Customer Reviews

The Best of Vegan Cooking

5 star:		(35)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I realize that folks can pull vegan recipes off of the 'net for free, but my experience is that you usually get what you pay for. Buying cookbooks is not standard operating procedure for me, but this one came highly recommended. And what a treat it is! With this new addition to the growing canon of vegan cuisine, you get exquisite and beautiful recipes that you just won't find anywhere else.

Listen to the title of this recipe: Himalayan Red Rice Salad with Cranberries. The words alone are delicious. This is a classy and classic dish that I can't seem to get enough of. You will impress people at a potluck with this one. (I also recommend serving it from a dark purple serving bowl, if you have one.)

I also suggest Aunt Trish's Pasta e Fagioli (hearty and healthy), the Sweet Potato Salad with Crystallized Ginger (mmmmm...), and the Butternut Squash Soup (so, so tasty).

But what I'm most excited about are the sorbet recipes. (I ate sorbet in obnoxious quantities last summer.) Here's another gorgeous title: Blueberry-Pomegranate Sorbet. A beautiful picture of this is on the front cover. I plan to dig into these once the weather warms a bit.

What a beautiful book! I got this cookbook as a gift, and I'm not even vegan, but it's really turned out to be my kind of cookbook -- easy to read & follow, laid out well with really gorgeous art direction... I've made four things out of it so far, just picked at random from different places in the book, and they were all great, especially the sweet potato gnocchi, which I think I'm now addicted to. I'd say this is just a great cookbook.

I made the Irish Stew on page 37 for St Patty's day for my family and friends (Very Irish friends) and no one noticed their wasn't any meat in the stew until I told them.............They all went out and bought the cookbook for themselves.

The Peanut Butter-Coconut Ice Cream (page 93) was a big hit with the kids and they helped make it too, it was so easy.

I even see my friend Carol from CA bought the cookbook too, so it must be AMAZING cause she is a hard sell.

I didn't even realize that it supports Friends of Animals which has some great programs............

Definitely a good buy.

As a long time Vegan and sometimes cook, I am very impressed with "The Best of Vegan Cooking" by Priscilla Feral/President of Friends of Animals. The book is especially inviting with its beautiful photos of the delectable recipes both on the cover and throughout the book. These recipes are a mix of Priscilla Feral's and outstanding chefs from around the world.

The recipes look so delicious, easy to make and healthy that several of us are planning a pot luck - making recipes from this book and sharing them. And of course we would have to complement it with some of the wine pictured on the back cover.

I brought the book to my office and shared it with my non vegan friends who liked it very much and made copies of many of the recipes. One friend, Anna, told me that she would eat "everything in the book." She said the recipes are healthy, hearty and look easy to make for her and her (finicky) husband who wants "hearty". They also resonate with her Italian heritage. Anna's favorites are Farfalle with Broccoli Rabe; Pasta with Basil Pesto and Linguine with Raw Nut Pesto and Tomato Sauce. Anna was also impressed that many of the recipes do not contain soy since she is allergic.

I love the Baby Artichokes Provencal style - would be great with pasta. The deserts also look tempting - the yummy Kiwi Parfait or the Chocolate pudding with berries. ( I am a berry addict) Oh - there is also home made ice cream - Vanilla mint chocolate chip - vegan of course.

Bottom line, the great thing about this book is that the recipes are cruelty free. At the risk of sounding like a preacher, I am vegan because of the animals - because no animal has to die for us to eat happily and healthfully. As the inside of the book states - veganism is a way of life - in harmony with the planet.

bon appetit, - and joyful eating to you.

Like many vegans, I started off transitioning my diet by way of re-creating vegan versions of familiar recipes. I bought meat and dairy substitutes, and successfully "veganized" many of the foods I already knew and loved. Although that is an animal-friendly and compassionate change, it isn't the healthiest, most environmental, or least of all, the most cost effective way to adopt a vegan diet.

Best of Vegan Cooking changes all that - by enticing the reader/cook to try something new. This is veganism as most people, unfortunately, have never seen it - fresh produce and herbs that you already know (or maybe some that you've seen, but haven't yet tried) put together in delicious ways. There are also a few tofu recipes, to answer the ever-burning question, "I want to try tofu, but what can I make with it?!"

Although you don't have to be vegan to appreciate these recipes, this is the cookbook I recommend to new vegans, especially those who are frustrated with the high cost and mediocre taste of veggie dogs and non-dairy cheese, those who are tired of having to shop all over town for "special" ingredients every time they cook, and those who simply want to eat healthy, natural, whole foods. Although most of the recipes are easy to make, this is not a "dash and run" convenience cookbook. Expect to cook, but expect to enjoy it - and expect to love the results.

Not an experienced cook? There is a handy glossary in the back - so don't worry if you're not exactly Julia Child. The recipes are color-coded and organized in a nice way, with gorgeous photos throughout. This is by far one of my favorite cookbooks.

I've made quite a few dishes from this cookbook in the short time that I've had it, mostly because when it comes time to make food, I generally stand in front of the fridge, drooling like a slob. This cookbook has everything -- from the 5 minute recipes to the involved, Iron-Chef-like recipes. Both methods turn out the same -- delicious. I made my first risotto from this book -- an asparagus + green pea risotto that I ate in one sitting. All four servings of it.

Do YOU know how to make authentic mexican tortillas?

What about spicy BBQ tofu sandwiches for grilling with guests?

Or (one of my favorites) a meatless Irish stew whose leftovers kept me fed for days?

I didn't. Now I do! And now I'm full. Five stars for flavor.

As a long time vegetarian who has been afraid to go vegan for fear of sacrificing taste, I have been pleasantly surprised by these delicious recipes. I don't have a lot of time to cook, as I am the mother of a 2 year old, and I find that most of these recipes are easy to prepare and utilize ingredients that one usually has in his/ her pantry. I also find that there are a lot of hearty meals that I can serve to my carnivore husband; we especially love the caramelized leek & shiitake risotto, black-eyed pea & winter greens soup and baby artichokes Provencal style (among others). The vanilla mint chocolate chip ice cream is delicious and not difficult to make, however you will need an ice cream maker. I love that there is a glossary of key ingredients in the back in case you're not a seasoned vegan chef and the photos of the food are simply mouth-watering. Whether you've been vegan for years or are just testing the waters, you'll love this cookbook.

As a vegan for thirty years, I have cooked the whole range from simple to challenging. The Best of Vegan Cooking covers that range with great results. I use the simpler recipes for everyday meals and save the more challenging ones to impress my guests -- be they vegan or non-vegan.

Many of the recipes are from well-known chefs that generously donated some of their best, crowd-pleasing recipes.

So whether you are just vegan-curious or an accomplished vegan cook, you'll find recipes to put great, nutritious food on the table without any worry or guilt.

Bob Orabona

I was eager to get the Best of Vegan Cooking since I was already a fan of Dining With Friends. Well, this second coobook by Priscilla Feral and Friends of Animals truly lives up to its name. A truly unique cookbook, for vegans and non-vegans alike, I was especially impressed with the several recipes for risotto, something you won't find in other vegan cookbooks. Risotto has been a favorite of mine since childhood, and I'd been at a loss at making a really impressive vegan version since I went vegan several years ago. Well, now I have six equally delicious, yet very different risotto recipes to amaze family with when I go for holiday dinners (as the only vegan. Everone loves the dishes I bring so much that I have to bring extra to make sure I get to eat any! There are too many other wonderful dishes to count in the cookbook: you'll have to see for yourself. I can't recommend The Best of Vegan Cooking enough. I've been a fan of Friends of Animals for a long time, and it's wonderful to know that the proceeds all go to this amazing organization. I also recently purchased an ice-cream maker, and I cannot wait to try out the ice-cream recipes.

For anyone looking for a truly unique experience in a cookbook, I highly recommend "The Best of Vegan Cooking." The recipe instructions are easy to follow, the photos of several of the dishes are artfully displayed, and the results of one's culinary efforts speak for themselves.

The color coding, separating the various sections - Soups, Salads, Main Dishes, etc. - make it easy to find just what one is looking for. In addition, the Glossary, comprising a Key to Ingredients, Nutrients, and Vegetarian Terms, along with a Kitchen Temperature Conversion Chart, and an Index, all help to make this book a pleasure for both the novice and the experienced cook alike.

My favorite recipes include: Manhattan Vegetable Chowder, Broccoli Rice Salad with Almonds and Sesame-Ginger Dressing, Marinated Tofu and Pineapple Kabobs, Farfalle With Broccoli Rabe, Cauliflower Risotto, Baby Artichokes Provencal Style, Everyone's Favorite Cinnamon Rolls, and Chocolate Marble Pound Cake. Although it is difficult to choose from so many delightful dishes, I'm sure you'll find your favorites, too.

So, whether you are an amateur in the kitchen, a chef who has "arrived," or something in between, if you want the best of the best, be sure to treat yourself to a copy of "The Best of Vegan Cooking."