Canyon Ranch Cooking: Bringing the Spa Home

by Jeanne Jones

The two Canyon Ranch spas are rated No.1 and No.2 (they alternate positions) over and over by readers of the Conde Nast Traveler. Part of the allure are their stunning locations -- in the hills of Tucson, Arisona, and in the Berkshire mountains in Massachusetts -- but one of the best parts of a visit to Canyon Ranch is the food.

Jeanne Jones developed and supervised the Canyon Ranch menu, and in Canyon Ranch Cooking, she offers everyone a chance...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0060187182
• ISBN13: 9780060187187
• Release Date: April 1998
• Publisher: William Morrow & Company
• Length: 448 Pages
• Weight: 3.35 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.2" x 7.9" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

Way beyond my expectations

I like to cook for friends, and I don't mind accommodating their dietary needs. In fact, I consider it a challenge. In that light, the words "low fat" struck fear into my heart.I bought this book with the expectation that the food would at least look good. I didn;t expect that it would rock my gastronomical world.From our first nibble of Canyon Ranch Guacamole to our last morsel of Pears in Phyllo (filo to me) the tastes were amazing.I made:Canyon Ranch GuacamoleFive Onion BisqueHearts of Palm and Endive Salad with Papaya VinagaretteMashed Potato and Shallot CasseroleMustard Topped Rack of Lamb with Spinach SaladPears in PhylloGranted that this might be a bit more, quantity-wise, than would be expected at the Spa, but it was low fat and it left the diners, myself included, in thrall.It also helped that I started with a show-stopper, the guacamole. It had a rich somewhat salty flavor - a good trick with little salt and negligible fat. Here is the spoiler: It is made from asparagus! Nobody could figure it out.The book is no-nonsense and, while stating the benefits of a low fat diet, it doesn't preach. It also assumes a pretty good level of technique and access to decent ingredients.One low fat cooking caveat: Ignore instructions that tell you to spray no-fat cooking spray on baking sheets. Use non-stick sheets or parchment paper. If you really need the spray, spray it on the parchment paper. It took an exhauystin half hour to get this stuff off of my baking sheets.

Heart Smart Gourmet Cooking Made Easy

Following a cath proceedure to reopen two small blockages in arteries around my heart, I have eaten about 80% of my meals from "Canyon Ranch Cooking." The book was a gift from a neice about 4 years ago and I must admit it sat on our cookbook shelf for the past four years. No more! Since being released from the hospital I have lost 12 pounds by my change of diet alone and I was not eating that unhealthily my proceedure. This book makes planning and preparing heart smart meals a breeze - and the food is elagantly delicious. Thanks to the Canyon Ranch and Jeanne Jones. Dallon Weathers, Columbia, South Carolina

Wow!

I have fallen in love with this cookbook! The recipes are delicious (the lemon chicken recipe yielded a PERFECT chicken!) and even my meat-and-potatoes husband has thoroughly enjoyed the healthy meals. The stilton and pear salad was a hit at a dinner party and everything I make from this book just gets better and better. I was expecting hours of work for just one recipe but even with starting from scratch it wasn't bad. And, the book is beautiful to boot.

Finally, a low-fat cookbook with recipes of great taste!

I have two other low-fat cookbooks, and this one is by far the best. The ingredients may be more expensive, and preparation may take a little longer compared to other recipes, but that's what makes everything taste so good. I am actually cooking more now that I have this cookbook, and am very excited to try more of the recipes!

A beautifully designed cookbook with really tasty recipes.

I know people who go to spas, and they have mixed reactions about the food at Canyon Ranch. Some say that they starve to death because the portions are so small, and others claim that the entire eating experience is out of this world. Although I've not been to Canyon Ranch, I must say that this cookbook inspires me to think seriously about it. First of all the layout is truly a graphic masterpiece. The photographs and information are laid out in a very logical, colorful and exciting way. The visuals make you want to rush out to the store and start cooking as soon as you open the book. This book truly offers healthy food with real taste. The top choice for menus that we've tried in our house were: the duck breasts with blueberry sauce, spaeztle (German noodles) and braised cabbage. Dessert was blackberry cobbler.Preparation is clearly spelled out, and fairly easy in comparison to other gourmet type recipes in the cookbook market presently. I managed to successfully prepare this menu for 8-10 people, and without any rehearsals! The duck breasts were amazingly delicious (and very expensive to make - but with a little creativity, you could avoid the additional costs meat-wise), the spaetzle was weird in texture and taste but quite good and a hit -- beats the usual rice tenfold! -- and the cabbage was a great surprise and the tastiest favorite of all the various foods offered (guests were looking for seconds and thirds). The blackberry cobbler (which could be done with any kind of berry) was light, not too rich, and a huge hit. It has replaced my usual calorie and fat laiden recipes for fast desserts and it impressive to look at as the grande finale!This menu worked well with the ten and twelve year old taste testers. One hated the blueberry sauce over the duck and the other loved it. However, they heartily ate everything else (especially the cabbage and cobbler!). Making multiple courses (for 8-10 people)was not a problem for this menu, as the multiplications of the ingredie! nts added up without any problems. If you have a hefty appetite, be certain to make more than you planned to. The final servings are on the small side for such a lengthy prep time. (I believe in leftovers after working in the kitchen for so long!) The recipes take some time to plan for (many call for elaborate marinades which add the flavor sans fat), and most definitely are not "comfort" foods, although it is a great book to browse while sitting in front of the fireplace as the recipes are perfect for the hot summer ahead!Note: This cookbook is a 10 except for the convenience of preparation and overall cost of ingredients which caused me to lower my review to a 9.