Cookbook Review & Free Cookbooks

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I recently received a copy of The Natural Vegan Kitchen by Christine Waltermeyer from Book Pubco.

The Natural Vegan Kitchen Book

The book infuses macrobiotic cooking principles with vegan cooking.

Contents inside of book

A few things I noticed about the book right away: Lots of savory dishes, lots of salad and soup ideas; some very basic recipes, some more creative and more complicated recipes, too.

I also observed the lack of an extensive dessert section.   Most raw/vegan cookbooks feature an abundance of desserts, but not this book.

The recipes in this book range from simple, yes I can see myself making this, to no, probably not, based on time/energy/effort required.  But that’s all cookbooks.  Different strokes for different folks in terms of what recipes will appeal to certain people.  I love the natural foods, natural focus, in The Natural Vegan Kitchen.

The few color pictures that were included in the book and that caught my eye were the Tempeh Mock Tuna Salad

Photo of Tempeh Mock Tuna Salad in book

I have a recipe for Sweet & Nutty Un-Chicken Salad

Sweet & Nutty Un-Chicken Salad on top of salad

And a recipe for Sweet & Tangy Chicken-less Salad
Sweet & Tangy Chicken-less Salad in romaine leaves

I will have to give her mock tuna salad recipe a try.

And the Navy Bean Soup looked hearty and warming.

Photo of Navy Bean Soup in book

I have a recipe for Spicy Vegetable Corn & Bean Soup that is fast, easy, and hits the spot if you need an easy vegan soup recipe.

Spicy Vegetable Corn & Bean Soup in white bowl with spoon

 

I recently reviewed The 4 Ingredient Vegan as well as Vegan Bodybuilding, both from Book Pubco, here

The 4 Ingredient Vegan and Vegan Bodybuilding & Fitness BooksAnd included in that post was a massive cookbook review compilation post with my thoughts on dozens and dozens of cookbooks.  Be sure to check out that post if you’re in the market for cookbooks.

Because I have just a few books and cookbooks in my collection.

Shelves full of booksAnd that’s just the tip of the book iceberg.

 

Starting March 1, Book Pubco is holding free book drawings in a campaign called “Live Delicious, Eat Vegan.”

Even if you’re not vegan, if your goal is scoring free cookbooks because free stuff rocks incorporating more plant-based recipes in your repertoire, click here for the details and to enter.  Because winning any of these books would be awesome, right!

 

From my last post on Watching Movies, it was fun to hear what your favorite movies are.  And whether you watch many movies or not, and if you watched the Oscars what you thought of them.  Glad you liked the fact that I was in a movie.

Dessert: Let’s stick with a natural, raw, vegan theme today.

Raw Vegan Cheesecake

Raw Vegan Cheesecake slice in container
This dessert is so easy.  It comes together in 15 minutes.  Enjoy!
Container of Raw Vegan Cheesecake with slice missing

 

Questions:

1. When you look for a cookbook what things are selling points for you or things that interest you?

I look for:

ease of recipes

time/effort required

being able to find the ingredients the recipes call for easily and inexpensively

I don’t have time, energy, or the desire to be a slave in the kitchen making elaborate recipes these days.  Nor do I have the budget for raw cacao powder and organic goji berries.  The recipes have to be practical and user-friendly for me to really click with a book.

Then again, there are some cookbooks that I view as art and inspiration.  I get inspired by the books, even if I will never make the recipe.

2. What’s the last recipe you’ve made from a cookbook?

This is hard because I never follow anyone’s recipe in entirety!   I ad-lib, tweak, combine ideas I’ve seen, and add in my own twists.  I am the worst at recipe-following to the letter of the law.  I am such a wing-it cook.

3. What’s the last recipe you’ve made from a blog?

The last recipe I made from a blog that I did not mess with or tweak at all, was Jessica’s Chocolate Peanut Butter Fudge, Here.   It was easy and wonderful.

Stacked Chocolate Peanut Butter Fudge

 

 

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Comments

  1. I have recipe book collection envy. ;-)

    When I’m in search of a recipe book I look for inexpensive, easily accessible ingredients (first and foremost)…then I consider ease of preparation.

    Can’t remember the last time I used a recipe at all. Been too long since I’ve spent much time in the kitchen. Sheesh! I need to get on it. :-)

  2. I look for cookbooks that focus more on nutrients than calories, but that do offer nutritional information- especially on desserts and what not. Also, photos!!! Those are so important.

  3. I always look for vibrant pictures in cookbooks– I want to be able to SEE what it is I’m trying to make!

  4. That food is making my mouth water. Maybe I’ll get this cookbook for my wife – just kidding, ladies. I cook, too.

  5. I love when cookbooks have bright, vibrant pictures. Always a big selling point to me!

  6. Averie your desserts always make me drool! I still have yet to try that cheezecake recipe. I’m going to PR to visit my bff tomorrow so maybe I’ll make them out there with her and the kids. She loves making natural foods such as vegan meals and microbiotic dishes! I can’t wait! I’m a little scared though because she said there aren’t many vegetarian (or vegan for that matter) options out there. Us Puerto Ricans live off meat so for me this is going to be a challenge. Hopefull it’ll go well, maybe I’ll just ask her if we can cook some carribbean inspired dishes which I know you’d enjoy. Have a great week! Sorry for the lack of posts lately, it’s been crazy getting ready to leave for vaca.

  7. I like pictures.

    As for the recipes, they have to be everything you said, but also not heavy on tofu/tempeh/fake “meat” type recipes. I like recipes with lots of fresh, easy to find ingredients.

    Not that it really matters, since I just sub things out all the time anyway. If a recipe called for those things, I’d probably just add extra veggies.

  8. I look for vegan cookbooks with lots of easy entrees! I’ve gotten breakfast down pretty well, but lunch and dinner are still always a, “Hmmm, what to make/eat today?” And if they’re fully cooked vegan, I dislike cookbooks that always focus on tofu/tempeh/other soy products. I feel as if these are marketed towards new vegans and vegetarians who need meat replacements. If I enjoy a little tofu or tempeh it’s with appreciation for the soy product itself, not as a meat replacement.
    And your cheesecake looks so delicious, I might have to attempt that recipe tonight!

  9. That soup looks so delicious–I’m feeling a bit under the weather and would love some right now!

  10. I am not good at following recipes…better at making them up. I love looking at them and reading them like novels, but actually using them, not so much.

  11. Why are you keeping all your cookbooks in a cabinet! What a beautiful collection, they should be displayed! :)

  12. Why are you keeping all your cookbooks in a cabinet! What a beautiful collection, they should be displayed! :)

    I’ve been loving ‘color me vegan’ lately, lots of easy, savoury veggie recipes!! & offers a lot of nutritional information and random facts about each veggie and separated by color!

    1. I don’t want them to become “paper” for Skylar’s art projects and crayons/markers.

  13. I am obsessed with cookbooks. For the most part what attracts me to a book is that it includes lots of ingredients that I can eat – i.e. I don’t have much interest for gluten or dairy heavy cookbooks.

  14. Thanks for the review. I love hearing about cookbooks from others first. I am definitely about the ease of the recipe, but I also check to see how healthy it really is (or if it can be healthified). I love photos too. I want to see what it might look like. As for the last time I used a cookbook – as in followed a recipe – um….really don’t recall.