4/25/2012

Ayurvedic Cooking for Westerners: Familiar Western Food Prepared with Ayurvedic Principles Review

Ayurvedic Cooking for Westerners: Familiar Western Food Prepared with Ayurvedic Principles
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I own this book (ACFW) and The Ayurvedic Cookbook (TAC) and I must say that I rarely open this one, while I use at least 3 recipes out of TAC every week. The problem is that while this book stays true to the principles of Ayurvedia, the recipes aren't as tasty as they could be. This book tends to follow the Western macrobiotic ideals of "steam some rice, steam some veggies, let's eat", where TAC uses a wide array of spices. Comparing side by side similiar recipes, TAC's carrots and parsnips has about a half dozen spices, while ACFW's carrots, parsnips and peas has none. Which do you want to eat? This comparison is valid for many other recipes as well, which is somewhat disturbing given the importance TAC places on spices as a part of Ayurvedia. This book seems aimed at the more political/masochistic Western vegetarian (there is a sidebar on being nice to meat-eaters) who sees bland food as some kind of right of passage. While there's good information on Ayurvedia, you can do better with The Ayurvedic Cookbook.

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4/24/2012

Feeding the Whole Family: Cooking with Whole Foods Review

Feeding the Whole Family: Cooking with Whole Foods
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I have the first edition of this cookbook and it rates up there with my 5 most used cookbooks. I have bought multiple copies and given them as gifts to friends and family members. I cook primarily whole foods for my family, which in common terms means that I cook from scratch about 18-20 of our 21 weekly meals. Many of these recipes can be made quickly (30 minutes) with some planning.
The author gives wonderful advice for cooking beans, basic recipes for various grains and family favorite sauces. Most of the soup recipes are staples in our house. The introduction of 'new' and different grains...millet, quinoa, buckwheat...is a great way to add variety to your family's diet and most are quick and easy to make. Our culture eats far too much wheat and making some wheat-free meals is a welcome change in most families.
If I had just 1 box of books I could keep, this would be one of the books I would be sure made its way into the box.

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Pop It in the Toaster Oven: From Entrees to Desserts, More Than 250 Delectable, Healthy, and Convenient Recipes Review

Pop It in the Toaster Oven: From Entrees to Desserts, More Than 250 Delectable, Healthy, and Convenient Recipes
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With turkey taking up the oven this thanksgiving I tried the "Yogurt Zucchini with Onion" recipe and was amazed with the simplicity of the process. I found it nice to be able to put something together and forget about it for a while. By cooking the dish in my toaster-oven (which usually sits unused) I had time to vacuum and straighten up the living room before my guests arrived - without having to stand over the stove and stir. Further, the baking made the dish extra flavorful and healthy. I'm planning on freeing my toaster oven from bagel-boredom and venturing on to some more recipes...

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Are you pressed for time, too tired to cook just for yourself, or simply looking for something beyond a microwaved frozen meal or take-out food loaded with fat, salt, and preservatives? Busy people want a real oven-baked dinner without all the fuss (not to mention the leftovers!).The solution? The trusty toaster oven—which is designed to bake, roast, toast, and broil small portions of food both efficiently and economically. This amazing cookbook will show time-pressed cooks how to prepare delicious, healthy meals quickly and easily, while opening their eyes to the wide range of dishes that are possible with this often underutilized appliance. Pop It in the Toaster Oven will inspire any bored eater to break out of the toast function with recipes such as Buttermilk Pancakes, Minted Lamb Chops, Ginger Miso Calamari, Spicy Beef Fajitas, and Pear Praline Pie. With special tips on choosing the best toaster oven and the proper cookware to use, Pop It in the Toaster Oven will help readers to rediscover this wonderfully convenient appliance.

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Gluten-Free Cooking For Dummies Review

Gluten-Free Cooking For Dummies
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I was pleasantly surprised that the book goes far beyond gluten-free cooking tips and recipes. I have read Korn's other 3 books, and all have been tremendously helpful, and even inspiring. The gluten-free diet can be a shocker (give up your beer, your bread, your tasty baked treats, etc.), but the author somehow makes it easy to understand the nuances of this tricky diet. You feel like you are getting one-on-one expert advice in an easygoing, relaxed style. It's weird, but you feel like you know the author after reading the book. The book is even funny.
For anyone starting out on a gluten-free diet, any of Korn's books are winners. If you also like to cook, this is a double dose of education. You will probably refer to it often. Highly recommended on all counts.

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4/23/2012

Vive le Vegan: Simple, Delectable Recipes for the Everyday Vegan Family Review

Vive le Vegan: Simple, Delectable Recipes for the Everyday Vegan Family
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...it is an informative book on healthy living. Besides numerous nutritious recipes for breakfast and brunch, baked goods, sauces, spreads, soups, main courses and other things, Burton provides advice for "Feeding Your Vegan Baby & Toddler" which is divided into age groups for 6-9 months, 9-12 months, 12-18 months, 18-24 months and 2+ years. In the section "Additional Notes for Feeding Baby" Burton discusses organic foods, prepackaged foods vs. home-made and food preparation tips.
Another helpful section that offers practical information is "Cooking Guides & Notes" where the author provides guides to cooking grains and beans and other "Cooking Notes." A comprehensive glossary is also useful.
Burton's support of hemp foods is a welcome addition to this recipe book and will hopefully encourage other cookbook authors to feature this nutritious food in their books. Not only does Burton include a section on "Hemp Foods," but she also mentions the importance of hemp in the Introduction.
"This is one of the few cookbooks you will see that features hemp products. Hemp seed nuts and nut butter provide complete protein and essential fatty acids that we can only get from our diet. Hemp seed oil is also rich in the essential fatty acids." (page 14)
Another interesting aspect of Burton's book involves the relatively small number of recipes that contain soy. Burton's reason for minimizing her use of soy is simple. "I suspect that many vegetarians and vegans rely a little too heavily on soy, and while I still include it in my family's diet, no one food should be consumed excessively." (page 14) Burton also includes numerous wheat-free recipes and recipes which feature a wheat-free option.
It's nice to see that vegan recipe books are becoming more popular. Vive le Vegan! is one of the better vegan cookbooks that I've seen as it not only offers a good selection of easy-to-make, nutritious meals and snacks, but it contains lots of other important information as well. Those who turned to vegetarianism due to a love of and respect for animals will want to get a copy of Burton's book and consider taking the next step to veganism. As Eric Marcus points out in the Foreword:
"Many people assume that concerns over cruelty can be addressed by becoming a lacto-ovo vegetarian, and buying free-range eggs and organic milk. Unfortunately, welfare standards for these foods are utterly lacking. And, just as troubling, these foods depend on slaughter every bit as much as their factory farmed counterparts. There is simply no such thing as animal agriculture without suffering and killing - the economics just don't allow it."
Vive le Vegan! will be of interest to everyone looking for interesting, nutritious, cruelty-free recipes.--N. Glenn Perrett

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How It All Vegan: Irresistible Recipes for an Animal-Free Diet Review

How It All Vegan: Irresistible Recipes for an Animal-Free Diet
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This is a great cookbook. The best thing about it is not the yummy recipes, but the accessibility of the authors! You can reach them through their website and they are truly genuine and nice. The cookbook features cute drawings and pictures, fun comments, Jewish flair in some of the recipes, unique things you might not find other places, homemade health and beauty product recipes, instructions on how to make safe household cleaners, treats for your animal friends, a section on Kids' Stuff, and the ever-useful "45 Things to do with vinegar" section (that really came in handy!). This book is beginner-vegan-friendly. Most of the recipes are relatively easy to prepare and require minimum time and effort. The dessert section ROCKS! Try the Chocolate peanut butter cups...if you never thought you'd have them again, here they are, in full force! Yum! I've only tried a few recipes so far, and they've all been delicious. These Canadian punk rock wimmin have put together a great collection of vegan recipes. My only complaints with this book are that it lacks an index (which I'm told by the authors was supposed to be in there but didn't make it to the printer!), and several of the recipes contain bee products. bee pollen, beeswax, and honey are all used a bit in the book, especially in some of the smoothies and in the health and beauty products. I was disappointed about that, but have just avoided making the recipes that require those products. Other than that, the book is great.

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The Candida Albican Yeast-Free Cookbook : How Good Nutrition Can Help Fight the Epidemic of Yeast-Related Diseases Review

The Candida Albican Yeast-Free Cookbook : How Good Nutrition Can Help Fight the Epidemic of Yeast-Related Diseases
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I thought this book was very helpful. What I liked most was the "rainbow meal plan" which listed the vegetables and meat combinations you could have on this diet at every meal. Because there are so many vegetables/meat combinations to choose from you shouldn't get bored. The plan also recommends steaming for all your food so it's easy to prepare - all you need is water, a pot and a steamer. The downside is you do have to chop a lot of veggies - however, it's worth it! I also had a hard time with another recipe which called for "Homemade Potassium Baking Powder" pg.83. In the recipe the book says to use potassium bicarbonate which can be ordered from a pharmacy. However, when I went to pick up my bicarbonate it had a skull and cross bone on the bottle and was rated somewhat toxic. When I talked to the pharmacist he said I needed to know what percentage of the potassium bicarbonate was called for because potassium bicarbonate is a strong base. Anyway I had no way to get that information so I skipped that recipe. So obviously the book should be more detailed about things like that. Yet even with this snaffoo I thought the book was helpful and still use most recipes.

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This is the complete, authoritative guide that shows how nutrition can fight the epidemic of yeast- and fungus-related diseases and disorders including asthma, bronchitis, depression, fatigue, and memory loss. Fully updated, this second edition includes dozens of new recipes utilizing 12 foods that contain the antiseptic enzymes researchers have discovered will eradicate yeast and fungus.


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