Book Review provided by: Dragonfly	Exclusive VP Book Review
	Vive le Vegan! by Dreena Burton 208 pages

This vegan cookbook was inspired by the birth of the author's children. She was busier than ever and the need for quick meals became important. Creating quick and easy to prepare recipes that are nutritious and offer variety using different types of whole grains and flours without sacrificing great taste was her goal in this cookbook. Hemp products are used in many of the recipes. Many recipes are wheat-free and are labeled as such and others that offer wheat-free options. She has shared in this cookbook information she has learned about feeding your vegan baby and toddler with an entire chapter devoted to food introduction and preparation tips. There are quick guides on cooking grains and beans and a section devoted to hemp foods, which is something not commonly used by many people, and a glossary to help identify what many of the products are that she uses in her recipes.

Most of the recipes have side notes on preparation, tips and substitutions. I find these side notes to be very helpful and appreciate their inclusion. I also found all of the recipes I tried to be true to the author's word: delicious, simple and nutritious. There are some recipes that require lengthy cooking time, but the preparation is was fast and easy and the cooking time was hands-free. I like the fact that the recipes do not rely heavily on soy products and wheat flour. I could not try many of the recipes calling for hemp products because they are not widely available in my area. A plus to that, however, is that some of the recipes give a substitution for the hemp product called for.

Following is listing of recipes I made for the family.

“Breakfast & Brunch”

1. Millet-Amaranth Porridge - Wheat-Free
-My 10-year-old daughter loved this. Need I say more?

“Vinaigrettes, Sauces, & Toppings”

1. Ginger Dipping Sauce - Wheat-Free
-Very, very good. Very, very easy. Excellent with gyozas and nori rolls.

“Salads, Sides, Spreads, & Appetizers”

1. Lemon-Herb Tofu - Wheat-Free
-Very good, very herby, and very easy to make. The author suggested mashing the leftover tofu and mixing it with a vegan mayonnaise for a sandwich filling. I believe this would be fantastic as a sandwich filling.

“Main Courses”

1. Greek Basmati Rice - Wheat-Free
-Very good. Not a hit with my daughter, but my husband and I loved it. Again, this is another recipe that takes plenty of cooking time, but the preparation time is quick.
2. Molasses Baked Beans - Wheat-Free
-This is one of the recipes that requires a long cooking time, but the preparation is fast and simple. This was a hit in our house. I've made it twice now.
3. Scalloped Potatoes - Wheat-Free Option
-This recipe is a zestier version of my favorite comfort food. It didn't go over well
with the rest of the family because of the miso used in the recipe. If you want a change from the typical scalloped potatoes you know, this is a good recipe to try. This recipe can be made wheat-free by using spelt flour and breadcrumbs made from wheat-free bread.

“Sweets & Treats”

1. Chocolate P-Nut Butter Squares - Wheat-Free
-This recipe was super-quick to put together and super-rich. Peanut butter and chocolate lovers beware! This recipe is winner.
2. Double Chocolate Almond Explosion Cookies - Wheat-Free Option
-These cookies have become a favorite in our house. The recipe makes up a small batch, which is nice for a small family of three who can't eat up a large batch of cookies.
3. Easy Caramel Sauce - Wheat-Free
-Very fast, very easy, very tasty. It is similar to a caramel sauce, but lacking in the same color. The recipe gives the option of adding butterscotch or rum flavoring, but I did not add either since I didn't have them on hand. It was excellent without either flavoring, but might impart a more caramel flavor if used. This would be a really good sauce to use with a bread pudding.

The author has followed through with her intentions of creating quick and easy to prepare recipes that are nutritious and offer variety using different types of whole grains and flours without sacrificing great taste. On a scale of 1-4, I would definitely rate this book a 4. .

VegPeople Rating:

4 forks out of 4

If you's like to get this book and at the same time support VegPeople, click here to buy at Amazon.
At Amazon New Price is $13.97 (a $6 savings from cover)