Let's get this plant party started
So….it’s been quite some time since I wrote that first post. I edited and edited it and wondered when I would start trying to incorporate some of these plant-based meals I went on and on about into our family’s rotation. I find so many great recipes in so many places but decided I wanted to have some cookbooks to keep me motivated.
I recently stocked up on a bunch of “plant-based” cookbooks from Amazon. My goal and my plan are to use recipes from the five cookbooks discussed and then do a further review in a few months. First let’s look at the books I am working with and my thoughts after a first glance. Click on the image for each of the books to be directed to the link on Amazon.
This book is small but mighty and full of vibrant photos (honestly who doesn’t want to see something mouthwatering before putting the effort in!). It also happens to be a great book for beginners. The introduction is full of common food items to have on hand as well as important kitchen tools and so many other valuable pieces of information for those of us just starting out including common substitutions for items such as eggs and meal planning tips.
The recipes are broken down into the following categories: breakfast, breads, burgers,
sandwiches and wraps, dressings and sauces, salads, appetizers, dips and spreads, soups and stews, entrees, sides and finally desserts. Each recipe is accompanies by a vibrant photo. I cannot wait to dive into this one!
The Plant-Based Diet for Beginners (by Gabriel Miller)
This book contains a 75 recipes and only contains a few recipes in the front. What is lacks in finesse though it definitely seems to make up in recipes that sound delicious and tasty. I cannot wait to try the vegetable spring rolls with spicy peanut dipping sauce or the easy enchilada bake. With some information on getting started and a shopping list and sample menu the book makes things simple.
The recipes in this book include: breakfasts, soups, salads and sides, entrees, smoothies and beverages, snack and desserts and sauces, dressings and dips.
This book similar to the first book is loaded with vibrant photos of the recipes included. The book starts off with an introduction. The intro is a little of what to expect and why eating plant-based diets are so good for the body. It also has a little bit of a glossary for ingredients and techniques that may or may not be familiar to you. The recipes also sound so delicious! First on my list is the pineapple mango vinaigrette and the "tu-no casserole".
The recipes include: breakfast, salads, salad dressings, main dishes, soups and stews, side dishes, sauces and dips and desserts.
Many of you might have heard of the "forks over knives" movement. Essentially the idea is to eat plant-based meals where no cutting of meat is required (hence the name). There are a few Forks over Knives cookbooks but this one is one I did not have in my library and it caught my eye. Like so many other cookbooks this one has really nice and vibrant photos. While they are not with each and every recipe they are included in a significant amount of them.
The recipes include: breakfast, appetizers, salads, burgers, sandwiches, tacos and other handheld meals, warm veggie sides, soups and stews, baked entrees, pasta and noodles, grains and beans, bread and crackers, desserts and dips and sauces. With so many options it's hard to know where to start! It might just be with the quiche florentine with artichoke hearts and sun-dried tomatoes or the lemon watermelon granita. So many choices so little time!
I would be remiss not to include a cookbook by Joel Fuhrman, M.D. His book Eat To Live plays a large role in our desire to move to a plant-based diet for a majority of the time. In this book Dr. Fuhrman not only provides recipes but he also give you a small glimpse into the nutritarian lifestyle that he promotes.
Similar to the others this book has some gorgeous pictures that make eating plant-based food look delicious! The recipes include: breakfast, smoothies and beverages, salad dressings, salads, dips, chips and accompaniments, soups and stews, main dishes, quick whole grain main dishes, burgers, pizzas and wraps and desserts. Unlike the other books he does have a chapter for non-vegan main dishes that still meet his nutritarian style of eating. That being said a large part of the book is dedicated to plant-based vegan recipes.
These cookbooks offer so many amazing recipes. I cannot wait to start cooking and deciding if plant-based is as good as these pictures look! Stay tuned...............
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