Customer Reviews

Incredibly Delicious: The Vegan Paradigm Cookbook

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

 

 

I honestly didn't think I needed another vegan cookbook, so I was pleasantly surprised when I received Incredibly Delicious from the people at Gentle World. They make their home together on the big island of Hawaii, and there live an entirely vegan lifestyle. Sounds like an exotic dream, doesn't it? One of the products of their life and work is this thorough book, joining the ranks of their other vegan title, The Cookbook for People Who Love Animals. Noted author, Michael Klaper, M.D., who wrote Pregnancy, Children and the Vegan Diet and Vegan Nutrition: Pure and Simple wrote the introduction for this book. Most notable is the sheer number of recipes. If you ever thought of the vegan diet as limited, think again. Along with chapters devoted to Breads and Breakfast; Salads and Soups; Dips, Dressings, Salads, and Gravies; Appetizers and side Dishes; and Desserts, there is a section entitled Rawsome Recipes. You guessed it-how to "cook" everything raw, from hummus to veggie burgers, even breads and crackers (using a dehydrator). This section also includes information on `veganic' gardening, composting and sprouting. I liked the surprising addition of this information, because it allows those who are still considering a raw foods diet to experiment without having to buy a book they might end up not needing. It also presents raw food ideas in a context that might bring the issue into focus for some people who would never even pick up a raw foods book or magazine. There are so many terrific recipes-interspersed with inspiring quotes-that it would be a good buy for any type of vegetarian.

A lot of innovative reciepts but not all are fast preparations. The author relies on the blender a bit too much (even dry items are blended together instead of stired). This is a great resource for both novice and experienced cooks or anyone that wants to wow dinner guests. There is even a section on raw food reciepts and separate sections on resources so you will never be at a loss. Definately more than a cookbook!

I borrowed this book from the library and now I am buying it. I am a new vegetarian trying very hard to go vegan. I have purchased several good books but this one has so much more information.

Some reviewers criticized the use of brand names, but as a newbie, I appreciate the help. I spent two weeks wandering around a health food store trying to find "egg replacement." I couldn't find it and the clerks could not help me. They kept leading me to the real egg-white products. Finally, with the name "Ener-G" they directed me right to it.

I read this book cover to cover and found lots of great information. The Glossary of Ingredients was most helpful. Many vegan cookbooks recommend the use of Bragg's Liquid Aminos as a substitute for soy sauce. This was the only one I saw that told me Bragg's has a lighter flavor and less sodium. It also described all the various grains, their characteristics, and how to prepare them. The same with the sweeteners. I learned that Barley Malt is a thick brown syrup half as sweet as other sweeteners; that Brown Rice Syrup is a lighter color, a little sweeter, and a good substitute for honey; that Sucanat is evaporated cane juice and can be used to replace processed sugar in recipes; other acceptable substituions are date sugar, organic cane sugar, and several others.

A suggestion to replace milk or cream in recipes by blending 8 oz. of tofu with 2 cups of water is one I had not seen before. Sounds like a good idea, since basically tofu has no taste of its own. Most books recommend the use of soy milk. While I like to drink soy milk, I'm not crazy about having that taste in my cooking.

Other reviewers criticized the excessive use of Nutritional Yeast but I find that in many of the vegan cookbooks. This one however, tells me that it is a yellow powder with a "cheesy" flavor, not to be confused with Brewer's Yeast which is bitter. I have run across other recipes that told me to use Brewer's Yeast; I now know those recipes are probably incorrect.

In the back of the book are lists of cruelty-free cleaning products, companies that market only vegan products, and vegan mail order companies. Again, being new at this, I appreciate that information.

I was in Arcata, CA this last weekend and a friend was on a rampage cooking all sorts of things from this book. It was so unbelievably yummy! And good for you! I'm not a vegan, nor vegitarian, but I am delighted by the recipes. I'm buying it now!

"To say that this is the ultimate vegan cookbook, lifestyle, resource, and inspirational publication would not be an exaggeration. INCREDIBLY DELICIOUS is a beautifully presented, comprehensive guiderail, as well as an exciting and imaginative recipe book, for the aspiring or seasoned vegan."

From the 'New Vegetarian and Natural Health Magazine', Australian Vegetarian Society.

"It is an outstanding contribution to plant based nutrition literature which should be in every hand, in every restaurant chef's kitchen and public library collection as well as available in every bookstore. None better, ever. Simply the greatest and a must have, must read vegan resource of biblical stature...Every doctor should have a copy and prescribe its reading when appropriate. A beautiful book from everyone's friends the joyous vegan team at Gentle World on the island of Hawaii.

Beautiful work, friends, you are beautiful people.

ALOHA!"...

Based on all the glowing reviews, I was really excited to get this book. I am not a full time vegan, but seriously trying to find ways to cut back on dairy and meat and eat more healthily.

This book is hard core vegan, bordering on cultish. This cookbook doesn't so much relay the joys of eating vegan, but more the responsibility to eat vegan.

The recipes call for a lot of brand name items, which I didn't appreciate - there are more TMs in this book than a McDonald's commercial. You are pretty much locked into buying a wide variety of specialty items if you want to make a lot of these recipes.

I also would have liked it if they gave a quick description for each recipe - eg this cake is great as a summer dessert, if you love chili you'll love this 'stick to your ribs' stew etc. What good is a sauce recipe if they don't recommend what you serve it with?

I wish I liked it better.