Book Review

Book Reviews: Skinny Bitch

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The Winner is lucky number 8: Congrats Emma! 

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My first impression of Skinny Bitch was that the name was just really not appealing as my husband and I are not ones to use the term “bitch” and I find it has just a negative feeling.  I decided to over look this and give the book a chance since everyone has been reading it.  I must say that the book has a lot of great information.  It is just as it says on the cover “a no-nonsense, tough-love guide” and that is exactly what it is.  The book is filled with important information about the foods people eat from animal products, sweeteners and coffee.  However if you are easily offended this may not be the book for you. 

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Following the release of Skinny Bitch a new book came out Skinny Bitch In the Kitch . This book is filled with a variety of recipes for the girl (or guy) who wants to be a skinny bitch (or bastard). The recipes are all vegan and are easy yummy recipes for anyone- you can check out some of the sample recipes on the Skinny Bitch website.

Rory and Kim came up with some kick-ass recipes for every craving there is:

  • Bitchin’ Breakfasts
  • PMS (Pissy Mood Snacks)
  • Sassy Soups and Stews
  • Down Home Cookin’
  • Grown-Up Appetizers
  • Happy Endings (Desserts)

Lastly, my favorite SB book is Skinny Bitch Bun in the Oven a “no-nonsense guide for pregnant gals”.  This book is great for any pregnant mom to be and especially those who are vegan or vegetarian.  For many vegan and vegetarian women there is a concern about eating properly during pregnancy and this book can help get you on the right track and give you great ideas. The book starts out much like the first SB book and then adds in things that are important for pregnant gals to know.  

I received a copy of this book for review however I already own it myself so I am giving you a chance to win a copy of Skinny Bitch Bun in the Oven.  If you would like to win a copy of this book you can:

1. Leave me a comment letting me know why you’d like to win this book.

2. Tweet “I want to win SB Bun in the Oven @cookveganlover http://wp.me/ppaTI-vx”

Please enter to win by February 23, 2009 @ 8am

Blogger Disclaimer: Running Press provided me with a free sample of this product to review, and I was under no obligation to review it if I so chose. Nor was I under any obligation to write a positive review in return for the free product.

Book Review: That's Why We Don't Eat Animals

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My first impression of this book was that it seemed slightly morbid for a children’s book, however as I began to think about it there really is no easy way to explain to children why it is that we don’t eat animals.  Although this book is slightly morbid for children it depicts accurate images of life for animals on factory farms, in the sea or in the rainforest in a way that children will understand.  I think that the graphics are amazing in this book and that they are the closest thing to real photos of factory farms without actually having to show children such graphic pictures.

This book starts by introducing the idea that we are all Earthlings and explains what a Vegetarian and a Vegan is. The book is set up in a way that starts with the most familiar animals to the least familiar to children.  The first section is about pets which is a great place to start because pets are the animals that children have the most exposure to whether in their own house or at friends/families.  Following pets are farm animals from birds to pigs and cows.  These pages explain what life is like for the animals when they are free to roam on their own and how life is dramatically different for farm animals when they are placed in factory farms. The last sections of the book are dedicated to ocean  and rainforest life.  Both of the animals and other living organisms are the least familiar to the average child that would be reading this book (at least in North America). 

One of my favorite features of this book is the very last page that list ideas on what you can do to make a difference and learn more.  I think that this was a great addition to the book as it gives children and parents ideas on what else to do after the book is done.   I also have to add that this book is not only a great tool for teaching your kids why they are vegetarian or vegan but also to teach adults and others why it is important not to eat meat. 

Overall this is a must have book for any vegetarian or vegan bookshelf.

Blogger Disclaimer: The publishing house provided me with a free sample of this product to review, and I was under no obligation to review it if I so chose. Nor was I under any obligation to write a positive review in return for the free product.

Cookbook Review: Therapeutic Chef

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A few months ago Kristin Doyle sent me a copy of her new cookbook Therapeutic Chef that is filled with “recipes to prevent cancer, heart disease and diabetes.”  The first few chapters of this book are informational and discuss how to use the book, as well as suggested items for the Therapeutic Chef Kitchen.  These first few chapters of the book are great and are important to read to really understand the purpose of the cookbook and how the recipes can help in preventing heart disease, cancer and diabetes. There is also a “Seven Day Meal Plan For Good Health” which is a great resource especially for those who aren’t sure how to kick start a new healthier way of eating. 

Coming from a family that has faced heart disease, cancer and diabetes I have found that this cookbook is a great resource for my own health and when I am cooking for family and friends. All of the recipes are plant based and whole foods, which means that all of the recipes are processed and refined food FREE! Now the best part is that these recipes are delicious and nutritious.

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  I have been cooking up a storm from this book and my dream is to attempt all of the recipes.  So far I have tired:

  •  Cream of Broccoli-Kale Soup
  • Creamy Chickpea Soup with Lemon and Parsley- Husband and parents really liked this
  • Squash Apple Soup
  • The Cleansing Omega 3 Spread
  • Walnut Miso Spread
  • Favorite Tempeh Marinade- This was a favorite of mine and I will be making it again!
  • Savory Marinade
  • Creamy Thai Kale
  • Garlic-Curry Sweet Potato “Fries”- these were absolutely amazing
  • Favorite Portobello Mushrooms
  • Ginger-Garlic Brown Rice
  • Celtic Shepherds Pie with Miso Gravy- This was popular with the family and the miso gravy is so delicious
  • Mom’s Favorite Veggie Burgers

Sounds like a lot right?  I haven’t even made a dent in this 486 page book and the yummy sounding recipes don’t seem to end.  Kristin Doyle gave me permission to give you a sneak peak from Therapeutic Chef with her recipe for Pressed Kale Salad:

Book Review: Go Dairy Free

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Go Dairy Free by Alisa Marie Fleming is a guide and cookbook for milk allergies, lactose intolerance and casein-free living.  The book starts with a guide to Understanding Dairy and Dairy-Free From a Health Perspective these are the first 5 chapters the book.  These first 5 chapters provide a massive amount of information about dairy, the benefits of living dairy-free and any concerns that one might have about going dairy-free. 

The second section of the book is Eating Away From Home this is one of my favorite sections because it gives great ideas on what to do when eating out at restaurants as well as social events and travel. For those starting out eating dairy-free it is great to know some tips about ordering off the menu at various restaurants.  For example the book categorizes cuisines into green light, yellow light and red light cuisines.  Green Light cuisines are ones that have a number of dairy free options such as Chinese, Japanese, Tai and Vietnamese restaurants.  Yellow Light cuisines are ones that you need to be more cautious about such as Mexican, Greek, African and Caribbean.  The Red Light cuisines are ones you should be extra cautious about such as “American”, Irish/English Pubs, Indian, Italian, French, German or Swiss which all have a number of dairy based dishes. (p. 66-70)

The next two sections are Grocery Shopping & Preparing Your Kitchen and All You Ever Wanted to Know About Dairy Substitutes  I think both of these sections are really great for the newly vegan/those going dairy-free.  In these sections you can find shopping ideas as well as what are some great alternatives.  Here you can learn about a variety of milk alternative s from soymilk to hemp milk.  This section is a great tool for those seeking more information on what the next steps are to living a dairy free life.  

Now that you have made it through all the sections on what dairy is, why you should go dairy-free, what your pantry needs and what there are for dairy substitutes it’s finally Time to Eat! This section is filled with a number of recipes by Alisa Marie Fleming as well as various authors and fellow bloggers such as Ricki at Diet, Dessert and Dogs, Susan from Fat Free Vegan and Celine from Have Cake Will Travel.  All of the recipes featured in this book are great examples of yummy dairy-free recipes that anyone will love. 

The book ends with recommended resources such as online sources in the forms of blogs and various websites.  There are also suggested “offline reading and resources” which vegan, gluten-free/casein-free, food allergy and children’s books. Lastly, there is a great index the list the dairy alternatives and recipes and details whether they are vegan, egg-free, soy-free, gluten-free, wheat-free, nut-free and/or peanut-free. 

Overall this book is a great resource for those who are looking to learn more about going dairy free.  All of the features from dining out to stocking the pantry as well as great recipes for everyone to enjoy make this book a great resource.

Disclaimer: Fleming Ink provided me with a free sample of this product to review, and I was under no obligation to review it if I so chose.  Nor was I under any obligation to write a positive review in return for the free product.

Review: PETA's Vegan College Cookbook

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PETA’s Vegan College Cookbook is targeted at college students who are without a kitchen or have limited access to a kitchen and/or time to cook meals.  All of the recipes are quick and easy to throw together.  Most recipes are based off meat analogues and packaged products with a few fresh ingredients.  It takes items that college students have easy access too such as veggie burgers, canned beans, ramen noodles and vegan cheese slices and creates easy dishes for the student on the run. 

If boiling water or turning the microwave on is as far as your culinary abilities go then this is a great book for you. This recipe book is rather a guide on how to throw ingredients together and heat them up.  If you already know how to cook and can do more than mix, boil water and turn the microwave on then this cookbook is definitely not for you.  This book is not meant to be anything great and you won’t find me using it but if you know someone who is clueless in the kitchen (or you are yourself) it might be worth picking up, if nothing else it’s comical.

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Disclaimer: Sourcebooks Inc.provided me with a free sample of this product to review, and I was under no obligation to review it if I so chose.  Nor was I under any obligation to write a positive review in return for the free product.

Review: Green Smoothie Revolution

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In the past 2 years I have really gotten into the raw foods diet and although I do not practice it as much in the winter I still try to get in at least one raw meal a day (we live in VT and produce is not so great in the winter).  Somedays this means just keeping it simple and having a green smoothie usually for breakfast, sometimes at lunch.  The recipe book  Green Smoothie Revolution by Victoria Boutenko has been a great resource for making some delicious green smoothies as well as providing a ton of information about green smoothies in sections such as The Importance of Rotating Greens in Your Smoothies and Food Combining in Green Smoothies. 

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The second part of this book features:

  • Tips and Tricks for Smoothie Preparatoin
  • Green Smoothies for Beginners
  • Supergreen Smoothies
  • Savory Green Smoothies and Soups
  • Green Smoothies for the Adventurous Souls
  • Green Puddings
  • Green Smoothies for children
  • Green Smoothies for Pets
  • Green Smoothies for Body Care

So far I have been mostly playing around with recipes from Green Smoothies for Beginners, Supergreen Smoothies and Green Smoothies for Children however I am interested in trying some green soups and puddings soon.  The great part about this book is the variety of recipes there are, 200 to be precise, that are all fun and different.   The recipes use a variety of greens to keep things interesting as well as a number of great fruit and veggie combinations.  My favorites (so far) have been the Medallion Melon which is simple cantaloupe and romaine- simple and delicious.  However, my absolute favorite and so far go to smoothie has been the Winter Green Smoothie which is berries, spinach, water and ginger- soooo good.  

Over all this is a great book for those interested in raw foods, green smoothies and healthy new ways to get greens into ones diet. 

Blogger Disclosure:  Cooking For A Vegan Lover received this book at no cost from the publishing house for review.

Cookbook Review: The New Vegan

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Brussels Sprouts and Udon Noodles in Miso Sauce

 

I have been testing out some recipes from The New Vegan by Lorna Sass who is also the author of The New Soy Cookbook.  This book is a great introduction to vegan recipes, the first chapter features how to stock your vegan pantry.  The best thing about this cookbook is that there is a photo to go with almost every recipe.  For those of who have been cooking for years pictures are not so important but being a new cook or new to vegan cuisine it is great to have a photo reference to go with a recipe. 

I made the Brussels Sprouts and Udon Noodles in Miso Sauce from the book and it was delicious.  I love that this book features recipes from various cuisines in a way that is approachable for anyone.  This book although called the “New Vegan” is great for any level of cook and anyone interested in veganism/vegetarianism. 

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