Trisha's Table

March 2, 2015
In an increasingly health-conscious world, even celebrity cookbooks must adapt and offer wholesome recipes, and in this third volume from Grammy-winning country singer Yearwood, the emphasis is squarely on lighter options. Yearwood herself notes she’s not a nutritionist, but this collection relies more heavily on fresh produce and less sugar. That means some requisite trendy blog favorites like kale chips, raw power balls, and quinoa burgers. Some alternatives show more invention, like a sweet potato salad with Greek yogurt and angel-hair pasta with avocado pesto, and she takes a decidedly more contemporary approach than in her previous books. There are plenty of full-on indulgences for her “20 percent” days: cinnamon orange rolls, slow-cooker Georgia pulled pork, and key lime cheesecake with raspberry sauce. Yearwood’s relatable personality and down-to-earth culinary sensibility make for positive encouragement—she won’t force you to rid your pantry of gluten, but she will gently advise you to try tofu in place of cheese in your lasagna. This is a solid offering that can add variety to the home repertoire. Color photos.