Veggie Blog

Book Description
Vegetarians can enjoy all the benefits of slow cookers.

Slow cookers have been rediscovered by a whole new generation of busy families, students and professionals. Those on the go love being able to throw wholesome ingredients into a cooker, close the lid and come home to a hot, satisfying meal at the end of the day. However, most slow cooker cookbooks feature recipes using meat, poultry and fish, and include only a few vegetarian recipes.

Who is the author?

According to the title, the book is by Judith Finlayson.

Why a vegetarian slow cooker book?

The book description says most slow cooker cookbooks feature meat, poultry and fish and include only a few vegetarian recipes.

Who is this book written for?

The description names busy families, students and professionals, and anyone who likes to put wholesome ingredients in a cooker and come home to a hot meal.

What is 125 Best Vegetarian Slow Cooker Recipes about?

According to the description, vegetarians can enjoy all the benefits of slow cookers, and the title says the book has 125 vegetarian slow cooker recipes.

Summary based on the book description on Amazon.

How do I adapt dried beans and settings in a slow cooker?

The USDA FSIS slow cookers guide explains that most cookers have two or more settings, that food cooks faster on high, and that starting on high for the first hour then lowering the heat is recommended if possible, though low all the way is safe too.

Vegetables cook more slowly than meat, and the same page advises putting them in first. Choose recipes with enough liquid, keep the lid on and do not lift it more than you need to. Check your appliance’s manual for dried beans, because some guides call for boiling them first.

Legumes are valued for protein, fibre and low cost, as the Harvard legumes page says. Finish with fresh herbs, lemon juice or vinegar to brighten long-cooked flavours.

A power cut while you are out is a reason to discard the dish, whatever it looks like.

Related reading on this blog: Eating to Lower Cholesterol: Oats, Fruit, Beans and Healthy Fats and Antioxidant Foods: Why Colorful Plants Beat Supplements

Book: 125 Best Vegetarian Slow Cooker Recipes by Judith Finlayson
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Book Description
Quiz time! Vegetarianism is:

A) strictly for humorless health nuts.
B) fine if you actually like brown rice. I guess.
C) what? I wasn’ t sleeping, I was resting my eyes. Can you repeat the question?
D) just kind of . . . normal.

You answered D, right? Meatless eating is healthy, inexpensive, ecologically friendly, and even hip. What’s not to like?

But it’s not always easy being green. The salad bar can get pretty uninspiring after a while, and you don’t even want to know how much salt lurks in that can of tomato soup.

Enter the Carle sisters: Megan (the long-time vegetarian) and Jill (the skeptical carnivore) are the dietary divas of yummy, doable dishes for teens and young adults. In this new book (their fourth), they offer the tips, tricks, and tasty recipes they use to feed themselves and their friends in style–veggie style.

The Carles make cooking easy for cash-strapped, kitchen-shy vegetarians, starting with instructions on how to set up a basic veggie kitchen on the cheap. And they keep it simple with 90 recipes organized into student-friendly chapters, from “Cheap Eats” to “Impressing Your Date,” “Dinner for One” to “Party Food,” plus a desserts chapter packed with vegan options. Every page bursts with color photographs.

Whether you’re sharing Pasta Primavera with your roommates, taking a Caramelized Onion Tart to a party, grabbing a Roasted Red Pepper and Avocado Wrap on the run, or buttering up your sweetie with Mushroom Ravioli, College Vegetarian Cooking will break you out of the ramen rut–without breaking your budget.

Book: College Vegetarian Cooking by Megan Carle
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Book Description
When most people think of sushi, they think of raw fish, but you can also make flavorful and visually exciting sushi with just vegetables. Vegetarian Sushi teaches you everything you need to know to make this delicious Japanese dish in your own kitchen. The book covers a wide variety of sushi–sushi rolls, or maki, molded sushi, noodle sushi, omlette sushi, sushi in a bowl–as well as soups, sauces, and pickles to accompany the sushi.

Inside, youÆll find information on equipment and ingredients, tips on how to prepare the rice, and, of course, plenty of delicious recipes, including cucumber and sesame sushi rolls, seasoned tofu rolls, and grilled shiitake sushi.

Who wrote it?

Brigid Treloar is the author listed in the title.

What recipes can I expect?

It includes information on equipment and ingredients, tips on how to prepare the rice, and recipes such as cucumber and sesame sushi rolls, seasoned tofu rolls and grilled shiitake sushi.

What kind of book is Vegetarian Sushi?

The Amazon description says most people think of raw fish when they think of sushi, and that this book shows how to make flavorful sushi from just vegetables at home.

What will I learn from it?

The book covers sushi rolls (maki), molded sushi, noodle sushi, omelette sushi and sushi in a bowl, plus soups, sauces and pickles to serve with the sushi.

Everything above comes from the book description on its Amazon page.

What should I know about nori, rice and sushi at home?

Making vegetable sushi means working with rice, seaweed and fresh vegetables. Nori is a source of iodine, one of the foods the NIH Office of Dietary Supplements fact sheet on iodine lists. Enjoy it as part of a varied diet rather than in large quantities if you have thyroid problems.

Cooked rice needs care. The USDA FSIS leftovers page says to refrigerate leftovers within two hours, so do not leave a tray of sushi on the counter for the day. Serve it soon after making, keep it cold if you prepare it ahead, and wash your hands and utensils frequently.

Wash and dry vegetables well before slicing. Use a sharp knife and a damp cloth to wipe the blade between cuts, which makes cleaner slices and safer handling. If you add sprouts, note that the FDA produce-safety advice says raw or lightly cooked sprouts can carry bacteria and that more vulnerable people, including pregnant women, should avoid them.

Related on this blog: Eating to Lower Cholesterol: Oats, Fruit, Beans and Healthy Fats and Antioxidant Foods: Why Colorful Plants Beat Supplements

Book: Vegetarian Sushi by Brigid Treloar
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Book Description
A classic book of soy-based recipes from some of the best cooks on “The Farm,” an intentional community in rural Tennessee. Features over 250 cholesterol-free recipes for family favorites. Also included are detailed instructions for making tofu and other soyfoods at home, plus comprehensive nutritional information for a vegan diet.

What can readers expect to find inside?

The book also has detailed instructions for making tofu and other soyfoods at home, and nutritional information for a vegan diet.

Who is the author?

The author named in the title is Louise Hagler.

What kind of book is The New Farm Vegetarian Cookbook?

The description calls it a classic book of soy-based recipes from some of the best cooks on “The Farm”, an intentional community in rural Tennessee.

Which dishes does the description mention?

It features over 250 recipes that the description says are cholesterol-free, all for family favorites.

Summary based on the book description on Amazon.

What does soy offer in plant-based cooking?

Soy foods such as tofu, tempeh and soy milk are staples of many vegetarian kitchens. The NCCIH page on soy summarises what is known about soy, and the Harvard page on soy explains that soy foods are widely studied and can be part of a healthy diet.

A description that lists “cholesterol-free” recipes is accurate in one respect: foods from plants contain no cholesterol. But the Harvard page on fats and cholesterol explains that what matters most is the type of fat you eat, so fried foods or coconut-heavy dishes can still be high in saturated fat.

Soy is a common allergen, and people with a soy allergy should avoid it. If you take thyroid medicines or have a hormone-related condition, ask your doctor about soy intake. Community cookbooks are great for family-friendly recipes, and adjusting salt and oil keeps them lighter. Tofu you make at home should be kept chilled and eaten within a few days.

More on this blog: Antioxidant Foods: Why Colorful Plants Beat Supplements and Eating to Lower Cholesterol: Oats, Fruit, Beans and Healthy Fats

Book: The New Farm Vegetarian Cookbook by Louise Hagler
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Book Description
This is the creamiest, best tasting vegan ice cream recipe we have ever tasted in our lives. We think it is better than a McDonald’s malt. It blends up very rich and smooth. You can use this base to make any flavor of ice cream you can think up.

What topics does it cover?

The description says you can use the base to make any flavor of ice cream you can think of.

What is Blendtec Vegan Ice Cream Base Recipe about?

The title says it is a vegan ice cream base recipe by Karen Peebles for the Blendtec blender. The description says the base blends up very rich and smooth.

What do the authors say about the taste?

The book description says the authors think it is the creamiest and best-tasting vegan ice cream they have ever tasted, and better than a McDonald’s malt. That is their own opinion, as the description states it.

Summary based on the book description on Amazon.

What should I know about ice cream and sugar?

Home-made ice creams give you control over what goes in, and that includes the sugar. The FDA page on added sugars on the Nutrition Facts label explains that the label lists added sugars, so comparing with a shop-bought tub is straightforward. Sweet treats are enjoyable, and a portion size you can live with is a sensible approach.

The Harvard page on added sugar says sugary foods are best eaten sparingly. Frozen fruit and nuts give creaminess with less added sweetener than a standard recipe.

For storage, the USDA FSIS freezing guide says to freeze food quickly, because slow freezing makes large ice crystals. Store in an airtight container, and expect texture changes after a few weeks.

Blenders can be difficult to clean around the blade, so wash it promptly. People with nut allergies should avoid cross-contact with nut-based bases.

Related on this blog: Eating to Lower Cholesterol: Oats, Fruit, Beans and Healthy Fats and Diet and Fitness: How Carbs, Fat and Protein Fit Together

Book: Blendtec Vegan Ice Cream Base Recipe by Karen Peebles
View this book on Amazon (affiliate link: we may earn a commission at no cost to you)