1WelshBookworm
My cookbook thread didn't fare too well last year. I didn't start it until June 10, and the last entry was August 25. It's still May so I'm a little ahead this year. I used to really enjoy cooking, but as I got older I have gotten lazier - or maybe busier - or something. Next year I'll be retired, so I won't have the excuse of being too tired and just throwing something in the microwave. Apparently I only cook in the summertime. Maybe in the summer I have had garden produce to use. Didn't have much of a garden yet last year at the new house. I got spoiled at the farm having a huge area to grow stuff. This year I've got 4 raised beds ready to put together and bought a whole lot of tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, chard, beans, squash, etc. to put in them. So I'm trying to get back into the habit of actually cooking and eating healthier.
In the past (many years ago) I used to go through the alphabet of a cookbook index and make a list of 20-26 recipes taking the first recipe listed for each letter. I also compiled card indexes of favorite ingredients (every cookbook that had a banana bread recipe, for example...), and then I discovered the Eatyourbooks website, which is kind of like Ravelry, but for cookbooks and recipes instead of knitting books and patterns. I have about 150 cookbooks. I decided to use a random number generator to pick 5 cookbooks to focus on for the next few months. And, I probably shouldn't, but I've carried over 3 cookbooks from last year's list.
I should maybe point out that I am a vegetarian, but not all of my cookbooks are vegetarian. With all the meat substitute options out there nowadays, I'll make every effort to adapt a recipe as needed. So here's the current list:
The Magic of Mini Pies
The Whole Foods Market Cookbook
Mollie Katzen's Vegetable Heaven
The New Vegetarian Epicure
Sunset International Vegetarian Cook Book
---------------------------------------
The Book Lover's Cookbook
Complete Vegetarian Cuisine
International Vegetarian Cookery
This seems a pretty good mix. Got to have at least one pie cookbook! The Mollie Katzen represents Moosewood. One British cookbook (the Rose Elliot one). And at least one international selection... I've got two here. And of course I had to keep the book-related cookbook in the mix!
In the past (many years ago) I used to go through the alphabet of a cookbook index and make a list of 20-26 recipes taking the first recipe listed for each letter. I also compiled card indexes of favorite ingredients (every cookbook that had a banana bread recipe, for example...), and then I discovered the Eatyourbooks website, which is kind of like Ravelry, but for cookbooks and recipes instead of knitting books and patterns. I have about 150 cookbooks. I decided to use a random number generator to pick 5 cookbooks to focus on for the next few months. And, I probably shouldn't, but I've carried over 3 cookbooks from last year's list.
I should maybe point out that I am a vegetarian, but not all of my cookbooks are vegetarian. With all the meat substitute options out there nowadays, I'll make every effort to adapt a recipe as needed. So here's the current list:
The Magic of Mini Pies
The Whole Foods Market Cookbook
Mollie Katzen's Vegetable Heaven
The New Vegetarian Epicure
Sunset International Vegetarian Cook Book
---------------------------------------
The Book Lover's Cookbook
Complete Vegetarian Cuisine
International Vegetarian Cookery
This seems a pretty good mix. Got to have at least one pie cookbook! The Mollie Katzen represents Moosewood. One British cookbook (the Rose Elliot one). And at least one international selection... I've got two here. And of course I had to keep the book-related cookbook in the mix!
2WelshBookworm
Complete Vegetarian Cuisine (CVC)
c. 1988 - This is the American edition. Originally published in Great Britain as Rose Elliot's Vegetarian Cookery.
I'm a big fan of Rose Elliot and have a number of her cookbooks. Vegan recipes are marked with a V. There is a lengthy section (to p. 125!) just on ingredients with beautiful color pictures. There are also menu suggestions throughout the recipes section, which I like. These recipes are decidedly more elaborate than the previous cookbook, but nothing too extreme. Some of the absolute BEST vegetarian food I have had was in Wales and England. Restaurants there catered to vegetarians long before it became more mainstream in the U.S.
Some of the basics on my list: Baked Eggs, Easy Shortbread, Hashed Brown Potatoes, and Icebox Cookies.
The more complicated include: Macadamia Nut Burgers (with Bearnaise Sauce), homemade pizzas including the dough, Nut Balls in Tomato Sauce (serve with spaghetti), and Radish, Cucumber, and Arame Salad. Arame is a dried seaweed. I'll make it if I can find it...
c. 1988 - This is the American edition. Originally published in Great Britain as Rose Elliot's Vegetarian Cookery.
I'm a big fan of Rose Elliot and have a number of her cookbooks. Vegan recipes are marked with a V. There is a lengthy section (to p. 125!) just on ingredients with beautiful color pictures. There are also menu suggestions throughout the recipes section, which I like. These recipes are decidedly more elaborate than the previous cookbook, but nothing too extreme. Some of the absolute BEST vegetarian food I have had was in Wales and England. Restaurants there catered to vegetarians long before it became more mainstream in the U.S.
Some of the basics on my list: Baked Eggs, Easy Shortbread, Hashed Brown Potatoes, and Icebox Cookies.
The more complicated include: Macadamia Nut Burgers (with Bearnaise Sauce), homemade pizzas including the dough, Nut Balls in Tomato Sauce (serve with spaghetti), and Radish, Cucumber, and Arame Salad. Arame is a dried seaweed. I'll make it if I can find it...
3WelshBookworm
The Book Lover's Cookbook (BLC)
c. 2009
This is an ebook that I purchased for Nook. These recipes were inspired by food in literature, and includes excerpts from the books, so could be as much fun to browse and read, as to cook from it. Definitely not vegetarian though. I'll have to give a hard pass on some of the recipes. But my list includes a few non-vegetarian recipes that I thought I could reasonably find substitutions for, like the Impressive Beef Stroganoff, or the Rainy Season Chicken Soup. I'll probably just leave the bacon out of the Nearly A Meal Potato Soup or I'll substitute some kind of vegan ham... The Almond-Bacon Wraps don't sound promising - prunes (I'm guessing dried?) stuffed with an almond, wrapped with basil leaves and Canadian bacon. Not sure I can find a Canadian bacon substitute, but we'll see.
The book has no index. Thankfully, it is indexed on Eatyourbooks with page numbers.
Some easy recipes include Baked Apples, Waffles, and at least four of the recipes on my list are variations on dinner rolls. I could probably do all four variations with one batch of dough.
One I probably will NOT make is Queen Nacha's Tamales. A) I don't really like tamales. B) the recipe makes 40 tamales, and even cutting that in half is a lot of tamales. And C) it would require a lard substitution.
c. 2009
This is an ebook that I purchased for Nook. These recipes were inspired by food in literature, and includes excerpts from the books, so could be as much fun to browse and read, as to cook from it. Definitely not vegetarian though. I'll have to give a hard pass on some of the recipes. But my list includes a few non-vegetarian recipes that I thought I could reasonably find substitutions for, like the Impressive Beef Stroganoff, or the Rainy Season Chicken Soup. I'll probably just leave the bacon out of the Nearly A Meal Potato Soup or I'll substitute some kind of vegan ham... The Almond-Bacon Wraps don't sound promising - prunes (I'm guessing dried?) stuffed with an almond, wrapped with basil leaves and Canadian bacon. Not sure I can find a Canadian bacon substitute, but we'll see.
The book has no index. Thankfully, it is indexed on Eatyourbooks with page numbers.
Some easy recipes include Baked Apples, Waffles, and at least four of the recipes on my list are variations on dinner rolls. I could probably do all four variations with one batch of dough.
One I probably will NOT make is Queen Nacha's Tamales. A) I don't really like tamales. B) the recipe makes 40 tamales, and even cutting that in half is a lot of tamales. And C) it would require a lard substitution.
4WelshBookworm
International Vegetarian Cookery (IVC)
c. 1978
I probably picked this up at a used book store, way back when (I've been a vegetarian since 1973.) I always loved it for being somewhat unique (only 29 members on LT have it). It's very British, calling for teacups and dessertspoons, and calling eggplants aubergines. But then it includes a helpful chart of British vs. American measurements. There are 24 countries or regions represented, so I debated making my list one recipe from each region, instead of going down the index alphabetically, but I was afraid I would end up with all appetizers, or something. So I've ended up with 14 countries and 5 recipes from Italy. Oh well. Each country starts out with a list of the best cheeses from those regions.
Not indexed on Eatyourbooks.
There seems to be a heavy preponderance of egg recipes here: Cadiz Eggs, Florida Eggs, Indian Croquettes, Parmesan Custard Pudding, Uovo Col Riso, and Zabaglione. The only recipe that gave me pause is the Jellied Egg Salad (Canada) which calls for powdered gelatine. Yes, I could use agar, but I've found that rather rubbery. Plus eggs and vegetables in aspic hasn't been a thing since the 60s....
c. 1978
I probably picked this up at a used book store, way back when (I've been a vegetarian since 1973.) I always loved it for being somewhat unique (only 29 members on LT have it). It's very British, calling for teacups and dessertspoons, and calling eggplants aubergines. But then it includes a helpful chart of British vs. American measurements. There are 24 countries or regions represented, so I debated making my list one recipe from each region, instead of going down the index alphabetically, but I was afraid I would end up with all appetizers, or something. So I've ended up with 14 countries and 5 recipes from Italy. Oh well. Each country starts out with a list of the best cheeses from those regions.
Not indexed on Eatyourbooks.
There seems to be a heavy preponderance of egg recipes here: Cadiz Eggs, Florida Eggs, Indian Croquettes, Parmesan Custard Pudding, Uovo Col Riso, and Zabaglione. The only recipe that gave me pause is the Jellied Egg Salad (Canada) which calls for powdered gelatine. Yes, I could use agar, but I've found that rather rubbery. Plus eggs and vegetables in aspic hasn't been a thing since the 60s....
5WelshBookworm
On to the new...
The Magic of Mini Pies
c. 2013
I have this as an ebook. It includes savory as well as dessert pies. And I do have some miniature pie tins... The Apple Walnut Crisp or the Apple Raisin Tarts could be made any time. I have some apples I need to use up. The Yogurt Berry Tarts look easy too. I always have yogurt on hand for lunches, and just bought some blueberries...
Nothing looks to be too daunting, and I'm very happy that no gelatin substitute seems to be needed for any of these...
The Magic of Mini Pies
c. 2013
I have this as an ebook. It includes savory as well as dessert pies. And I do have some miniature pie tins... The Apple Walnut Crisp or the Apple Raisin Tarts could be made any time. I have some apples I need to use up. The Yogurt Berry Tarts look easy too. I always have yogurt on hand for lunches, and just bought some blueberries...
Nothing looks to be too daunting, and I'm very happy that no gelatin substitute seems to be needed for any of these...
6WelshBookworm
The Whole Foods Market Cookbook
c. 2002
I'm lucky to live where there is a Whole Foods Market and shop there about once a month. This cookbook does contain fish and seafood recipes. The Bahamian Conch Chowder, for example. I'm thinking I could just substitute mushrooms. There's a Persian Lamb Roast on my list - maybe use a gluten roast? We'll see.
Among the easy offerings: Lemon Tahini Sauce - just need to pick up some parsley or wait for it to grow in my garden. Habanero Ale Cheese Dip. Ants on a Log.
Sounds fun: the Harvest Vegetable Shepherd's Pie using tempeh.
c. 2002
I'm lucky to live where there is a Whole Foods Market and shop there about once a month. This cookbook does contain fish and seafood recipes. The Bahamian Conch Chowder, for example. I'm thinking I could just substitute mushrooms. There's a Persian Lamb Roast on my list - maybe use a gluten roast? We'll see.
Among the easy offerings: Lemon Tahini Sauce - just need to pick up some parsley or wait for it to grow in my garden. Habanero Ale Cheese Dip. Ants on a Log.
Sounds fun: the Harvest Vegetable Shepherd's Pie using tempeh.
7WelshBookworm
Mollie Katzen's Vegetable Heaven
c. 1997
So colorful and beautifully illustrated. Most of these recipes will require a little planning ahead, except perhaps for the Instant Fruit Sorbets (just calls for frozen fruit which I have in the freezer), the Homemade Butterscotch Pudding, and the Yogurt-Berry Swirl (just vanilla yogurt with raspberries , fresh or frozen)
On the interesting side: Olive Waffles (or Pancakes), a Rainbow Sorbet Torte (using those instant fruit sorbets...), Santa Fe Stew (butternut squash, Anaheim and Poblano peppers which I'll be growing...), and some Walnut Pecan Shortbread.
c. 1997
So colorful and beautifully illustrated. Most of these recipes will require a little planning ahead, except perhaps for the Instant Fruit Sorbets (just calls for frozen fruit which I have in the freezer), the Homemade Butterscotch Pudding, and the Yogurt-Berry Swirl (just vanilla yogurt with raspberries , fresh or frozen)
On the interesting side: Olive Waffles (or Pancakes), a Rainbow Sorbet Torte (using those instant fruit sorbets...), Santa Fe Stew (butternut squash, Anaheim and Poblano peppers which I'll be growing...), and some Walnut Pecan Shortbread.
8WelshBookworm
The New Vegetarian Epicure
c. 1996
I used to have both volumes of her earlier books The Vegetarian Epicure and The Vegetarian Epicure, Book Two but I got rid of them. They were quite old and falling apart. And as I recall, they were very heavy on the butter and cream.
This one is laid out as dinner menus with all the recipes for that menu all together. I didn't think to note the menu on my list. I may have to go back and do that in case there are recipes that I want to make together. An excuse to have company over and do a whole menu? Most of these recipes require advance shopping. And a few require wine or marsala.
I'll definitely keep the Ratatouille in mind for later in the summer so I can use stuff from my garden.
And there's a Bread Stuffing with Apples and Walnuts that I'm pretty sure is part of a Thanksgiving menu. My sister and I cook together for Thanksgiving, so I will keep that in mind (she does the turkey...)
c. 1996
I used to have both volumes of her earlier books The Vegetarian Epicure and The Vegetarian Epicure, Book Two but I got rid of them. They were quite old and falling apart. And as I recall, they were very heavy on the butter and cream.
This one is laid out as dinner menus with all the recipes for that menu all together. I didn't think to note the menu on my list. I may have to go back and do that in case there are recipes that I want to make together. An excuse to have company over and do a whole menu? Most of these recipes require advance shopping. And a few require wine or marsala.
I'll definitely keep the Ratatouille in mind for later in the summer so I can use stuff from my garden.
And there's a Bread Stuffing with Apples and Walnuts that I'm pretty sure is part of a Thanksgiving menu. My sister and I cook together for Thanksgiving, so I will keep that in mind (she does the turkey...)
9WelshBookworm
Sunset International Vegetarian Cook Book
c. 1983
One of my old favorites. I've made over a dozen recipes from this one. I have 14 different countries represented on my list. Quite a few recipes are very easy, and will no doubt put a further dent in this cookbook: Garbanzo Bean Dip (hummus), Japanese Green Tea, Nachos.
Sounds interesting: Cucumber Walnut Soup (Bulgaria), Spinach Lasagna (Italy), Kasha-Stuffed Cabbage Rolls (Russia), Tortilla Hash with Green Sauce (Chilaquiles - Mexico)
c. 1983
One of my old favorites. I've made over a dozen recipes from this one. I have 14 different countries represented on my list. Quite a few recipes are very easy, and will no doubt put a further dent in this cookbook: Garbanzo Bean Dip (hummus), Japanese Green Tea, Nachos.
Sounds interesting: Cucumber Walnut Soup (Bulgaria), Spinach Lasagna (Italy), Kasha-Stuffed Cabbage Rolls (Russia), Tortilla Hash with Green Sauce (Chilaquiles - Mexico)
10WelshBookworm
Vegetable-Bean Stew with Couscous (Sunset International, p. 42)
Morocco
I'm having company tomorrow, so made this today. I'll cook the couscous tomorrow and there's a hot pepper sauce to make that goes with it. My sweet potatoes were quite large, so I think maybe this could use more tomatoes. I used the white sweet potatoes, because I always think the orange ones are yams, forgetting that they aren't yams... I can't tell if the saffron added anything. I would use the orange sweet potatoes if I made this again.
11ELiz_M
>8 WelshBookworm: I love that stuffing recipe and have made it for Thanksgiving for years! I first made it for a Sunday-Vegetarian-Thanksgiving-Dinner I hosted and my carnivore, foodie co-worker said it was the best stuffing he'd ever had.
12WelshBookworm
>11 ELiz_M: Good to know! Thanks!
13SassyLassy
>8 WelshBookworm: I didn't realize there was a new Anna Thomas (New Vegetarian Epicure) out there. The older two you mention are still great favourites of mine. The pumpkin pie (spicier version) ranks way up there.
I have been trying to avoid new cookbooks the past few years, and even have given some away, but this thread may puncture my good intentions.
I still have to get The Moosewood Cookbook though.
Looking forward to what comes out of the kitchen next.
I have been trying to avoid new cookbooks the past few years, and even have given some away, but this thread may puncture my good intentions.
I still have to get The Moosewood Cookbook though.
Looking forward to what comes out of the kitchen next.
14WelshBookworm
>13 SassyLassy: There's The New Moosewood Cookbook too. I don't like it as well as the original. It's basically the same recipes, but they've made them "healthier" and not necessarily for the better.... A Case in point is the Pepper and Onion Shortcake, one of my absolute favorites (made with butter and sour cream) - they made it unrecognizable as the same recipe!
15SassyLassy
>14 WelshBookworm: Definitely sounds as if the original is the way to go. I make a Rhubarb Sour Cream pound cake, naturally with butter too, and I can't imagine it being stripped down!
Pepper and Onion Shortcake sounds intriguing.
Pepper and Onion Shortcake sounds intriguing.
