Comments on Big Red Kitchen: Cooking Light's New Layout

I hate the new layout and format. It seems to be d...

2009-11-25T20:59:19.795-05:00

I hate the new layout and format. It seems to be dumbing down cooking to attract people who don't really cook. Not only do they now have a picture for every recipe, but they repeat the photo up to three times (see December issue). The index at the back was just fine. The idea of comparing store-bought prepared foods, like spaghetti sauce, seems to defeat the purpose of a cooking magazine. And even before the new layout, the recipes have been increasing in calorie content--not very light anymore.

I buy magazines at the stand because of the colors...

2009-10-30T17:58:22.607-04:00

I buy magazines at the stand because of the colors and how it appeals to me. I am totally in their hands. I do not like the new set up and I agree with you.

I used to subscribe to CL and loved it but honestl...

2009-10-29T21:55:56.083-04:00

I used to subscribe to CL and loved it but honestly....I didn't make much out of it. Often the ingredients were hard to find, too costly, ot there were just too many of them. Intimidated I passed on what were probably some awesome recipes. Since I've started blogging I've made many of their recipes though I just get them off the internet now.

Thanks for the honest review!
~ingrid

I don't mind the new design. I've been a subscribe...

2009-10-29T20:04:45.799-04:00

I don't mind the new design. I've been a subscriber on and off for at least 15 years; I do feel it was time for them to freshen up the book. I also agree that CL is trying to attract people who don't have (or want) the luxury of sitting down and reading a cooking magazine; I think they're trying to appeal to people who are looking for recipes: looking quickly and cooking quickly. That's OK with me if it encourages more people to cook.

RS, I saw your comment on the pancit at Chaos on t...

2009-10-29T18:41:18.322-04:00

RS, I saw your comment on the pancit at Chaos on the Kitchen and left the following comment for you:

Robin Sue. I never boil my noodles. Let them soak in hot water for 20 minutes or until al dente. Then you drain them and stir fry them for a couple minutes with a little chicken broth for flavor. They'll do their final softening in the pan without disintegrating or gooping together.

Yah know I am totally with all your comments. I t...

2009-10-29T16:31:35.290-04:00

Yah know I am totally with all your comments. I thought the new design colder as well. I liked the colors of the old magazine so much more. It always said warmth to me and I liked that. I would have to say that this is my number one thing that I do not like.

I am a longtime reader and used to subscribe to CL...

2009-10-29T15:56:37.584-04:00

I am a longtime reader and used to subscribe to CL for several years. I dislike the new layout... its very reminiscent of Bon Appetite new layout which I don't care much for either. I understand the need to revamp the magazine but I don't think they did it in a positive way. I still pick up the magazine from the library as it is my favourite food magazine... but its kind of sad to see what they did.

I am a magazine whore - I currently subscribe to *...

2009-10-29T15:14:29.409-04:00

I am a magazine whore - I currently subscribe to *gasp* 13 cooking related magazines!

But I get them free from my husband's hotel priority points :D They just all come in his name though!

I don't mind the new CL layout - out of all my magazines CL is probably the one I most read cover to cover - after LaCucina! :D

I never subscribe to this magazine, but judging fr...

2009-10-29T12:37:19.746-04:00

I never subscribe to this magazine, but judging from your photo, seem the new one has brighter color.

Hi Robin, I just wanted to thank you for visiting...

2009-10-28T19:14:30.494-04:00

Hi Robin,

I just wanted to thank you for visiting my crazy blog! http://getoffyourbuttandbake.blogspot.com

Your baking blog also looks wonderful, and I will be back. I really need to make those pretzel Samoas. My youngest daughter and her husband live in Richmond, Virginia....what part are you in?
Thanks again,
Jonna

I don't like the starkness either but overall I lo...

2009-10-28T18:53:54.039-04:00

I don't like the starkness either but overall I love the magazine. I susbscribe to lots and lots of magazines, I love them all....even when I get a year behind I still read them...crazy.

Robin...Kudos to you. Some people may be swayed to...

2009-10-28T18:20:25.675-04:00

Robin...Kudos to you. Some people may be swayed to write a positive critique but I felt your review was balanced but very honest. Just what I've come to expect from the Big Red Kitchen :)

Of course I don't know how it used to be, but if t...

2009-10-28T18:10:36.948-04:00

Of course I don't know how it used to be, but if the right magazine is the new and left is the old design, I think I like the old design.

I stopped my subscription long ago, but started it...

2009-10-28T17:37:40.957-04:00

I stopped my subscription long ago, but started it up again. I actually really love the new layout a lot! To me, it's reminiscent of Food and Wine.

Your review was spot on. Just the cover photo alon...

2009-10-28T17:13:33.272-04:00

Your review was spot on. Just the cover photo alone at the beginning of your post highlights the color differences. I much prefer muted too. Never liked in your face much.
Think you're right about other cooking magazines hoping they can fill Gourmet's shoes. Maybe they shouldn't try.

Redforever- It seems that they did do some type of...

2009-10-28T15:55:53.763-04:00

Redforever- It seems that they did do some type of market research and are now very happy to give the readers what they asked for, more quick and easy recipes. I do like quick and easy on occasion but go to other sources for those types of recipes and had relied on Cl for the classics lightened up but still keeping so much depth of flavor. Thanks for your input.

Robin, you said “The new layout made me feel rushe...

2009-10-28T14:35:45.898-04:00

Robin, you said “The new layout made me feel rushed in an already rushed world.”

And EAT said “I am not of a short attention span. I like to relax and enjoy a good magazine. Not jump from topic to topic.”

There in lies the problem for many things in our present society. And I call that “subscribing to the Sesame Street generation”

These days, any company trying to sell something seems to feel the general population can only concentrate for 30 seconds or a maybe a minute. So they rush and try to grab your immediate attention fearing that you will become bored or that they will lose you.

Better they keep in mind what attracted their customers in the first place and go from there. I wonder, did Cooking Light do any survey actually asking their subscribers what they would like to see improved, changed, dropped or added?

You are a natural editor!

2009-10-28T14:06:03.583-04:00

You are a natural editor!

I still have an obession with my cooking magazines...

2009-10-28T14:05:42.112-04:00

I still have an obession with my cooking magazines. Your review on CL was excellent.

The magazine industry is undergoing a panic mental...

2009-10-28T13:52:51.162-04:00

The magazine industry is undergoing a panic mentality in my opinion. Southern Living has changed its format just recently and seems to be concentrating more on design than cooking. I like both so it is not a great problem. But what I hate is the lose of Gourmet and the old CL. Gourmet's writers were excellent and you could relax with it and transport yourself to new places and ideas. This quick and easy mentality is not for me.

Here is the main problem I have with most magazine...

2009-10-28T11:06:58.031-04:00

Here is the main problem I have with most magazines, food or whatever. They seem to follow the trend of fashion. By that I mean there seems to be a 20 year repeat cycle. In other words, what was old is now new again with perhaps some wee little twist that is all for naught.

So it might be almost the same recipe with maybe sun dried tomatoes substituted for fresh tomatoes. Or oven roasted veggies substituted for fresh veggies.

Whoop-dee-doo, not a big deal for me.

I still buy some food magazines but not as frequently. In particular, I rarely buy the compilation types that Cooking Light puts out. So say, something like "Cooking Light's Favorite Chicken Recipes". They seem to put one out every year, but 95% of the recipes they include are the same.

I'm with you and EAT! - I can't decide if I like t...

2009-10-28T10:47:24.374-04:00

I'm with you and EAT! - I can't decide if I like the new layout or not.

I have not seen the new layout so I can't give my ...

2009-10-28T10:38:57.170-04:00

I have not seen the new layout so I can't give my opion but I had a large stack of the old CL that I kept for years and I still use some of the recipes. I handed some down to you Robin and I know you also tried a lot of them. Ma

The jury is still out for me. I am not sure if I ...

2009-10-28T07:16:07.993-04:00

The jury is still out for me. I am not sure if I like it or not. Like you, there are some parts I like and some I do not. The magazine previously went into depth more with their articles. Now it seems like each topic is covered on only one page.

I am not of a short attention span. I like to relax and enjoy a good magazine. Not jump from topic to topic.

I do still like that it includes exericse, recipes, etc. and is different from other cooking magazines.