Book Review provided by:
Andre
Andre
Exclusive VP Book Review
Book Review provided by: Andre |
Exclusive VP Book Review |
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Okay, first a disclaimer: the author says in her introduction that “cooking without meat is as natural to me as breathing”....then goes on to state that she eats meat “just once or twice a month now”. As much as I didn't want it to, that statement colored my reactions to this book.
This cookbook is organized by course--breads, soups, salads, main dishes, etc--which is actually a plus, in my opinion. I've never been fond of cookbooks that are organized by menu, though I do tend to like ones that are organized by season. In the back she has menus “for occasions big and small”, like “”Rent-A-Good-Movie-Dinner” and “Spring Celebration”. And fittingly, Emmons also suggests a wine (in some instances, a beer) for each menu! Yippee! Of course, her suggestions are not terribly specific, and there's no mention of needing to seek out vegetarian and/or organic wine.
Now, on to the recipes. Is it wrong to admit that the first recipe I made was Banana Cream Pie with Chocolate Lining? And it was yummy , just the right texture of vanilla pastry cream in a fabulous graham cracker crust lined with dark chocolate. This recipe is neither vegan nor low-fat, but it sure made my family happy!
My favorite entree--Chickpea-flour Dumplings in Spinach-Tomato Sauce--is Indian-inspired. The dumplings are similar to pakoras, but without a filling. The sauce is amazing , and several times I've made the sauce to eat with some brown basmati and skipped the dumplings entirely. Again, not vegan--the sauce calls for a cup of plain yogurt and the dumplings contain butter--but I'm sure a creative cook could substitute. I highly recommend this recipe!
Other recipes we really liked:
*Spinach and Mozzarella Grilled Cheese Sandwiches with Chile Dipping Sauce. These are made with lavash. Very kid friendly!
*Adrienne's Vegan Lasagna. Lots of spinach, and of course a tofu filling.
*Jamaican burgers--made with black beans, rice and jalapeno. My family didn't like these much, but I loved them!
*Soft Polenta with Spicy Tomato Sauce. Simple, but good .
Despite my reservations, there's probably something for everyone in this book. Lots of cuisines are included, and there are not too many exotic ingredients, apart from some spices one might not regularly keep on hand. Many recipes are vegan or could very easily be made so. There's a lot of recipes here I've yet to try--guess I've got some cooking to do!
I give this one 3 forks!
.
VegPeople Rating: |
 3 forks out of 4 |
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Book Contents
Splendid Breads
Chutneys, Ketchups, Salsas, & More
Small Bites
Soups—Some Cold, Some Hot
Artful Salads & Slaws
Dressed to Thrill
Simple Sides
MAIN DISHES
Rice—White, Black, Brown, & Wild
Grain Central Station
The Global Noodle
Dumplings for Dinner
Savory Crepes & Cakes
Burgers & Sandwiches
Tortilla Madness
Things That Get Baked
Pizza Zone
Big Chilis & Hot Stews
Sweet Things
Cool Drinks
Breakfast Any Time
What’s For Dinner?