Dear Cooks Illustrated

I know with the abundance of food magazines on store shelves, each has their niche. For my favorite magazine, Cooks Illustrated, their niche is preparing recipes multiple ways in the test kitchen to develop the best tasting food possible.

Perhaps I like it because there is science to this art, or perhaps I love it because their recipes seem to be fool proof, I am not sure. They do a wonderful job at explaining each step of a recipe in detail. Also, what some consider a downfall of the magazine with a lack of photographs, I find to be liberating. If you see a picture of the four layer lemon cake with meringue, you might not be motivated to take on that task. (I did see the photo of this cake and thought that I would tackle it. Thankfully, it was broken down well and the cake was spectacular, but it did take forever to make). They have cute drawings that show you some of the steps rather than one enormous photo of a yule log that looks impossible to emulate.

So all this love for one magazine? Yes, I do love it, but I have one request of Mr. Kimball. Would it be possible to test the nutritional value of your recipes? I know most of your recipes don't include the lowest fat or lowest calorie option because the goal is to achieve the most flavorful dish possible; however, in this day and age people count calories or have special dietary concerns (low fat, low sodium, cholesterol, etc.). These people are looking to cook meals that they can eat, enjoy and measure the nutritional value. Sure two sticks of butter in a pan of dinner rolls is not that bad in moderation, but it makes me think twice before adding extra butter to the warm roll once it is baked.

It's just a thought. I know it might not be possible for all recipes, and I do appreciate that in the healthy cookbook recently released, the nutrition information is included, but what about the Gilman staples like the stuffed baked chicken?

If not the magazine, perhaps the Daily Plate could test some of these and apply to their database. Just a thought.