The Karma Chow Ultimate Cookbook: 125+ Delectable Plant-Based Vegan Recipes for a Fit, Happy, Healthy You [Paperback]

Melissa Costello (Author), Tony Horton (Foreword)

Book Description

Release date: October 1, 2012

The more than 7 million vegetarians and 3 million vegans in the United States alone are proving that chowing down on planet-friendly fare not only helps them look and feel better, but it can be delicious, too. In her debut cookbook, Karma Chow creator and celebrity chef Melissa Costello shares an exciting collection of 125+ recipes that will be a welcome addition for anyone already following a vegetarian or vegan lifestyle or for the growing number of people embracing more plant-based meals. As personal chef to celebrity fitness guru Tony Horton, creator of the bestselling P90X® fitness system, Melissa is constantly finding creative ways to keep Tony and her other clients happy, fit, and fueled.

With her "keep it simple" and "make it tasty" approach, she offers a smorgasbord of dairy- and animal-free appetizers and desserts, breakfasts, and dinners, as well as holiday- and company-worthy menus. Recipes include: Mac & Cheeze, Karma Burgers with Chipotle "Mayo," Thai-Style Tempeh Lettuce Wraps, Supreme-Oh Burritos, Roasted Butternut Squash Soup, Korean-Style Tempeh Tacos with Red Dijon Slaw, Enchilada Casserole with Ranchero Sauce, Artichoke and White Bean Dip, Cilantro Cauliflower Smash, Pad Thai in Peanut Coconut Sauce, Stuffed Mushroom Poppers, Indian Spiced Coconut Yam Soup, Chili Sweet Potato Fries, Un-Shepherd's Pie, Strawberry Crème Mousse with Pistachio Nut Topping, Banana Carob Bread Pudding, Apple/Pear Crisp, Brownie Bites, Chocolate Truffles, and Cardamom Chocolate Chippers (a Tony Horton favorite!) 

The Karma Chow Ultimate Cookbook shows anyone how to reconnect with their food and honor it as Earth's source for keeping us alive—all while finding it easier to rock their workouts and sculpt a well-defined physique. It's a winning recipe for success for anyone looking to transition to a healthier way of life!

Editorial Reviews

Review

"I like this book because it is easy for people who are just beginning on their vegan path, but also offers recipes that are original enough for the people who are vegan for a while already."

--She Likes Bento

(She Likes Bento She Likes Bento)

"If you are looking for a healthy dish to add to your table, The Karma Chow Ultimate Cookbook is a great addition to anyone's kitchen. Vegans, vegetarians and meat-eaters alike will find a recipe or tip that is delicious and wholesomely good."

--Melody Lim (Melody Lim elephant journal)

The Karma Chow Ultimate Cookbook: 125+ Plant-Based Recipes for a Fit, Happy, Healthy You
Melissa Costello, foreword by Tony Horton. HCI, $18.95 trade paper

This imaginative and accessible collection from Costello, a nutritionist and founder of the health/weight loss program Karma Chow, is heavy on instruction and light on politics. Costello chooses to inform rather than sell readers on her wellness program, giving a wealth of options that include meat-, dairy-, and egg-free meals. A medley of the familiar—mac and cheese (made with coconut or almond milk), corn chowder, enchiladas and "un-shepherd's pie"—rest comfortably next to soon-to-be favorites like pumpkin pie waffles, pad Thai, and smoky tempeh chili. Those new to vegetarian or vegan cooking will appreciate the lengths Costello goes to, to minimize the need for esoteric, hard-to-source ingredients; notes on substitutions and resources are provided. Nutritional information is given for every dish... Even a carnivore will appreciate chili sweet potato batons, wild mushroom quinoa pilaf, and raw Thai slaw, a flavorful medley of cabbage, bell pepper, snow peas, and carrots in a zesty Thai dressing. Costello offers a terrific resource for vegans and vegetarians who want to expand their options, as well as those interested in eating healthier meals.

--Publisher's Weekly

"This particular cookbook gives us 125 easy plant-based recipes that are easy to follow, using common ingredients, and they actually taste great. I for one can't eat something if it doesn't taste good, no matter how healthy it is for you. But as, I rolled up my sleeves and started preparing meals from this cookbook, I was pleasantly surprised that even my family enjoyed the dishes.  It has now become one of the staples in my cookbook library."

-Nancy B, Book Bargains and Previews

"[Karma Chow Ultimate Cookbook] is filled with beautiful photos and easy-gourmet dishes refreshingly presented, from performance-boosting breakfasts and entrees to decadent desserts. An outstanding resource, especially for fitness buffs. I can't wait to try the Banana Chia Pancakes with Coconut Crème Sauce, Quinoa Protein Brekkie Bowl, and Cha Cha Enchiladarole."

--Elisa Bosley, Delicious Living magazine.

"Missy knows how to craft recipes that not only taste good but are also good for you, whether your goal is to lose weight or put on muscle. After all, she was Tony Horton's personal chef. She's a great chef—but you don't have to be one to get the most from her book."

—Rebecca Swanner, Beachbody

"The Karma Chow Ultimate Cookbook: 125+ Plant-Based Vegan Recipes for a Fit, Happy, Healthy You comes from a creator and celebrity chef who shares her collection of over a hundred recipes for any following a vegan or vegetarian lifestyle. She's personal chef to celebrity fitness guru Tony Horton and in the course of keeping him and her other clients happy, her approaches to food have evolved to offer a wide range of dairy- and animal-free appetizers, breakfasts, dinners and more. From Koren-Style Tempeh Tacos with Red Dijon Sauce to Strawberry Crème Mousse with Pistachio Nut Topping, this is packed with gourmet formulas for vegan success."

—Alma H. Bond, Midwest Book Reviews

"In the nearly 20 years I've been a vegetarian, I've made several attempts to go vegan but never lasted more than a few weeks... But after reading The Karma Chow Ultimate Cookbook, I might seriously reconsider."

—Lisa Brown, The Joplin Globe

Review

"I'm a fitness guy and fitness is my life. Melissa's food is not only amazingly delicious, but it provides me with the fuel I need to sleep well, heal my body, and perform better every day. She has a true gift in the kitchen and can turn any dish into a delectable creation. Try her recipes and you'll be hooked too."

From the Foreword by Tony Horton, creator of the bestselling P90X (Tony Horton)

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: HCI; 1 edition (October 1, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0757316336
• ISBN-13: 978-0757316333
• Product Dimensions: 6 x 0.6 x 9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (82 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #7,668 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Ultimate WOW! Cookbook for anyone or any family October 7, 2012

By A. Christian

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

The Karma Chow Ultimate Cookbook is a compact, easy to read and follow cookbook full of extraordinary pictures of yummy, healthy goodness. In a straight forward, no nonsense, no hype back to basics cookbook Melissa's recipes are a delight on the tongue and to the eye. The aroma's are mesmerizing no matter what you are whipping up in the kitchen. It just might make you fall in love with cooking.

This cookbook is so much more than a cookbook! Starting with quick excerpts about her journey, philosophy and food in today's society and moving on to pantry ideas, helpful Chef's tips sprinkled through out, and ending with a short but very complete resource list of where you can purchase items and ingredients to add to the flavor and fun (especially helpful if you don't live close to a health food store) this cookbook gives you so much more.

Is this cookbook just for Vegan's... NO! Is this cookbook just for adults... NO! Is this cookbook for ANYONE trying to find good basic and healthy recipes that their friends, family and kids will love.. YES! If you are looking for a cookbook to become a staple in your kitchen, buy this book. If you are looking for healthy and tasty recipes, buy this book. If you are looking to change your thoughts around vegetables or just certain ones, buy this book.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A cookbook collector now has a new favorite on her go-to shelf! October 3, 2012

By K. Walters VINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

If you glance at my list of my reviews, you'll quickly realize that I have a cookbook "problem." I own hundreds of cookbooks and love experimenting with new recipes and, in particular, healthy cuisine. I first learned about the author Melissa Costello from my friend Tony Horton, who also is the creator of the wildly popular P90X. Melissa is Tony's personal chef, and I tried some of the recipes she created for his newest program P90X2 and was really impressed, so when I heard she was going to come out with a cookbook, I pre-ordered it on Amazon so I could check it out. And wow - the cookbook TOTALLY blew away my expectations, which is hard to do when you're someone who thinks you've seen it all when it comes to vegetarian recipes. How truly exciting it is to have in a single book healthy recipes for all of my comfort-food favorites, rather than scattered throughout multiple cookbooks that I have to juggle when making my weekly meal plan. Have a hankering for a plant-based version of, say, shepherd's pie? It's in there. Spaghetti and "meat"balls? It's in there. Pad Thai? It's in there. "Tuna" (a.k.a. chickpea) salad? Yep, there. Mac and "cheese" - in there, too. It is as if Melissa asked me for a list of all of my favorite comfort meals, and then turned them into healthy vegan recipes and put them in one book. And they taste incredible and even pass the test of a skeptical omnivore - my boyfriend actually called me yesterday to tell me that he absolutely loved the lunch I made (and he has not yet crossed over 100% to the vegetarian way of life). So, if you are vegetarian or vegan, you will love this cookbook. If you are not, you will love this cookbook. Run, don't walk to order it.... It now sits in my go-to cookbook shelf (when you have as many cookbooks as I do, you need one of these), next to my beloved cookbooks from Tess Challis, and will become an everyday staple in my cooking repetoire. 5 stars! Read more ›

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Karma Chow is a great book even if you're not vegan October 2, 2012

By Heather Serrano

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

If you asked me even a year ago if I'd buy a vegan cookbook, I would have said HECK NO! I pretty much ate animal protein with every meal, and most snacks. But after completing the Ultimate Reset 21 day detox diet this past summer, with recipes by Missy Costello, I realized that vegan food can be really satisfying. So I jumped at the chance to get more recipes from Missy. I'm so excited to get this book and try all of the recipes. She has a great way of using key spices to bring a richness to food. I'm not a vegan and don't plan to become one, but I definitely am trying to reduce the amount of animal protein I eat, and this book gives me tons of options.

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars I can now eat veggies! October 2, 2012

By JudyAileen

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

I love this book! (I tried the 10 Day Revitalization Detox to prove something to myself. This is a plan Melissa offers for successful changes. The recipes are in the book.) I was able to stay on this plan during the whole 10 days, and I'm running past the 10 days and going further into a regular schedule. I love this book! Did I already share that? Worth the repeat. I did something fun. Food prep was easy and I was ready for a meal by opening the refrig door and pulling something out. I made a 4 day prep plan. It's the best way for me to keep on schedule. My body often tells me to eat NOW, no warning, so it was great that it was ready for me.

What I don't like are most veggies, and I'm able to eat them here. There are some ingredients that still don't agree with my taste buds, so I substitute them or leave them out and the recipe is still great! (like onions, mushrooms, cucumbers, Indian spices, etc)

I've been a sugar addict and my cravings really tempered down considerably during this detox eating period. I'm impressed! Who knew? I think it was about time for me to do something to get on a healthier track, and this was the most gentle and easy plan for me. Good job, Melissa, for such a beautiful book. And the photos are great, too. I've been sharing it with my family (bought 4 copies already) and my friends.

If you're interested in eating healthy the easy way and feel like getting started doing something great for yourself, I encourage and invite you to buy this book and take a test drive. I'd love to hear your feedback here.