entrees, including Cashew-Crusted Chicken with Roasted Jalapeño-Mango Chutney, and Gruyère-Wrapped Steaks with Port Wine Glaze. She also includes 50 dessert recipes to satisfy a sweet tooth, such as Orange Marmalade Tart with Chocolate Covered Amonds. Robin also notes recipes that are great for entertaining and the holidays with a special icon.

With an arsenal of Robin’s best recipes, you will consider yourself armed for mealtime. The next time the clock strikes 5:00 pm, and you want both noshing and nourishment, check out Robin Takes 5.