Customer Reviews

Vegan Vittles: Down-Home Cooking for Everyone

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

If I were only allowed one cookbook in my kitchen, it would be Vegan Vittles (Second Helpings). Everything you need is in this one special book, from breakfast to dessert, and everything in between. And the greatest part of all, everything is 100% vegan and 100% delicious. Anyone familiar with the first edition of Vegan Vittles will be extremely happy with this new edition and should not wait any longer to buy it. For those of you not familiar with Jo Stepaniak's cookbooks, this is a perfect place to start. The book offers a wonderful introduction to the vegan diet and lifestyle, and explains the Farm Sanctuary, the inspiration for this book. Sprinkled throughout the pages are stories of rescued Farm animals and Ms. Stepaniak's "veganisms" - alternatives to popular sayings which normally contain harsh references to animals. For instance, instead of saying "Don't count your chickens before they are hatched", use "Don't count your bushels before they are reaped". The whole book is inviting and comforting, and I find I enjoy just "reading" it almost as much as the recipes themselves. And speaking of the recipes...

Here are a few of my favorites, although it is so hard to have only a few! Stick-to-Your-Ribs Chili (easy & delicious, bulgur adds a nice chewy texture), Hearty Cabbage Casserole (total comfort food), Southern Fried Tofu (Oh My Gosh, I could eat this every day, the breading mix is out of this world!), Chickpeas a la King (serve over the "Buttermilk" Biscuits for a real treat), Hot-and-Sour Pad Thai Noodles (better than anything I've ever had in a restaurant!), Potatoes Gruyere (how could something so rich and creamy be vegan?!?), Igor's Special (like a warm pasta salad, outstanding!), Mahvelous Millet Loaf (great for warm months, as it needs no oven cooking), Best-of-the-House Dressing (my new favorite salad dressing, tangy & rich). Well, I could go on and on, all of the dishes I've tried so far are spectacular! I must mention that Ms. Stepaniak also does a wonderful job with sauces, meat and dairy substitutions, breakfasts, and desserts. I can't wait until I can say "I've tried everything in the book"!

Vegan Vittles is the first cookbook---a completely random selection---I purchased when I decided to go vegan. Turned out to be a perfect choice: the recipes are both delicious and familiar, and best of all, most are fast and easy too; the perfect choice for someone who likes great food but doesn't really like to cook.

I have purchased countless vegan cookbooks over the past eight years, and several of them are excellent. However, Vegan Vittles, over and over again, is the one I come back to, especially during the holidays; Vegan Vittles is full of crowd-pleasing recipes that satisfy and wow the omnivorous crowd. But a majority of these recipes are for every day food: hearty breakfasts, delicious sandwiches (Jo includes a section, even, on how to make your own mock meats---a money-saving adventure, to be sure), entrees, desserts. And the "uncheese" section is not to be missed. If you are one of those vegans who has yet to get over dairy cheese, you will be pleasantly surprised by the taste and texture of these homemade cheese dishes. Truly, they are excellent.

Vegan Vittles Part II is an excellent second edition, with all of the familiar favorites and plenty of new recipes that will quickly become favorites. Jo Stepaniak really gets it when it comes to the perfectly composed recipe; my complaint with many other cookbooks is that I find I make lots of alterations. With Vegan Vittles, one can mindlessly follow the recipe. The results are always stellar.

Honestly, I wasn't expecting much from Vegan Vittles. As a dairy-free consumer who is just dabbling in the vegan lifestyle, I was certain that the Uncheese Cookbook would be my favorite from among her collection. To my great surprise, Vegan Vittles has emerged as one of my favorite cookbooks. There are several things that don't quite flow with me in this book, much more so than most other cookbooks I have read. Yet, the overall usefulness far outweighs any disconnect that I feel towards it.

While I have already tested a few of the recipes (Ultimate Chocolate Chip Cookies, Macaroni and Cheez, Carrot Butter) I can't even begin to tell you the recipes I am eager to trial. Just a few on my list include: Muffins that Taste Like Donuts, No-knead Whole Wheat Herb Bread, Hot & Sour Pad Thai (no fish sauce?), Cheez Please Soup, Chickpea Oat Burgers, Spicy Peanut Sauce, Aunt Bunny's Carrot Cake, etc., etc., etc.

The recipes are all so simple, using easy to find whole foods (think spices, veggies, fruits, and whole grains, not white flour and sugar). The most exotic ingredients that I spotted were quinoa and miso, both of which can now be found at Trader Joe's and in most major grocers. I think the fact that I could make so many of the recipes without having to make a special trip to the grocery store, was a real draw.

As for the disconnects - Certain portions of the intro get a bit wordy, and I found my eyes wandering off on many occasions. While full of useful information that I couldn't get enough of (do you know how hard it is to find a list of GMO foods to avoid? And what about that wonderful explanation of egg alternatives?), many sections tended to drag on with less pertinent details. Also, I was perplexed by the veganization of quotes throughout the book. Finally, the recipes weren't always spot-on. I found the author's taste buds to be more sensitive than mine, as I require a bit more flavor injected into my meals. Also, I often had to adjust the moisture content.

So if the recipes didn't always work perfectly, why did I like it so much? Simply put, Vegan Vittles really is a fantastic primer for all of those basic comfort food recipes that I often miss. As someone who is typically less than experimental in the kitchen, I have had a lot of fun "tinkering" with the recipes. The very idea that I can successfully customize almost every recipe, has made this a cookbook that I actually use (of which, there are few). Trust me, I am not a fabulous cook, but all of Jo's recipes are so simple that they remove any fears I have in the kitchen.

To note, Jo tends to reuse some of her recipes across cookbooks. While each one contains a ton of unique recipes, there are always a few crossover recipes, another pet peeve of mine. Yet, I found that Vegan Vittles contained the perfect collection of her recipes; a nicely sized section on cheese alternatives, and a good array of baked goods, full meals, snacks, and desserts. If I could only pick one Jo Stepaniak cookbook, this would be the one. Though we have our differences, Vegan Vittles will stay front and center in my cookbook collection!

The thing about the author is that I think she may have been vegan for a little too long--not that that's a bad thing by any means, but she's forgotten what some things really taste like. I've been a vegetarian for a long time, mainly vegan and three months ago I finally decided to commit. For instance, I just made the brownie recipe and they are not so good being that they taste like silken tofu dusted with cocoa. When things taste "vegan," which many of these recipes do, it's hard to cook these things for other non-vegans. Some of these recipes take some time and it's disappointing when you've cooked a meal for other people and they try to assure you that it's good(and you know they're thoughtfully lying). The cheese recipes are not so good either, so I just buy Follow Your Heart cheese and I'm satisfied. There are some useful baking tips in here and I can't deny that I don't appreciate the authors stance on the treatment of animals and people like her who make it easier to be vegan. BUT I might recommend that someone who really wants authentic tasting vegan substitutions that they look elsewhere.

I have many vegan cookbooks, and this is the one that has the most "usable" and "user friendly" recipes of all. The only recipe I have tried and did not like was the "buttermilk" biscuits. The Southern Fried Tofu is yummy. I highly recommend this book.

I have been vegan for more than 5 years, and I have about 20 vegan cookbooks. Vegan Vittles: Second Helpings is my favorite.

I discovered the original Vegan Vittles a few years ago when I was looking for the perfect vegan pumpkin pie recipe. I found that and more in Jo Stepaniak's classic book. I was so happy when she published this revised and expanded edition of the original. All of my favorite recipes are in here. I'll just name a few: Maple Walnut Granola, Chickpeas a la King over Buttermilk Biscuites, Southern Fried Tofu, Potato Kale Soup, Noodles and Greens, Messy Mikes, Golden White Cake with Rich Fudge Frosting, Butternutty Chowder, Mahvelous Millet Loaf, Rich Chocolate Pudding Pie, Farmhouse Stew...I could go on and on. In fact, I haven't encountered a recipe in this collection that I don't love.

I often prepare these dishes for my omnivorous dinner guests, and always get rave reviews from them as well. This cookbook serves up a variety of "veganized" familiar dishes. The ingredients are very wholesome, pure, and healthful. But this health food is actually comfort food. I always turn to this cookbook when I'm searching for that comfort food fix.

The recipes are very simple, and the directions for preparation are very clear. The design and layout for the book is very user-friendly.

Most of all, I love this book because it has a lot of heart. The descriptions of the animals living at Farm Sanctuary are all very inspiring. The book is brimming with compassion and positive energy.

I think that this book is a must-have for any vegan cook, or for anyone at all who is interested in good, wholesome, delicious food.

I have almost every vegan cookbook on the market, but after having purchased this book, most of the others now sit on the shelf collecting dust!

I have yet to be disappointed by a single recipe in this book!

In this new expanded edition of the popular" Vegan Vittles," Stepaniak has broadened each section of the book to include many new recipes for alternatives to animal-based foods. With recipes for homemade veggie "meats" and "cheeses" to scrumptions egg and dairy substitutes, eating vegan is easier and yummier than ever.

"Vegan Vittles - Second Helpings" includes hearty breakfast fare like Phenomenal French Toast, Eggless Omelets, and Muffins That Taste Like Donuts (they really do!). For lunch, try the Boneless Chickenless Chicken Salad (made with tofu), Chickpea Tuna Salad, Radical Rueben, or a Sloppy Lenny (a lentil based version of a Sloppy Joe). There is even a recipe for Gooey Grilled Cheez which looks surprisingly like the real thing. It tastes rather unusual however - imagine tahini, lemon juice, ketchup, and nutritional yeast flakes mixed together. My husband and I found it tasty enough but the kids didn't care for it. Maybe more ketchup and less nutritional yeast flakes next time . . .

My favorite section, Soups, Chowders, and Stews, offers easy, nourishing options like Sadie's Vitality Broth made with chickpeas and orzo pasta, Butternutty Chowder, and Elegant Broccoli Bisque. We especially loved the Cheez Please Soup made with potatoes, carrots, silken tofu, and soymilk - puréed into a thick cheesy tasting soup and garnished with steamed broccoli and cauliflower. (I learned my lesson and used less nutritional yeast flakes than called for and my children had 3 bowlfuls each!) We also loved the Creamy Potato Kale Soup.

Main dishes include Sweet and Sour Tempeh, Southern-Fried Tofu, Classic Quiche, Macaroni and Cheez, Baked Stuffed Shells, Pot Roast and much more. We tried the Gardener's Pie (a tofu-based version of Shepherd's Pie) and it was wonderful. I served it with Savory Chickpea Gravy from the Sauces and Gravies section. A small selection of side-dishes includes Twice-Baked Potatoes, Garlicky Greens, and Coconut Rice. There are also recipes for salads and dressings like Warm Salad Nicoise, Fiesta Coleslaw, and Ceasar Salad.

I tried a few of the tempting desserts offered in the Happy Endings section of the book. The Poppy Seed Cake was moist, tasty, and just sweet enough. The Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies were crunchy and delicious. I still have many I want to make like the Ultra-Fudgey Fudge Brownies, Grandmother's Spice Cake, and the Peach Kuchen.

The recipes in the book are clear and easy to follow. An ingredients guide explains foods that may be unfamiliar. Besides recipes, the book defines veganism, debunks common farm animal industry myths, and relates heartwarming rescue stories of animals now living happily at Farm Sanctuary. This cookbook would be inspiring and helpful to all vegan cooks.

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I love this book, I have tried Gyros, Basic Simmered Seitan, Better Burgers, Creamy Potato Kale Soup, Messy Mikes, Fruit Butter Bars, Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies, Pot Roast, Barbecue-Style Braised Short Ribs, Barbecued Buffalo Zings and Stick to Your Ribs Chili and I would rate each recipe 5+ stars. This is a must have book for all vegans/vegetarians and my husband who isn't a vegetarian enjoyed all of these recipes. I love that the recipes are easy to follow and don't call for a lot of ingredients.

I am newly vegan. After 2 months, I was getting a little tired of eating the same 6 meals. This cookbook has quick alternatives to common staples. I even made my own "Sour cream", which tastes shockingly amazing! I recommend it to new vegans and vegans that need a few new recipes!