Customer Reviews

Warming Up to Living Foods

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

 

 

In this recipe book, Elysa Markowitz introduces us to living foods by way of imaginative recipes, great instructions, variations, and the option of warming the foods (but not above 105 degrees F).

The book begins with the story of how Elysa came to raw foods. She moves on to providing a menu for 7 days for each meal (breakfast, lunch, dinner, dessert, plus snacks and drinks). For example, in the breakfast section, there are 7 days' worth of breakfast meals, and then in the lunch section, there are 7 days' worth of lunch meals, etc. In other words, there are a lot of recipes in this small volume!

Each chapter comes with Elysa's advice and info about each meal, and then with each recipe comes instructions on preparing the next day's meal (for example, if soaking is required you know about it beforehand so that you can be prepared for the next day's meals).

Each recipe comes with an approximation of how long it takes to prepare (and aside from time soaking seeds or dehydrating something, preparation tends to be very simple and quick). Many of the recipes do require at the least a blender or food processor (and electric skillet for warming, if desired--or just use a pan on the stove!). But Elysa also includes "machine options," with other choices to use such as a Vita-Mix or a homogenizing juicer, etc. However, you don't necessarily need advanced kitchen equipment. The dehydrator may be the most advanced equipment you would need, but again, there is the option not to dehydrate, or it is suggested you use the oven on its lowest setting, or the sun. I would think most people would already have the minimal equipment needed, other than a dehydrator and juicer (which is necessary to make some of the juiced drinks, of course).

In addition to "machine options," there are also "ingredient options" with variations on the theme, and there are "warming options," which suggest ways to warm the foods at a low enough temperature in order to preserve the enzymes and nutrients. The fact that the recipes are made to be eaten either warmed or not I think is great. Some of us interested in raw foods (and possibly even those who are very committed) may want a warm living foods meal sometimes. This book offers just that.

As if this book didn't already offer so much, there are also several color photographs of the finished recipes that will surely make your mouth water.

Overall, I have found this book to be a very helpful resource of recipes and information about living foods. The friendly tone, encouragement, and "options" have made the book very user-friendly. The "next day preparation" information for the next day's meals has been invaluable and a real help for someone who has a hard time organizing a week's meals which require soaking, sprouting, or dehydrating.

The recipes themselves are very interesting. The ones I have sampled have been wonderful. Some examples of the recipes are: "Scrambled Corn w/ veggie chips & salsa 'verde'", sprouted cereal, soups, salads, loafs, "eggplant pizza", "cauliflower casserole", pates, "unbaked beans," "strawberry cream pie," "ricotta 'cheese' spread with veggie 'chips'." Lots of fun stuff!

I recommend this book to all those who need/want to "warm up" to living foods.

If you are just getting started in raw food, this is the book for you. The recipies are simple, and you will love the taste of Markowitz/Cousin's food. Eating raw food can be al all consuming project, but the recipies in Warming up to Living Foods are not quite so labor intensive as some other raw food books. I highly recommend it, especially for beginners. (...)

This book is for those of you who have decided to switch to an all living foods diet. It has creative recipes made with a juicer, a food processor, a dehydrator, and an electric skillet. You will need to buy these to get much out of the book. For this reason, the raw foods dabbler may want to start with another cookbook.

I found that most of the recipes in this book were either mildly "gross", in lack of better words, or they need some work to be better organized. I suppose this book could be considered a semi-introduction to living foods. However, I bought this book in combination with the rainbow green live food cuisine book and found the latter not only tastier and healthy but also easier. I recommend that book if you're looking for a well rounded introduction and eventual follow through to raw food. By the way, I don't recomend her fruit sorbet for those with glycemic difficulties, may induce sugar over load.

This is a great book for beginners like me who need help with ideas on getting started with eating healthy. The recipes are simple and very easy to follow. Meal suggestions are also included for breakfast, lunch and dinner.