Reviews
Growing Green
By Jenny Hall and Iain Tolhurst
While walking the floor at Book Expo America, I came upon a book I had been wanting to locate for some time. Growing Green offers information about animal-free organic techniques that can be used on farms of various sizes. In other words, it allows the farmer to truly grow vegan food without using animal products.
Most organic farmers have been led to believe that they cannot build up soil health and grow organically without using animal manure. Over the years, I�ve met a few farmers who practice �vegan� farming; however, I was never able to find a book that is dedicated to the subject until now.
Growing Green promotes stockfree organic farming, whereby composting and encouraging beneficial wildlife are promoted. It also covers green manuring, using a type of cover crop grown primarily to add nutrients and organic matter to the soil. Typically, a green manure crop (such as oats or rye during the winter and then clover, mustard, fenugreek, and others over the rest of the year) is grown for a period of time and then plowed under.
This book was originally published in England; however, the information can be applied to North America. Chapters on soil protection, soil fertility, composting, propagation, rotations, weed control, and dealing with pests and diseases offer a wealth of practical information for the farmer or gardener. There�s even a chapter with suggestions as to how to market the vegan produce that has been grown.
Growing Green (ISBN 978-1-933392-
49-3) is published by Chelsea Green
Publishing. Purchase the book in your
local bookstore or visit
Tofu Cookery - the 25th Anniversary Edition
By Louise Hagler
Tofu Cookery has always been one of my favorite cookbooks. Now out in a 25th anniversary edition, this volume includes 30 new recipes and updated versions of some classic dishes. You will find that many of the creations in this book now have less sodium and fat, and a variety of sweeteners are used. (Also, honey has been eliminated, thereby, making this edition completely vegan.)
Some of the new dishes include quick Seaside Cakes (made with ground flaxseeds or chia seeds, kelp powder, tofu, and whole wheat soda crackers) and Mushroom Burgers (also made with flaxseeds with tofu and mushrooms). Additionally, it features Cumin Potatoes with Tofu (prepared with potatoes, tofu, cumin, and mustard seeds), Focaccia (fresh bread) with Tofu, and Chocolate-Peppermint Velvet Pie (a no-bake dessert).
Nutritional analyses are not provided, and not all the recipes are lowfat. Color photos appear throughout the book.
Tofu Cookery - The 25th Anniversary Edition (ISBN 978-1-57067-220-0) is 188 pages and is published by the Book Publishing Company. You can order this book for $26 (includes handling) from The Vegetarian Resource Group, P.O. Box 1463, Baltimore, MD 21203. Reviewed by Debra Wasserman. Please call (410) 366-8343 to order by phone with your credit card, or Click here to purchase a copy.
Get Off Gluten!
By JoAnn Farb
Get off Gluten! is a terrific resource for people who wish to eliminate gluten from their vegan diet. Anyone who has had to create dishes without gluten for themselves or a loved one definitely will appreciate the recipes featured here.
Enjoy Blueberry Muffins made with buckwheat flour, cornmeal, ground flaxseeds, or rice flour. Prepare Sunshine Burgers from red lentils, sunflower seeds, flaxseeds, celery, onions, beets, and more. You�ll also want to make the Samosas from quinoa flakes, chickpea flour, rice flour, ground flaxseeds, potatoes, onions, and other ingredients. And try the Chocolate Silk Pie or the soyand rice-free Almond �Ice Cream,� made with raw almonds, carob powder, and other ingredients put through a Vitamix. Either is sure to be a huge hit!
Get Off Gluten! (ISBN 978-1-60585- 204-1) is 75 pages and published by Cookbook Publishers, Inc. Order this book for $15.00 (includes postage) online at www.getoffgluten.com. Reviewed by Debra Wasserman. Click here to purchase a copy.
