Devin Alexander

This sequel to the previous year’s bestseller “The Biggest Loser” gives readers short background stories from some of the show’s many contestants. There’s also a section on the Biggest Loser diet and on exercise. Additionally, several "tips" are scattered throughout the book.

As for the recipes themselves, all but a handful are, unfortunately, for just a single serving [which is of no help at all for the many readers who prepare meals for families]. And while they may sound delicious, many have an extremely high sodium content, several call for artificial sweetener, and many are less recipe and more “layer this, this, and this in a parfait glass/bowl” or “sprinkle this over some fruit” sort of ideas that do not begin to qualify as an actual recipe.

Overall, this one’s a “Biggest” disappointment.… (mehr)

Amazon.com Review Featured Recipe: Chicken Breasts with Goat Cheese and Fire-Roasted Tomatoes This dish is exceptionally easy to make and worth every second. That said, there is one thing to note: Be careful when checking the chicken for doneness. The tomatoes will likely drip into the chicken. If you cut into the chicken or poke it with a fork to test for doneness, be sure it’s not the liquid from the tomatoes making the chicken look pink even if it’s not. Ingredients

• 4 (4-ounce) trimmed boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• Sea salt and pepper, to taste
• Olive oil spray
• 1/2 cup canned, drained, diced fire-roasted tomatoes or fire-roasted tomatoes with garlic
• 2 ounces (about 1/2 cup) goat cheese crumbles
• 2 tablespoons finely slivered fresh basil leaves, or more to taste (optional)

(Serves 4)
Hands-on Time: 7 Minutes
Hands-off Time: 5 to 9 Minutes Directions Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Season the chicken with salt and pepper. Place a medium ovenproof nonstick skillet over high heat. When it’s hot, lightly mist the skillet with spray and immediately add the chicken side by side to the pan so it does not touch. Cook the chicken just until it is golden brown on the outsides, 1 to 2 minutes per side. Remove the pan from the heat and top each piece of chicken evenly with about 2 tablespoons of the tomatoes, followed by about 1/2 ounce of the cheese. Transfer the skillet to the oven and bake the chicken until it is no longer pink inside and the cheese is melted, 5 to 9 minutes. Top evenly with the basil, if desired. Serve immediately. Makes 4 servings. Each (1 topped breast) serving has: 171 calories, 29 g protein, 2 g carbohydrates, 4 g fat, 2 g saturated fat, 72 mg cholesterol, trace fiber, 198 mg sodium From Publishers Weekly More a guide to smarter shopping than cooking, the latest from Alexander (The Biggest Loser Cookbook) gives dieters largely healthy options in 150 basic low-calorie recipes. Alexander admits her recipes are geared for convenience, unabashedly utilizing processed foods and artificial ingredients; though she does offer substitutions for organic or all-natural diets, readers will want to pay attention to nutritional information (Mafia's Favorite Turkey Sandwich, for instance, has over 1,600 mg of sodium per serving, while Tequila Cheese Fondue is measured in two-tablespoon serving sizes). Novices and those pressed for time will be pleased to find more assembly than actual cooking: Pigs in Comforters consists of only four ingredients-olive oil spray, low-fat beef hot dogs, biscuit dough and mustard-and Spicy Tuna Salad comes together in seconds using tuna, low-fat mayo and chili sauce. Almost all of her recipes derive their health benefits from the inclusion of low- or reduced-fat store-bought ingredients: Ravio-Sagne, a ravioli-based riff on lasagna, relies on canned sauce, ravioli and low-fat cheese; Cheesy Brown Rice consists of cooked brown rice and Laughing Cow Light Swiss Cheese Squares; Peppermint Brownie "Pizza" consists of fat-free whipped topping spread over a low-fat brownie (made from a box mix).
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