Sarah Ferguson, The Duchess of York, is the author of several children's books, including Ballerina Rosie; Tea for Ruby, illustrated by Robin Preiss Glasser; and the Little Red series as well as a memoir, Finding Sarah. The Duchess is a devoted spokesperson for many charitable organizations, including Changes for Children. She has two daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie.
The author, the former wife of Britain's Prince Andrew and mother of two children, is an official spokesperson for Weight Watchers, the weight management organization. When she was a royal, the Duchess's problems with weight were widely publicized. Attributing her success at weight loss to Weight Watchers (and friends), she adds personal narratives to 125 recipes that mix healthful eating and good taste with considerable panache. Arranged in menus (e.g., Cocktails at Six, A Simple Pasta Dinner, Holiday Buffet), a few suggestions are unexceptional (Genoa Canapés, slices of salami and mustard on party rye; Baby Lamb Chops broiled with garlic and salt). Many, however, yield appealing, uncomplicated fat-reduced dishes: a rolled Turkey Breast with Cremini Mushrooms and Leeks; Risotto di Pavia with asparagus, sherry, shallots and Parmesan cheese; Individual Ginger-Peach Soufflée made with dried peaches and egg whites. Convenience sometimes reigns (Celebration Birthday Cake uses a reduced-fat cake mix and canned frosting). But most recipes, sprinkled with suggestions for serving and substitutions, call for a reasonable number of fresh ingredients that can be combined in straightforward techniques. All come with nutritional analyses and points, the Weight Watchers unit of measurement. The Duchess's commentary is somewhat self-absorbed but will undoubtedly interest readers who follow the royals. (Feb.)
Although some food writers and editors have been heard to say "fat-free is dead," that's apparently not yet the case, as these three new titles demonstrate. Schlesinger's first batch of 500 Fat-Free Recipes (Villard, 1994) was a best seller, and she's added others to the series, including 500 (Practically) Fat-Free Past Recipes (LJ 2/15/97). Odd then, that her health information is out of date, for her introduction asserts that dietary cholesterol contributes to high cholesterol (it doesn't) and that everyone should avoid salt because it can cause high blood pressure (sodium is a danger for only a small percentage of the population). So there's no fish or poultry, let alone meat, no salt, and almost no fat in her recipes. Most are short and simple; there are indeed 500 recipes, but some seem little more than variations on a theme. For libraries where Schlesinger's other books are popular. Bluestein and Morrissey have several other titles in their "Fat-Free" series too, including 99% Fat-Free Appetizers and Desserts (LJ 2/15/96). This time they offer easy menus for entertaining, for "family meals," and for lunches, brunches, and casual dinners, along with an extra chapter of desserts. Their recipes are more imaginative and more sophisticated than Schlesinger's, and each menu includes a game plan for preparation and presentation; nutrition analyses give the essentials only, calories and fat. For most diet collections. In comparison to these two titles, the recipes in Fergie's book seem practically decadent, with some of them containing 10 grams or more fat per serving. The Duchess is a spokesperson for Weight WatchersTM (WW) now, and she presents menus from their plan (recipes include the number of WW points as well as nutrition analyses). Admitting that she doesn't really cook herself, Fergie provides the text here, from the reminiscences about Castle Balmoral that introduce A Highlands Picnic to the memories of meeting Prince Andrew for the first time that accompany the Formal Luncheon menu. The recipes are mostly simple and on the sophisticated side; expect demand.
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