Graham Kerr's Kitchen

Amateur food scientists and avid home cooks will enjoy this latest volume by Kerr. He takes a creative approach to cooking healthful versions of American standards, tapping into real-life recipe makeovers, thanks to viewers of his daily cooking program, The Graham Kerr Show, on the Discovery Channel. Yet, Kerr is also capable of intriguing more knowledgeable chefs with his discussions of the preparation techniques necessary to achieve his trademarked ``Minimax''-the nutritional nirvana of peak flavor reached while still reducing consumption of fats, cholesterol, sodium, etc. In this book, photos and quotes from home cooks illustrate the core concept of Kerr's approach: ``We can make creative healthy changes that last.'' That may sound like New Age advice, but Kerr takes a refreshingly direct approach: he showcases techniques that deliver the most flavor possible while enhancing health, and provides suggestions on how to adapt techniques to suit individual tastes. Diagrams accompany many of the 110 recipes, showing how to present dishes with visual appeal. The book is more inspiring than many low-fat or diet cookbooks, emphasizing main dishes that can feed a family of four. Photos not seen by PW. Author tour. (Oct.)