Customer Reviews

Cook 1.0: A Fresh Approach to the Vegetarian Kitchen

5 star:		(26)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This review is long overdue. I am an omnivore, with a mostly omnivorous family. Imagine my surprise when, two years ago, my teenager announced one evening (after a visit to a lovely farm with adorable baby cows) that she was going to stop eating any land animals. Turns out, there is a word for that:pescatarian. Back then, I didn't know that, and being faced with the prospect of trying to cook healthy vegetarian meals for a developing teenager made me want to pull my hair out. I worried that I would either end up with a malnourished girl, or that the food I cooked would be so unpalatable that she wouldn't eat it. I also didn't want to have to cook one meal for her, and another for the rest of the family. If she would make this journey, then so would we. I tried various vegetarian books, only to find tofu-pushing, bland recipes that I had a hard time tempting my whole family with. Then my sweet sister came to my rescue, telling me that her friend Heidi wrote a little book I might like...and she mailed me Heidi's guide.

I call it a guide because that is what we used it for in the beginning. Heidi takes the time to explain the ingredients, the basics of how to cook them, and advises on the utensils and other things needed. She scatters useful advice throughout - it isn't a book that I just pull out when I need a recipe. I actually sit down and read it for the extra encouragement I need to keep our family on-track. I have two other children, 6 and 8. They loved their hot dogs and hamburgers. I don't know any other children their age who now rave about risotto and mushroom pot pie! My husband is a Food and Beverage Director for a luxury resort. Sometimes, after hearing about the menus he puts together for his hotel, I feel a little intimidated about what I offer him at home. This is a true sign of the success of Heidi's book: my carnivorous, German husband, Mr. Foodie, LOVES these dishes. Yes, he still likes sausages, schnitzel, etc. But he will dig into the corn, coconut, and curry soup like there is no tomorrow...

Now, being more sensitive to the other vegetarians in the world, I always bring a dish from Heidi's book when I attend parties or potlucks. For our first vegetarian Thanksgiving, we were invited to a friend's home. The prospect of dining on Tofurkey didn't seem appetizing, so we made and contributed the mushroom medley fritatta and the roasted sweet potatoes to the Thanksgiving Feast. My kids had to wrestle to get some of the food we brought onto their plates! We ended up bringing home empty food containers, and I noticed there was ALOT of leftover turkey...everybody there just couldn't get enough of our vegetarian dishes.

The best part is the ease with which I can prepare all this food. I enjoy cooking - I actually collect cookbooks. So I can say from experience that Heidi has a great formula with the format of this book. She gives you the basics for the core of the dish, then she offers a chart of various ingredients you can add in order to make different dishes out of that core recipe. It really simplifies things for the reader, and the various ideas for ingredients really make a difference in preventing food-boredom with my children.

Again, thank-you, Heidi, for a well-written, well-planned guide to vegetarian cooking. We are two years into the game now (I thought it would last 6 months) and my well-worn copy of Cook 1.0 doesn't even make it back into my cookbook collection; I keep it out on my counter for quick reference. And my little vegetarian? Her new lifestyle has NOT turned her into the wraith I feared...she is 5'9" now, and a star on her school basketball and volleyball teams.

As other reviewers have noted, I couldn't wait to try all of the recipes in this cookbook. I enjoy cooking, but lack any sort of invention in the kitchen; I'm awful at trying out new flavor combinations or "winging it" when it comes to expanding on a recipe. This is where Heidi's book excels: showing you how to build upon basic favorites to create new dishes. My favorite portion of this book is the "Flavor Combinations" page, which lists some tasty couplings that I, on my own, would not have had the foresight to pair (such as apples + fennel or strawberries + black pepper). I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys cooking but wishes they could be a bit more creative about it!

This is the cook book for everyone. I am by no means a vegetarian, but every recipe I have tried has just danced on my taste buds. I highly recomend the Mushroom Pie. Just plain awesome! Also, the photography is very creative and unlike anything I have seen in a cookbook. LOVE IT!!!

I took a big gamble on this cookbook - I had a dinner party this weekend and decided to cook recipes out of Cook 1.0 without ever trying them out before. THE GAMBLE PAID OFF! So much so that I ended up having to fax my friends recipes out of the book since they enjoyed the food so much. I am not the savviest of cooks but the table format made things so easy for me. This is truly a book for a new generation of cooks! I am looking forward to trying out new recipes this weekend on my family; Drop Biscuits, Smoothies, Pot Pies - My family will love this!

First of all I must disclose that it has been said that I don't/can't/shouldn't cook, and that the only thing I have consisently made with any success are 'reservations'. I was referred to Heidi's website and was happy to order Cook 1.0 on the principle of not giving up. I found myself reading it simply because it was a fun read and Heidi's unpretentious writing and presentation makes preparation exciting and not intimidating. I have since been preparing broken lasagna with cherry tomatoes, red pepper and lemon kabobs and roasting pine nuts with uncanny success! The unique format of Cook 1.0 is so easy to follow that I think Heidi has set a new standard for cookbooks. The conversion charts, suggested menu's for special occasions and tips are so helpful that it inspires you to try! The colors and photography in the book are nothing short of delightful and photos are not about table settings, dishware or center pieces but get this... about the food. Love this book!

Very clever layout and easy to understand recipes. The beautiful photos make a snap to imagine cooking these things yourself. Highly recommended!

I picked up on this book while browsing the internet. I am a home cooking maven but I was looking for something different. I'm not a vegetarian, but I find the cooking to be creative and flavorful. Heidi's charts are really easy to use, and her tips are helpful too. I love the varieties she gives you to choose from! It makes me want to try one in every flavor! My favorites are the Broken Lasagna with Cherry Tomatoes, the Chipotle Potatoe Pot Pie, and the Raspberry Tart. Making you hungry? These recipes are easy and fun -- they take no more than an hour, many taking less time than that.

Give this book a try, it's well worth it! A great overall cooking experience.

First off it should be mentioned that this is a very attractive cookbook with great photographs that inspire cooking. I've cooked a bunch of things out of this book and, as somebody who doesn't have time to attempt huge and complex recipes and never wants to fail, this book is perfect for me.

The recipes are very diverse, from pancakes to stir fry. Most are quick (under 45 minutes certainly). They are straight-forward to prepare and yet have a creative twist that gives them personality. You'll most certainly find some favorites in Cook 1.0. Since they are easy to remember without looking at the book every time you go to the store, you will find these dishes in heavy rotation.

I opened this book and instantly wanted to start trying all the recipes at once. The bisquits are scrumptious, the soups are delicious and the flavors are just a bit more exotic than my everyday meals. The recipe layouts are easy to follow and the photos are inspiring. I recommend it for experienced cooks and beginners alike. And it is not just for the vegetarians!

I don't cook too often but have always been interested. I think I found myself intimidated with the thought of cooking. Heidi's logical approach to recipe writing makes it easy to follow. I have now cooked multiple recipes from the book and am excited to try more. Her recipes are inventive and tasty. I can't wait for her next book!