BOOK REVIEWS
SUPERFOOD SMOOTHIES
By Julie Morris
If you haven't gotten friendly with your blender lately, the 100 irresistible-sounding recipes and gorgeous full-color photography in Superfood Smoothies will have you reacquainted. Julie Morris guides you through her 'super 15,' which includes foods you're probably familiar with, like pomegranate and flaxseed, and introduces more adventurous ingredients like maca and sea buckthorn. Part One of the book is chock-full of information about some of nature's more exotic goodies and how to purchase them, while Part Two (the majority of the book) focuses on tasty smoothies for any occasion. Try the Banana Oat for a filling breakfast, or the Lemon Lime for a slushy treat to rival a margarita. Although I'm an experienced daily green smoothie drinker myself, I came away from this book inspired to branch off from my usual spinach and kale in order to try baby bok choy, arugula, cucumber, and mint for a change. A handy symbol guide allows the reader to quickly skim for recipes that will fit their needs, from low-calorie to high-protein or extra fiber. Best of all, Morris makes a point of avoiding all dairy in her smoothies; she also prefers to sweeten them with natural ingredients like dates, bananas, and maple syrup. Though some of the recommended ingredients could be pricey or difficult to find, the general smoothie-building tips and tricks, as well as advice on how to fix a smoothie gone awry, can apply to anything you'd like to blend up and slurp down.
Superfood Smoothies (ISBN 978-1-4549-0559-2) is a 208-page book. It is published by Sterling New York and retails for $16.95. Reviewed by Samantha Gendler.
GREAT GLUTEN-FREE VEGAN EATS FROM AROUND THE WORLD
By Allyson Kramer
Following a gluten-free vegan diet can leave you feeling like your favorite ethnic dishes — especially those that contain mock meats and noodles — are out of reach. As if menu- and label-reading aren't confusing enough, attempting gluten-free vegan cooking presents even further conundrums, like "How will the egg-replacer react with the brown rice flour?" Allyson Kramer's Great Gluten-Free Vegan Eats from Around the World will catapult you out of your food rut and give you the confidence to experiment with spices and global ingredients without worry.
The book is organized by region. Try your hand at classic French cuisine with the Pain Ordinaire, a crusty traditional French white bread, and the Boeuf(less) Bourguignon. Or, jump on the Pho bandwagon; the popular Vietnamese noodle soup is often enjoyed as street food, but you can have this tofu version, which gets its kick from chiles and garlic, in the comfort of your own home. Don't worry, dessert isn't left out: there's Bambara Peanut Butter Rice Pudding from Central Africa, Sweet Coconut Orange Cookies from Morocco, Strawberry Mochi Cake from Japan, and more. The brief but helpful ingredient guide that begins the book will help demystify your ethnic grocery store searches for things like besan (chickpea flour), pepitas (pumpkin seeds), and anko (red bean paste).
Great Gluten-Free Vegan Eats from Around the World: Fantastic, Allergy-Free Ethnic Recipes (ISBN 9-781-59223-548-0) is a 208-page book. It is published by Fair Winds Press and retails for $21.99. Reviewed by Samantha Gendler.
THE VEGAN STONER COOKBOOK
By Sarah Conrique and Graham I. Haynes
This is a creatively designed cookbook. The authors are creators of TheVeganStoner.com blog and the founders of Simple Gestures Design Studio. Along with photos of the recipes, you'll find line drawings of the ingredients used in each dish, as well as helpful tips.
Most of the dishes are fairly easy to prepare. Unfortunately, nutritional analyses are not provided and some of the recipes appear to be somewhat high in fat. That said, you may want to try the Date Shake or Fresh Baked Granola for breakfast. For lunch, you can prepare Collard Wraps or Mac and Peas.
If you're looking for some fun munchies, try the Chili Cheese Fries, Pizza Bread, Tempeh Tacos, or Tofu Puff Pastry. And for dinner, you can make Chickpea Curry, Corned Seitan Hash, or Swedish Neatballs.
Of course, no cookbook is complete without dessert. You can cook your own Animal Cookies, Churro Chips, or Monkey Bread. If you prefer a cold dessert, try Mango Sherbet or Peanut Butter Squares.
The Vegan Stoner Cookbook (ISBN 978-1-60774-464-2) is a 128-page hardcover book. It is published by Ten Speed Press and retails for $16.90. You can purchase this book from your local bookstore or online. Reviewed by Debra Wasserman.
SKINNY BITCH IN LOVE
By Kim Barnouin
Some readers may be familiar with the Skinny Bitch cookbook series. One of the authors has now written a vegan-themed novel. This quick-read would be enjoyable to anyone looking for some light reading.
The main character of the book is Clementine Cooper. She's vegan and was raised on an organic farm. At the beginning of the novel she's a sous chef at a vegan restaurant who is the victim of sabotage done by a co-worker. She loses her job and quickly must find another way to earn a living. During this time of unemployment she meets the owner of a steak house and the two begin to have a love-hate relationship.
The vegan theme is found throughout the book. Ethics, health, and the environment are all brought up. You may want to ask your local library to carry this book.
Skinny Bitch in Love (ISBN 978-1-4767-0886-7) is a 306-page hardcover book. It is published by Gallery Books and retails for $26.00. You can purchase this book from your local bookstore or online. Reviewed by Debra Wasserman.
V IS FOR VEGAN
By Ruby Roth
Ruby Roth has written and illustrated another vegan children's book. V is for Vegan is an alphabet book for young children. The first entry is "Aa is for animals — friends, not food. We don't eat our friends, they'd find it quite rude." The book ends with "Zz is for zero, no animals harmed. Horray for the day when they're no longer farmed." Let's hope this book shows up in all local libraries!
V is for Vegan (ISBN 978-1-58394-649-7) is a 32-page book. It is published by North Atlantic Books and retails for $16.95. You can purchase this book from your local bookstore or online. Reviewed by Debra Wasserman.
GRILLS GONE VEGAN
By Tamasin Noyes
What I like about this book is that instructions are given for both outdoor and indoor grills, which means you can grill vegan meals all year round. Apartment dwellers can enjoy grilled vegan cuisine, too!
Chapter 1 offers helpful information for those who are new to grilling. The last chapter of the book includes recipes for marinades and other condiments.
Next, dive into all the wonderful recipes. Starters include Roasted Garlic, Cajun Mushrooms, Stuffed Jalapeño Chiles, and Grilled Baby Artichokes. You can prepare side dishes including Mexican Slaw, Ethiopian Bean Skillet, or Asian Sesame Noodles.
Be sure to move on to Soups and Sandwiches, including Roasted Corn Chowder and Teriyaki Portobello Burgers. Some main dishes offered are Red-Eye Tofu Steaks, Seitan Ribz, Quinoa-Stuffed Poblanos, Broccoli and Cheeze Calzones, and Porcini and Sausage Paella.
Finally, don't forget to prepare dessert over a grill. Enjoy Maple-Glazed Grapefruit or Pineapple and Pomegranate Couscous Cakes.
Grills Gone Vegan (ISBN 978-1-57067-290-3) is a 188-page book. It is published by Book Publishing Company. You can purchase this book online from The Vegetarian Resource Group at www.vrg.org/catalog. Reviewed by Debra Wasserman.
