Monday, October 9, 2017

The New American Heart Association Cookbook, 9th Edition


Heart health is very important to me, both sides of my family have had health issues. For that reason I have learned that exercise and eating right is paramount; but keeping stress levels to a minimum is also important. Nowadays I rely on my annual Dr visits and many on-line resources that are available. The most valuable tip I have learned is that it is up to myself to champion and care about my own health, if something doesn’t sound or feel right see I will another doctor.

Recently I had the opportunity to check out “The New American Heart Association Cookbook”, that has been revised and updated. There are over 800 recipes that are designed with your heart health in mind. The recipes are low in sugar, salt, fats and carbohydrates with an emphasis on whole grains, fruits and vegetables. Many spices and herbs are used to create flavor.

This book begins with tips, foods, and ideas on healthy eating. Each recipe contains a nutrition analysis based on the guidelines set at the beginning of the book. For example meat is analyzed as lean with all visible fat discarded. Based on these tips you should be able to get more accurate information to help with your dietary needs. The “Salads and Salad Dressings section is one of the largest and my favorite.

Pumpkin Pie Bites
From the desserts section I prepared the Pumpkin pie bites which are made without the crust. They are made with pumpkin puree, banana, light coconut milk, molasses, brown sugar and the typical pie spices. I added a dab of whip cream to the top when serving. They were tasty without all the carbs normally associated with pie crust and just the perfect size.

The only problem I had with this book was that there were no photographs or drawings of any kind. Being the visual person that I am, this takes away the end result and conceptual imagery on how the recipe should look in the end.


This cookbook is a great resource for someone who has to watch their intake of sugar, salt, or carbs and wants to eat a little better and is looking for heart healthy recipes.


I received a complimentary copy of this book from Blogging for Books for this review.

Cheri Savory Spoon
Cheri Savory Spoon

Mysavoryspoon was first started in 2010 as a way to journal recipes that I had collected from cookbooks, magazines, family and friends. Most everything was savory, using legumes and whole grains. Along the way I discovered a love for baking. Now a couple times a month you might see some type of sweet pie or treat.

40 comments:

  1. I agree Cheri, we all have to look for ways to take care of our health. It's one of the most precious gifts we have. Pumpkin pie bites sound like a delicious way to enjoy a sweet treat without too much guilt.

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    1. Thanks Chris, your so right and you feel so much better too!

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  2. Those pumpkin pie bites sound like a perfectly healthy and delicious treat and the book sounds like a keeper, Cheri.

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    1. Thanks Angie, they were delicious and I loved that the bites had no crust.

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  3. One wonders if any recipes were tested if there are no photos.

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  4. I have an old AHA cookbook and have made many recipes from it over the years. I bet this one is just as good, but that is sad there are no photos. Thanks for the review!

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    1. Thanks Tricia, gotta love the oldies but the goodies.

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  5. This is a good news book indeed...I admire your discipline, Cheri.

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  6. Just a few years ago, a book on heart healthy cooking would not have shown an egg on the cover! What is and is not healthy changes with scientific research. Like you, I try to make sure what we are putting in our bodies is good stuff. Yes, use a little whipped cream instead of squirt cream or cool whip, both of which are filled with chemicals. Whole foods and fresh foods are the best. I bet the salad section is amazing!

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    1. I agree totally David, whats healthy today might be considered harmful tomorrow.

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  7. Those pumpkin pie bites without crust sounds like a great idea!

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  8. An oldie but goodie-so to speak. I think it is great for those who really don't have a clue about nutrition and I am thinking about my FIL for one!

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    1. I agree, it's a great reference and there are a lot of options. Thanks Abbe.

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  9. cookbooks without photos don't interest me (except maybe joy of cooking), but this recipe sounds yummy!

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    1. know exactly what you mean, I prefer the photos too.

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  10. There is so much junk food available , I try to buy wholesome food and eat in moderation. It doesn’t always work . Your pumpkin bites look great .

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    1. Thanks Gerlinde, it doesn't always work for me either;)

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  11. You have a good attitude and it's great we have so many resources from so many places to get educated and find good recipes and such. Nice of you to try this book out and work through it w/o photos. I am the same way - very unlikely to try a recipe w/o photo help, I admit. Nice job!

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    1. Thanks Monica, pictures really do make a difference;)

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  12. I always need reminders at eating healthier, so this book would be great. Although, I am really big on visuals also. I love seeing the finished dish!

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  13. This sounds like a great resource, Cheri, and hopefully you'll share more recipes in the future too. The pumpkin pie bites sound like a great way to indulge without much guilt :)

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    1. Thanks Susan, they were fantastic, a little guilt is okay......

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  14. love these pumpkin pies, looks delicious!

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  15. I love the idea of a little pumpkin pie without the crust! I made something similar for Thanksgiving dinner last year. They look great with the whipped cream on top.

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    1. Thanks Lisa, I bet they were perfect, really like these bites for the holidays.

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  16. I love the look of the pumpkin pie bites! The cookbook sounds like something I should be cooking from. So good to be cutting back on sugar and salt xx

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    1. Thanks Charlie, I've had to cut down my afternoon sweet snacks and it's great having a resourse like this.

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  17. I think this is a great idea for a cookbook, my hubby had a heart attack a year ago and we now live very healthy lives. But it is a shame there are no images as I do love images in cookbooks.

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    1. Hi Emma, oh I'm so sorry, sounds like you have taken his condition very seriously. Heart disease runs in my family too. Take care.

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  18. Great post -- we all need to be aware that some of the foods we eat are actually harmful to us. Easy enough to cook with healthy ingredients that also have great flavor. Thanks for this.

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  19. There is nothing better than an educated consumer and that is especially true when it concerns our own body. I'm sure the cookbook is wonderful but it really is a shame that it doesn't have photos...I think that is one thing that inspires us to try a recipe.

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    1. Absolutely, inspiration is a great motivator for sure, thanks Karen.

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  20. Eh, not a huge fan of that organization, but would be interested in the recipes because... well.. I like food. ;-) - http://www.domesticgeekgirl.com

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