Sunday May 27, 2012 Food, Glorious (and Meatless) Food

One of the joys of living alone is that you can eat what you want, when you want it. So if you’re in the mood for breakfast for supper, or a junk food extravaganza, there’s no one to tell you, “no”.  While it can be hazardous to your waistline, as I have discovered, the freedom let’s you try new things and drop those that no longer appeal.  Something I no longer find as appealing as I did when I was younger is meat. As a teen, I was a two burger girl and now I find finishing one can be a challenge at times.  When shopping, chicken finds its way into the cart far more often than red meat and after visiting a petting zoo last year, “pork” is no longer on the menu, at all.

Unfortunately, every girl learns her way around the kitchen by watching her mother, and mine was a meat and potatoes cook.  So when looking for alternatives, I needed to develop a new set of cooking skills and expose my taste buds to a wash of new flavours.  Thank goodness for the fabulous cookbooks on the shelves at the library. Whether you want to learn to cook Thai, have trouble with gluten, are looking for a fabulous dessert or anything else, we have a large selection of books full of culinary delights. Currently, I can’t imagine giving up eggs, cheese and dairy, but I’ve stumbled upon a number of new titles that are new, tasty and vegan. 

The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Vegan Baking by Donna Diegel

Diegel is a pastry chef and blogger, who covers all types of vegan baking in her new book. The book is for all levels, (she even tells you how to boil water) and all types of vegan ingredients, from the familiar to the exotic.  Whether it’s the basics like muffins and cakes, sweet and flat breads or more a special occasion dessert, it’s all included. 
 



 
Vegan Cooking for Carnivores: Over 125 Recipes So Tasty You Won’t Miss the Meat by Roberto Martin

Convincing a confirmed meat-eater to go even a meal without meat can be a challenge, so Martin has developed recipes that cater to all tastes. A celebrity chef to the stars, Martin’s book includes dishes such as “Chick’n” Pot Pie, Chocolate Cheesecake and Banana Oatmeal Pancakes, so from morning to night you can eat healthy.



Vegan Junk Food: Sweet, Salty, and Scrumptious Treats for the Ultimate Pig Out! (Pig Not Included) by Gold Lane

Vegan doesn’t have to mean boring or even healthy, so when your Junk-Food Junkie arrives, enjoy these amazing treats.  Many popular junk foods like Cracker Jacks and Fruit Loops are vegan, so Lane uses common kitchen ingredients and popular snack foods to satisfy cravings.





Vegan Pie in the Sky: 75 Out-of-this-World Recipes for Pies, Tarts, Cobblers and More by Isa Chandra Moskowitz and Terry Hope Romero
 
 The taste delights in this tome, range from Peanut Butter Brownie Cheesecake to Chocolate Hazelnut Truffle Tart to Coconut Cream Pie. Most of the recipes are fast and easy to follow as well as delicious.  If you have a sweet tooth, this is the book for you.



Fresh and Fast Vegan: Quick, Delicious, and Creative Recipes to Nourish Aspiring and Devoted Vegans by Amanda Grant

For those who prefer digital books, the library offers Fresh and Fast Vegan as an e-book so if you’re away from home you can take this cookbook with you. Recipe highlights include Lemon Tahini Dip, Apricot and Raspberry Cobbler and Bright Red Pepper Pesto Linguini. For fresh cooking that’s kind to the planet and fabulous on the palette this may be the book for you.

Lori Kauzlarick