BOOK REVIEWS
THIS IS A HOT ONE: VEGETABLES ON FIRE
My friend gave me Vegetables on Fire: 50 Vegetable-Centered Meals from the Grill for my birthday a couple of years back and I was slow to get to it. There were a few other cookbooks in the pile and it somehow got pushed to the bottom.
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That was a wasted couple of months. I missed out on making some pretty darned good recipes for some time.
The recipes in this book are simple, but sophisticated. You know that little vegetarian restaurant that is off on a side street near the main drag in that quirky town you like to keep to yourself...it's like the things off that menu. They're the kind of recipes that will make you the star of even the most carnivore-heavy grilling party.
There isn't anyone out there who won't love Charred Broccoli and White Bean Crostini...it makes the perfect complement to steak, I've been told, but I love it as a side to a mushroom cheesesteak or just by itself.
The Red Cabbage with Peanut Dressing and Grilled Pineapple is almost sweet enough to be a dessert, but it is a satisfying main dish that will bring all the carnivores around for a taste.
And, if you bring the Potato Salad with White Beans, Arugula Pesto and Pickled Shallots to the grilling party, you better keep an eye on it if you want some for yourself. It's that good.
Some of the recipes are for essential accompaniments like Fire Roasted Ketchup or Teriyaki Sauce, but all of them are delicious recipes that will make you the star of grilling season.
AN OLDIE BUT GOODIE: MAIN-COURSE VEGETARIAN PLEASURES
It was a great book for someone just starting down the path of vegetarianism. I still go back to it for ideas for a meal. |
Like I said, the book is from the mid-90s so, I suppose, it's a little dated. On-the-other-hand, some of the ingredients which might have been specialty finds then are available just about anywhere today.
The recipes are vegetarian -- not vegan -- and are pretty reliant on not always healthy ingredients. But they are good and tasty. For those days where you want to splurge on calories or you just want a heavier entree, these are recipes you will want to flip through.
Most of the recipes in this book could fall into the category of comfort food. Pasta Shells with Roasted Vegetables and Feta Cheese...Baked Vegetables with Garlic, White Beans and Olives...Polenta and Gorgonzola "Pizza"...all of these are foods that would please the novice vegetarian and someone who has been eating meatless for a while.
This book was a lifesaver when I was transitioning back to a vegetarian lifestyle. If you're new to the veggie life, this book is still in print. You can buy it lots of places online for as little as about $5 to somewhere in the $25 range. There are even electronic reader versions somewhere in between.
Jeanne Lemlin, with this cookbook and four others to her name, moved to the internet. She has a blog that hasn't been updated in a few years, but the more modern recipes are good.
WHEN YOU'RE IN A HURRY: THE VEGETARIAN 5-INGREDIENT GOURMET
We live in a hectic time where we don't often eat consciously...we eat what we can throw together easily. And that isn't always the healthiest way to eat.
In The Vegetarian 5-Ingredient Gourmet, Nava Atlas offers up some recipes that breaks down some 250 meals to the essentials, using just a few high-quality ingredients in each delicious dish.
The book includes recipes for soups, salads, and pastas; grain, bean, and soy entrees; wraps and sandwich fillings; simple side dishes; fruit-filled finales; and more. The full-flavored fare made from five ingredients or less includes Curried Red Lentil and Spinach Soup; Greek-Flavored Potato Salad; Black Bean Nachos Grandes; Baked Barbecue Tofu and Peppers; and Miniature Fresh Fruit Tarts.
In addition to recipes, there are menu suggestions that make it a lot easier to plan a meal.From sophisticated (Mixed Greens with Pears, Cranberries, and Goat Cheese) to kid-friendly, (Peanut Butter Noodles), here are recipes to suit every taste.
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By Nava Atlas - Broadway Books (2001) - Paperback -
