Customer Reviews

Kathy Cooks Naturally

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This is one of the first vegetarian-vegan cookbooks we bought a couple decades ago after visiting the Down to Earth health food stores she helped start in Hawaii and where Hawaiian public TV had her show. She is the one who turned us on to unusual spices like asafetida which has a unique garlic onion element that is excellent in so many recipes.

Like her cook book she really cooks in real life like she stresses in her books. And I love the way she stresses organic fresh, be it vegetables or fruits and the use of whole grains. Brown rice not white. And the recipes work and even the picky eaters we have encountered over the years have savored and asked for second of her recipes like Spicy Rice and Nuts that incorporate nuts in them.

Her Hot And Sour Soup with shiitake mushrooms is wonderful. She also has a wonderful apple cake recipe. Oh and one for a sweet potato casserole.

Oh and her recipes are healthy as well as for the health-fit minded person. If someone is into junk food, fast food they probably won't like the recipes.

I originally was given this book by my mother on my birthday in 1983 or so. If one book can be credited for shaping a person's life, then this book is the one that improved my health, taught me to cook and led to my becoming a vegetarian. Over the years I have cooked for friends and family all around the world from this cookbook -- yes, I travel with it in my luggage. So, I really can't praise it enough, or Kathy for her genius in the kitchen. And, I am overjoyed to have found a used copy to replace my worn, food stained copy on my kitchen shelf.

If one wants to become a true vegetarian or vegan then this book can show you how. I have tried several of the recipes in this book and they are all great, though some of the ingredients she uses you have to find at a health food store or specialty store.

This book is a natural-foods classic. The recipes are easy to follow (and prepare), healthful, and delicious. A helpful list of ingredients used, their properties, and where to buy them, is included. The book is also very informative with regard to the various types of food on which each of its sections is based. Too bad it's out of print--it's a must-have for everyone interested in preparing wholesome, delicious vegetarian meals, from novices just toying with the idea of becoming vegetarian, to long-time whole-food devotees. Warning: Kathy's philosophizing can be cloying and preachy, however, don't be put off by it (after all, it's her book--she's entitled). This is a first-rate cookbook; if you have a chance to obtain a copy, grab it! I NEVER loan out this book or its companion volume, Kathy Cooks.

I am blessed to know Kathy Hoshijo and have used her cook book since it was printed. I still lend it out regularly and friends laugh at it's used condition and are a bit nervous to borrow it. They can see by it's use how much I love it. That's when a friend suggested that I might find one here. I love the recipes, especially the mock turkey gravy! Kathy is a woman ahead of her time, with all the knowledge we have now on health and nutrition. Many Mahalos Kathy, Judy