Vegetarian and vegan cookbook reviews

ReFresh: Contemporary Vegan Recipes by Ruth Tal with Jennifer Houston (Wiley, 2007)
Canadian cookbook!
ReFresh is an update of the Juice for Life cookbook. They have relaunched their group of restaurants in Toronto under the name “Fresh” and have expanded the repertoire to include light vegan food as well as their signature blender drinks and smoothies. This cookbook is primarily vegan, with the exception of the use of honey. The recipes use a good selection of pulses, grains and beans and - of course - include chapters on juices, elixirs, power shakes, smoothies and cocktails for the juicing enthusiasts.

ExtraVeganZa by Laura Matthias (New Society Publishers, 2006)
Canadian cookbook!
Laura Matthias from Phoenix Organic Farms in B.C. showcases the bounty of vegetables in this strictly vegan cookbook, ExtraVeganZa. In keeping with her organics and close-to-the-land philosophy of farming, Matthias’s recipes rely on fresh organic vegetables and very few prepared ingredients. The book also includes extensive chapters on vegan cakes, pies and desserts.


How to Cook Everything Vegetarian by Mark Bittman (Wiley, 2007)
Mark Bittman follows up his highly successful How to Cook Everything with this vegetarian version. This is a great resource for a budding cook and satisfies the full range of vegetarianism from vegans to people looking to incorporate more vegetarian dishes into their diet. A comprehensive cookbook with chapters on stocking a kitchen and basics of cooking, this would be a great gift for a young adult striking out on her own.


Vegan Express by Nava Atlas (Broadway, 2008)
Nava Atlas follows up The Vegetarian Family Cookbook with this express version of quick vegan recipes for everyday cooking. The recipes include nutritional analysis, menu suggestions and great tips and serving suggestions and alternatives throughout the book. The introduction provides valuable information and resources for anyone looking to take the plunge into a vegan lifestyle, with especially good information for cooking vegan for the whole family.

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