The Accidental Vegan

Rating:
Summary: Not for beginners...
Review: 'The Accidental Vegan' is a well-compiled easy-to-follow cookbook, but as a teenage-vegan, a lot of these exotic recipies don't appeal much to me. Some of the ingredients are tough to find and many of the dishes are tough to prepare.

As far as health-value is concerned, almost every recipie focuses on a vegetable as the highlight of the dish. Everything is low-fat, low-sugar, and high in nutrients. The chapter on seitan is also useful.

Buy 'The Accidental Vegan' if you're not afraid to try something different (but healthy). It really is a good book.

Rating:
Summary: Good Cooking
Review: A good basic addition to my vegan cookbook collection. The recipes in this collection are very open ended... which is terrific if you are the type of cook who likes to make your own additions and adjustments as you cook. I think it may be harder to use for someone who is either a new vegan or does not cook a lot. My family has been very pleased over all with the recipes. She offers some wonderful dips in the first section which make healthy and wonderful snacks for the kids. Try the stuffed mushrooms or the walnut/vegie spread! Wonderful and so incredibly easy to prepare.

Rating:
Summary: One of the easiest
Review: I found this book and at once decided to buy. It is the easiest vegan cookbook I've run across. The recipes are tasty, and most require 12 or less ingredients, which is a big difference from most veggie and vegan cookbooks. I have made many of the dishes (love the curry and dahl recipes) and continue to pull this book off the shelf instead of all the others I have to choose from. I strongly recommend this great book.


Rating:
Summary: this is great!
Review: i love this cookbook. it is not overly big but the recipes cover the bases. ingrediant lists are concise and easily read. her approach to cooking is also very relaxed - you can tell she rarly, if ever, stresses in the kitchen. for me, this book was a breath of fresh air , good vegan recipes that are easily made. most of the ingrediants are easy to find, although you might need to visit a specialty store for some items.

Rating:
Summary: A vivid sampling of fresh vegan cuisine for vegetarians.
Review: The Accidental Vegan contains a vivid sampling of fresh vegan cuisine that will knock your palate into a new dimension. You will be tempted to become an accidental vegan just for the pleasure of it. Recipes are divided into Appetizers, Soups, Main Dishes, Seitan, Side Dishes, Sauces and Dressings and Desserts.

Holiday-adaptable entrees abound and accents of international cuisine add verve and flair. Recipes are simply presented with ingredients highlighted in light green blocks against white text pages. Some exciting examples include Pasta with Olives, Artichokes and Dried Tomatoes, Yakisoba (Japanese noodles and veggies), and Devi's Basic Curry - a wonderful concoction with potatoes, cauliflowers, carrots, broccoli, garbanzo beans, and of course, spices. Recipes are simple and short, generally complete on two pages; sometimes on one. The Sauces section includes basic recipes for Plum sauce, black bean sauce, pesto, mole sauce, and faux cheese. Hummus Roasted Red Pepper Roll-Ups are a tasty appetizer. Who doesn't love Lo Mein for main dishes with Chinese influence? And of course for Italian cuisine, there is a scrumptious recipe for Pasta Primavera. Many side dishes are vegan classics, such as Corn and Bean Salad and Couscous. Even desserts shine - Hazelnut Chocolate Chip Shortbread, for example.

All in all, The Accidental Vegan fills a tasty bill that helps the planet too.

Nancy Lorraine, Reviewer

Rating:
Summary: Basic but delicious
Review: The recipes contained in this cookbook are mostly very basic blueprints. The author did this on purpose, and it does work rather well. I love this cookbook.

Pros:

* Many recipes are low-fat
* Excellent food made with simple recipes. Recipes to try include:

Acorn Squash with Herbs
Pulao
Red Lentil Dahl
Black Eyed Pea Dahl
Curried Peas and Potatoes

Cons:

* MAJOR PROBLEM: some of the recipes contain honey. Even though this is easily substituted, this is unacceptable for a vegan cookbook. For this reason, I would not give this book as a gift to anyone who was not vegan unless they understood that vegans do not consume honey. I wouldn't want them to make me a recipe with honey in it.
* Provides little in the way of information on recipes. This relly is _just_ a recipe book. No detail is given on the origin of recipes, other than in the title. This results in a slimmer book. She gets right to the point. If you're used to background information on recipes, tips, tricks, etc, then you will be disappointed.
* VERY simple instructions (can be a pro, if you know what you're doing)

All in all, it's a great cookbook and it deserves a place on your bookshelf.

PS: Here's a tip on some of her recipes, specifically the dals. Instead of boiling the spices with the other ingredients, sautee olive oil in a nonstick pan, add onion and garlic with the spices and cook for 5 minutes. Add at the end of the cooking instead of the beginning. This results in a much spicer, fuller flavor.

Rating:
Summary: Vegan-tastic!!
Review: This cookbook is filled with wonderful recipes with very simple directions. The simplicity of the recipes make them easy to personalize if you are adventurous, but the are mighty tasty without altering. It has a wide range of savory entrees and appetizers, but I must say that the dessert section is lacking a bit (only 6 ideas). From basic essentials to fancy dishes, you will find many vegan culinary inspirations within this cookbook.

Rating:
Summary: Wonderful!
Review: This has become my faorite cook book. All the reciepts are easy, fast and very tasty. I love the different tamale fillings and the enchilada pie is to die for. The separate section on sauses is great as they really perk up my pasta dishes. This is a small compact book that really packs in the different quisines: Greek, Asian, Hispanic, Indian, Italian Japanse, and American, etc. All I can add is yummmm!

Rating:
Summary: If Alice Waters were a Vegan
Review: This is not a book for beginners. It has simple but very interesting recipes. If you enjoy ethnic food this is the book for you.