Book Reviews
THE VEGAN 8
By Brandi Doming
Enjoy 100 vegan recipes made with eight ingredients or fewer (not counting water, spices, etc.). For breakfast you might want to try the Bed-and-Breakfast Pumpkin Pie Crêpes. Move on to snacks and appetizers and you'll find Smoky Ancho Chile Roasted Almonds and Elevated Avocado Toast. Easy entrée choices include Skillet Baked Mac 'N' Cheese, which you can serve with one of the soups or stews such as Thai Rice Noodle and Bok Choy Soup or a side dish such as The Best Fluffy "Buttermilk" Mashed Potatoes or Save the Day Chili con Queso. Finally, end your meal with a delicious dessert like Toffee-Pecan Glazed Cake.
The Vegan 8 (ISBN: 978-0-8487-5707-6) is a 256-page book with color photos. It is published by Oxmoor House and retails for $25.99. You can purchase this book online or from your local bookstore.
Reviewed by Debra Wasserman.
CRAVINGS MADE VEGAN
By Bianca Haun and Sascha Naderer
The authors of this cookbook have created 50 vegan comfort food recipes that vegans and non-vegetarians will enjoy. The dishes range from Chocolate Chip Pancakes and "Chicken" & Waffles to Hot Dogs, "Crab" Cakes, BBQ Cauliflower Wings, Spicy Stovetop Mac & Cheese, and Apple Fritter Rings with Almond Maple Dipping Sauce. Beautiful photos will encourage you to start cooking right away. Unfortunately, nutritional analyses are not provided.
Cravings Made Vegan (ISBN: 978-1-5107-3932-1) is a 149-page hardcover book. It is published by Skyhorse Publishing and retails for $22.99. Find this book online or at your local bookstore.
Reviewed by Debra Wasserman.
EAST MEETS VEGAN
By Sasha Gill
Enjoy vegan recipes from India, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, China, and Japan! From India, sample Fennel and Parsnip Tarka Dal, Creamy Spinach Curry with Crispy Tofu, Kofta Curry, or Cardamom Fudge. Thai dishes feature Jackfruit Massaman Curry, Mushroom Tom Yum Soup, and Mango Sticky Rice. Offerings from the Singapore and Malaysia chapter present Char Kuey Teow (a stir-fried noodle dish), Tempeh Rendang, and Popiah Spring Rolls. From China enjoy Rice Noodle Rolls, Mapo Tofu, Mushroom and Chive Dumplings, and Peanut Meltaway Cookies. Japanese recipes include Red Bean Pancakes and Chocolate Custard Matcha Buns. These are not necessarily easy recipes; however, the photography in this book is gorgeous and will make you hungry!
East Meets Vegan (ISBN 978-1-61519-563-3) is a 224-page book. It is published by The Experiment and retails for $18.95. Purchase this book online or from your local bookstore.
Reviewed by Debra Wasserman.
VEGAN TALES VOLUME I
Edited by Maureen Kingsley
This book consists of vegan short stories written by vegan writers from Europe, the United States, and elsewhere. Each tale is written in a unique fashion and all touch upon vegan values. Words to Dress Them creatively discusses the value of meat based on the price on its package. Lucy's Revelation is about a woman learning how to prepare vegan dishes when suddenly having to take over the care of two vegan children. Farmer Flit's Epiphany has a factory farm theme, and Shoulder of Lamb describes a person playing with a dog while a pig is roasting in the background.
Vegetarian Journal Senior Editor Rissa Miller is the only author to have two of her pieces published in this book. Her Tofu Paradise tale touches on the topic of being vegan and dating and Family Dinner promotes the notion that being compassionate means extending understanding to pre-vegan friends and family. In this tale, an omnivore finally understands her vegan sister.
Vegan Tales Vol. I (ISBN: 978-19993568-0-4) is a 208-page book. It is published by Squaw Pies and retails for $19.95. You can purchase a digital version of this book on www.Amazon.com.
Reviewed by Debra Wasserman.
IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE IN THE GARDEN
By T.A. Kuepper
Illustrated by Brett Bednorz
It's a Wonderful Life in the Garden, book 3 of The Adventures of Archie Artichoke book series with its vibrant, colorful illustrations and fun vegetable characters who go on a trip, will appeal to children ages 4 to 8, as well as their parents for important lessons to be learned. Archie Artichoke and his veggie friends will realize how good their lives in the garden are after their venture into the dark forest in search of gifts from a magical genie. The story emphasizes the importance of being satisfied. Teamwork, trust, and friendship are elements that help Archie and his friends through some difficult situations along their journey. Problem solving, prioritizing, and negotiation come into play throughout the story as well. Personifying vegetables as well as their motto "Veggies Rule" stresses their importance and helps to teach about their variety and that each one serves a purpose. Archie befriending Wally Weed, along with wanting to save all the animals around him, teaches respect and inclusion.
It's a Wonderful Life in the Garden (ISBN: 978-0997732757) is a 54-page paperback book. It is published by Archie Artichoke Books and retails for $15.95. It is also available in a Kindle Edition.
Reviewed by Marcy Schveibinz.
