The Blossoming Lotus is a vegan restaurant based in Kauai, Hawaii, with another restaurant in Portland. Their cookbook is both beautiful as well as delicious: full of photographs of sacred sites and original artwork, the layout is simple and uncluttered. There are also numerous inspirational quotations that accompany the gorgeous photographs.
The book is arranged into:
*appetizers, snacks, and spreads
*soups
*dressings and sauces
*salads and sides
*wraps and sandwiches
*breads, pizzas, and pasta
*tempeh, tofu, and seitan
*casseroles, grains and beans
*desserts
*breakfast, juice and smoothies
There is also an introduction to veganism, a vegan natural food preparation guide, a food glossary, and a resource guide. In addition, most recipes offer several variations and there is a "quick and easy" guide that suggests additional meals, snacks, and treats.
The recipes boast clever names, many making use of alliteration (Bahkti's Broccoli Bisque, Super Shakti's Spanikopita). Many are heavily influenced by Asian cuisine (Thai, Japanese, Indian, etc.). This may pose a problem if you don't have access to a natural food store; some of the more exotic ingredients include ulu (breadfruit), black rice, spelt tortillas, and umeboshi (Japanese plum paste). If you are lucky enough to live near a Whole Foods Market, you should have no problem in tracking down less common ingredients. Ingredients and instructions are clearly and simply presented. The majority of ingredients can be found at your local farmers market or in your garden.
Roughly half of the recipes are "live," or raw vegan. These are clearly marked by a lotus. Although I do not normally adhere to a raw vegan diet, I appreciated having choices for raw vegan appetizers, main courses, and desserts.
(One final thought: If you are allergic to soy, you may have to experiment with small substitutions, as nearly every recipe calls for soy in some form, be it shoyu, soy milk, tofu, or tempeh.)