How it All Vegan!
I believe I may be the first one to write a review for a recipe in this book. I've had this book for a few months now and even though I flipped through it many times. I was never really inspired to try anything. I mean, there were a few things I wanted to try out, but I never took the time.
Today, I got to try the Banana Oatmeal Cookie. The cookies are huge btw. And they taste healthy, but I like them. Instead of adding chocolate chips and raisins (I didn't have any at home), I put in sliced almonds. It was so simple to do.
That's just the thing about the recipes in this book, they look really easy, basically foolproof. Made for the lazy vegan cook! :D The authors also offer some tricks of the trade for things other than food, which is good for a new vegan or even vegetarian.
That's all I have to say really about this book, it's not my favorite one, I wish there were more pictures for the recipes (there are none, unless you count the cover). I should try more recipes from it...
That's all I have to say really about this book, it's not my favorite one, I wish there were more pictures for the recipes (there are none, unless you count the cover). I should try more recipes from it...
It certainly has a cute and clever name! Also, banana oatmeal cookies sound amazing (and I don't like chocolate chips nor raisins, but almonds sound good, so you just invented a kick butt cookie). I am a "lazy vegan cook" (if you could even call me that) so maybe it is worth the purchase.
I'd have to go through Skinny Bitch in the Kitch, Students Go Vegan, VCTOTW, etc first though... they're collecting dust on my bookshelf :-[
VCTOTW most certainly rules. People love my cupcakes...! Even when I tell them that they are vegan... they're just like... oh ok... then they take another one! Yay...
I still need to try skinny bitch. I haven't got it yet.
BTW, my roomate who's not vegan (omni) ( I don't know why we keep having to say that even the omni loved it, as if we needed their validation for our awesome food... but that's a whole other story... next time), loved the banana almond oatmeal cookie. They're more like snack bars though, they're really thick and filling. So I'm actually glad I've tried that recipe, I will know what to prepare for snacks for work.
I've made several recipes from this book. The "Holy Molly Hummus" is a favorite. Also, the banana bread recipe and shepherd's pie are really good. I've made several other items and have no complaints about any of them.
You are right that they are easy and foolproof. That's what I love about the book as I can rely on them to always turn out good.
Actually the one thing I tried that I didn't care for was the faux feta cheese but this could just be a matter of taste.
I haven't tried the faux feta cheese from this book, but I tried faux feta cheese from the store and it was awful, so I was not inspired to make it myself.
I haven't tried the faux feta cheese from this book, but I tried faux feta cheese from the store and it was awful, so I was not inspired to make it myself.
I haven't heard of any brand of good vegan faux feta cheese, not even Follow Your Heart which makes the awesome cheese and has the amazing restaurant, so good luck if you ever do try to make that! ;)
MMMMM this is the book that insipred me to go vegan!!! SO TASTY.
I really think you should try the Simply Lovely Carrot Soup (pg 57) because it is SO dang good, and I whip it up in a flash when everybody (and I am the only vegan in the house, live with two omni's) is hungry but not sure what they want.
The only thing I've found with this book is that I end up at least doubling the flavor of the recipes.
meh....this book is so-so... I couldn't get into it. the recipes kind of seem boring.... on the other hand, peta cookbook is awesome, although not a huge fan of peta itself :P
I have a special place in my heart for HIAV - it was the first vegan cookbook I ever bought. I remember just sitting down on the couch and reading it with a smile thinking, I can eat everything in this!! ;D
I always come back to this book for certain recipes - ones that (I think) are simple to make and very tasty. I haven't made a lot of out of the book, but there are several that I love.
Here's what I've made:
Sweet Potato, Squash & Apple Soup - easy to make, nice fall flavor
Ginger Peanut Soup - this soup rocks! It's been posted without giving proper credit to HIAV on VegWeb (sorry to be blunt, but this recipe is copied verbatim from HIAV): http://vegweb.com/index.php?topic=10226.0
Garden Vegetable Borscht - so delish, so healthy, and a great way to use up leftover beets and cabbage, which is when I always make it!
Soda Bread - incredible, just incredible. I salivate just thinking of it. Make this bread and then make a PB&J sandwich with it and you will be one happy vegan.
Fancy Biscuits - really yummy. I love the green onions and dill.
Harvest Herb Bread - really good, very different kind of flavors.
Spicy Soup Muffins - another good one, great with soups on just on their own.
Country Corn Muffins - love this recipe. It make it all the time. Really flexible too - I've used all sorts of flours (buckwheat, spelt, whole wheat), all with great results.
Charming Chocolate Cupcakes - my favorite recipe by a landslide. These were the first vegan cupcakes I ever made, and they will always be my go-to ones. I have VCTOTW and I still make these ones as my first choice. Seriously, so freakin delicious. However, the serving size is WAY off! It says it makes 6 cupcakes. It actually makes closer to 14-16!! I always halve the recipe and I STILL get 7 or 8 cupcakes!!
Anything Goes Icing - great basic recipe, I use this for the chocolate cupcakes with vanilla
extract
In summary, I know a lot of people think HIAV is too basic or boring, but I really like it.
Thanks for the recipe reviews lebkuchen. Very helpful I like that this cookbook keeps it simple and uses easy to find ingredients.
Non-vegans continue to request the Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe from this book.
I've made several recipes from this book. The "Holy Molly Hummus" is a favorite. Also, the banana bread recipe and shepherd's pie are really good. I've made several other items and have no complaints about any of them.
You are right that they are easy and foolproof. That's what I love about the book as I can rely on them to always turn out good.
Actually the one thing I tried that I didn't care for was the faux feta cheese but this could just be a matter of taste.
i LOVE the faux feta!! i've used it several times. mmmm. but whenever i make it, i add it to a big greek salad of cucumber, tomato, oregano and olive oil. mmm. so the vinegary taste is balanced out.
haha. this reminds me of my grandmother, she was babysitting us when i was younger and she found feta cheese in the fridge (the real kind) cut off a piece and just ate it. haha. her face was priceless. she said "this is awful!!!" haha.
I made the Faux Chicken Salad last night. While it was very delicious, it calls for WAYYYY too much mayo. I doubled the recipe in total, which meant it called for a full cup of mayo (to one 8-oz package of tempeh!!!) I cut back to 3/4 cup and it was still way too much. Next time I'll only use 1/4 cup. I'm only complaining because it was so fatty from the mayo that it gave me terrible reflux :'( However, reflux aside, it was quite tasty and a very good version of chicken salad! I added some dried cranberries and sliced almonds to it, and those really gave it nice flavor.
This was my first vegan cookbook too, and it really help with solidifying the basic principles of vegan cooking. It will be the book I buy my teenage daughter when she leaves home.
The Ginger Snaps, with fresh ginger, are my faves at the moment (I add 1/2 tsp ground cloves and 1 tsp cinnamon). I also love the faux fetta, and the wacky cake is a good go-to for a flash party. The Country Carrot Cake is great with a raw cashew cream cheez icing... our book opens at that page, but the cocao powder embedded in it tell me it's because the chocolate upside down pudding cake (what we'd call in Australia a 'self-saucing pudding') is my daughter's favourite midnight snack. I've had mixed success with the soymilk and oil based mayo, but when it works it's a zinger (when it doesn't it's just oily soymilk).
can we share each others cook book