Lorna Sass' Short-Cut Vegetarian: Great Taste in No Time Review

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(More customer reviews)Every cookbook I own has a focus. Some are ethnic cookbooks. Some are gourmet cookbooks. Some are comprehensive references.
This cookbook's focus is speed. Every recipe lists the "prep time" and "cook time", and for almost all recipes those times are each between 5 and 15 minutes.
Each recipe consists of a short list of ingredients, and the preparation directions are clear and super-concise. Occasionally, one ingredient in a recipe will be a product of another recipe, which is usually a pet peeve of mine in cookbooks, but such ingredients are rare and always have store-bought equivalents if you don't want to prepare them yourself.
Many of the recipes can also be converted from leftovers into a different form -- the quinoa / potato / corn / pepper pilaf easily becomes a stew with a couple cups of water and some veggie stock powder. This is especially handy if you primarily cook just for yourself (as I do.)
I only have two complaints about the book, and they're not major. The first is the lack of all photography, although it sure makes the cookbook unbelievably inexpensive, so it's a fair trade.
My second (minor) complaint is that either I'm a slow cook, or her prep times assume that the ingredients are already as specified -- a recipe will call for chopped carrots, diced pepper, diced tofu, etc. and I think the prep time assumes you already have it all diced and chopped. Either that, or it's simply that I'm chopping everything by hand rather than with a food processor. Either way, the recipes generally seem to take me roughly 150% to 200% of the time she allots. Since I'm not a professional chef (to say the least) I can totally accept that this is just me being slow.
If you're like me, you browse Amazon and add most things to your wish list, only buying fairly sparsely of the items that are really compelling. If so, buy this book. It's inexpensive, and it's fantastic. In just the past week I've owned it, it has dramatically changed the quality and diversity of what I eat at home.

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Eating Clean: 100 Appetizing Solutions, Wheat-free & Dairy-free Review

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(More customer reviews)This book isn't up to its title. Some of the recipes with "whey protein powder" have a "publisher's update" to use "soy-based protein powder" instead, but don't mention why (whey is dairy). Plus, yogurt is an optional ingredient.
Spelt is a type of wheat, and recipes use spelt flour. Yikes!
We believe that soy that hasn't been fermented is not a healthy food (more info at mercola.com), and this book uses a lot of processed soy. Similar: canola oil. Also, the primary sweetener is xylitol, and we believe stevia to often be a healthier choice (from Dr. J. V. Wright's Nutrition & Healing).
_The Joy of Cooking_ has lots of dairy-free, wheat-free recipes, without false promises.

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This health-restorative collection of menu options was inspired by a liver detox regime as supervised by a naturopathic physician. Would you like to prepare healthy and satisfying foods with ingredients found in your local supermarket? Do you think sawdust when you hear the words health food? Discover how easy and economical it is to prepare delightfully delicious meals in your own kitchen. These 100 wheat-free and dairy-free recipes give a fresh and tasty approach to wholesome, healthy cooking. Includes step-by-step, easy to follow directions and includes key comments from a licensed naturopathic doctor. Learn what foods will benefit your overall health. Add to your culinary repertoire with ethnic favorites from around the world. Whether you're an experienced cook or just starting out with your first hot plate, this cookbook will become your right-hand source of inspiration. Give your meals a new lease on life. Revitalize daily meal planning with fresh and easy-to-prepare ideas that span from breakfast cereal to energy-boosting drinks, mini-meal snacks and main courses. Several baked good recipes call for spelt flour, so if you are Celiac, a gluten-free flour blend should be substituted. In the spirit of flexibility, any of the non-dairy ingredients can be substituted with dairy, if that better suits your lifestyle.

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Vegetarian Epicure Review

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(More customer reviews)It's definitely a cookbook of its time. The illustrations have a homespun look, and the introduction even makes mention of passing around a joint before dinner "to sharpen gustatory perception". I missed the seventies, personally, but the cheerful hippieness of this book is irresistable.
But what about the darn food?
It's good stuff. Not low-fat, really, but if you compare the olive oil, butter, and eggs called for in these recipes a meal would still balance favorably with the average meat-including diet. My favorite section is the one on curries--having had a lot of real Indian it's not QUITE the same, but it's reasonably close. Given that it was written when supermarkets were less global, I can forgive a few shortcomings in authenticity. She gets the basics across with readily-available ingredients. And every one of the curries is delicious on its own merits. There are sweeter ones, spicier ones, sides, a couple of desserts, and it's impossible to go wrong with any combination of recipes in this section.
Most of her soups and stews are also excellent. The ratatouille in particular is fantastic. However, in place of her potato peel broth or garlic broth I recommend saving a lot of time and effort by starting off with plain water and adding extra seasoning, or by the quick & dirty expedience of a veggie bouillion cube or two. It's okay to cheat.
Perhaps the best thing to bear in mind when using this book is that with a lot of the recipes you'll need either a fair amount of time or a liberal dose of common sense when it comes to cutting corners. The author had a lot of time on her hands, to make broth, clarify butter, and let things simmer for an hour. You probably don't, and neither do I. Use the butter plain. Heck, use margarine. Simmer for 30 minutes. Spice a little more heavily. And use that darn veggie bouillion.
It would be nice if we could all be so relaxed and agrarian about our cooking as the author is. Just reading the book is like taking a deep breath. But alas, most of have day jobs and time constraints. Rest assured that you can still use these recipes and enjoy some absolutely succulent grub.

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A friendly informal tone and some splendid recipes have made this a perennial bestseller. For all who love the fruits of the earth and the art of cooking. A classic with almost a million copies sold to date.

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Cafe Chimes Cookbook Review

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(More customer reviews)Bear with me, I have never written a review for anything & am not sure this is what I should be doing!
Years ago, I taught skiing in the White Mts. of NH. My mentor was a wiry, elderly lady who could work/ski circles around all of us. She kept after me to learn to "eat right" & to show what she meant, I (a professed carnivore with a 'healthy' disdain of vegetarian/vegan lifestyles) was dragged, protesting all the way, to Cafe Chimes. Once there, the tastes,aromas,textures & visual presentations were all too seductive.
Long story short...I fell in love with the place! Kathy was usually up front cooking & the aromas still linger in my soul. As she appeared in the pix in the book, so she appeared in real life. She was as welcoming and warm as her food.
The Chimes Cookbook that I am ordering today will be the 8th that I have bought. With the exception of my original copy, obtained in NH, all have been given as gifts to people (vegetarian, or not) who truly love good food.
The recipes are true to the originals and the food she presented was not only food to fuel the body, it fueled the soul. Casseroles, pilaf, soups...OMG, her soups! The bubbling hot squash soup in the cold of winter.........
Now, 15 years later, with Cafe Chimes & Kathy, & my mentor only memories, the food remains to nourish the bodies, hearts & souls of another generation. Any of her foods are great alone, & for us carnivores of the world, make a great accompaniment to, or substitution for, our meats! ( Sorry Kathy, you never could talk me out of my meat!)
This is one cookbook that is truly from the heart....not created as a 'money-maker for yet another highly paid chef....but created to perpetuate the warmth and fantastic food of a truly unique lady who chose to make the lives of the people in a northern NH town better, by the fact that for a space & time, there was a Cafe Chimes.

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This long-awaited vegetarian cookbook contains over 225 recipes including author Kathy Etter's famous grain casseroles, salads, soups, desserts, and unique homemade breads & muffins. A delightful compendium of delicious recipes, illustrations, and poetry.

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The Best Life Diet Cookbook: More than 175 Delicious, Convenient, Family-Friendly Recipes Review

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(More customer reviews)Best-life advocate Bob Greene positions the ideas in this cookbook as a "gift that you give to yourself and your loved ones." Home-cooked meals made from fresh, natural ingredients will make you feel better, live longer and bond with your family and friends. Makes sense to me. And if you just want to cook yummy foods, these dishes are delicious.
They are also nutritious, and all the details for each serving are at the end of each recipe: calories, protein, carbohydrate, dietary fiber, sugar, total fat, saturated fat, cholesterol, calcium and sodium.
Easy-to-follow meal plans are broken down into three sections. Quick and Easy meals take no more than 20 minutes to prepare, Kitchen Connoisseur choices are a little more adventurous, and Family-Friendly meals offer healthy versions of family favorites. Each meal plan has six calorie levels: 1,500, 1,600, 1,700, 1,800, 2,000 and 2,500 calories a day.
Although most of the recipes are geared to busy families with little time to spend in the kitchen, there is a whole chapter of wonderful, healthy dishes from accomplished chefs. These recipes may take a little longer than the 30 minutes or so the other recipes require to prepare. Some of the chefs participating include Mollie Ahlstrand of Trattoria Mollie, Dan Barber of Blue Hill, Sarma Melngailis of Pure Food and Wine, Charlie Trotter of Charlie Trotter's and Roy Yamaguchi of the 35 Roy's Restaurants around the world. Ahlstrand's Zuppa di Pomodoro is a flavorful take on tomato soup that uses garlic, brandy, rosemary and orange juice.
In the back is a handy Techniques tutorial showing how to roast garlic, toast nuts, section citrus, clarify butter and the like.
Other good choices for healthy cookbooks include Deceptively Delicious, Hungry Girl: Recipes and Survival Strategies for Guilt-Free Eating in the Real World and The Most Decadent Diet Ever.
The Eat This Not That! series is also excellent.
Here's the chapter list:
1. Introduction
2. Recipes
3. Breakfast
4. Soups
5. Salads
6. Sandwiches, Wraps and Crispbreads
7. Entrees: Meat, Poultry, Seafood, Vegetarian
8. Side Dishes: Grains, Vegetables
9. Calcium-Rich Snacks
10. Desserts
11. Best-Life Recipes from World-Class Chefs
12. Meal Plans
13. Basic Recipes
14. Techniques

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A good meal is one of life's great pleasures, but we all know that it can be difficult to choose foods that make us happy and keep us healthy. In his New York Times bestselling book The Best Life Diet, Bob Greene showed more than a million people that you can lose weight and eat delicious food. Now, in The Best Life Diet Cookbook he provides more than 175 recipes that taste as good as they are good for you.With recipes like Flank Steak with Potatoes and Garlic and Sweet-and-Sour Stuffed Chicken, it isn't hard to eat well while shedding pounds. Slimmed-down comfort foods like Sweet Potato with Turkey Hash and Beef Stew with Winter Root Vegetables make family dinners satisfying and healthful. Rotisserie Chicken Salad with Oranges and Pistachios comes together in a snap. Or try one of the recipes contributed by world-class chefs like Charlie Trotter or Suzanne Goin, adapted to fit the Best Life guidelines. Craving something sweet? You won't believe that Pear and Banana Crisp and Apple Pie with Oatmeal Crust are low in fat and calories.Also included are three sets of two-week meal plans: The Quick and Easy Plan for when you're most time-pressed; The Family-Friendly Plan with meals to satisfy the whole gang; and The Kitchen Connoisseur Plan for those looking for more of a challenge in the kitchen. Whether you're trying to drop some pounds or simply want to maintain your weight, these plans do all the calorie-calculating for you.The Best Life Diet Cookbook is full of useful shopping tips and culinary information. Illustrated with dozens of beautiful black-and-white and color photographs, it is a book you will turn to again and again.Bob Greene firmly believes that every meal should be a celebration both of the pleasures of food and your commitment to living your best possible life, and with The Best Life Diet Cookbook, you can reclaim your joy of eating and live the life you deserve.

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Herb Mixtures & Spicy Blends: Ethnic Flavorings, No-Salt Blends, Marinades/Dressings, Butters/Spreads, Dessert Mixtures, Teas/Mulling Spices Review

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(More customer reviews)While mainly a book of recipes of blends, the Introduction also contains good information on drying your own fresh herbs, seeds, and freezing fresh herb; as well as helpful information on storing herb mixtures. An added bonus is are helpful suggestions on packaging blends for gifts. There are recipes for appetizers, butters, dressings, no-salt blends, meat, seafood,traditional blends such as Italian, Pumpkin pie spice, bread and dessert blends; and some "not so traditional" such as "Wassail Spice Mix", for a punch. I especially like this book because after each formula there are suggested uses and a recipe using the blend. Each page also has a little history about where the blend comes from. Good Book!

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The Fat Flush Cookbook Review

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(More customer reviews)I started the Fat Flush Diet Plan less than 30 days ago and am happy to report a weight loss of 27lbs. in that short time frame! This cookbook is essential if you wish to follow the Fat Flush Plan! This diet is not totally easy if you really value the addition of salt or butter, but really effective! Flax oil is a primary ingredient and I believe it does promote weight loss in addition to many other health benefits, but it is not at all tasty, in my opinion. Try the mock mashed potatoes, using a cauliflower puree and several of the breakfast suggestions (eggs are vital to success), plus the smoothie recipes and you will lose weight and (most importantly, inches) in a short period of time! This book contains many delicious and health smart recipes, using ingredients you may previously have discounted, and the diet plan works. After a month on the plan, I craved salt on my entrees more than anything else, but I did lose a great deal of weight and inches and truly recommend the diet plan and cookbook to anyone committed to real weight loss and helpful insights to healthy eating.

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The Companion Cookbook to the National Best-Selling Weight-Loss Plan That's Changing the Way America Diets
Ann Louise Gittleman created a weight loss phenomenon with the New York Times best-selling The Fat Flush Plan. With its unique focus on detoxifying the body and flushing away fat, this program has helped thousands to keep the weight off and lead healthier lives. Now she has created The Fat Flush Cookbook, with more than 200 recipes using fat-flushing foods and thermogenic herbs and spices introduced in The Fat Flush Plan to cleanse the body. This tasty, heart-smart volume includes:

Time-saving, one-dish dinners
Packable lunches
Vegetarian-friendly ideas
Serving options for singles and families
An extended list of name brands suitable for Fat Flushing
With delicious recipes, Fat Flushing information, and meal choices to suit every lifestyle, The Fat Flush Cookbook is perfect for the millions of people across the country struggling to keep the weight off and lead a healthier, happier life.
"Ann Louise's Fat Flush Plan is dietary common sense for all the right reasons--it's balanced, it's a program you can safely stay on for life, and it works."--Dr. Barry Sears, Author of The Zone
"A unique program that shows you how to shed unwanted pounds while improving your health, thus building a bridge between beauty and vitality."--Share Guide
"The Fat Flush Plan has all of the elements to help change America's approach to achieving and maintaining a healthy body...it has been field tested by thousands of individuals who have contributed to its continuing evolution from a basic diet to a comprehensive lifestyle program."--Total Health Magazine
With the Fat Flush Plan, Ann Louise Gittleman showed the world how to detoxify the body using foods that flush away fat while building vitality and strength, leading to a healthier overall lifestyle. And now it's even easier to do, with The Fat Flush Cookbook. This delicious volume contains more than 200 recipes using fat-flushing foods and featuring the thermogenic herbs and spices--including ginger, cayenne, mustard, anise, fennel, and cinnamon--that help to cleanse the system. With a diverse array of recipes to fit all lifestyles and tastes, fat flush novices and veterans alike can find new and tasty ways to incorporate this program into their daily lives.
In addition, The Fat Flush Cookbook shares new research behind the way the Fat Flush Plan works. It explains why certain Fat Flush staples speed up fat loss and provide profound detoxifying benefits while protecting overall health. Some of these key fat-flushing ingredients include:

lean proteins
phytonutrient-dense vegetables and fruits
psyllium
lemons
flaxseed and flaxseed oil
thermogenic herbs and spices
high-protein whey
stevia
cooking broths
cranberries
These ingredients are prominently featured in the book's recipes, along with explanations of their benefits and alternative ways to use them in meals. Cranberries, for example, which are now ranked among the best health foods we can consume, are an essential component to the success of Fat Flushers everywhere, and The Fat Flush Cookbook provides creative ways to enjoy this delicacy--along with tips on simple ways to sneak all these staples into existing favorites without making any major adjustments.
Whether you use this book as a companion to the Fat Flush plan, or simply as a stand-alone cookbook to supplement your daily diet, The Fat Flush Cookbook will help to create a variety of delicious, healthy meals that will contribute to your health and well-being...for life.

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Everyday Vegan: 300 Recipes for Healthful Eating Review

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(More customer reviews)This book really changed my life. It is written in more of a casual format, but its content is very good. It contains a great deal of diet guidelines, as well as a number of very good vegan whole-natural-food recipies. I own a number of vegan cookbooks but this is the one that I go to 90% of the time. In addition, following this book, I've lost about 50 pounds!

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The vegan recipes in this book are based on the premise that eating whole natural foods enhances the body's innate healing abilities. Everyday Vegan inspires readers to take responsibility for their well-being by giving them knowledge and confidence in meal preparation. The book also includes kid-tested menus for nurturing a vegetarian child, explanations on how certain food components work in the body, and cleaning tips for a chemical-free home.

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Healthiest Meals on Earth: The Surprising, Unbiased Truth About What Meals to Eat and Why Review

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(More customer reviews)After being glued to his book: The 150 Healthiest Foods On Earth, I went ahead and ordered The Healthiest Meals on Earth.
Having made a huge change in my own personal diet 3 years ago(after reading Ultrametabolism), after reading Jonny's 150 Healthiest Foods On Earth helped me tweak my diet that much more. But the problem at home has been that my wife doesn't know what to cook for me.
This book has recipies for incredible meals based on a solid foundation of real nutrition. Eating with your health goals in mind, you get meals power packed with healthful nutrients that are very appealing visually and pleasing to the olfactory senses (smell).
It's not just a recipe book, but an explanation of the foods and spices that make up the meal.
There are some wonderful charts in the book that cross reference various foods with their healthful benefits.
He does the same for healthful oils.
If you are big into nutrition, this and his "150 healthiest foods" book are essential for your library.
Whether you are eating because you want to just be healthy or you have a specific condition you want to target with the proper nutrition, this book is great.
The bottom line: Jonny Bowden's nutritional advice just makes sense!
Thank you again Dr. Bowden for another great masterpiece!!!


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The first cookbook from best-selling author Jonny Bowden!
Jonny Bowden's The Healthiest Meals on Earth contains recipes for more than sixty dishes and drinks that use nutritious and healthy cooking methods. Forty of these dishes will combine to create ten different "poly-meals", specially crafted meals that contain key nutrients found to promote long-term health. They include Sweet and Thai Spicy Shrimp and Fruits, Persian Chicken with Autumnal Accompaniments, and the "iron booster" of Tender Calf's Liver and Sweet Beets. A "Healthiest Holiday Meal" features Citrus Stuffed Turkey, Zippy Fruit Salsa, and Sweet Potato Pie. The poly-meals are designed to be eaten three-to-five times a week.
Another ten recipes are not part of the poly-meal structure; instead they are one-pot meals that include Slow-Cooker Chicken Curry, Miso Bean Soup, and Venison Stew. A chapter on drinks will include nutritious smoothies, so-called "green drinks", and others. Jonny will provide healthy cooking tips throughout the book, as well as an analysis of the foods in each recipe. Side dishes, such as Cold Strawberry Soup and Veggie Slaw with Flax Oil, and desserts, such as Raw Chocolate Fondue, are also featured.
This book pairs well with Bowden's successful 150 Healthiest Foods, and can even be used as a companion cookbook.

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