Announcing: Comfort Food Makeovers

Available March 2013 • 336 pages • 178 recipes • 89 color photos
All your favorites made lighter. Order your copy on Amazon.

NEW! Get the skinny on Comfort Food Makeovers with our online infographic.

Most lightened versions of comfort foods are poor substitutes for the real deal. Puny portions, fake fats, and questionable substitutions (carob chips, anyone?) are what you get with most recipe makeovers. At America’s Test Kitchen, we set the bar high and simply put flavor first. In Comfort Food Makeovers, you’ll find not only makeovers of those homey dishes that you grew up with—chicken and dumplings, glazed meatloaf, and macaroni and cheese—but also restaurant makeovers: favorites like crispy chicken nuggets, nachos, and cheesecake. We guarantee that you’ll make our recipes over and over again. Why? Our makeover recipes deliver flavor like no others ever have.

Out of 178 recipes, we trimmed calories an average of 41 percent. And we cut total fat by an average of 65 percent and saturated fat by 66 percent. So go ahead and dig into our creamy Baked Macaroni and Cheese. We brought down the calories of this heavy hitter from 750 to 470. Fat grams were slashed to 11 (from 40) and saturated fat grams to just 5 (from 25).

Behind the Book’s 50 Restaurant Makeovers

The test kitchen’s mission? Tackle 50 classic restaurant dishes—and make them better at home. We focused on dishes from national chains and were shocked by what we found.

Figuring out just how much fat is in a restaurant dish isn’t easy. It turns out that simply checking the portion and nutritional information for menu items on restaurant websites wasn’t enough to guarantee that we were comparing apples to apples in our restaurant-dish makeovers. So what did we do? We ordered in, filling the test kitchen with takeout (and kitchen scales) to answer our questions.

It was important for us to double-check the nutritional numbers behind restaurant dishes. One of the first things we noticed when we opened up our takeout containers was that restaurants tended to add extra food—a few more shrimp, a little extra sauce, an extra scoop of pasta. So when these takeout portions just didn’t make sense when compared with their nutritional information, we picked up the phone and talked directly with the restaurants’ managers, chefs, and corporate headquarters to get the scoop on what the portion sizes should have been to match their published nutritional numbers. And, of course, if a dish arrived with an unexpected side dish, we made sure that this extra food was not reflected in its nutritional analysis.

Comfort Food Makeovers also includes “before and after” calorie, fat, and saturated fat counts for every recipe. Additionally, we provide a handy at-a-glance chart at the back of the book that includes full nutritional information for each recipe.

With Comfort Food Makeovers, you’ll have access to great-tasting versions of all of your favorite dishes as well as an arsenal of fat- and calorie-cutting strategies, tips, and techniques that you can apply to all of your home cooking for better-tasting food that’s better for you. Now that’s comforting.

LIST OF RECIPES

Appetizers and Snacks

• Nachos (compare to Classic Nachos from Chili’s)
• Buffalo Wings (compare to Traditional Wings from Buffalo Wild Wings)
• Coconut Shrimp with Orange Dipping Sauce (compare to Parrot Isle Jumbo Coconut Shrimp from Red Lobster)
• Mozzarella Sticks (compare to Fried Cheese Sticks from Pizza Hut)
• Herbed Deviled Eggs
• Crab Rangoon (compare to Crab Wontons from P.F. Chang’s)
• Stuffed Jalapeños (compare to Cream Cheese Stuffed Jalapeños from T.G.I. Friday’s)
• Vegetable Egg Rolls (compare to Vegetable Egg Roll from Asian Chao’s)
• Clams Casino
• Hot Spinach Dip
• Roasted Artichoke Dip
• Seven-Layer Dip
• Pita Chips (compare to Naked Pita Chips from Stacy’s)
• Caramelized Onion Dip
• Ranch Dip
• Bacon-Scallion Cheese Ball
• Pimento Cheese
• Parmesan Popcorn (compare to Smartfood White Cheddar Cheese Flavored Popcorn)

Salads, Sandwiches, and Pizza

• Spinach Salad with Warm Bacon Dressing
• Chicken Caesar Salad (compare to Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad from Applebee’s)
• Classic Wedge Salad with Blue Cheese Dressing (compare to Classic Wedge Salad from T.G.I. Friday’s)
• Chinese Chicken Salad
• Buffalo Chicken Salad (compare to Boneless Buffalo Chicken Salad from Chili’s)
• Classic Cobb Salad (compare to Chicken Cobb Salad from Fresh City)
• Beef Taco Salad (compare to Taco Salad with Seasoned Ground Beef from Qdoba Mexican Grill)
• Niçoise Salad
• Open-Faced Tuna Melts (compare to Small Tuna Melt from Quiznos)
• Drive-Through cheeseburgers (compare to Quarter Pounder with Cheese from McDonald’s)
• Philly Cheesesteaks (compare to Regular Prime Rib Philly Steak Sub Sandwich from Quiznos)
• Sloppy Joes
• Reuben Sandwiches (compare to Reuben from Arby’s)
• Broccoli and Sausage Calzones
• Thin-Crust Cheese Pizza (compare to Large Thin Crust Cheese Pizza from Papa John’s)

The Soup Bowl

• French Onion Soup (compare to Too Right French Onion Soup from Outback Steakhouse)
• Creamless Creamy Tomato Soup
• Creamy Mushroom Soup
• Classic Corn Chowder
• Loaded Baked Potato Soup
• Broccoli-Cheddar Soup (compare to Broccoli and Cheese Soup from Ruby Tuesday)
• New England Clam Chowder (compare to New England Clam Chowder from Panera Bread)
• Shrimp Bisque
• All-American Chili (compare to Chili Bowl from Johnny Rockets)
• Beef and Vegetable Stew
• Pork and Hominy Stew
• Creole-Style Gumbo

Classic Casseroles

• Chicken Divan
• Chicken Florentine
• Chicken Tetrazzini
• Chicken Pot Pie
• Tuna Noodle Casserole
• Mexican Lasagna
• Chicken Chilaquiles
• King Ranch Casserole
• Chicken Enchiladas
• Shepherd’s Pie
• Cheeseburger Pie
• Meat and Cheese Lasagna (compare to Lasagna Classico from Olive Garden)
• Spinach Lasagna
• Baked Manicotti
• Stuffed Shells with Meat Sauce
• Baked Ziti
• Ultimate Chili Mac
• Baked Macaroni and Cheese

Baked Not Fried

• Oven-Fried Chicken (compare to Original Recipe Fried Chicken from KFC)
• Crispy Chicken Nuggets (compare to Chicken McNuggets from McDonald’s)
• Chicken Chimichangas (compare to Classic Chicken Chimichanga from On The Border)
• General Tso’s Chicken
• Chicken-Fried Steak (compare to Country-Fried Steak with Country Gravy from Denny’s)
• Eggplant Parmesan with Spaghetti (compare to Eggplant Parmesan from Romano’s Macaroni Grill)
• Oven-Fried Fish with Tartar Sauce (compare to Fish & Chips from Marie Callender’s)
• Oven-Fried Shrimp (compare to Golden Fried Shrimp from LongHorn Steakhouse)

A Chicken in Every Pot

• Chicken and Dumplings
• Deviled Chicken
• Nut-Crusted Chicken Breasts
• Chicken Kiev
• Chicken Fricassee
• Chicken Marsala
• Chicken Parmesan with Spaghetti (compare to Chicken Parmesan from Romano’s Macaroni Grill)
• Chicken Piccata with Spaghetti (compare to Chicken Piccata from Bertucci’s)
• Chicken Cordon Bleu
• Cashew Chicken

Favorites from Land and Sea

• Steak au Poivre with Brandied Cream Sauce
• Steak Tips with Mushroom-Onion Gravy
• Stir-Fried Beef and Broccoli with Classic Brown Stir-Fry Sauce
• Beef Stroganoff
• Meatloaf
• Turkey Tacos (compare to Crispy Tacos with Beef from On The Border)
• Stuffed Bell Peppers
• Stuffed Pork Chops
• Smothered Pork Chops
• Spicy Mexican Shredded Pork Tostadas
• Jambalaya (compare to Creole Jambalaya with White Rice from Rock Bottom Brewery)
• Baked Stuffed Shrimp
• Stir-Fried Shrimp and Snow Peas with Coconut Curry Sauce
• Cheesy Shrimp and Grits
• Crab-Stuffed Flounder
• Crab Cakes (compare to Crab Cakes from Mimi’s Cafe)
• Fish Meunière

Pasta Night

• Spaghetti with Creamy Basil Pesto
• Pasta with Sautéed Mushrooms
• Pasta Primavera
• Everyday Macaroni and Cheese (compare to Mac ‘n Cheese from Ruby Tuesday)
• Pasta ai Quattro Formaggi (compare to Five Cheese Ziti al Forno from Olive Garden)
• Spaghetti Carbonara
• Fettuccine Alfredo (compare to Fettuccine Alfredo from Olive Garden)
• Weeknight Sausage Ragu
• Spaghetti and Meatballs (compare to Spaghetti with Meatballs from Olive Garden)
• Linguine with Bolognese
• Pasta O’s with Meatballs
• Pasta with Chicken and Broccoli
• Shrimp Scampi with Pasta
• American Chop Suey
• Pork Lo Mein (compare to Pork Lo Mein from P.F. Chang’s)
• Peanut Noodle Salad
• Pad Thai

On the Side

• Broccoli with Cheese Sauce
• Everyday Green Bean Casserole
• Creamed Spinach
• Creamed Corn
• Cheesy Cauliflower Bake
• Mashed Potatoes (compare to Mashed Potatoes from LongHorn Steakhouse)
• Twice-Baked Potatoes
• Scalloped Potatoes
• Sweet Potato Casserole (compare to Sweet Potato Casserole from Boston Market)
• Potato Salad (compare to Potato Salad from KFC)
• Macaroni Salad
• Pasta Salad
• Cheese Bread
• Cheesy Garlic Bread

Breakfast and Brunch

• Denver Omelets (compare to Western Omelet from Denny’s)
• Frittata with Asparagus, Mushrooms, and Goat Cheese
• Breakfast Strata
• Quiche Lorraine (compare to Marie’s Classic Quiche from Marie Callender’s)
• Corned Beef Hash with Poached Eggs
• Eggs Benedict (compare to Eggs Benedict from IHOP)
• Sausage, Egg, and Cheese Breakfast Sandwiches (compare to Sausage, Egg, and Cheese English-Muffin Breakfast Sandwich from Dunkin’ Donuts)
• Crumb Coffee Cake (compare to Classic Coffee Cake from Starbucks)
• Blueberry Muffins (compare to Blueberry Muffin from Dunkin’ Donuts)
• Buttermilk Biscuits
• Cinnamon Rolls (compare to Iced Cinnamon Roll from Au Bon Pain)
• Banana Bread
• Granola

Chocolate Desserts

• Chewy Chocolate Cookies
• Fudgy Brownies
• Whoopie Pies
• Chocolate Cupcakes
• Chocolate Sheet Cake
• Glazed Chocolate Bundt Cake
• German Chocolate Cake
• Chocolate Cream Pie
• Warm Chocolate Fudge Cakes
• Chocolate Mousse
• Chocolate Pudding
• Chocolate Milkshake (compare to Original Chocolate Shake from Johnny Rockets)
• Mocha Frappe (compare to Grande Mocha Frappuccino from Starbucks)

Cookies and Bars

• Chocolate Chip Cookies
• Peanut Butter Cookies
• Cheesecake Bars
• Pecan Bars
• Raspberry Streusel Bars
• Lemon Squares
• Key Lime Bars
• Blondies
• Oatmeal Fudge Bars

More Sweet Treats

• Apple Crisp
• Strawberry Shortcakes
• Lemon Pound Cake (compare to Lemon Pound Cake from Au Bon Pain)
• Key Lime Pie
• Pineapple Upside-Down Cake
• Red Velvet Cupcakes (compare to Red Velvet Cupcake from Au Bon Pain)
• Carrot Cake
• New York–Style Cheesecake (compare to Original Cheesecake from The Cheesecake Factory)
• Tiramisù
• Peanut Butter Pie
• Chilled Lemon Mousse with Raspberry Sauce
• Crème Brûlée
• Bread Pudding
• Rich and Creamy Banana Pudding

MEDIA REQUESTS: Christopher Kimball and the editors of Cook’s Illustrated and Cook’s Country are available for interviews upon request. For more information or for television and/or print interview requests, contact: Deborah Broide Publicity, 973.744.2030, deborahpub@aol.com

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