Customer Reviews

The ( Almost ) No Fat Holiday Cookbook: Festive Vegetarian Recipes

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is one of the best vegetarian recipe collections I've come across. Unlike many veggie cookbooks, this one does not assume that just because you're not eating meat that it's fine to go ahead and load up on nuts, cheese and other high fat ingredients. As a matter of fact, the recipes are vegan, so there is no cheese or milk at all (or honey, I don't think...). The recipes are easy to make and very healthful and DELICIOUS. I love the no-fat basic cookie dough. Try it, it's amazing. I keep making them for omni-vorous friends and they are a hit every time.

This is Bryanna Clark Grogan's second cookbook, and just like the first one, this is also almost-no-fat vegan takes on holiday recipes from all over the world! Whereas the former reviewer has a point that you should be able to indulge in your holidays if only you just eat healthy the rest of the days, I must say that I do not find the recipes skimpy. Try out the different versions of Bryanna's creme-filled cake roll, and tell me if you think that's skimpy! The book provides tasty, elegant menus for St. Valentine's Day; Independence Day; Chinese New Year; Muslim, Jewish, and Buddhist holiday foods; Christmas menus; a Greek New Year's Eve; and more! Bryanna's barbecued seitan "ribs" with smoky barbecue sauce are incredibly yummy - her Vegetarian Irish stew with Guiness Stout served with Colcannon (mashed potatoes with kale) from her St. Patrick's Day menu are much tastier than the humble ingredients may suggest. Bryanna's Lasagne From The Garden is also a guaranteed hit, just as the holiday baking chapter. All in all, this is a very innovative cookbook which really proves that you don't have to feel you're restricted just because you've embarked on a vegetarian / vegan diet. If you've just recently discovered Bryanna's cooking, be sure you're in for a treat - do not hesitate to get her other books! You won't be disappointed.

The Almost No-Fat Holiday Cookbook: Festive Vegetarian Recipes

This is one of the BEST cookbooks I've come across in a long time! I am transitioning to a vegan diet (while trying to lose weight) and this cookbook is contains 100% vegan recipes, all with 1g of fat or less--the best of both worlds!

When I first got the book, I started putting Post-It flags on the recipes I wanted to try, but soon found that nearly every page then had a Post-It!

So far I've made my own vegan soy "sausage", soy "chorizo", BBQ "nuggets" and a fat-free hummus. I can't wait to try the rest! PS: Don't let the "holiday" in the title fool you: these aren't just "Christmas" recipes: there are recipes for Eid, Passover, Chinese New Year, etc.--pretty much for ANY time of the year!

Grogan's book interested me when I realized that my roasted vegetable dishes and other items were adding too much fat in my diet. I have since tried a few recipes and absolutely loved them! They are creative; they work; and they are healthy. I don't necessarily like the inclusion of textured vegetable protein, but I can use tempeh and other items instead.

I am not a "good" cook and I don't know a lot of good meatless meals.... if your the same then this book is for you! LOVE IT!

The only thing I have to say is hide the tofu in the frig! People have tofu issues!!!! I NEVER tell anyone it's meatless or has tofu in it and they eat everything on their plate. If they know or see it has tofu they won't eat it. What they don't know won't hurt them!

My Mom and Dad are meat freaks. Everything they eat is breaded, deep fried and fatty. I have made several meals from this book and the others by the same author and they have no idea. They leave saying everything was GREAT! Ha ha ha....if they only knew!

Often the most difficult meals for coming up with ideas are those for the holidays, especially when you are having non-vegan guests. This book is a great solution, not only for tasty creations that most everyone will like, but meals that are attractive and good alternatives to those that contain meat. I've made many of the recipes in this book and have never had a complaint on any of them. They taste good, presentation is great and everyone asks for seconds.

The other nice thing is that just because it's vegetarian, it doesn't contain a lot of high calorie ingredients. You can have a festive meal, knowing that its healthy. The recipe portions are large enough that nobody will walk away from the table hungry.

My moms going out of town this weekend so we had an early Rosh Hashana meal last night. We made the whole menu except that we made her apple pie for dessert bc we had 9 apples in the house. O-M-G. My mom was the only Jew at the table and I was the only no-added-fat-vegan and EVERYONE loved the food! My boyfriend had seconds of the cabbage dish even though he "hates" cabbage! haha...and the meal went together very well! Her sour cream was fantastic and really brought all the flavors of each dish together. And the meal was to die for and, honestly, way cheaper than the meat-counterpart would have been for making that huge amount of food. FYI: the CHALLAH BREAD WAS KILLER! It was good plain, with honey or with sliced fruit on top. And the apple pie (in her other cook book) was freakin awesome. It's a childhood favorite dessert of mine. It was sooooooooo good. And I really liked the pastry dough, which I was afraid of having. What a good meal! I had it ALL again for breakfast this morning ;) ahahahahha...my oatmeal will have to wait for another day.

Some of these recipes are amazing! I've only tried a few but can't wait to try them all!

Already planning our next holiday meal. :)

I was underwhelmed by this cookbook. I expected recipes that were closer to the original type recipes, but still vegetarian. I found the recipes to be boring, and most recipes used the same or similar ingredients in each one. Just didn't seem inspired or creative cooking to me. I will be selling my copy.

This cookbook is no doubt a joy for devoted vegetarians. The recipes comprise an excellent collection of very low fat recipes aimed specifically for holidays. As many vegetarians know, it is extremely difficult to find no meat recipes for special occasions. However, these recipes are not only for vegetarians, but also for health conscious celebrants.

My only complaint would be that most non-vegetarians (such as myself) will find the recipes rather skimpy and lacking the hearty flavors of holidays. I personally would rather indulge during holidays and watch my health on the other days!

Whether it be used for holiday ideas or everyday meals, this book certainly has merit for certain cooks.