Books for Cooks

“The Perfect Recipe for Losing Weight and Eating Great”

By Pam Anderson (Houghton Mifflin, $29)

I know what you’re thinking, but Pam Anderson’s new offering is more than just another diet book. Anderson, author of “The Perfect Recipe” and monthly food columnist for Better Homes and Gardens, tested recipes for her award-winning cookbooks until she was carrying around 50 extra pounds. Her book includes a short introduction that details how she was able to shed the weight, but what are most useful are the nearly 300 pages of recipes that follow. There are lots of ideas that will keep foodies focused on healthy eating: crustless quiches, meal-in-a-bowl soups and salads, sear-and-sauce suppers, mix-and-match foil packets, seasonal roasted vegetables and small but satisfying desserts.

Look inside today’s Food section for the recipe for Creamy Light Pasta with Salmon, Asparagus and Dill.