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Friday, November 12, 2010

Cookbook Review: Cooking Light way to cook vegetarian


Beautiful.  Fascinating.  Informative.  Mouthwatering.  These are the four main words I want to use to describe way to cook vegetarian from Cooking Light!  Let's start with...

Beautiful.  I'm pretty sure that there is a gorgeous, color photo on every single page of this book.  Fruits, veggies, fibers, grains, how-to's, teasers...all tucked in...a tempting rainbow of colors.  There are action shots in tutorial sections as well as labels on some of the finished dishes, pointing out and explaining the "why" of certain elements of that dish.  It's true, we eat with our eyes first- and my eyes were stuffed by the time I made my way through this book jam-packed with tasty photos!

Fascinating.  There was a time when I didn't give much thought to vegetarian meals unless I had to give them thought...say a special order in the restaurant or a meal for a rare veg-head friend.  As I've grown older more mature, I've adapted our family meals to include more vegetables and fiber and less meat.  Or at least I've tried to.  I did grow up in a very meat and potatoes household, but I think this had more to do with dad than mom...especially looking at my mom's wonderful diet now that all of us kids are grown and out in the world raising our own families and being responsibleish.  One of the introductory thoughts in way to cook vegetarian pertains to that fact that so many more of us "Westerners" are beginnning to embrace Meatless Mondays and cooking without meat a few times a week.  This book is meant to help those cooks who may not be as familiar with a meat-free diet.  It reminds us to "think about protein", remember calcium and whole grains...to think about zinc and iron and B12...and not to forget fiber. It also reminds us to eat seasonally and locally when possible...and to make sure we have a variety of colors on our plate to make the most of our vegetables!  There are tons of tips and pointers and inspiring suggestions.

Informative.  So, SO many amazing recipes and techniques line these pages.  Honestly?  I basically forgot that there wasn't any meat in this book.  It is packed with kitchen how-to:'s, like... how-to: make mayonnaise...grill tempeh...peel cipollini onions...make ravioli...make homemade yogurt...make yeast bread...peel turnips...make healthy cream soups...I could go on and on and on and on!  The chapters include appetizers, breads, grains & pastas, eggs & dairy, legumes & vegetables, tofu & tempeh, salads, sandwiches, sides and soups & stews.  There's also a nutritional analysis, a seasonal produce guide, an ingredient substitution guide and a guide for metric equivalents (more for us "Westerners", I suppose).  I don't what else to say other than this book is so JAM-PACKED with information and ideas.  I love it!

Mouthwatering.  I'm not even going to tell you how many pieces of paper are sticking out of the top of my copy of the book.  Because I can't.  There's so many that I can't even see the pages.  I have an endless supply of Meatless Monday and Tuesday and Wednesday... ideas and visions!  I bookmarked the very first recipe in the book.  And then I made it.  A wonderful Spinach and Artichoke Dip from the appetizers section that was a breeze to throw together...and a breeze to eat. Delicious!
...and for lunch the following afternoon,  some warm, rustic, enticing Butternut Squash and Parmesan Bread Pudding from the eggs & dairy chapter. Two for two...can't wait to try more!
Little did I realize when I opened my crisp, brown paper parcel that the unassuming book staring back at me would become a Must Have! on my shelf.  I will continue to cook from it and look to it for information in my meal planning...my healthier, less-meat-including...meal planning.  I definitely recommend that you check it out.



*I received this book at no cost from the publisher to review, if I chose to.  But as always, the views expressed are mine.  ALL MINE.  Mine.  Just mine. My opinions.  I think Moses (my cat, the beggar) agrees, though. --------->

*This post is linked to:
VFF WWFatHFL

Would you like to comment?

  1. Well, here is another one to add to my list!!! That bread pudding sounds amazing!

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  2. I love vegetarian cookbooks. The recipes always seem so much more inventive to me than do other cookbooks and, I mean, you could always add meat if you want. That bread pudding sounds like exactly what I need in my life!

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  3. Mmmmmmmm...Bread PUDding! Love it. I really love the photo of your cat...smart kitty. Looking for the chow.

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  4. I must have that bread pudding recipe. It sounds amazing! Off to scour the web.

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  5. Look at that sweet kittycat! She looks interested in that bread pudding!

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  6. Your kitty is too cute. Thanks for sharing - I need to start learning more creative vegetarian dishes.

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  7. I appreciate the review - I have been toying with just reviewing the cookbooks I have - for fun and never seem to get around to it. I will never be a vegetarian but vegetarian (and even vegan) meals are served in my home 2-3 days a week. And everyone loves the meals.

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  8. Oh hubby would love this, only because I am not a gluten eater, and I never cared for bread pudding- however it looks yummy, so I would try some...bet it smells fab!

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  9. I just love cookbook reviews! I've made many recipes from Cooking Light before and they've all been winners. They have wondeful recipes and it looks like this book is no exception. Great review Heather!

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  10. cooking light can do no wrong in my mind. i've never gone through their veg cookbook though, i need to get on that! great review!

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  11. This is another cookbook to add to the list. This dish looks incredible-I like the photo with the kitty best.

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  12. It looks interesting. I will try to get a copy.

    Thanks for visiting my blog. Nice to meet you.

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  13. I have been a fan of cooking light for years, and since Ryan is a vegetarian, I think this would be perfect for us. Thank you for sharing. Here's to a wonderful weekend!

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  14. The look of it brings memories of home..My mom used to make such lovely food

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  15. If there's anything I collect more of than magazine subscriptions, it's cookbooks! This one sounds like a complete must have! I love learning about techniques!

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  16. Great post! I’m looking to make some changes in my own eating habits and learning to cook, so I appreciate your insight a lot! Thank you. I recently stumbled upon this blog like I did yours and I thought your readers may appreciate it: http://burisonthecouch.wordpress.com/2010/11/04/food-for-thought/

    I’ve started to look for blog help more regularly and I think I’m going to add your blog to my list as well. Thanks for the post!

    -Amy

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  17. That kitty is about to eat my bread pudding! Thanks for the review.

    Plan B

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  18. I'm with Joanne 100%. Vegetarian cookbooks are awesome and really inventive. Couldn't agree more with her statement.

    How did you know I've been craving spinach and artichoke dip? I'll be right over....

    P.S. I'm way behind in commenting. Off to check off your other posts now.

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  19. looks yummy...i love cookbooks, its my life especially for a newbie like me, hehehe! hope can find one! happy weekend! :)

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  20. It looks great and your fur buddy definitely knows what is good! Thanks for the cookbook info!

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  21. maybe this cookbook is just what i needed to jumpstart my liking for vegies...
    btw thanks for being there for me, while i was gone. I am hoping to have a comeback soon..
    happy weekend!
    Malou

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  22. OMG, that last picture should win an award.

    This cookbook sounds PERFECT for me. I'm always looking for new ways to jazz up vegetarian dishes and keep me on path. =)

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  23. Loving the picture of Moses. ;-) He has good taste. The book looks like quite the resource, I'll have to check it out.

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  24. There is just one thing wrong with this cookbook.  It has the world's worst index.  I had to go page by page to find the aioli recipe again.

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  25. p.s, when I tried to cook the cornmeal dumplings (p.377) they did not hang together and float to the top.  It was still good as a thickener.

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