7 Essential Vegan Cookbooks

from: http://www.care2.com/greenliving/5-essential-vegan-and-vegetarian-cookbooks.html

One of the major roadblocks I hear from folks considering going vegan or vegetarian is that they don’t know how to cook a meal without animal products. This makes total sense, if a meal to you is centered around the protein on your plate, and most of us grew up feeling like that was what a meal looked like.

I’m a firm believer that a good vegetarian or vegan cookbook is more than just a collection of recipes: it inspires you to put together a different sort of meal and re-teaches you how to cook. These are the veggie cookbooks that my kitchen would feel empty without:

1. Moosewood Cookbook Molly Katzen is the owner of the Moosewood restaurant in New York and one of my cooking heroes. The Moosewood Cookbook was one of the first vegetarian cookbooks I ever owned, and I really learned a lot about how to cook vegetarian food from this one. She has a very flexible recipe style that encourages you to experiment, substitute, and learn.

2. Veganomicon I almost think of Veganomicon as the Joy of Cooking for vegans. Isa Chandra Moskowitz is another one of my cooking heroes, and I’ve never made a recipe from this book that didn’t turn out deliciously. She features beautiful photos of the dishes and talks about food in a way that makes you excited to get cooking.

3. Vegan Lunchbox Whether you have kids or not, Vegan Lunchbox is a must for any vegan cooking library. Jennifer McCann wrote the book to chronicle her journey packing vegan lunches for her son, but these meals are a delight at any age. She focused on creating lunches that are not only tasty and nutritious but ones that would help her son fit in in a lunchroom full of more conventional brown bag lunches.

4. Vegan Cupcakes Take Over the World Vegan food isn’t all about savory dishes, and Vegan Cupcakes Take Over the World is proof of that. This is another book from Isa Chandra Moskowitz, and it’s my go-to any time I need to whip up a treat for a special occasion. It features a wide range of recipes, from your basic chocolate and vanilla cupcakes to flavors like matcha green tea with almond and Boston cream pie.

5. Ultimate Uncheese Cookbook Giving up cheese is one of the hardest parts for many folks that go vegan, and this book is definitely a must have for cheese lovers. The Ultimate Uncheese Cookbook is full of cheesy recipes with none of the animal cruelty of the dairy variety and none of the mystery ingredients found in some store-bought vegan cheeses.

I need to add my favorites of all which is 6) La Dolce Vegan and 7) Vegan A Gogo a cute little travel recipe book from Sarah Kramer. Almost every single recipe in these 2 books is delicious, quick to make and perfect for 2 people as opposed to having leftovers for weeks.

How To Feed A Vegetarian At Home

By Adrienne Szafranski | March 22, 2011 from:http://medford.patch.com/articles/yes-you-can-invite-a-vegetarian-to-the-barbecuel

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Sometime, somewhere, someone you love will ask you to feed a vegetarian. Think outside the salad bowl.

There are many reasons someone you know may decide to become vegetarian: animal welfare, health, and environmentalism are just a few. But it's very likely one of your family's circle is or will become a vegetarian, and if you're doing the cooking, panic may ensue.

The key to feeding a vegetarian is understanding his or her brand of vegetarianism. Vegetarian is someone who doesn't eat meat (but may eat some animal proteins) Lacto-ovo vegetarians eat no animal flesh, but do eat dairy and eggs Pescetarians eat no land animals or birds, but do eat fish and shellfish. Ask about eggs and milk. Vegans eat nothing from animals or that exploits animals. This classification is more about lifestyle than diet. They don't wear leather, or eat gelatin or honey. They may also only eat organic foods.

People who are vegetarians because of their concern for animals may also eschew products similar to animal products, like vegetarian bacon or soy cheese.

As you tease out their vegetarianism, you'll likely discover the reasons for their choice. People love to discuss choices like this, and most vegetarians I've known discuss this without being judgemental. Exercise diplomacy and don't make jokes--we all want to be taken seriously.

Outside the Salad Bowl Please, please think outside the salad bowl. Every vegetarian has a story about a cookout or party where the only thing they could eat was salad. Most vegetarians are prepared to bring a dish, so feel free to ask them. If you're ready to step up to the challenge, though, your vegetarian will appreciate it.

Because other cultures have been traditionally vegetarian, look to them for veggie ideas. Japanese, Chinese, Thai, and Indian are go-to cuisines when entertaining. And there's always Google for more food ideas. You can find ideas and supplies at Whole Foods, a very vegetarian-friendly place, but don't overlook Foodmaster and Stop and Shop, especially the frozen food section.

Mind Your Manners: Etiquette And finally, some vegetarian etiquette. We already discussed behaving like a grown-up and keeping your clever vegetarian jokes to yourself, but here are a couple more ideas. Your vegetarian will give you the Gold-Star-Martha-Stewart-Thumbs-Up Host Award if you grill the veggie kabobs or veggie burgers first, on a clean grill, before the meat products go on. The vegetarian will also appreciate separate serving utensils for meat and vegetarian dishes.

Avocado Pesto Pasta

Got this recipe from Meatout Mondays...happy Monday!

This amazing dish is easy to make and has simple ingredients. The avocados create a deliciously rich and creamy sauce. While its fat content appears to be high, the source is from healthy monounsaturated fats, which are actually beneficial for cholesterol levels. For added nutrition, use whole wheat pasta and toss in steamed broccoli, asparagus, or spinach.

Ingredients:
1 lb. dried linguini 1 bunch basil leaves (about 2½ ounces) ½ cup pine nuts 2 ripe avocados, pitted & peeled 2 Tbs. fresh lemon juice (about ½ of a lemon) 3 cloves garlic ½ cup olive oil salt (to taste) freshly ground black pepper (to taste) ¼ cup chopped sun dried tomatoes (optional)

Directions: In a large pot, bring water to a boil; add pasta and cook to package directions. While pasta cooks, in a food processor, blend basil, pine nuts, avocados, lemon juice, garlic, and olive oil; season with salt and pepper. Drain pasta; in a large serving bowl, toss pesto with hot, freshly cooked pasta and garnish each serving with a basil leaf; for an extra touch of color and flavor, top pasta with sun dried tomatoes. Check out this and more outstanding recipes at http://www.ChefChloe.com

Meatout Is This Weekend

There has never been a better time to go vegan if only for one day a week. All over the world people are turning on to vegetarianism and veganism. I found a post about meatout on Vegansaurus' awesome vegan blog:
http://vegansaurus.com/post/3949293683/its-time-to-do-stuff-shut-down-fur-sto...

" What are you doing this weekend for Meatout? You are supposed to host a meat-free event and get the people excited about vegan food! DO IT! OR go to an event someone else is hosting like this one in San Francisco:
What: Vegan Feed-in, leafleting, and signs at the March & Rally to Stop the Wars
Saturday, March 19th; 12pm (noon). Where: UN Plaza
RSVP: Contact FARM’s new West Coast Coordinator, Alex Felsinger;
831-601-9082, alexf@farmusa.org

Vegan Shamrock Shake

Check out the Vegan St.Patrick's Day recipes on VegWeb... An awesome collection here: http://vegweb.com/holiday/

Recipe submitted by Charlsey, 11/08/09

Vegan Shamrock Shake

Ingredients
1 cup non-dairy vanilla ice cream
1/2 cup nondairy milk
1/4 teaspoon mint extract
4 to 5 drops green food coloring (optional, but I had too!)

Directions: Add all ingredients to food processor or blender. Blend on HIGH until smooth. Pour into glass and enjoy the creamy mintyness.

Source of recipe: I used to love these as a kid around St Patrick's Day, This might not be exact but perfect for me...
Makes: 1 serving, Prep time: 5 minutes

Meatout on March 20, 2011

"Feeling sluggish, catching frequent colds, or considering shedding a few pounds?

Unhappy about animal manure being dumped in your water supplies? Or just troubled by the suffering inflicted on innocent, sentient animals in factory farms and slaughterhouses?

What is Meatout?

On (or around) March 20, thousands of caring people in all 50 U.S. states and two dozen other countries get active to host educational events for Meatout- the world's largest grassroots diet education campaign. Activists distribute free food, educate their communities, and ask their friends, families, and neighbors to "kick the meat habit” and explore a wholesome, compassionate diet of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.

New to plant-based eating?

Visit http://LiveVegan.org, where you can find delicious recipes, learn all the “why’s” and “how’s” to transitioning toward a vegan lifestyle, and receive our Meatout Mondays e-newsletter.

What To Feed A Vegetarian Baby

I found this question and answer segment on Babies Love Organic's website here: http://www.babiespreferorganic.com/help-me-with-new-vegetarian-baby-foods/

I have learned that preparing ahead of time is the best! Our daughter is almost 3 months old, so of course she will not be eating solids yet. However, when she does start, I want to be prepared.

We have chosen to go vegetarian again and she will be as well. Does anyone know of any good recipes sites for homemade vegetarian baby food? We will never buy store bought and it must be 100% Organic. Any ideas or tips or sites?

Thanks Oh and, FYI: I am not looking for others to force meat upon our family. My entire family has been raised Vegetarian and our Pediatrician has said this was fine, there are alternatives. Thank you for your input, but it will not be necessary. If my daughter gets sick…we will know, and she surely will never be removed from our home.

We are a wonderful Christian family who can provide more for our children than most people can. We also help other families and do missionary work. The Lord is with us as He is with you. God bless. Thank you for those with kind answers.

I feel the individuals who say that we must eat meat to live are usually (not always) the unhealthy and misinformed people whom we read their obituaries in the mornings. It is a lifestyle choice and one we feel comfortable with. Thank you again.

Check out the replies to this question and add your own if you wish here:
http://www.babiespreferorganic.com/help-me-with-new-vegetarian-baby-foods/