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Comment on The Ultimate Vegan Guide: Compassionate Living Without Sacrifice (Second Edition) by Katrina Donovan

Katrina Donovan — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 18:46:00 +0000

82 of 82 people found the following review helpful:

I've never used this hackneyed phrase before, but this book is worth its weight in gold. More than gold, actually., August 25, 2011

Katrina Donovan (Belmont, MA USA) -

This review is from: The 30-Day Vegan Challenge: The Ultimate Guide to Eating Cleaner, Getting Leaner, and Living Compassionately (Paperback)

If you asked me 6 months ago if I'd ever go vegan, I'd have told you that you were off your rocker. Give up meat? Maybe. Give up butter, eggs, cheese, and cream? Nope. No way.

Long story short, five months ago I watched a video showing what animals went through in the meat, dairy, and egg industries. My world changed instantly and I knew I'd never touch another animal product again. So I was left to fumble about a bit on my own and gradually educate myself on how to do this healthfully and sanely, all while hearing dire warnings from well-meaning family and friends. Luckily, I discovered this author's podcast pretty early on in the process (Vegetarian Food for Thought at compassionatecooks.com), so that helped me enormously. (She has, however, ruined other podcasts for me, as hers are so good.) I have never been happier. That sounds trite, but I could not put it any simpler. I am a very happy person now. (And much much healthier!) But I really wished I had had this book five months ago. How lucky are you, soon-to-be-reader?

It is amazing on many counts, but I'll narrow it to four:

1) The chapters in this book hit all the points a person in transition would ask or be asked. All the nutritional aspects are covered. Types of products are covered. Tips on making cooking easier, quicker, and more enjoyable are covered. But just as important, the social aspects are covered. In fact, the advice about social situations may be one of the ways this book is most helpful. It's hard to put into words, but she has a way of explaining things that makes you really understand where your concerned loved ones are coming from. Her words can help you toe the fine line between speaking your truth and being compassionate to all people in a very non-kumbayah-way; no drumming circles or tie-dye necessary. :) I've benefited from following her advice -- my family and friends have relaxed and are even trying my (her) recipes. Which is a good segue to point number 2.

2) The recipes are incredible. My husband, a former big animal-meat-eater is addicted to the Better-than-Tuna salad. And they're very do-able. The ingredients can be found in any supermarket. I've never had to scurry to find that elusive (and expensive) ingredient that I'll never use again. (We've all been there, right?)

3) The whole tone is very non-judgmental. You never feel bullied or guilted into making these changes. I got quite excited, in fact, to change. Moreover, I know that I (one little person on this vast planet) am making a remarkable difference in the world. I see it every day.

4) It's extremely organized, gorgeous, and easy to use. No fluff here. This book is such a bargain for what you are getting. I actually feel a little guilty -- like I should have paid much more.

So that's it in a nutshell. If you aren't sure if going vegan is for you, look at it this way: It's just 30 days. And you're paying the same price you'd pay for one month at a really cheap gym.

Go for it. You will be amazed.

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Comment on The Ultimate Vegan Guide: Compassionate Living Without Sacrifice (Second Edition) by Ryan Thibodaux

Ryan Thibodaux — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 18:41:03 +0000

141 of 145 people found the following review helpful:

Absolutely phenomenal! Colleen cements her place as a leading vegan voice., August 23, 2011

Ryan Thibodaux (Oakland, Ca) -

Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)

This review is from: The 30-Day Vegan Challenge: The Ultimate Guide to Eating Cleaner, Getting Leaner, and Living Compassionately (Paperback)

I've been a vegan for 8 years, and for the last 7.9 or so of those years, I've been an unabashed and exuberant vegan advocate.

The problem is I've always had difficulty identifying that "one book" I would want to give to someone who, for one reason or another, has become interested in veganism and a compassionate lifestyle. For the spiritual, I might recommend Will Tuttle's "The World Peace Diet". For animal lovers, perhaps Gail Eisnitz's unflinching "Slaughterhouse" is the way to go. For someone health-focused, I might recommend something by Barnard or Esselstyn or McDougall. If I didn't know the veg-curious person that well... well, you can't go too wrong with something by John Robbins, right?

But no more. There is a single book that I can recommend anyone, and that book is "The 30-Day Vegan Challenge".

What a beautiful and astonishing book this is. I was lucky enough to get a copy two days before the rest of the world at book's release party in San Francisco, and I devoured it in two days. It's all here: the health arguments, the environmental arguments, and, of course, the arguments on behalf of those who cannot speak for themselves. Oh, and there are the recipes. The recipes are a "greatest hits" collection from Colleen's previous (awesome) cookbooks, and they're fantastic.

But delicious "vegan food" is easy. The hard work is in the arguing, and in the convincing, and in the hand holding, and in the encouraging of those who are just beginning their more compassionate path - the path upon which they align their values with their actions. And that is where this book excels. Colleen answers every objection, every question, and every excuse that any vegan has ever heard, and she does it swiftly and conclusively. It's a wonder to witness. If you're vegan, play a little game and count the number of times when you say to yourself, "Wow. She nailed that."

More importantly, if you're not vegan (yet), play a little game and count the number of times when you say to yourself, "Wow. She nailed that."

Are you vegan? Then get your hands on this book, and join me in celebrating that everything we've ever wanted to have in one place is now available to us in one place. What a feeling!

Are you not vegan, but curious why nearly any vegan you ever encounter always says something like, "choosing this lifestyle is the best decision I've ever made"? Pick up a copy of this book. Take the 30-day challenge! You might not believe me now, but there's a decent chance you'll be one of us - one of the many who Colleen calls "joyful vegans" - by the time you get to the epilogue. I'd bet on it.

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Comment on The Ultimate Vegan Guide: Compassionate Living Without Sacrifice (Second Edition) by Island Girl

Island Girl — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 17:50:10 +0000

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

Always a Pleasure, May 28, 2009

Island Girl -

Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)

This review is from: The Ultimate Vegan Guide: Compassionate Living Without Sacrifice (Kindle Edition)

Erik Marcus' guide to being vegan is a matter-of-fact, helpful approach for us everyday, run of the mill, vegans next door. Guides like "Vegan Freak" are amusing, but the tone can be a turn-off for anyone not into the punk scene. I appreciate Marcus' care for the reader's personal health and step-by-step approach to making a smooth transition. For those who are already vegan it's a practical refresher on nutrition, smart activism; including good ideas for quickie stir-fries, sandwiches and smoothies with a bonus recipe for cashew cheese in the appendix. I also found a lot of online resources I wasn't aware of like barnivore.com and restaurant reviews through yelp.

When I want well-researched, good-humored, intelligent vegan information I turn to Erik Marcus.

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Comment on The Ultimate Vegan Guide: Compassionate Living Without Sacrifice (Second Edition) by Stephanie Williams

Stephanie Williams — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 16:56:36 +0000

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

A great simple guide to the basics!, February 2, 2009

Stephanie Williams -

This review is from: The Ultimate Vegan Guide: Compassionate Living Without Sacrifice (Paperback)

I really enjoyed this book. Erik's first book "Vegan: The New Ethics of Eating" is what originally got me to go vegan in the first place. His writing style is simple and accessible. Unfortunately, after a year i had a bit of a spotty vegan record.

I decided i needed to recommit and proly just lost sight of why i went vegan in the first place. I re-read "Vegan" and got this book too. I am right back on track.

This is not only a GREAT read for someone interested in Veganism, it is great for relatively new vegans also. It has some great simple advice on how to prepare yourself and your life for the change. I really loved that chapter that dealt with cravings.

It's a wonderful introduction to living a cruelty free and compassionate lifestyle :D Thanks Erik for writing another winner!

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Comment on Veganomicon by Linda Bulger

Linda Bulger — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 16:59:58 +0000

141 of 143 people found the following review helpful:

Just plain fun!, April 30, 2008

Linda Bulger (United States) -

This review is from: Veganomicon: The Ultimate Vegan Cookbook (Hardcover)

Mine is by no means a vegan household, but how could I resist a book with this title? By the time I had found the authors' explanation, I was in love with the book: "...a big vegan cookbook needed a big vegan name. (But just to be on the safe side, don't read this cookbook backward at the stroke of midnight.)" So I checked it out of the library a month ago Shhh! I KNOW I need to bring it back!

The clever introduction makes the case that "vegan food = normal food." The authors move on to a saucy explanation of prepping and cooking terms and some ingredient-specific advice, endlessly entertaining and informative. Take polenta: "Polenta has been called many things, each more insulting than the last: cornmeal mush, grits, porridge. But it got a new lease on life in the '90s when foodies started referring to it by its proper name and charging twenty dollars a plate for it." They follow with basic polenta-cooking instructions.

I had planned to browse and move on. I don't like to cook fiddly things -- no ravioli-making for me -- and I never seem to have enough of the right ingredients for vegan cooking. But what a surprise this book was! Even with no tempeh or miso on board, a quick pass through the front of the market gave me all I needed for some of these yummy recipes.

We loved the Israeli Couscous with Pistachios and Apricots (confession: I used regular couscous) and the Herb Scalloped Potatoes. I was planning to make Roasted Eggplant and Spinach Muffuletta Sandwich but we ate the roasted eggplant before I got the olives. My favorite recipe so far: Jalapeno-Onion Skillet Corn Bread.

There are many other recipes I'd like to try: Fresh Rosemary Foccaccia, Roasted Portobellos, Chickpeas Romanesco, Penne Vodka; and every single thing pictured in full color in the middle of the book. Veganomicon: The Ultimate Vegan Cookbook ends with menu suggestions: My Own Private India Menu, Greek to Me and You Menu, Smash Your TV Dinner Menu. Just the names make you want to throw a party, don't they?

Isa Chandra Moskowitz and Terry Hope Romero are vegan veterans, and their knowledge and enthusiasm permeate this practical book. I recommend it as a workbook for healthier eating and just for the fun of it, too.

Linda Bulger, 2008

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Comment on Veganomicon by Cherie J. Anderson

Cherie J. Anderson — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 16:19:15 +0000

182 of 186 people found the following review helpful:

Your Stove is Asking You to Buy It., November 5, 2007

Cherie J. Anderson -

This review is from: Veganomicon: The Ultimate Vegan Cookbook (Hardcover)

From the moment the book arrives, you'll love it! It's not just because of the beautiful photographs and intriguing recipes - it's because the authors and their style of writing capture you, fascinate you, and make you excited to try each and every recipe that they have created.

I'll admit that I am a fan of both Vegan With a Vengeance and Vegan Cupcakes Take Over the World. But I wanted to review Veganomicon without those two prior books in mind. The fact is, I couldn't. I knew that the recipes would be outstanding; the usual nervousness that comes with serving a guest that new pasta recipe was not present. I have a confidence when making Isa and Terry's recipes, a confidence that sometimes does not exist when trying other recipes out for the first time.

I think that each of these reviews, each Veganomicon recipe photograph on Flickr, on blogs, on the Post Punk Kitchen forums, are a testament that many people, experienced chefs and novices alike, absolutely adore this cookbook. And there's no reason why you wouldn't, either.

My favorites so far have been the Eggplant Rollatini and the Lemon Bars. The Pumpkin Ziti with Sage Bread Crumbs is not far behind; I love the cashew ricotta that is used (there are two ricotta recipes in the book - both delicious!). There is something for everyone here, whether you hate vegetables but love mushrooms, choose seitan over tempeh, want breakfast at all times of day, or want to eat a light lunch of bok choy with shallots.

There are excellent recipes for autumn and fall-time meals. The Thanksgiving spread would be more colorful and delectable if you added in a few of the mix and match sides and appetizers, such as Mashed Spiced Sweet Potatoes, Chestnut-Lentil Pate, and Butternut Squash & Pumpkin Seed Rice Paper Rolls.

Thank you for rocking our worlds, Terry and Isa!

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Comment on Veganomicon by Mike Desert "Rock n Roll Fan"

Mike Desert "Rock n Roll Fan" — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 15:40:13 +0000

377 of 388 people found the following review helpful:

Most thorough Vegan Cookbook ever!, October 21, 2007

Mike Desert "Rock n Roll Fan" (USA) -

This review is from: Veganomicon: The Ultimate Vegan Cookbook (Hardcover)

First off, the food in this book is amazing. Vegan With a Vengeance was super great, but this is the friggin' BOMB!

Aside from the incredible food, the product description doesn't mention that the first part of the book is a great (and funny) read about HOW to cut and prepare different vegetables, how to cook different grains, etc...for someone like me, pretty invaluable stuff. Also cool if you're getting this for your "weird" vegan kid that is just learning to cook.
Also,, the icons are a big help (an icon tells you if you can make the meal under 45 min -or way less, another icon tells you if you can find everything at your regular Vons-type market, if there's soy, etc...)

The other review made a comment about the title, which I think is total genius. Then again, I get the HP Lovecraft/Evil Dead reference. What else could you call the "ultimate vegan cookbook" besides the "Veganomicon"??

Not only does this book have great recipes, but it will totally add ideas to your cooking arsenal. After making the "Black Bean Burgers", I am never buying packaged veggie burgers again!

p.s. do yourself a favor and make the "Leek and Bean Cassoulet with Biscuits".

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Comment on The Happy Herbivore Cookbook: Over 175 Delicious Fat-Free and Low-Fat Vegan Recipes by DebAnn

DebAnn — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 14:04:36 +0000

64 of 71 people found the following review helpful:

What a GREAT vegan cookbook, January 22, 2011

DebAnn -

Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)

This review is from: The Happy Herbivore Cookbook: Over 175 Delicious Fat-Free and Low-Fat Vegan Recipes (Paperback)

So, okay! I'm new to being a vegan and I also am a diabetic. I have been looking through vegan cookbooks out there and have been rather disappointed. Then I stumbled upon the Happy Herbivore blog and tried a few recipes, took a couple of the courses and decided to pre-order this book. Wow! What a great purchase. These recipes are easy, quick and tasty. Added to that you have ingredients that are not that hard to find here in the US. On top of that, the recipes are easy to adapt if needed for someone who is diabetic or needs to eat gluten free or things like that. I haven't fixed every recipe because I have only had the book a few days but I have read through the cookbook completely and I know that for me I have found MY FAVORITE COOKBOOK.
Thanks Linday for creating this book. I really, really needed it. The Happy Herbivore Cookbook: Over 175 Delicious Fat-Free and Low-Fat Vegan Recipes

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Comment on The Happy Herbivore Cookbook: Over 175 Delicious Fat-Free and Low-Fat Vegan Recipes by Roxanne Sumner

Roxanne Sumner — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 13:33:58 +0000

91 of 100 people found the following review helpful:

Quick, Easy, Low-fat, YUMMY & Cruelty-Free!, January 16, 2011

Roxanne Sumner -

Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)

This review is from: The Happy Herbivore Cookbook: Over 175 Delicious Fat-Free and Low-Fat Vegan Recipes (Paperback)

Meeting Lindsay on Twitter shortly after deciding to go Vegan was one of the best things that ever happened to me and I was really excited when Lindsay chose me to be one of her testers for this cookbook. Newly vegan I wasn't sure where to start. Lindsay introduced me to new foods with her creative, easy, few ingredient recipes.

I thought Chickpeas were something you sprinkled on salads at the salad bar but Lindsay has some really tasty recipes with them. I used to make Tofu Scramble with tofu, oil and a box mix. No oil, some tofu and a few spices add up to the best Tofu Scramble I've ever had. Make French Toast without eggs? Lindsay does and it is better than the real thing. Home fries without the fat? Lindsay has it! The BBQ Chop Wrap is one of my favorite all time recipes. I make the single serving brownie almost every week! And don't get me started on her Pumpkin Pie...

Recently I discovered that I can't tolerate Gluten and also had to cut back on Soy - Lindsay's book has many recipes that I enjoy.

Giving up all the fat for flavorful food cleared up my skin and helped me lose weight while feeling good.

I highly recommend Lindsay's book for anyone who enjoys food.

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Comment on The Vegan Slow Cooker: Simply Set It and Go with 150 Recipes for Intensely Flavorful, Fuss-Free Fare Everyone (Vegan or Not!) Will Devour by Hi

Hi — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 12:51:32 +0000

92 of 96 people found the following review helpful:

Helpful, December 3, 2010

Hi (Someplace) -

Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)

This review is from: Appetite for Reduction: 125 Fast and Filling Low-Fat Vegan Recipes (Paperback)

I like "Appetite for Reduction" because the author gives nutrition info for each recipe which is a first and unlike her other books. It is also a more health conscious collection of recipes and is exactly what I've been waiting for. I own all of Isa's & Terry's other books and I guess I would consider myself a fan by now. I usually stick to a healthy and nutritious diet under a certain number of calories per day, and I had to choose carefully which recipes I'm making in their previous books. But looking through "Appetite for Reduction," there really are no questionable recipes for those who wish to eat healthy. Everything is healthy here, and it doesn't skimp on flavor at all. I'm marinating the tofu from one of the new recipes right now...Masala Baked Tofu. Very simple and I can't wait to taste it!

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