Vegetarian Books

This is one of those books that you can enjoy reading even if you don't own a kitchen. The author's voice is soothing and the rhythms of monastery life echo throughout the recipes.

This book is one of a series. The recipes are simple, easy to follow,and by no means austere. Using seasonal ingredients, the results are delicious and imaginative salads. I have given several copies as gifts.

This is truly a wonderful salad book - will make you famous for your dressings and salads. Not one bad recipie and easy to follow with few ingredients. I buy it for my friends and family too.

Thanks for getting this book to me quickly and in perfect condition! What an excellent book - full of great salad ideas that don't have complex ingredients!

As a perpetual dieter I need to eat vegetables, a lot. I'd become very sick of salad and making them when I came across this book in my library. My entire family loved the couple of recipes I tried, and I was happy because everything tasted very good, so I bought the book. There is a great variety of salad types from potato and pasta to leafy and everything in between. The book is organized by season but don't be afraid to explore outside the current season, since different regions have different growing seasons, and grocery stores often (not always) have good produce out of season.

Best cookbook i have ever purchased! Amazing real Italian recipes! If I cooked these dishes for my other non vegan family members they would have no clue that it was a vegan dish! i highly highly recommend it.

This is the best Italian (vegan) book out there. There is nothing in it I would not like to make...highly recommend!

I've had this book only for a few weeks but I have used it many times already. It is often the first cookbook I head for when looking for something to cook.

That's because it is full of simple recipes using common ingredients, many of them quick and easy to put together. A really good everyday cookbook. The only reason I didn't give it a higher rating is that it didn't have more recipes.

My son was pleased to receive this cookbook. He has made many recipes from it and all are good.

I bought this fairly recently and I've made a number of dishes from it that have all turned out perfectly. I'm thrilled to have found a vegan cookbook that uses simple, healthy ingredients with no tofu or meat substitutes in sight!

I've served a couple of these meals to non-vegetarians and they were super impressed! Donna Klein is my new favourite vegetarian cookery writer.

It is so hard to find a beginning of this review, as there is so much coming out of the book. First the book comes alive with the people that are involved in the making of the book, and the Cafe itself. It was like you read about the characters in a story which come to life and and you can not wait to get to the recipes to see what they have done. Without saying I thought the selection and types of recipes was outrages in the good sense. Besides having a wonderful cook book for veggies, they went beyond the normal and added the wonderful stories about the beginning and the people involved in the Cafe. I believe if more cook books were written this way the people would enjoy them more than they do. In closing I would like to congratulate Max & Rosie for a job well done. If more are to come would be very interested in knowing. Thank you.

I just have to comment on this cookbook. The recipes it contains are absolutely delicious. I mean, it's unbelievable. Plus, the recipes are not complicated, and the food is very wholesome. You enjoy a plate of delicious food, and then your body feels great! (Not weighed down and greasy.) My favorite recipe out of this book is the Rhia Me Dear Rice Salad. This dish has been a minor obsession of mine ever since I lived in Asheville as a teenager. I now make it in my home regularly. The sauce that goes with it is DIVINE. It's vegetable bliss. If you want to eat healthfully, yet feel like you're cheating on yummy foods, get this cookbook. YUM!

What a fabulous book! It magically creates a whole ambiance around healthful eating, from the gorgeous illustrations to the mouthwatering recipes and delightful, insightful commentary that both captivates and educates. Also, as a practising Nutritionist, I really appreciate that these recipes are truly healthy and not dairy or wheat dependent. A perfect companion for those new to a naturally healthy lifestyle, and those seeking new inspiration in an established natural foods diet.

It was October 1994 that I took those first steps into Asheville's vegetarian food grotto. You actually step down a few steps to get into Max & Rosie's Café, and most always greeted by a happy face behind the counter. It has the feeling of some Sufi café in London (if indeed there is such a place). Maybe that's because Max (that's not his really name by the way) follows the Sufi path, and IS from London. He's Rosie's husband. She's from Miami (and Rosie's not her real name either). She'll tell if you ask...

When you buy their book you'll learn more about their names and how they got started. It's a little bit of a mystery.

This is a review of Max & Rosie Beeby's first book.
 
It wasn't long after visiting the café that first time, that Rosie shared with me her desire to write a book. Our heritages both stem from New York City so she was easy for me to love immediately! She had already been a Macrobiotic food teacher back in Florida, and now serving the public she was ready. It made sense. However, being an active and dutiful mother, and Max doing his artwork (which the book and cafe is filled with) there was little time for book writing (and Rosie would like to stay away from the computer as much as she can.

However they were determined, and 7 years later Ten Speed Press published the book. Named after their restaurant (as in the tradition of Moosewood and other best-selling cookbooks), Cafe Max & Rosie's is a delightful and creative 178 pages of, not only recipes, but short statements of some of the people who have worked and visited the café, sort of like their guest book.

This book is a great "table top" addition. You can "feel" not only the essence of the food, but can also get the same "feel" of Max's artwork. Ah, Max, quite a mystic himself. With the rugged look of an English pub bouncer, he exhibits the gentleness of a Buddhist monk. I've spent a couple of nights talking with him late at night in their log cabin in the mountains.

Their book is divided: Part one called "Rosie's Cooking Classes," and part two "Just Juice It!" 

So, what distinguishes one cook book from another? Is it the amazing dishes? I think not, for as I have said of their restaurant, I say also of their book, "As Japanese culture has shown, how we eat--the ambience--is as important as the food itself."
 
The heavy parchment paper on which the words and artwork are reproduced can best be described as a table setting worthy of the love and purity contained within the recipes. And if you are indeed a food aficionado, page 56 offers a "Linguini with Fresh Garlic and Asparagus" recipe with tempeh, Portobello mushrooms, and spinach, that will soothe your senses, titillate your palate, and nourish you body. 

Is this the best cookbook I have read? I can't say, because I don't "read" cookbooks, I sense them. My sense of the Cafe Max & Rosie's book is that it is very "edible." It is a book worth having in your home....

Sw. Virato is editor and producer/publisher of New Frontier Magazine, Asheville Magazine, and Chattanooga Spirit, Bliss Magazine.

I am returning to order my sixth copy of this inspiring and entertaining cookbook for a Vegan friend. My kids (7 and 9 years old) even love the fare, and that's a blessing to a single, working parent with little time and very picky eaters. Ten Speed Press scores again -- who wouldn't want to devour these deliciously clever dishes sourrounded by the tale of Max and Rosie's timeless love? Spirited, playful, and best-of-all yummy, healthful eating. Congratulations Max & Rosie -- your family is about to get much, much bigger!

"For anyone who cares about what they eat when they are on the road, this is the book. It has it all from restaurants, to farmer's markets, to places to walk and see. Don't leave home without it. I can't wait for the complimentary copies on the other areas of California to come out."
C. Fels - Educational Consultant - Tai Chi for Health Instructor
www.earthwalktaichi.com

I just used Patricia's California Healthy, as I was driving down to Los Angeles. Even though I've driven the route all my life, I can tell this book is going to change how I travel up and down the state. This time, instead of just pulling into the first or second eatery that "looked okay," we followed the book's clear map to a healthy cafe destination. Comparing a couple of the book's reviews beforehand was fun, as we narrowed down our choice. Had we not consulted California Healthy, we would have had typical, high-calorie road food, but instead we had a tasty (fresh, seasoned, mouth-watering) affordable meal.

The book's color photos add note-worthy identification to the destinations' descriptions. Not only does the book guide you to restaurants, but farmers' and whole food markets, local attractions, and wineries. The recipes in the back are another "bonus" of the book, adding to the authenticity of its message: eat delicious food at home and/or on the road. Neither time-crunches nor unfamiliar environs are an excuse to treat your body poorly. The recipes are easy and quick; the directions to the food purveyors will get you in and out quickly.

We are lucky to be in California when we're traveling because we can take advantage of so many healthy-minded food enterprises. With a little direction from California Healthy, we can proudly boast of delicious, healthy choices, whenever we hit the road.

This is a wonderful book, well researched and informative. I refer to it frequently. And I have just purchased another copy for a friend.

California Healthy, Southern California Edition (America Healthy) (America Healthy)
I REALLY LOVE THIS BOOK!!! IT'S LIKE BEING IN CALIFORNIA AGAIN.
This is a beautiful book with tons of pictures, mouth watering recipes (I liked the broccoli saute' the best) and lots of safe places for me and my dogs to go walking. You can't miss with this book. What an education I got just from reading it. I'll have my trip all planned out before I even get to California. Wa Hoo. Thanks to Patricia for making such a great book.

California Healthy: The Adventurer's Guide to Local Delicacies, Fine Wine, Great Walks and the Good Life is a guide for California residents as well as vacationers. What distinguishes California Healthy is its close attention to the healthy food and fitness-promoting activities. County-by-county listings give the address, telephone number, and open numbers of everything from restaurants with healthful cuisine to parks ideal for walks to art galleries, botanical gardens, artisan's markets, colleges, special holiday celebrations and much more. Full-color maps and photographs on almost every page add a splendid visual touch to this high-quality guide for anyone in the Southern California area seeking to stay in shape.

I bought this book several years ago used and have dog earred most of the pages.
The recipes are simple for the most part with common ingredients. Some of the recipes are a little bland for my taste but are easily tweaked to provide more robust seasoning. Many rely on pasta as a main ingredient.
There are lots of suggestions on ways to use tofu and how to make it family friendly including many that I've never seen anywhere else.
There are tons of recipes to make creamy sauces with less or no fat.
Anyone looking to reduce their fat or explore vegetarian eating should consider this a staple in their recipe collection.

My sister gave me this book years ago. Not being into cooking at the time, I didn't even open it until recently. I've discovered a new hobby and a new joy---cooking! For a total novice like me, the authors make it simple and easy. Their recipes are excellent...full of flavor, using spices well, tasty but low fat. I am especially enjoying their section on grains and am having an adventure experimenting with millet, kasha, and brown rice. I would imagine that more experienced cooks too would like this book; there are some recipes that look more complex. But the 9-10 ones that I've tried have been quick and easy for a beginner. If you want healthy, vegetarian food that tastes great and doesn't require you to be a gormet chef, get this book!

Finally a vegetarian cookbook without all kinds of bizarre ingredients to track down...I have numerous vegetarian cookbooks, but this one is one of my favorites !

I love this cookbook. I've had it for years and have tried countless recipes, all of which turn out deliciously. Alot of the recipes can be made in little time, and with common ingredients. They are also economical, easy and delicious. It has something for an elegant dinner and something for a quick and easy dinner. GET this book. It is totally worth it.

originally purchased this cookbook for the nutritional breakdown that is listed @ bottom of every recipe, I was watching my protein level due to some disturbing numbers from medical tests,I
found that I liked every recipe I tried they all tasted really good, a few of them were a little bland but simply by slightly increasing the spices that they called for took care of that. Not only were the recipes good but my cholesteral improved from 256 to 172, blood sugar greatly improved, I've lost weight as long as I stay with it, and too much protein situation improved to the point of seeing the specialist every 6 months instead of every 6 weeks. I feel much better eating this way, a big thanks to the author.

After trying Regina's Herbed Ravioli Soup for the first time, I was floored at how good vegetarian could be. If this was vegetarian, I could easily convert. Well, I didn't convert, but I still grab Regina's book off the shelf from time to time, and I've never once been disappointed by a single recipe. Even my father, a devout carnivore, afraid to try new things, has always been pleased with Regina's fare. I can't wait for her second book to arrive! In the meantime, I highly recommend this book to anyone! You WON'T be disappointed!

This is from Chris, the sometimes sous chef/helper/foil for Regina on her TV series. This is the softcover version of Regina's first book, with all the same great recipes. This cookbook isn't just for vegetarians (I'm not one). It's for anyone who likes good food. If you are an omnivore, this is the perfect book to provide great meals many times every week. You won't miss a thing. If you're a vegan, just substitute non-dairy alternatives. It can move you into new cuisines with ease, fill you up, keep you light, provide wide variety, and most are fun to prepare. I ate it while we taped it. I use the book constantly at home. This book takes vegetarian eating out of bland or boring and into great tasting, filling and fun.

I highly recommend this cookbook. The recipes are quite simple to make and soooooo delicious. My two favorite things about this book is the recipes do not call for exotic ingredients, so I'm constantly referring to this for my daily cooking. And, I love the wine suggestions following each entree. I can hardly wait for her next book to come out. I own too many cookbooks, but this is the one I am constantly using on a daily basis. I can't live without it.

This is from Chris, the sometimes sous chef/helper/foil for Regina on her TV series. This cookbook isn't just for vegetarians (I'm not one). It's for anyone who likes good food. If you are an omnivore, this is the perfect book to provide great meals many times every week. You won't miss a thing. If you're a vegan, just substitute non-dairy alternatives. It can move you into new cuisines with ease, fill you up, keep you light, provide wide variety, and most are fun to prepare. I ate it while we taped it. I use the book constantly at home. This book takes vegetarian eating out of bland or boring and into great tasting, filling and fun.

This book is pretty good - there are a decent number of recipes that are delicious and have become a staple in my diet.

Standouts incode New England Risotto, Polenta Mexicana, Gumbo Stew (vegan) and Stuffed Zucchini Provencal.

However, there are a few problems:
1. too much dairy: I am not vegan, but after eating a few recipes from this book, I feel cheesed out. Many of the recipes are quite heavy. The Smoked Mushroom Lasagna, which many people rave about, was too greasy, cheesy, and rich for me.

2. Butter: Regina wrote this book during brief period in which people thought butter was healthier than margarine. Therefore margarine is never mentioned, only butter. Do I really need to use so much butter?

3. Instruction problems/omissions/vagueness: Sometimes, Regina forgets to mention where a certain ingredient comes in - it's in the list, but never mentioned in the text. So you have to guess. Also, she says "add seasoning to taste" often. I wish she would provide a range, since I have no idea.

4. Recipes take more time than one would expect: The blurb on the jacket implies this is a good book for busy people ("She has found wonderful shortcuts" "without going to time-consuming extremes"), however, most of the recipes take plenty of time to make. I mostly use this book for weekend cooking.

This book would be more useful if there were estimated preparation times for each recipe.

5. There is no vegan recipe index, although I've seen this in several other cookbooks.

Faults aside, this is still a good book to have, as long as you are not vegan.

Another nice aspect is the huge variety of cheeses used in the recipes. If you are curious about what other cheeses taste like and what they are used for, this cookbook will help you explore them - Gruyere, Edam, Smoked Gouda, Provolone, etc. You'll wonder why so many people limit themselves to American, Cheddar and Mozarella.

I own tens of vegetarian cookbooks, but the one that I depend on is Jeanne Lemlin's Vegetarian Classics. There isn't a bad recipe in the book! You can open the book to any page and find a recipe that is bound to make your "favorites" list. In the back of the book, Lemlin has conveniently made a menu guide, so that whether you're cooking for company or cooking casually, you'll know the perfect set of dishes to pair together. Many recipes include a "tip" section, that either allows you to substitute ingredients in the recipe and customize the flavors to your tastes, or gives you advice to make the recipe a no-brainer. I also love the stories that accompany the recipes. I can't commend Lemlin enough for her thoughtful cookbook! (The only negative comments I have are that there are no pictures in this book and some of the recipes are higher in fat than I'd like to consume.) I can't wait for her next cookbook!

I am an avid fan of Jeanne Lemlin's and own all of her cookbooks. I learned to cook from her first book which is falling apart from so much use. Her latest book, Vegetarian Classics, is one you should own regardless of whether or not you are a vegetarian. It is just wicked good food. I made the Thai noodle salad and it was as good as any from my Oriental cookbooks, with no hard-to-find ingredients. Jeanne makes certain her clear and easy recipes work, letting her family and friends be her judges. Hurry and order this book so you won't eat another meal of bland, boring food.

If you don't own all five of Jeanne Lemlin's cookbooks like I do, this is a magnificent place to start. Here, Lemlin offers an incredible array of vegetarian dishes that will please everyone from the died-in-the-wool vegan to the meat lover. The secret behind this wonderful collection of recipes is, like it's predecessors, Lemlin's staunch commitment to GREAT TASTING vegetarian cooking. And "Vegetarian Classics" goes even a step beyond her previous offerings by giving us everything we need in one comprehensive book. From her mouth-watering renditions of the classics to out-of-this-world soups, salads, pastas and much more...this book is, simply put, an instant classic. It is the best and most versatile cookbook I have ever owned.

'Vegetarian Classics' was my first cookbook by Jeanne Lemlin, author of 'Quick Vegetarian Pleasures.' This is one of the best vegetarian cookbooks I've bought. I use 'Vegetarian Classics' along side my 'Better Homes & Gardens Cookbook.' There's 300 great recipes for every course and meal. I find this differs from other cookbooks which has interesting introduction and history of vegeterian origins. Did you know that St. Franics of Assisi, Leonardo da Vinci, Percy B. Shelley and George Bernard Shaw were all vegetarians? There's an alphabetical list of food ingredients used in the recipes from barley to wheat berries. It explains what each food is and it's use.

The book is easy to follow as every food is put in it's own category starting with the basics and appetizers to everything from soups, salads, breads, side dishes, all types of pies, pastas, stovetop cooking and desserts. In the back there is a handy menu layout to give you ideas for casual, elegant, summer and holiday meals. In each section Lemlin has side notes and colored blocks of additional information and tips like for perfect brown rice, about olives with an excellent recipe for marinated olives, frittatas, cooking beans, choosing & preparing potatoes, successful puff pastry tarts, cookies and polenta are just a few of the items you'll find in the book. Most of the recipes are simple and easy to follow instructions. I love the guide to light breads, flaky scones and tender muffins. The masala chai is heavenly and the mixed berry smoothie yummy. Even if you're a semi-vegetarian or not, and just looking for new ways to cook your veggies this book is excellent!

I have all of her cookbooks. I like them because they taste good and are simple. These are taste that grown-ups enjoy. As well as children. With all of her cookbooks I think she has made and worked on all of the receipes. Some cookbooks I know they couldn't made the receipes just from the taste. This book is the one I gave for Holiday Gifts and Weddings. The soups are wonderful in this book. I have made them all and everyone loves them. If I had to grab one cookbook and the house was on fire this is it.

I have had and used this cookbook since it was published. I pulled it out again yesterday to make Aromatic Persian Rice, telling myself this recipe was probably going to be harder than usual, take longer than usual, etc., etc. Although I'd never tried this recipe before, in less than 45 minutes, we were at the table eating -- and it was terrific. (Even my picky 8-year-old enjoyed it!)

All the recipes I've used in this cookbook have been terrific. I've bought other (more pricey; better known, including Moosewood) vegetarian cookbooks, but this is the one I keep coming back to.

My title says it all. The recipes are easy, cheap and delicious, and I'm not even a vegetarian! What more can you ask for. I've given this cookbook to at least 10 people, and I use the recipes from it weekly.

These are extremely well engineered recipes. In many cases, Ms. Fritschner has taken recipes that are sometimes made with meat (e.g., split pea soup) and removed the meat, simplified the preparation, and---according to my meat-eating spouse---greatly improved on the original. To add meat to her recipes would be like adding mayonaise to grapenuts. One could say that Ms. Fritschner finds the right set of ingredients and just gives them a little nudge in the right direction.

A perfect example is the garlic and chick-pea soup, which is essentially just two cans of garbanzo beans run through a blender, with some spices and simmering. Hands down, best soup I've ever had. No chef at an elegant restaurant could have conceived of something so simple. Rather than relying on the natural creaminess and flavor of chickpeas, they make a butter, flour, and cream base that needs to be flavored with something tangy like clams or bacon (and cheese!), with potatoes for added texture. The difference is between fresh-off-the-stalk corn to canned spinach: one is naturally perfect, while the other has to try hard not to suck.

The recipes in this book are delicious, and most importantly, the ingredients are simple and inexpensive. I've seen a lot of books that have terrific recipes, but the cost of ingredients ends up being prohibitive. This is great vegetarian eating on a budget!

This is the book that taught me how to cook. I was intimidated by other cookbooks with their long ingredient lists and complicated preparations. Recipes from this cookbook are easy to make and absolutely delicious. I would recommend this book for people who want to begin to cook more meals at home, even if they aren't vegetarian -- the recipes are so good that even meat-eaters would appreciate them.

I admit I have ten vegetarian cookbooks on my shelf. However, I only reach for a couple time and again. I now have a third favorite veggie recipe book. Sonya Harris put together a splendid assortment of "down-to-earth" meatless meals which are simple to prepare, by way of gathering ingredients, and easy to fix-up for those gathered around the kitchen table. Thanks to the author for an inexpensive yet comprehensive guide to the world of vegetarian foods. This is a great gift for family and friends whether they are currently veggie-types or not!

from personal experience with this book, i give it an 11 on a scale of 1-10. i have been vegetarian for about 6 years and have found this book to be a superb addition to my collection of cook books and recipes. the health and menu tips make having a meal or snack easy, fun, and delicious.
i recommend this book to anyone-carnivores and herbivores alike-
it is full of tips, good food ideas/recipes, and is #1 on my list!!!

I was excited to have the 2 WEEKS OF MENU IDEAS filled with normal foods from the grocery store but I would have to say that my favorite part is the information about why eating a vegetarian diet is so important. I had never even thought about a lot of the reasons for being a vegetarian. Being aware of what effects ones diet has on the world will definitely lead to many more people making the change. This book is a must read for those who are seriously concerned about their health and their environment.

I liked this book, because it is simply written, and the pages lie flat when you are using it in the kitchen. I have tried many of the recipes. I especially like the applesauce cake. It is sooo good just fresh from the oven.

I, too, was sick and tired of laboring in the kitchen to make a satisfiable vegetarian meal. The worst part of all (well, of being vegetarian) was what to do at barbeques and meat feasts that I loved to attend with people, but they never had vegetarian food, and therefore I was often pressured to the point of leaving to eat something. Sonya gave hints and tips that help me enjoy family and friend gatherings without either having to listen to the (excuse me) (...) people give me for not eating or not having fun around all the meat and I not having anything! Thank You, Sonya!!!

and I have a lot of them! The glossary in the book is quite helpful and she even names the brands that she finds the best. Her recipes are SO good and there are many unique ones such as Cauliflower-Cheese enchiladas, Nepalese Vegetable Curry, and Indonesian Tempeh and vegetables. Buy this book if you get the chance- you won't regret it.

I love this cookbook so much I bought an extra one. Glad I did since it's now out of print. Waiting for it to come out again and waiting for Mandoe's next book.

I love this book, and hope Mandoe writes another.The recipes are clear, easy to do,and the results are excellent. I have made many of the recipes, and don't have a single complaint. Just a top notch cookbook, simple...yet complete.

This is my favorite, worn out, food splattered, beloved cookbook! I stumbled across it by accident in a Whole Foods in Houston when a friend and I wanted to find a recipe for a cake to make for our dual birthday party. She knew I couldn't eat refined sugar and always try to eat healthy. We picked the "Fabulous Fudge Cake", it's incredibly easy to make, you can make both the cake and and the frosting in a blender! I substituted Fruitsweet for the honey. It's important to note the natural desserts taste better over time as the flavor develops. The day of the party, it was okay. We left half the cake in the fridge and had some a week later, it was divine! I also served this cake at another party where people wanted me to make "something you would eat." People loved it and couldn't believe it had no refined sugar. I have also had success with her carrot cake, spinach lasagna and cornbread. In addition to the recipes, there are many warmly written anecdotes that give the reader a real feel for Bonnie's personality and make one feel as if they are reading short letters from a friend. I only wish this book had gotten more promotion so more people would know about it.

I'm not a great cook, but this cookbook makes me seem like I am. The recipes are clearly explained and easy to follow, and they come out like a 4 star restaurant! I wish the publisher would print more so I could buy copies for all the friends who I've cooked for and want to borrow my copy!