recommend a cook book
OK, I own no vegan cookbooks. My DD has a copy of Everyday Vegetarian (too much cheese and milk for me) and I am not impressed with the other recipies which are mainly very simple dump a can of this and a can of that together style recipies. I am not a fan of that style of food for the most part. I have access to The Concious Cook through the library and I picked it up on a whim from the new books display. Everything I tried was wonderful but was very labor intense and time consuming. ( I did not work with any of the faux meat products. Personally I have an aversion to them) I would concider most of what I tried to be weekend or special occasion food, not every day fare.
I am looking for something in between the two. Any suggestions from everyone's experience?
I own a pathological number of vegan cookbooks, all of which have their own strengths and weaknesses, but the ones I end up going to the most are:
The Vegetarian Family Cookbook: all vegan or veganizable, no exotic ingredients, very easy to make, and my kids (all under 12) actually like most of the recipes.
The Joy of Vegan Baking: cookies, breads, etc....good stuff
Vegan with a Vengeance
The ones I use most are Joy of Vegan Baking, Vegan Lunch Box(I have around the world, but the first one is good, too), and Mediterranean Vegan. A really good beginning vegan cookbook, I think, is Vegan Vittles, because it has a lot of different types of recipes. Its older, so your library may have it. There is some really good basic stuff in there.
1000 Vegan Recipes by Robin Robertson is the one book I'd recommend if you have none. It has everything and most recipes aren't that labor intensive (I agree with your assessment of Conscious Cook).
I love Veganomicon. It has a little bit of everything, nothing is too complicated or labor intensive, and everything I've made has been great. Eat, Drink & Be Vegan is also a fave, and 1,000 Vegan Recipes is awesome.
I love Vegan Vittles and 1000 Vegan Recipes. I highly recommend both!
I appreciate where you are coming from. I am not really a fan of the simplified recipes, nor ones that are too complicated. Definitely check the cookbooks out from your library first to see if they appeal to you before you buy them. Definitely check out the threads for each one to see how others have enjoyed the recipes as well. :)
Here are my suggestions from my most used cookbooks:
1) Radiant Health, Inner Wealth- I love this cookbook. The recipes have all been great, and not too fussy. You will use a lot of fresh produce, lemon juice, etc, and it is worth it.
2) Moosewood Restaurant Cooking for Health- This is a vegetarian cookbook with a lot of vegan recipes, so it can satisfy both of your needs. Again, the recipes are not that complicated.
3) Supermarket Vegan- This one bills itself as a quick cookbook with easy to pick up items from the grocery store. I tend to opt for natural substitutes if possible (ie instead of buying broccoli slaw I will julienne my own broccoli stems, etc) and the recipes have been great so far. Not too complicated, simple recipes.
Hope this helps!
1000 Vegan Recipes by Robin Robertson is the one book I'd recommend if you have none. It has everything and most recipes aren't that labor intensive (I agree with your assessment of Conscious Cook).
you definitely can't go wrong with this one!!
Well, these are my personal favourites that I use all of the time:
Vegenomicon: You really can't go wrong with this...it's practically the vegan bible. Nothing that I've made out of it so far is incredibly difficult or time consuming.
Appetite for Reduction: Although this is a low-fat vegan cookbook, it also has pretty easy recipes. It has sections dedicated to sides, pastas, soups, stews/dahls, veggies, tofu/tempeh, and some really helpful tips. I use this more often than any other cookbook, and it's one of my newest (if that says anything!)
How It All Vegan/The Garden of Vegan/La Dolce Vegan: I really like Sarah's and Tanya's recipes. Their recipes are uncomplicated and delicious. I think my favourite of the three is LDV.
Finally got into the library's web site and reserved several books that will be sent my home branch. I am hoping to take a few with me on a trip to Yosemite in less than 2 weeks and use them as reading material on the drive and during down time, perhaps making a few things I think DH will tolerate.
Vegenomicon, Vegan Lunch Box, Mediterranean Vegan and another about meals to pack are hopefully going on the trip with me.
On reserve for after I get back and have time. I can keep postponing when they transfer until I want them are 1,000 Vegan Recipes, Vegan Vittles, and several others. I live west of Portland OR so the area is pretty vegetarian/vegan friendly. Most of the cookbooks have a wait list so they should trickle in over time.
My favorites are Veganomicon, Appetite for Reduction, and Vegan with a Vengeance by Isa Chandra Moskowitz, the Vegan Table and Color Me Vegan by Colleen-Patrick Godreu, Urban Vegan by Dynise Balcavage, and the Blooming Platter by Betsy something, (sorry, I can't remember her last name off the top of my head, and I can't guarantee I spelled the other names right either.)