Trader Joe's Cookbook Author Visits Town Book Store Saturday

Registered dietitian and Westfield resident Susan Greeley was busy working on two different cookbooks and pitching them to publishers when she was contacted by the publisher of the  cookbook series to write a diet and cookbook in one.

The author and mother of four will sign copies of her new book 'Cooking With Trader Joe's: Lighten Up' from 2 to 4 p.m. on Saturday, April 21 at The Town Book Store.

Greeley said the book is filled with quick, healthy and inexpensive recipes, with something to tempt the taste buds of nearly every palate.

"They are easy to follow and the result is what we all want -- delicious tasting food," Greeley said. "I also think the book is for everyone. There are many vegetarian and gluten-free recipes as well."

Town Book Store owner Anne Laird agrees that cooks will find plenty of new options to try. 

"I brought her cookbook home one night last week so I could spend some time looking at it," Laird said. "I started putting pieces of paper in it to mark the recipes I liked and ended up putting in like 30 pieces of paper. I made two of her recipes this weekend and they were easy and really good."

Though she had to whip up the book rather quickly, Greeley said years of testing out new recipes left her well-prepared. 

"I only had two months to write the full manuscript and submit it with photos," the author explained. "I do come up with recipes on my own, although they can be 'remakes' of known recipes and popular foods, such as my turkey chili, spaghetti carbonara, chicken balsamico, strawberry shortcake, or pancakes. Or they are my version of something I've eaten somewhere and like, so I attempt to make my own. And most are simply my own creations, which was the challenge -- I cook a lot and create dishes without writing it down. Well, now I write it down if it's new and good."

The mother of four sons has plenty of willing taste-testers in the house. Greeley said she is glad that her children enjoy most of what she makes, though she admits the salads are still a tough sell, with the exception of her summery quinoa, which one of her boys loves.

Having lived in both Europe and South America, the dietitian draws on a variety of cultures to come up with fresh and flavorful combinations. The first-time author said she has several upcoming projects on the table and is always looking to create quick, healthy meals that fit in with today's busy lifestyles.

To learn more about Greeley, visit her website. For more information, or to reserve a signed copy of the cookbook, contact the Town Book Store at 908-233-3535.