Cookbook review - Calorie Countdown

My cookbook review for Calorie Countdown was published in the newspaper today.

Calorie Countdown - Eggplant parmesan

I'm reviewing Calorie Countdown by Juan-Carlos Cruz for my local newspaper. Juan-Carlos Cruz is also known as the Calorie Commando on the Food Network. This eggplant parmesan recipe is really easy and delicious. Instead of frying the eggplant, the slices of eggplant are breaded and baked. The sauce is a combination of onions, garlic, tomatoes, red pepper flakes and fresh basil. I used panko breadcrumbs for the eggplant breading.

Make sure you slice the eggplant no thicker than 1/2 inch so that it cooks all the way through. I broiled the top to brown the cheese.

Calorie Countdown - Air Fries

I'm reviewing Calorie Countdown by Juan-Carlos Cruz for my local newspaper. Juan-Carlos Cruz is also known as the Calorie Commando on the Food Network. His air fries are probably the best baked french fries around. The potatoes are coated with cooking spray and roasted on a rack so that the air can circulate. I actually own a french fry cutter, so I used it to get uniform fries, but slicing the potatoes by hand will work just as well.

This recipe from the Food Network website is almost the same as what is printed in the cookbook. I didn't make the sauce, I just served them plain. Also, in the book, he recommends using a convection oven, which I did - they cooked at 400 degrees for about 15 minutes. Try them and let me know what you think!