Eating in the Middle: A Mostly Wholesome Cookbook

From the moment I opened the shipping box I was instantly struck with how beautiful this cookbook is. I know that might sound strange, but a cookbook has to aesthetically appealing to me not only for the inside contents but the outside presentation as well. The photos are vibrant and beautifully designed, and the recipe pictures make you want to dive right in and start creating something. Andie devotes a few pages of her cookbook to describing her weight loss journey, and this left a soft spot in my heart right away, because I understand the battle with food issues SO WELL. I too have 100+ pounds to lose, just as Andie did in the beginning of her journey, so the kinship I felt with this author was instant. There are a ton of healthy recipes in this cookbook, and they are all divided into specific meal types, so they are very easy to find. Also, there aren't any crazy ingredients you have to search several counties for, which is always a plus for me, since I live in a remote area with no Whole Foods or other specialty type markets. If there are too many expensive or hard-to-find ingredients in a cookbook, then chances are I will end up giving it to a friend, but this isn't the case with Eating In The Middle. I will definitely be holding on to this one. Another HUGE part of this cookbook that I want to give high praise for is the fact that every recipe contains the nutritional information. If you've read any of my other cookbook reviews then you know that my son is a Type 1 diabetic, and knowing exactly how much sugar and carbs are in each recipe I try is crucial. So needless to say I was beyond thrilled to see the nutrition info provided with each recipe, and I can't say enough about how much this means to me. It might be irrelevant to many people, but when you struggle to keep your child's blood sugar stable on a daily basis, then these little tidbits of information are lifesavers (in every aspect of the word). So THANK YOU, Andie! The first recipe I tried was the Smashed Roasted Garlic Potatoes (page 89), because I needed a simple side dish to go with a special meal I had prepared for my dad's birthday. I knew he loved potatoes, so I gave this recipe a whirl and he loved them. (We all did). And talk about super easy to throw together. My kids are grown, but I bet this recipe is one that little kids would enjoy because they get to "smash" the potatoes (with adult supervision, of course). So, if you have little kids who like to help in the kitchen, you might want to give this one a try. The second dish I made was the Parmesan-Crusted Chicken Tenders With Buttermilk Ranch Dressing (page 149). My boys love chicken tenders, and these are not only healthier than your average chicken tenders, but they're also easy to prepare. Having quick and simple recipes on hand is a must for me because we are a busy family and there isn't much time to put together an elaborate meal (unless it's a holiday). If you stay on the go like we do, then you'll love the simplicity of these recipes too. In closing, I encourage all of you on the road to creating a healthier lifestyle for you and/or your family to give Andie Mitchell's cookbook a try. You won't be disappointed! DISCLAIMER: I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review. All opinions expressed above are entirely my own.

An awesome book from cover to cover. Even the binding style is top notch. I was so excited to get my preordered copy today. I found Andie through a People magazine review of her book "It was me all along". I listened to it on an Audible copy which was neat because Andie reads it. I enjoyed it so much that I now follow her blog. Every one of her recipes that I have prepared is really good. So....this book is amazing. The photos are really great. The few recipes that I recognize from her blog are already favorites of mine. Andie is a very entertaining writer so the recipe intro really inspires you to prepare the dish. I'm trying to savor the book and not read it all tonight! This book is one "cookbook" I plan to keep and give as a gift soon! Thanks Andie!

I ordered Andie's cookbook a couple of weeks ago after I read her memoir, and so far I've made: Breakfast Egg Salad -- So simple but delicious! Peanut Butter Granola Parfaits - My first time making homemade granola. It was a big hit with everyone, including my toddler. Mashed Sweet Potatoes (with orange & basil) - Not a favorite. I think we prefer our tried and true brown sugar, butter & cinnamon sweet potatoes. Salad with Brussels Sprouts, Goat Cheese & fruit (I can't remember exactly what it's called in the cookbook, but it was really tasty.) The food photography in this cookbook is absolutely stunning, and that's honestly what motivated me to buy it. (Who doesn't love pretty pictures of food?) Andie does a great job of weaving her stories, tips and experience with food in this cookbook, and I look forward to trying more of her recipes. As one reviewer stated, if you're looking for advanced recipes, this is probably not the cookbook for you. I personally like simple and easy (the breakfast egg salad and peanut butter granola being great examples.) If there are too many ingredients (or a bunch of weird stuff I've never heard of), it's unlikely that I'm going to even attempt the recipe. I agree that it seems to be geared *mostly* towards people who are looking to lose/manage weight, which makes sense given her audience on her blog and with her memoir. I like that each recipe has the nutrition info so I don't have to calculate it myself. Are these the newest recipes under the sun? Maybe not, but if you want simple, clean flavors and easy to follow recipes that are "mostly wholesome" as she describes, I think this is a great choice!

I am a horrible cook and I love love love love this cookbook. I adore it. Every single thing I have made from this cookbook has been incredibly delicious and I have gotten so many compliments from people. Literally each time I make something from here I say, "I can't believe I made something that tastes this good!" after the first bite. The recipes are easy to follow and written out beautifully. There is nutritional information and a photo for each recipe as well, so you really know what you're making. And Andie has written a cute aside about each recipe that enhances the entire cookbook and makes you feel like you're cooking with her the entire time. I love the variety of recipes in here. Everything from breakfast to side dishes to decadent desserts. This cookbook is a great purchase for anyone who loves cooking or just wants to learn how to make amazing things.

I love this book because it is so beautiful it makes me happy just to read it. The author's story, her lovely face, her personal notes, her successful weight-normalization life story and her love of life. And, of course, her recipes are both intriguing and doable. I have Type 1 diabetes and appreciate getting nutritional information right on the same page as the recipe. Counting carbs is no fun and this makes it so much easier. Apart from that, I usually have most of the ingredients on hand and there aren't too many steps from start to finish. Thanks, Andie.

Its just ok. It seems like there is a lot of bacon in many of the recipes. There are a lot of processed nd canned foods like tomato paste and tomato sauce. I am certain there are whole foods replacements. About half of the recipes show innovation; the donuts were ok but the muffins were dense and unflavorful. I will wait for her next cookbook. This one was a good try and I'm sure the next book will show more maturity and depth.

I've been following Andie's blog for years, and love the recipes I've made over the years (her Big Mac salad is probably my favorite). I pre-ordered the cookbook and have been really happy. My favorite thing so far has probably been the turkey burger with caramelized onions, goat cheese and apples. I like that there's a mix of low-calorie go-to meals and some splurge dishes that have minimal processed foods. It's one of my top three favorite cookbooks (others are Skinnytaste and Cravings by Chrissy Teigen). They're not 20-minute meals, but I don't have an issue making recipes that take a bit longer. Also - the photography is BEAUTIFUL.

I read Andie's memoir when it came out last year, and I was so excited when I heard she was coming out with a cookbook. I preordered it and just from the initial browsing, I can tell this will be a frequently used book in our house! I have tried one recipes so far, the Chicken Souvlaki with Tzatziki and Feta--it was so good!!! There are so many recipes I want to make, I don't know where to start! UPDATE: as of now, I have made: -Chicken Souvlaki with Tzatziki & Feta -Jerk Shrimp Salad with Avocado & Mango - Morning Glory Muffins -Asian Chicken Salad -Lemon Herb Fish (subbed in tilapia) -Spice Rubbed Steak with Blue Cheese & Grilled Peaches ALL winners, and recipes I would make again!

There were a few good recipes but overall not my style of cooking. The book itself though is beautiful with great pictures. The recipes aren't too hard to execute and I overall love the author.

A really lovely book, great pictures.