Life in the Fast Lane

I'm not a fan of fad diets and have always had my feet firmly planted in the "everything in moderation" camp.  But when a friend loaned me her copy of the Fast Diet, I became curious. Could it really reduce my spare pounds with a little bit of willpower two days a week?

Intermittent fasting was a new concept to me, yet once I decided to give it a go this past week, my body took to it quite well. A diet that calls for you to reduce your calorie intake to 500 (for women and 600 for men) on any two non-consecutive days in the week seemed daunting at first, but entirely sensible. After all, calorie reduction and weight loss have always gone hand in hand - right? 

Once I got past the mental roadblocks, I decided to dive in and see what happened. The most difficult part was determining how to construct 500 calorie days. That's where The Fast Diet Recipe Book appears like a knight in shining armour.

published by Short Books, 2013, £14.99

The cookbook picks up where the book leaves off. There are a few recipes to get you started in the book, but the cookbook itself is most helpful for planning your fast days - and organization is key. What I like the most about the recipe book is that I would cook from it even if I weren't undertaking the diet; the recipes are just that appealing.

This diet made sense to me on many levels because it doesn't focus solely on losing weight for fitting into your bikini this summer. It spent a lot of time discussing the benefits of fasting and how it can have positive effects on your brain, mood and waistline. 

I have only been at this for one week and realize that two fast days to my name do not make me an expert. But I will tell you what's happened to me so far. I have lost 1.8 pounds to date. On the days I eat regularly, I find myself not wanting to eat as much even though there are no limits placed. My body is making some noticeable changes which makes me think that giving it an intermittent break from digesting food gives it the latitude to do so. 

Felicity Cloake rightly said in her Guardian column, "the 5:2 diet has become the calorie-control plan for people who like to eat." The thought of eating only 500 calories is harder than actually doing it. Recipes that will see you through your fast days include:

• Spiced Pear Porridge
• Lightweight Cottage Pie
• Tuna Fagioli
• Lo-Lo Meatballs with Cavolo Nero
• Leeks and Lemon Prawns

Try This at Home

After the spectacle of Eurovision this weekend, nothing should be too shocking which is why it's a good time to tell you about Richard Blais' new cookbook - Try This at Home.

published by Clarkson Potter, 2013, £22.50

If you can get past the cover, there are some surprisingly good recipes to be found. Richard Blais is an American Top Chef winner, so he's better known on that side of the Atlantic than this one. But if he keeps making a splash like he has with this, his first cookbook, then he will soon have a UK following I'm sure.

Don't expect anything ordinary with this author. His talents lie in taking the familiar and giving them a huge twist. Licorice-Spiked Creamed Spinach? Lemon-Curd and Black Pepper Roasted Chicken? Fillet of Fish Sandwich with Malt Vinegar Jelly? Yes, these recipes are all included and so much more.

Some of the recipes require more advanced tools than you'll find in the standard home kitchen. He seems to have a penchant for siphons (old-fashioned whipped cream canisters) and pressure cookers. If you are more of an adventurous cook and really like playing with your food, I think you might find this cookbook serves up a lot of fun.

Recipes to make your head spin include:

• Oatmeal Risotto
• Potato Chip Omelet
• Yogurt Foam
• Tomato-Salsa Jelly and Corn Chips
• Macaroni and Headcheese
• Red Velvet Tartare with Cream Cheese Ice Cream

The Classics

If you were to choose your 101 favorite cookbooks, which ones would they be? Food writer Leslie Geddes-Brown has sifted through her cookbook collection and assembled her selections into a colorful read called A Book for Cooks: 101 Classic Cookbooks.

published by Merrell, 2012, £30

When somebody takes the time to put an intelligent and thought-provoking collection of cookbooks together, it's worth your attention. 

The author rightly acknowledges at the outset that nobody is going to completely agree with her selection, but it's fun to contrast and compare and choose own personal favorites.
 

Books about cookbooks are important because they have been carefully curated for people like us who just can't get enough of cookbooks. I continue to widen my cookbook knowledge from books like this one. And if you're one of those who has more cookbooks than shelf space, this book will definitely appeal.