Entertaining for a Veggie Planet: 250 Down-to-Earth Recipes (Paperback)

~ (Author) "There are several compelling advantages to having people over for nibbles and drinks versus dinner..." (more)
Key Phrases: carton firm tofu, killer chocolate chip cookies, garlic fondue, Grand Marnier, Middle Eastern, Pinot Noir (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Emmons (Vegetarian Planet) comes to the rescue for vegetarian dinner-party hosts with this guide to orchestrating intimate gatherings or large parties with food so good the guests won't notice it's meatless. Sound principles are at work here: parties exist so you can "feed people (yourself included)" and "enjoy people (yourself included)." Emmons gives tips on making dips (Greek Skordalia, Roasted Red Pepper Dip) and crudites, using salads (Green Bean-Sweet Potato Salad with Peanut Dressing, Mango Slaw) as buffet centerpieces, and buying pre-made snacks at Asian groceries. Festive touches, like beets for Pink Eggs and "Seizing" Hot Fudge Sauce (it hardens over ice cream) add creativity without hardship. There's even an ingenious "miraculously cheap wedding for fifty in ten easy steps" sidebar that includes tea sandwiches and brie with currant jelly and pecans. Even if you're just entertaining your kids, they'll enjoy Sloppy Joes and Crunchy Peanut Butter Balls. Plentiful tofu and seitan recipes will satisfy vegans. There are chapters on "intimate gatherings," brunches, pizzas, risottos, and sweets and drinks, although no comprehensive beverage chapter. Main courses like Spaghetti with Green Olive Pesto and Spinach, Crunchy Chickpea, and Hazelnut Ragout are piquant yet easy to make. With sidebars on such topics as the great Turkey day conundrum, how to make inexpensive centerpieces and how to get people to help out, this is exactly what veggie hosts need in order to plan, execute and, most importantly, enjoy their own parties.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

"...ways to make entertaining easy and fun are offered throughout. For most collections." -Library Journal. -- Review

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Product Details

• Paperback: 480 pages
• Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (June 27, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0618104518
• ISBN-13: 978-0618104512
• Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 7.4 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #191,947 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

44 of 44 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Light up your mouth flavors, June 28, 2003

By A Customer

This is a delightful cookbook which will light up your taste buds as it takes you into uncharted territory in vegetarian cooking. As the primary cook in a vegetarian household, I often find myself at a loss for new ideas, or uninspired by the typical offerings of vegetarian cookbooks. This book changes all that - I now have a wide range of possibilities that excite me, turning a chore into a fun activity.

Full disclosure here: I tested many recipes during the development of this cookbook. But I knew nothing about Didi Emmons before this testing - and with three young kids and a demanding job, I had no interest when a mutual friend suggested I might enjoy testing recipes and providing feedback. I declined, but the message was lost and a recipe was sent to me. I decided I'd try just one (Chard and Eggplant Salad with Miso-Sesame Vinaigrette). When I put a forkful of the finished product into my mouth, I was shocked to discover how good it was. This was the first of what were to be repeated experiences of finding that, in Didi's recipes, the whole is often greater than the sum of the parts - and that surprisingly good and often completely unexpected synergies develop from her recipes.

After this first test, I was hooked. I tested approximately 30 recipes over the next six months. With few exceptions, the recipes were excellent. In a remarkable number of cases, they were sublime. The "Hip Dip" always goes fast at parties. It's an edamame (green soy bean), cilantro, lime juice, olive oil, etc. mixture with a fresh and wholesome flavor. It's perfect slathered on hearty bread and cut into small sandwiches. Other must-try recipes include: Crispy Rice Cakes on Spinach with Viet Red Pepper Sauce - as visually appealing as it is delicious. Root Stew with Millet Cakes - a perfect winter dish and the first time I've ever found a flavorful way to cook millet. The root stew is excellent on its own, but the addition of the millet cakes creates a wonderful fusion. Also, Crispy Bun (noodle) Tofu - an exquisite combination of cooked, fried noodles with a carrot, red cabbage slaw and a tangy mint/lime juice/garlic sauce - hearty yet light - and scrumptious. And Creamy Parsnip Soup with Horseradish - sweet, filling, and with a delicate bite. And if you're in search of the perfect brownie recipe, look no further. Stowe Brownies are exactly as described in the book - "rich and slightly gooey with a crisp, tender exterior".

This book is also fun to read. It is sprinkled throughout with stories and advice about entertaining, including laugh out loud material about Didi's family and neighbors (especially her parents at the holidays) and advice about such diverse topics as purchasing truffle oil (a must-have item, the wonders of which I discovered thanks to Didi); lighting the wrappers from Amaretti di Saronno crackers and watching them flame and lift off into the air (it really works and lights up a dull party); and how to clean your home in 30 minutes. There's also a comprehensive "friendly guide to unfamiliar ingredients" - with descriptions of ingredients and advice on where to locate them.

If you find that you're stuck when it comes to entertaining with vegetarian dishes, this is a great book to get you out of the doldrums.

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars She's a Food Genius, June 4, 2003

By A Customer

So, how many cookbooks have you bought based on an appealing cover and one or two seemingly good recipes? Too many. This book will end your search for a cookbook that you can actually use to impress your non-vegetarian friends. If you're in the mood to take the entire day to wow them (yes, there are some of those recipes in here) or if you simply want to devote 1/2 hour to fixing down-home, plain good food, the ideas/solutions are here. If you can't get to Didi's restaurant (my condolences) this is the next best thing.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Creative and delicious recipes - plus it's a riot to read!, May 2, 2004

By	Beverley A. Sutton "bevhealthnut" (Clifton, AZ USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book is worth the price for her pan-fried tofu recipe alone. Indisputably the BEST way to prepare tofu. Even people who are confirmed tofu haters love this method.

My only minor quibble with Didi is that she (page 219) eats fish on occasion and thus considers herself a "95% vegetarian". For a vegan, the suggested use of "fish sauce" in a vegetarian recipe book is annoying. However Didi does suggest alternatives - and her recipes are fine without it.

A good friend suggested that the lone negative reviewer may have substituted some other yeast for the nutritional yeast called for in many recipes, I'm sure she's correct. Folks, there is NO substitute, you need genuine nutritional yeast (mild and cheesy) - NOT brewer's yeast (bitter), and definitely not (shudder) baker's yeast!