Review: Veganomicon: The Ultimate Vegan Cookbook

Veganomicon: The Ultimate Vegan Cookbook by Isa Chandra Moskowitz

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



I obtained a copy of Veganomicon months before making the switch over (hell, I wasn't even a vegetarian at that point), and really enjoyed the recipes even then. After becoming a vegan, Veganomicon was that much more valuable. The recipes in this cookbook are great - well thought through, easy to make (most of the time), and typically quite healthy. Isa and Terry write with humor and provide excellent information. And, of course, most importantly, these recipes produce GREAT food. Om-to-the-Nom-Nom good.

While I don't want to make it sound like this is a "Betty Crocker" cookbook of sorts (shows you how to make the basics), Veganomicon is quite comprehensive and has recipes and menus for all occasions (or un-occasions). The recipes are also sorted as well to fit specific needs: soy-free, gluten-free, low fat, fast (under 45 minutes), and "supermarket friendly."

Some of our favorites (and frequently-made): Banana-Nut Waffles (our personal favorite brunch), Cashew Ricotta, Wheat-Free Chocolate Chip Cookies, Cheezy Sauce, Simple Seitan, Chile-Chocolate Mole (out of this world!), Mushroom Gravy (referred to the "Thanksgiving Hero"), and Snobby Joes, to list just a few.

If you're a vegan or enjoy eating plant-based foods, this is a must-have for your cookbook collection.



View all my reviews

Review: The Complete Guide to Vegan Food Substitutions: 200 Foolproof Food Substitutions for Everything from Milk and Meat to Sugar and Soy-Includes Recipes

The Complete Guide to Vegan Food Substitutions: 200 Foolproof Food Substitutions for Everything from Milk and Meat to Sugar and Soy-Includes Recipes by Celine Steen

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



This was the very first vegan cookbook I looked at after making the switch from vegetarian to vegan. While I haven't made many of the recipes, the substitution lists and suggestions are useful and accurate, and the recipes I did try were great. I won't lie, this isn't your healthy vegan cookbook, and I'm not sure how into veggies either of these authors are. But the recipes are full of soul and are good comfort recipes.



View all my reviews

It's May Already?

I realize it's been an entire month since you've heard from me. Apparently I can only focus on one or two things at a time. (Does anyone else have this problem?)

First there was this problem with my knee, then we all got sick. Sickness lead to an ear infection, and that was followed by insane focus on my research, which was followed by a week of stunning weather in which I completely avoided research, which has melted into a week of rethinking the way we're doing food and revamping our eating (yes, yes, we're still vegans, just trying to clean up our eating a little).

So yes, alive, working, thinking, and not blogging regularly like a good blogger should.

I posted a recipe on Plant Matters for a Cauliflower, Sweet Potato, and Cashew Curry this evening. It's a small offering in lieu of any sort of interesting post. 

Review: Are You My Mother?

Are You My Mother? by Alison Bechdel

My rating: 2 of 5 stars



I love Alison Bechdel and worked through almost all of her graphic novels last summer. I was excited when I finally got my hands on a copy of Are You My Mother and eagerly set aside the time to dive in.

And... I just couldn't. I want to say I gave this book a good effort. I tried and tried to read it. I got about halfway and gave up. I guess I'm not into books about trying to write (the meta-self-autobiography) and really hate psychoanalysis. It didn't seem like there was any structure, just a lot of confusion and self-loathing.

I'm sorry Alison Bechdel.



View all my reviews

Ode to Sleep Deprived Parents

The Sydney Philharmonica Choir performs "Ode to Sleep Deprived Parents" set to Carmina Burana. Enjoy.

Review: Sharp Objects

Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Immediately after finishing Gone Girl, I added my name to the library hold list for both of Gillian Flynn's other novels, Sharp Objects and Dark Places. They both came in this Friday, and I sprinted through Sharp Objects in two days.

I'm an anti-spoiler kind of girl, so I'll keep my review brief. Camille is a 30-something journalist writing in a mid-tier paper in Chicago. Her editor sends her home to Wind Gap, the small city in Missouri she grew up in and has avoided for many years, to write on a developing story about two young girls, one who was found strangled with most of her teeth pulled out, and another who just went missing. Despite recently coming out of major personal conflict herself, Camille takes the story and finds herself back at her mother's home in Wind Gap.

I'll say this: Flynn has a way of writing despicable characters. Similarly to Gone Girl, it's hard to find a likeable primary or secondary character in Sharp Objects. That said, Flynn is such an engaging writer. I found it very difficult to put this book down, despite the troubled antagonist and her series of cringe-worthy past and her seeming inability to make good decisions. The darkness is addictive.

If you enjoyed Gone Girl, definitely give Sharp Objects a read. It's not quite the stunner that Gone Girl is (it's a little more on the pedestrian side of the thriller genre), but the book is an engaging and a great addition to the mystery/thriller genre.




View all my reviews

Connections

Two weeks ago as Ian and I were in the bathroom getting ready for bed, he told me how proud he was of me in the last month. I asked him why. After all, if I'm getting a compliment, I like to know (and milk it for all it's worth!). He very sweetly told me how great it was to see me so happy, determined, and focused, that it felt like I had a direction and was working towards my goals. And it was all true!

The next day, as I was out walking with a good friend, and she was complimenting me on my organization (!)* and drive, I mentioned how great I'd been feeling. Hardly a bad mood, feeling over-all more energized, and just... happy. I mentioned how I finally felt like I was 'me', again, how I hadn't felt this good since before I got pregnant, two years ago. As I was saying goodbye to her, it hit me - at I'd been done breastfeeding for a month.

This is in contrast to where I was March 2012 - which I can say with complete confidence (now) was the land of postpartum depression. I was a Gloomy Gus. I was sad and angry, generally felt too tired to do much, and was constantly overwhelmed.

I'm glad that I breastfed Felicity for fifteen months, don't get me wrong. But that isn't to say that we didn't have many difficulties along the way, or that I loved it all (or most) of the time. We were both ready to be done.

* While we have a good calendar system and Ian and I are able to keep to our rigorous budget and keep up most of the time with our to-do list, I don't know if I have been used in the same sentence with 'organized' ever, unless it was to say, "Gee, I wish Rachel was more organized," or, "Rachel is so disorganized." This was, like, a major compliment. I'm pretty sure I blushed.

Friday? Friday.

Sometimes there are too many projects, ideas, and things to do. So instead of making progress on any of them, I get overwhelmed, duck, and make progress on none of them. Why yes, I need to write for an hour, make headway on my memoirs, update the baby book, put two recipes up on Plant Matters, get dinner ready, get my pinterest and facebook links working on both of my blogs, work through two weeks of email, call the pediatrician, read the novel for April's Book Club, and do the laundry. Seems like a perfect time to waste an hour online, no?

My time management was crazy great before my family came last week and I essentially took a week off. Now I can't seem to get out of vacation (lazy) mode.

Consolation? At least we got to the park today, and I saw this smiling, happy face.

Updated Recommended Cookbooks Page on Plant Matters

 I've taken the time to update our recommended cookbooks page on Plant Matters. Looking for a little kitchen inspiration? Check out the cookbooks we love, or browse through our kitchen-tested, lip-smacking recipes. 

love,
Rachel

Top 75 Read Along Books for Mighty Girls

I really cannot say enough wonderful things about A Mighty Girl. This website isn't about girl power (which is problematic in and of itself). A Mighty Girl is about giving girls good role models that fit outside of the typical feminine stereotype.

I was so pleased when I saw this in my Facebook feed today: Top 75 Read Along Books for Mighty Girls.

Of course my own daughter is too young for these books, but yours may not be!

You can support the site (owned and operated by Carolyn Danckaert and Aaron Smith) by clicking by purchasing books through the website. Keep up the good work, A Mighty Girl!