Book Reviews
VEGAN MEXICO
By Jason Wyrick
I have always enjoyed Mexican food, and Jason Wyrick delivers with a wide variety of dishes. Learn how to make Red Chorizo (traditionally ground flavored sausage) from tempeh, seitan, textured vegetable protein, or mushrooms. Then, enjoy "street food" staples, such as Veracruz-Style Empanadas, Northen Mexico Chichangas, Potato and Drunken Bean Gorditas, and Tostadas with Hearts of Palm Ceviche.
In this book, you will find recipes for a wide variety of tacos, enchiladas, tamales, and soups. There are salads like Watermelon Jicama Salad, Cactus Salad, and Spinach-Potato Salad with Lime-Agave Dressing. In addition, Jason offers grilled fare, breads, drinks, and sweets such as Candied Pumpkin, Limes Stuffed with Coconut, and Cocoa-Pistachio Churros.
Helpful tips, such as methods for roasting peppers and details on how to wrap tamales, can be found in this book. You'll also enjoy the photos.
Vegan Mexico (ISBN: 978-1-9412-5221-5) is a 292-page book. It is published by Vegan Heritage Press and retails for $22.95. You can purchase this book online or from your local bookstore.
Reviewed by Debra Wasserman.
COW IN A BUN
By Bonnie Jane Hall-Gerson and Raymond Gerson
This children's book is a useful tool to introduce kids to to the benefits of following a veggie lifestyle. It features a talking cow that teaches two young children, Isabelle and Tommy, about what happens to farm animals after they are taken away to a slaughterhouse. By the end of the book, the children decide to become vegetarian. Cow in a Bun is written for young elementary school-aged children and features hand-drawn illustrations.
Cow in a Bun (ISBN 978-1-5254-4755-4) is a 25-page book. It is published by Xlibris and retails for $17.55. You can purchase this book online, including in Kindle format, or from your local bookstore.
Reviewed by Debra Wasserman.
VEGAN FOR ONE
By Ellen Jaffe Jones with Beverly Lynn Bennett
Dining solo never has to be boring again! Whether you're a vegan living alone or the only vegan in your household, this book is meant for you. It provides helpful tips along with delicious vegan recipes. For breakfast, try Buttermilk Pancakes, Breakfast Potato-and-Veggie Skillet, or Maple, Apple, and Pecan Waffles. Next, move on to snacks, such as Sweet Cinnamon Baked Tortilla Chips, and then Sauces and Gravies, including Dairy-Free Béchamel Sauce or Cashew Cheese Sauce.
Delicious salad options, such as Creamy Ranch-Dressed Potato Salad, Taco Salad, and Sesame Slaw, are offered. And you can serve them with Miso Noodle Soup, Roasted Butternut Bisque, or other soups.
For lunch, try Seitan Street Tacos, Classic BLT, or Tofu and Slaw Spring Rolls. For dinner, start with an appetizing side dish, such as Sweet Potato and Pecan Casserole, Indian-Style Millet, or Candied-Ginger Baby Carrots. Main dish options include Curried Lentils with Spinach, Mac-n-Cheese, Barbecue Tofu or Tempeh, and Deconstructed Veggie Lasagna. Finally, end your meal with Rich and Chewy Brownies, Silken Berry Pudding, Caramel-Almond Blondies, or Strawberry-Banana Soft-Serve Ice Cream.
Vegan for One (ISBN 978-1-57067-351-1) is a 154-page book. It is published by Book Publishing Company and retails for $17.95. You can purchase this book online from The Vegetarian Resource Group or from your local bookstore.
Reviewed by Debra Wasserman.
THE NO MEAT ATHLETE COOKBOOK
By Matt Frazier and Stepfanie Romine
Matt Frazier is a vegan ultramarathoner and the founder of the No Meat Athlete Movement. Stepfanie Romine is a health coach, recipe developer, and yoga teacher. Together they've written a vegan cookbook suitable for beginning athletes as well as world-class competitors.
The recipes are very creative and meal plans are included! For a morning meal, try the unique Savory Oatmeal, which includes oats, carrots or beets, kale or spinach, salsa or marinara sauce, nutritional yeast, avocado, pumpkin seeds, and seasonings. You'll also find Almond Butter-Banana Pancakes or Waffles, Chickpea Quiche, Harissa Baked Tofu, and more.
Next, the book provides dinner and hearty meals to fuel and aid recovery. Dishes include Loaded Spaghetti Squash, Jerk Kidney Beans, Peanut Butter Tempeh, Nut-Crusted Tofu, Roasted Red Pepper Mac & Cheese, French Onion Stew with Mushrooms, plus more.
One chapter is called "Get Your Greens: Salads & Dressings" and includes Vietnamese Veggie & Rice Noodle Salad, Confetti Quinoa Salad, Lemon Tahini Dressing, and Classic French Vinaigrette. The "Small Plates & Sides" section features Cashew Creamed Kale, Baked Tempeh Nuggets, Quinoa Primavera, and sports drinks you can make at home.
And just because you're in training, it doesn't mean you should deprive yourself of dessert! Try the Mango Sticky Rice, No-Bake Mocha Cheesecake, or Chocolate Lava Mug Cake.
The No Meat Athlete Cookbook (ISBN 978-1-61519-266-3) is a 288-page book. It is published by The Experiment and retails for $24.95. You can purchase this book online or from your local bookstore.
Reviewed by Debra Wasserman.
FIELD ROAST
By Tommy McDonald
I have always thought that Field Roast's artisan vegan meats are some of the best on the market. Tommy McDonald, Field Roast's Executive Chef, is now sharing 101 artisan vegan meat recipes that you can prepare in your own home.
The book starts with a wide range of roast recipes, including Lemongrass and Ginger Roast, Harvest Holiday Roast, Holiday Wellington, Pastrami Roast, and Steakhouse Roast with Vegan Demi-Glace. Step-by-step instructions and photographs are provided.
The next chapter has recipes for sausages, meatloaf, burgers, and pâté, with offerings such as Oaxacan Chili-Spiced Sausage and Pepper-Stuffed Burgers. For breakfast, you can prepare dishes like French Toast with Forest Berries and Sausage, and Florentine Benedict.
Looking for sandwich ideas? Try a New Orleans-inspired creation like Muffuletta or Cornmeal-Crusted Oyster Mushroom Po'Boy or a Texas-style Burnt Ends Biscuit Sandwich. Pair your sandwich with Mushroom Burgundy Stew, Roasted Sugar Pie Pumpkin Stew, or Roasted Chili Tomato Bisque. Or perhaps you would like to add a Cascade Cobb Salad, German Potato Salad, or Grilled Asparagus Salad with Hazelnuts.
For dinner, you can serve Dan Dan Noodles, Smoky Kalua Jackfruit, or Paella as your main course, and then chow down on one of these sides: Citrus and Chili Slaw, Caramel Apple Brussels, Smoked Oyster Mushroom Stuffing, or Frank Fried Rice.
Field Roast (ISBN 978-0-7382-1959-2) is a 228-page hard cover book with gorgeous photos. It is published by Da Capo Press and retails for $30. You can purchase this book online or from your local bookstore.
Reviewed by Debra Wasserman.
VEGAN BURGERS AND BURRITOS
By Sophia DeSantis
Sophia DeSantis is a plant-based food blogger, and her book provides 79 vegan recipes for your family. You'll find a wide range of recipes for hand-held dishes along with tips and suggestions on how to make the dishes even more kid-friendly.
Burger recipes include Apple Sage "Sausage" Burger, Hawaiian Teriyaki Burger, Cauliflower "Fish" Burger, Sweet Potato Enchilada Burger, Buffalo Wing Sliders, and more. Burrito options range from Frito Pie Pouches to Crab Cake Po' Boy, from The Ultimate Mexican Churro to My Big Fat Creek Burrito.
DeSantis also includes many sauce recipes for your burgers and burritos, including Vegan Ranch, Tartar Sauce Extreme, Ultimate Onion Dip, Skinny Peanut Sauce, and many others. Finally, there are side dishes such as Smoky Seasoned Sweet Potato Fries, Crispy Zucchini Chips, and Curried Carrot Fries.
Vegan Burgers and Burritos (ISBN 978-1-62414-479-0) is a 191-page book. It is published by Page Street Publishing Company and retails for $21.99. You can purchase this book online or from your local bookstore.
Reviewed by Debra Wasserman.
