The Meat Lover's Meatless Cookbook: Vegetarian Recipes Carnivores Will Devour [Paperback]

Kim O'Donnel (Author), Myra Kohn (Photographer)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 14, 2010

Founded by Johns Hopkins University, the “Meatless Monday” campaign counts among its fans Michael Pollan, Sheryl Crow, and Paul McCartney. From Baltimore Public Schools to the city of Ghent, Belgium, the eat-less-meat buzz is spreading worldwide.

With reports about the ill effects of consuming too much meat—for us, and for the environment— The Meat Lover’s Meatless Cookbook speaks directly to lifelong meat lovers who know it’s time for a change but need an accessible and nonthreatening guide to wave them into the kitchen and get them started.

Written by a fellow meat-lover who can relate to the challenges of dietary change, The Meat Lover’s Meatless Cookbook dishes up fifty-two tasty and satisfying meatless menus—one per week—that mirror the do-able, incremental approach recommended by environmental and medical communities.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Babble.com, 8/30/10
“Fantastic for anyone who knows deep down that they should be eating less meat (either for personal or planetary health reasons) but can’t seem to make themselves do it.”

The Washington City Paper, 9/15/10

“It’s a home cook-friendly project, both approachable and cautiously adventurous, with recipes like O’Donnel’s meatless take on cassoulet (!) in which beans take center stage or her Maryland crab cake in which chickpeas stand in for the famous Chesapeake crustacean…O’Donnel makes the gradual shift to vegetarianism easy.”

 

Ecocentric.org, 9/28/10

“A great primer for those transitioning to a meatless diet and looking to arm themselves with recipes for more substantial fare...A gentle reminder that small changes are great, too, and that we all need to make conscientious choices about our diet, for the planet and for our health.”

 

Midwest Book Review, October 2010

“an original concept that will help many carnivores help curb their habit.”

Foodista Blog, 10/07/10

“An absolutely delicious addition to every eater’s cookbook collection.”

Mom Blog Network, 9/27/10

“These recipes don't have to rely on gimmicks to be good.  They are delicious vegetarian recipes that will appeal to vegetarians and carnivores alike.”

 

A Life of Spice Blog, 10/10/10
“Her recipes…are simple and user-friendly but promise and deliver flavor. The book is loaded with great choices of vegetable dishes, tofu and tempeh dishes but nothing is boring. All the dishes have been created with insight and experience. And she makes it easy to cook by the seasons by dividing up the book's 52 menus into Summer, Fall, Winter and Spring.”

Broke Foodie Blog, 10/9/10
“The recipes are simple and easy to follow, and it's not all tofu and beans like a lot of vegetarian cookbooks. There are also plenty of vegan, gluten-free, and dairy-optional recipes.”

 

Manchester Hippo, 10/21/10

“A solid collection of meat-free recipes—useful for those looking to cut some meat calories once in a while, save some meat money, or use up those farmer market vegetables…Looking for some variety and some mixed-crowd holiday meal ideas? The Meat Lover’s Meatless Cookbook will absolutely get you there.”

Australian Good Food & Travel Guide, 10/25/10

“With Kim’s recipes, meatless is scrumptious…she delivers [recipes] with a welcome sense of humour while demystifying vegetarian cooking…Author Kim O’Donnel has a light hearted, honest approach for the meat alternative cooking newbie rather than preaching to a choir of the converted, though either reader will find her book a welcome garnish to their culinary repertoire, small or large as it may be.”

 

Seattle Weekly’s “Cooking the Books” blog, 11/10/10

“Full of recipes for hearty and flavorful meals that give you the satisfying texture and complex layers of flavors that are missing from many vegetarian dishes that just omit the meat…[The] convivial tone makes it feel like Kim is in the kitchen with you, sharing her favorite tips and tricks.”

Treehugger.com, 11/9/10

“This is an excellent book for people who are trying to eat less meat in their diet, especially those who may be having a hard time achieving that goal. It's also a wonderful book for people who are already vegetarian, with lots of variety.”

TheHealthyVoyager.com, 11/8/10

“Author Kim O’Donnel really hits the nail on the head with her recipes along with the cool style of writing and look of the book.  Even the fonts and artwork fall in line with the theme, making it feel like you’re about to cook up some hearty food. And you do! It just so happens to be vegetarian.”

Sacramento Book Review, 11/7/10

“This cookbook surely contains recipes that appeal to everyone on the dietary spectrum.”

Suite101.com, 11/10/10
“[Kim O’Donnel] puts the "mm" in Meatless Mondays.”

 

Curled Up with a Good Book, 11/15/10

“A worthy addition to any home cookbook library, especially if readers are interested in lessening the amount of meat they eat.”

Midwest Book Review, November 2010

“General lending libraries will especially appreciate having a vegetarian title that focuses on main courses rather than ‘fillers’ such as salads and deserts.”

Mummy’s Product Reviews, 11/15/10

“The recipes are not simple, light fares.  They are meals. Hearty, full of complex flavors that you can savor and be satisfied and filled up by…A great addition to your cookbook collection or as a gift for the carnivore in your life.”

Eco Mama’s Guide to Green Living, 11/17/10

“This would make a great gift and perhaps a little nudge to those who would like to eat healthier without sacrificing a thing.”

 

Boston Herald, 11/19/10

“Proof that there’s no need to sacrifice taste on the altar of nutrition.”

 

Sacramento Book Review, 11/22/10
“O’Donnel has a certain flair about her…These recipes are definitely worth trying.”

 

2010 Gourmand World Cookbook Awards USA Winner
“Best Vegetarian Cuisine Cookbook”

 

Metapsychology Online Reviews, 1/6/11

“A helpful addition to the enlightened family's nutrition library. It confronts directly the problem of selling vegetarian fare to hungry men and picky children, by offering a broad array of simple-to-prepare dishes that are hearty and tasty, without being unduly ‘weird,’ as many meat-lovers complain.”

Taste for Life, February 2011
“With 52 meatless menus that will carry you far from traditional vegetarian fare, this book is sure to delight even the most voracious carnivore.”

Tucson Citizen, 2/7/11
“Even though the meat is cut from the recipes, flavor is not sacrificed and that is what makes this cookbook so exceptional and highly recommended.”

 

ProjectFoodie.com, 3/1/11
“This book is ideal for those transitioning to a plant-based diet, though longtime vegetarians will surely find new inspiration, as well.”
 

CookbookMan.com, 1/4/12
“Kim’s recipes are easy to prepare and full of flavor.”

City of Portland (website), 1/17/12

“A great guide for those who are new to seasonal cooking, and the conversational tone and abundant photos make it a handy resource for the beginner chef. “

About the Author

A graduate of the Institute of Culinary Education, Seattle-based Kim O’Donnel blogs at True/Slant and chats on Culinate.com. She has written for the Washington Post, Real Simple, and Huffington Post.

Product Details

• Paperback: 264 pages
• Publisher: Da Capo Lifelong Books; Original edition (September 14, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0738214019
• ISBN-13: 978-0738214016
• Product Dimensions: 7.3 x 0.8 x 9.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (32 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #154,055 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Kim O'Donnel is a trained cook and longtime journalist who's written for The Washington Post and USA Today. She is the author of The Meat Lover's Meatless Cookbook and the forthcoming The Meat Lover's Meatless Celebrations (October 2012). A graduate of The Institute of Culinary Education, Kim cooks up words from her perch in Seattle. She's the founder of Canning Across America, a collective dedicated to the revival of the lost art of 'putting up' food.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

83 of 86 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars I am "Licking My Chops" on Meatless Mondays and MORE! September 14, 2010

By Jimmy Donuts

Format:Paperback

I know ... you like meat. Me too. I grew up thinking beef is what's for dinner... and lunch and breakfast. Not that there's anything wrong with that. Or at least there wasn't. Now, I can't help but know better. Sure, there's the health reason in a physical (weight) sense. But I know now there are also environmental impacts, serious issues with how the meat is processed (from sanitary conditions to inhumane kills to worker abuses). But change is hard and meat is yummy, and going meatless means giving up something I love and that raised the right way can still be good for you. So I just refuse to do that. I don't hate vegetables; I just love meat. (Even Whoville would revolt if The Grinch carved roast beets instead of roast beast.) And those vegetarian books? They just DO NOT understand this. They are meatless on a mission -- perhaps delicious but not relatable to a guy who believes bacon just may be nature's candy. Kim O'Donnel asks us meat eaters to try something different: A break from meat once a week. And she has created an AMAZING set of tasty recipes that are good for our bodies and the planet too. I saw an early version of this book and now have the actual copy and to date and I can give the ultimate rave to the Falafel "Burgers," Slurpy Asian Noodle, and Pepita Crusted Tofu Cutlets: My family (all meat eaters) had them for dinner and we not only loved them and wanted them again -- we did NOT sneak a ham sandwich later because we were unfulfilled. Thanks Kim O'Donnel! THIS is change we meat eaters can believe in.

26 of 27 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Tasty meatless recipes even the kids will love! October 20, 2010

By Holden foodie

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

My grandfather was in the meat business, so a meal was not a meal without the meat. I have always struggled with preparing meals for my vegetarian friends, but when my daughter announced she was no longer interested in eating meat, I knew I had to find some recipes that would feed her while still satisfying the rest of the family. Thanks to Kim O'donnel and the Meat Lover's Meatless Cookbook, I have found the perfect solution! Tasty meatless recipes that are well-designed to satisfy both palate and mouth-feel. I have prepared at least a dozen or so of these recipes, to rave reviews from my discerning hubby and young children (7,11) who have all given 2 thumbs up to every recipe we've tried so far!

102 of 133 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars Sorry... December 10, 2010

By Magda S.

Format:Paperback

... I wanted to like this book. I got it as a gift but will surely be "regifting" it. How do I not like this book? Let me count the ways:

1. Terrible, ugly design. Helvetica-style fonts everywhere. Black ink only on cheap-looking paper. Ingredient lists are headed with "INGREDIENTS ." instruction lists are headed with HERE'S WHAT YOU DO in a kind of distressed Wild-West type font. Everything more or less runs together on the page.

2. 8-page insert of very plain photos. With all the books out there with stunning photography, these just don't look appealing. The first photo is mainly beige bread on a beige cutting board.

3. Recipes that go on for 2, 3, or, I kid you not, 4 pages.

4. Menus that have, again, I kid you not, no vegetables in them. For example, one with Jerk Tempeh, Zesty Pineapple Salad, and Jamaican-Style Rice and Peas. OK, there's pineapple, which is a fruit, but there are no veggies in this meal unless you count cilantro as a vegetable. An 8-ounce package of tempeh is combined with "prepared jerk sauce" as a recipe, and is supposed to yield 4 to 6 servings, with leftovers. Another menu, Huevo Y Fijoles and Romaine with Toasted Pepitas & Lemon Vinaigrette has as vegetables only romaine lettuce and half of a jicama, not exactly powerhouse vegetables.

The author explains at the beginning that she is not a vegetarian. These menus make me feel that non-vegetarians shouldn't write vegetarian cookbooks. She doesn't seem to have a feel for how to put together a simple, hearty meatless meal. I didn't find a single appealing menu that I'd want to make. Some have too many protein dishes, while others have none at all.

5. Some of the recipes have a million ingredients, while others are hardly recipes at all.

6. Annoying terminology. If a recipe is supposed to be child-friendly, there's an icon that says "kiddo." Broccoli is sometimes "brocco" and cauliflower is "cauli." And why in the world "Jig-inducing" falafel burgers?

7. There are supposed to be 52 menus but sometimes, because of the aforementioned bad design, it's difficult to discern what's supposed to be in a menu with what.

8. If this book is supposed to convince meat lovers to eat more vegetarian meals, I don't think it makes the case very well. By presenting such odd combinations, carnivores will rush back to their meat-centric meals.

There are much better vegetarian and vegan books on the market. One great book for those reluctant to try meatless meals is Robin Robertson's Vegetarian Meat and Potatoes Cookbook, with lots of hearty, robust dishes.