Everybody loves tacos, right? I know we do in this house. We love them so much my husband knows the ingredients to pick up at the grocery store withouEverybody loves tacos, right? I know we do in this house. We love them so much my husband knows the ingredients to pick up at the grocery store without my list. As a vegetarian, there are a few different ways that I make them usually involving different beans and lentils, and sometimes I add barley or quinoa. We absolutely love them, but yeah, we could use some new ideas!
The Taco Tuesday Cookbook offers a variety of options for tacos, including paleo, gluten-free, and vegetarian. It also starts with the basics like making your own tortillas, or choosing between corn and flour varieties. The tortilla recipes look super simple, and I hope to try them soon!
There are three large sections in the book: The Essentials, all about tacos (“Tacos, Tacos, Tacos!”), and Refreshing Beverages (how fun that this was included!).
The recipes I have picked out to make asap are: Blackened Zucchini Tacos Chickpea and Butternut Squash Tacos Black beans and Queso Breakfast Tacos
I also plan to modify some of the other recipes to make them vegetarian. For example, there is a Greek Taco with cucumber salsa that I can’t wait to try (minus the steak).
The Taco Tuesday Cookbook is super creative and filled with beautiful pictures that made me hungry. If you want to expand your Taco Tuesday, check this one out!
Thank you to Quarto- Fair Winds Press for the complimentary copy. All opinions are my own. ...more
It is no secret, I am a meal prepper. I have little time (or patience) during the work week to prepare healthy choices, so I cook on the weekends and It is no secret, I am a meal prepper. I have little time (or patience) during the work week to prepare healthy choices, so I cook on the weekends and have as much as possible ready to go, including freezing leftovers for meals later. I am a vegetarian eating many vegan meals, and it can be difficult to find healthy options when I am out and about, which further requires preparation on my part. Like everyone, I get tired of the same old foods.
Vegan Yack Attack on the Go is a life saver. It includes all kinds of easy meals that you can take with you and easily snack on. It can be hard to “snack” on lentil soup in the car; believe me, I have tried! Breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, and even desserts are all covered, and everything is so appealing! One idea is for CHICKPEA tenders with waffles! Yep, I am all in for that one! I made the Lentil Balls with Zesty Rice and loved them. So easy to make and delicious! There are even ideas for the pressure cooker like a pesto spaghetti squash. I am always looking for vegan options for my pressure cooker. The author of this book has a blog I will be following, as I love her ideas and food combinations.
The highlight of Vegan Yack Attack on the Go is the practical ease of eating while still being filling and a complete meal, something that challenges many vegetarians and vegans.
Thank you to Fair Winds Press for the complimentary copy for review. Vegan Yack Attack on the Go is now available!
Buddha bowls (also known as power bowls, among other names) are receiving attention lately. In one bowl, you can pile in all kinds of nutrients, prepaBuddha bowls (also known as power bowls, among other names) are receiving attention lately. In one bowl, you can pile in all kinds of nutrients, prepare it quickly, they are visually appealing, and the clean up is simplified. While the book has vegan and vegetarian recipes, it also has meat-based recipes as well.
I have eaten power bowls while out, but I had not made any at home, not really knowing how. I always meant to look up some ideas, and now I have several all in one place.
The Buddha bowl concept is that every meal should have a vegetable, protein, and grain. Sauces or broths are minimized, and most food is served in whole or large pieces.
I loved the pictures of bowls and all the ideas shared! The colors of the food combinations pop, everything appears flavorful, and many of the meals seem comforting, which I’m always a fan of.
To start, there are breakfast bowl ideas with millet, chia, porridge, etc. There is a delicious-sounding Cauliflower Falafel (chickpeas!) Power Bowl that I cannot wait to try. I am also excited to try all the fruit bowl ideas! They are really eye-catching!
The biggest selling point for me and Buddha bowls: they are easy to make. I am all for maximum nutrition and saving a little time if I can. This is a fun and inspiring cookbook, and I am ready to start making some bowls!
Thank you to Harvard Common Press for the review copy. Buddha Bowls is available now!
5 healthful stars to The China Study Cookbook! ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
A friend of mine who talks nutrition with me regularly is all about The China Study. I h5 healthful stars to The China Study Cookbook! ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
A friend of mine who talks nutrition with me regularly is all about The China Study. I have been interested in learning more because it fits with how I eat (mostly- I still eat dairy, though not with every meal).
I don’t know if it’s just me, but it is much easier for me to eat healthier during the summer. It is hot, I am not as hungry, I am outside more (not eating), and fruits and vegetables are even more plentiful. When I spent some time with the China Study Cookbook recently, I knew THIS would be my cookbook of choice this summer, and I absolutely cannot wait to try out these recipes and start feeling even better again, as a result.
This way of eating is based on research, such as how a plant-based diet helps heal heart disease, eliminate obesity, and lower cancer risk. I am not going to preach a way of eating to anyone (there are so many choices and lots of research available), but I am pleased that if I choose to eat this way, research backs it up.
The author of the cookbook is the daughter of one of the co-authors of the actual China Study, and she has been living in the Dominican Republic, so many of these recipes are inspired by the local food she eats there, as well as the produce available. I happen to love these types of foods, and I can see myself making most every recipe. Not everything is spicy or inspired by the DR, though. There is plenty of variety with all my favorite ingredients. Recipes like Coconut Corn Chowder, Peanut Kale Soup, and Baked Tomatoes Stuffed with Lentils are calling my name asap.
Cookbook details: neatly organized recipe pages, beautiful color photos of every recipe, and lots of background information make this a well-rounded and well-presented cookbook. I especially enjoyed the information on how she raised her children eating a plant-based diet.
I cannot describe to you my excitement and inspiration as a result of reading this cookbook. I wish I could bottle how I feel right now and keep it with me year-round, but until then, I’ll making shopping lists and planning my meal prep for the next couple months! Seriously.
If you are a plant-based eater, you may want to check this out for more inspiration, and if you are like me, you are always looking for fresh recipes. If you are not eating plant-based, but you would like to add more plant-based meals, this is wonderful place to start.
Thank you to LeAnne Campbell, BenBella Books, and Netgalley for the ARC. The China Study Cookbook will be available on June 5, 2018!
Blender talk. I bought my Vitamix six years ago. Ever since, I drink a green smoothie every day, and I’ve noticed I am sick far less often. I also notBlender talk. I bought my Vitamix six years ago. Ever since, I drink a green smoothie every day, and I’ve noticed I am sick far less often. I also notice if I skip a day because I’ll feel sluggish. I worship my Vitamix and have discovered it’s for so much more than just smoothies, as this book illustrates. Some recipes are marked vegan, and there are also vegetarian and meat-centered recipes.
Power Blender Revolution is a well-rounded instructional and recipe book for powerful blenders! I bolded each of the recipe sections below and highlighted some I can’t wait to try!
The Basics - cheeses, flours, etc. I love grating cheese in my blender because it’s quick and the clean-up is a breeze.
3 Day Juice and Smoothie Cleanses are outlined. It tells you what to eat for breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, and desserts based on recipes in the book.
Things to Drink/Whole Food Juices These are great if you have a juicer.
Smoothies, Drinks, and Slushies
A couple things I want to try asap: Kiwi Colada Smoothie with canned coconut milk Sugar Cookie Smoothie with dates and cashews Cherry Pecan Pie Smoothie with kale
Coffee Drinks, Matcha Drinks, and Creamers
Nut Milks and Other Nondairy Milks
Pistachio Milk! Macadamia Milk! Maple Almond Milk! Blueberry Cashew Milk!
Things to Eat! Jams, Butters, Syrups
Recipes for different chia jams and other jams are included. You can make your own salted butter in the blender!
Guacamoles, Hummus, and Other Dips and Spreads
Don’t these sound yummy? Avocado Yogurt Dip Almond Hummus Raw Ricotta Cheese with macadamia nuts Ketchup, Barbecue Sauce, etc.
Dressings, Vinaigrettes, Marinades, and Spice Blends
I can’t wait to try these two! Watermelon Vinaigrette Basil Walnut Dressing
Smoothie Bowls So popular these days!
Soups I love pureeing soups in my Vitamix!
Coconut Strawberry Dessert Soup Gazpacho Andaluz
Entrees from the Blender
Pizza, meat dishes, Southwest Veggie Burgers.
Vegetable Sides
Slaws, relishes Mashed potatoes Mashed cauliflower Sour Cream and Onion Kale Chips
Overall, I’m very pleased with Power Blender Revolution. I have tons of new and inventive ideas and recipes and can’t wait to try them. I wish it had more pictures, but I’m thrilled with the amount of content.
Thank you to Vanessa Simkins, Harvard Common Press/Quarto Publishing, and Netgalley for the ARC. ...more
4 brilliantly funny runaway stars to The Runaway Wife! 🚙 🚙 🚙 🚙
The Runaway Wife came highly recommended by my friend Sherri, and this was a refreshing4 brilliantly funny runaway stars to The Runaway Wife! 🚙 🚙 🚙 🚙
The Runaway Wife came highly recommended by my friend Sherri, and this was a refreshing delight of a read!
Connie McColl is tired. Tired of being in charge of everything, tired of all of life’s overwhelming responsibilities while her husband whiles away his time on the golf course.
When she’s finally had enough, she hops in her little green car and doesn’t look back. Quite the escapade awaits her and quirky characters abound. Is Connie going to drive off into the sunset, or will she return home on her own terms?
At times silly in the best way, Connie’s story is clever and engaging. She is a love of a character, and I would be thrilled to read more books with her!
Thank you to Dee MacDonald, Bookouture, and Netgalley for the ARC! The Runaway Wife is now available! ...more
I bought an Instant Pot pressure cooker a couple years ago, and while I absolutely love the results when I use it, I am still timid. Rationally, I knoI bought an Instant Pot pressure cooker a couple years ago, and while I absolutely love the results when I use it, I am still timid. Rationally, I know it’s entirely safe. I suit up with my “Ove Gloves” whenever I get near it, but I probably need more gear to feel even more comfortable!
In the past, I’ve had to modify many of the other recipes I’ve made to make them vegetarian or vegan, so I was jumping for joy when I saw this vegan pressure cooker cookbook available! No modifying! No guesswork with the cook times either because I can actually follow the complete recipes from start to finish!
Filled with stunning color photos, not of every recipe; however, it seems like some photos may have been left out to make room for more recipes, which is not a bad thing!
This book is chock-full of a variety of items I will make and use as staples again and again. Recipe categories like beans and grains (the basics!), one pot meals, soups and stews, meal helpers, veggie sides, sauces and dips, and desserts; it really has it all.
I can easily say I would make most anything in this cookbook (except I would substitute any soy with something else). If you are looking for for a vegan or vegetarian cookbook to utilize with your pressure cooker, this is a fabulous go-to!
Thank you to J.L. Fields, Fair Winds Press/Quarto, and Netgalley for the ARC. Vegan Pressure Cooking is available now! ...more
5 natural and wholesome stars to The Natural Baker! 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟
I’ve been fortunate to review some stellar cookbooks lately, and The Natural Baker is no5 natural and wholesome stars to The Natural Baker! 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟
I’ve been fortunate to review some stellar cookbooks lately, and The Natural Baker is no exception. It includes a nice mix of whole foods-based (not processed) recipes, some of which are vegan, more are vegetarian, and some that have meat.
All of the recipes are pictured in full color photos, and many are two page spreads! The photos are on a bright white, clean background (the focus was on the naturally colorful food), and they have an almost bucolic appearance, which I loved.
After going through the basics of wholesome baking, the book has sections for everything from breakfasts to desserts. It includes much more than just muffins and breads. The ingredients and steps are presented in a clear and concise manner.
I found myself bookmarking most every page, so here’s the short list of what I’m eager to try soon:
~Almond Apple Porridge (baked oatmeal): We eat baked oatmeal regularly because it’s easy to prep in advance, I can stuff it full of fruit, and it’s filling. This one looks like a fresh twist. ~Green Pea, Fava, and Feta Cakes: Oh my! ~Feta, Olive, and Rosemary Soda Rolls: Please don’t notice the feta theme here. I promise I’m not obsessed with feta or anything. ~Polenta, Kefir, Raspberry, Lemon, Coconut Cake with a Rasperry Yogurt Ripple: This sounds like a doozy, but the recipe looks easy enough to follow, and there’s kefir in it! In a cake! ~Pistachio Cranberry Cardamom Sables ~Tahini Honey Tiffin with Figs: These look like brownies! With tahini! ~Coconut Oat Biscuits (Cookies) ~Pumpkin Spinach Ricotta Pie: YES! ~Millet Sweet Potato Kale Cakes with a Sunflower Seed Crust ~Plum Blackberry Blueberry Crumble with Lemon Syrup
So, some of the above may sound “fancy schmancy,” but the recipes seem straight forward and not as strenuous as baking can typically be. I will make sure to update once I’ve tried a few things. Overall, I’m impressed with this cookbook’s presentation and content, and super excited to try some of these adventurous and delicious-sounding recipes!
Thank you to Henrietta Inman, Jacqui Small/Quarto, and Netgalley for the ARC. The Natural Baker is available now! ...more
Unicorn Food is a big trend of late with rainbow-colored drinks to radiant smoothie bowls, cakes, and bite-sized desser5 stars to Unicorn Food! 🦄 🌈 🦄
Unicorn Food is a big trend of late with rainbow-colored drinks to radiant smoothie bowls, cakes, and bite-sized desserts. Plus, it’s fun for adults and super engaging for kids.
The idea is that the foods should be healthful and over-the-top visually appealing. Unicorn Food offers many vibrant foods using natural food dyes. There are plenty of sweets included using sugar, so not all recipes are necessarily beneficial; but everyone needs desserts once in a while, and this is clearly a book meant for entertaining!
I think if you were planning a party for a child with a unicorn theme, you would be thrilled to come across all the ideas in this book. Likewise, I could potentially see an adult party or shower incorporating some unicorn foods. Huge kudos to the photographer for stunning photos of every recipe, perfectly suited to this type of cookbook.
Overall, Unicorn Food achieves what it is designed to do- to provide a variety of unique, vivid, delicious recipes, perfectly suited for the enjoyment of kids and adults alike!
Thank you to Sandra Mahut, Quarto Publishing, and Netgalley for the copy. ...more
So unicorn food is a thing?! Yes, yes it is! And my inner 80s child is thrilled to sa4.5 magically beautiful stars to Unicorn Food! ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️.5 🦄 🌈
So unicorn food is a thing?! Yes, yes it is! And my inner 80s child is thrilled to say so! So what is it? It’s food that’s beyond colorful, and as nutritious and delicious as it is visually-appealing. All of the recipes in the book Unicorn Food happen to be plant-based.
The appearance of the cookbook is stunning. It looks as if Lisa Frank has designed every page. There’s an Art Deco, bright, sometimes neon, color scheme to it. The only reason I took away half of a star is because I wished for more over-the-top, vibrant recipe photos. The ones included are absolutely enchanting.
What have I made so far and what appeals to me recipe-wise? I’ve made the Drunken Chickpea Spaghetti. If you follow my reviews, you know how I feel about chickpeas. 😉 They seem to make an appearance in every review, and I eat them almost every day! This pasta dish had a lovely red wine sauce, and we adored it! Also, the Black Honey Tahini is out-of-this-world delicious. I already am a fan of tahini, but I’d never made my own. Totally worth it and easy to do in my Vitamix. Coming soon, I’ll be making the Crispy Coconut Lime Lentils (lentils are only second to chickpeas in my world, and crispy ones?!), Oil and Vinegar Broccoli, Spiralized Zucchini with Basil, Mint, and Toasted Walnuts (any excuse to use my spiralizer!), Chamomile Milk Tea Pudding with Pistachios, and last, I simply must make the Lisa Frank Mountain Cake with brilliantly colored layers! I wish I could attach a pic of this from the book!
Overall, this is a fun, inspiring, creative cookbook with uncomplicated recipes, and an added perk is the stunning presentation of the food!
Thanks to Kat Odell, Workman Publishing, and Netgalley, for the copy to review. ...more
5 long-lived stars to The Healthiest People on Earth!
The Healthiest People on Earth is an engaging read. The author has a fascinating pedigree. His t5 long-lived stars to The Healthiest People on Earth!
The Healthiest People on Earth is an engaging read. The author has a fascinating pedigree. His two times great grandmother, Ellen G. White, was a prophet and founder of the Adventist Church. She established Loma Linda in California as a community, which happens to be so healthy to this day that it’s considered the only “Blue Zone” in the United States, meaning a place where people actually are measured to live longer; 10 years longer, in fact.
So just how did Loma Linda become a Blue Zone and why? Ellen G. White was an early proponent of vegetarianism, and while the author makes it clear that he is not discussing theology in the book, a basic tenet of Adventism is a plant-based diet and has been since its inception. That in and of itself is fascinating to me.
The author, John Howard Weeks, has an easy-reading, funny writing style, and I could tell instantly that he’s a journalist. I enjoyed the family stories and home remedies he presented, which were all kinds of tips to help with sleep, cure minor illnesses, and so on.
The recipes presented were the icing on the cake. All plant-based and extremely practical, even though I’ve read and used many plant-based cookbooks, I still found new ideas, including some of Ellen’s favorites from over 100 years ago. Things like how to make a variety of “cheeses” with whole foods, a super easy lentil roast that the author grew up eating, sticky rice with mango, Scottish Oatmeal, and Vegan Penicillin (chicken soup without the chicken).
Essentially, The Healthiest People on Earth is chock-full of the secrets to Loma Linda’s long-lived population of happy, healthy people, and while some of the ideas aren’t unique to the Adventists, it’s inspiring and hopeful to know that if you follow these tenets, you can absolutely live a longer life.
Thank you to John Howard Weeks, BenBella, and Netgalley, for the copy to read and review. ...more
5 big, beautiful stars to It’s All Greek to Me! ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
I have wanted to read this cookbook since its initial release back in 2014, and I was e5 big, beautiful stars to It’s All Greek to Me! ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
I have wanted to read this cookbook since its initial release back in 2014, and I was excited about the re-release with 16 new recipes! It’s All Greek to Me is endorsed in its forward by a cardiologist, and within these pages, you’ll quickly notice no flavor was skimped while still retaining heart healthy benefits.
We traveled to Greece a few years ago, and like everyone says, my favorite thing, other than the beautiful sights, was the food! As a side benefit, this book is full of pictures of Debbie exploring Greece- its people, the culture, and plenty of famous destinations. This is a cookbook you will actually want to read because there are fun anecdotes and stories to consume that are just as yummy as the recipes.
In BenBella’s classic tradition, this book is organized perfectly with stunning color photos. They know cookbooks! Some recipes I flagged to make are Chickpea Fritters (hello, chickpeas!), Baked Feta (I know I’m trying to cut back on dairy, but feta!), Classic Lemon Olive Oil Dressing, Debbie’s family’s Tzatziki Sauce (we are obsessed with tzatziki!), Skorthalia Garlic Sauce made with potatoes (YUM), Greek Vegetable Soup, Fava Split Pea Soup, Greek Style Cauliflower, and Almond Custard Cookies.
Thank you to Debbie Matenopoulos, BenBella Books, and Netgalley for the copy to read and review. I have many hours of inspired and joyful cooking ahead of me! ...more
5 stars from a reforming cheese fan (work-in-progress) to Eat Dairy Free! 🧀 ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
While I am a vegetarian, I could easily be a vegan if I cou5 stars from a reforming cheese fan (work-in-progress) to Eat Dairy Free! 🧀 ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
While I am a vegetarian, I could easily be a vegan if I could give up cheese, and for some reason I can’t. I have skin allergies that clear up when I cut out dairy, but that alone has not been enough incentive for me to change my ways in the long-term. Cheese lures me back, every time. I don’t know if that happens to you, too, but when something is forbidden, I want it all the more, so labeling cheese (and all dairy) as bad has not worked for me...Behaviorally, I know it’s much easier to replace dairy-laden meals with delicious dairy-free meals. I’ve watched my husband go from eating an animal protein with every meal to eating about 70% vegetarian in this way without him even knowing. Replacing meals is less noticeable than cutting out an entire food group.
When I saw Eat Dairy Free listed on Netgalley, I knew it would fit right in with my plans to replace some meals. BenBella published cookbooks are always organized beautifully with color pictures of every recipe, cleanly and neatly organized recipes, and Eat Dairy Free was no exception. Alisa Fleming covers the basics, such as making your own nut milks and using canned coconut milk, which I’m already a huge fan of both. I loved the author’s use of whole foods/unprocessed ingredients in most recipes. While the recipes are not solely plant-based or vegetarian, there are many, many that fit those specs, and most of the others could be easily modified.
A few recipes I flagged to make include Vanilla Cream Scones made with coconut milk (cannot wait!), Curried Cauliflower and Peas, Shepherd’s Pie with cauliflower topping, Black Bean Burgers (this recipe has her own unique spin), a dairy free alfredo sauce with coconut cream AND cashew cream (I’ve made this many times with cashews and YUM), a Moroccan Skillet full of veggies, and Snicker-dough-dles, which are a cookie with a cookie dough-like center.
I feel like I’m armed with some new things to try in the kitchen to cut back on our dairy, and I’m inspired by all the new ideas and combinations!
Thanks to Alisa Fleming, BenBella Books, and Netgalley, for the copy to read and review. ...more
Siri Daly is a food blogger, contributor to the Today show, busy mom, and wife to Carson Daly. She deve4 foodie stars to Siriously Delicious! 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟
Siri Daly is a food blogger, contributor to the Today show, busy mom, and wife to Carson Daly. She developed this cookbook in order to present nutritious recipes, with foods you already have in your pantry, that will be universally enjoyed by parents and kids alike. I think she accomplished that with this effort.
My cookbook friends will adore the colorful, artistic photographs of every recipe. Everything looks and sounds delicious. The ingredient lists are not overly long. The steps to the recipes are also simple. She has recipes that use packaged/processed foods and others that are more whole foods-based. Many of her meal ideas, though simple, are perfect for entertaining. Two things I am eager to make are the Chickpea Burgers and the Buddha Bowls (both have chickpeas!).
I loved how she included tips for involving the kids in cooking some recipes, as well as time-saving tips, like making extras of certain items to make another recipe.
Overall, this is a fun and approachable cookbook that offers many joy-filled, wholesome recipes for busy families.
Siriously Delicious will be published on April 17, 2018. Thank you to Siri Daly, Oxmoor House, and Netgalley for the complimentary copy. ...more
Jennifer ~ TarHeelReader
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