3 Bowls: Vegetarian Recipes from an American Zen Buddhist Monastery

Pretend you're the farthest thing from a vegetarian. Pretend you would never, in a million years, pick up some flaky, hippie cookbook. The recipe for Apricot-Sweet Potato Oatmeal is still worth the cover price, and you will NEVER bother to make a single batch. Double it every time. Apparently, eating simply does not at all preclude eating well, since these simple, nutritionally dense recipes produce complex, delicious dishes. Excellent for busy families, most recipes can easily be one-pot meals, frozen for later, and/or prepped for easy cooking. For us, the anecdotal philosophy was an added bonus and helped us to eat mindfully as well. However, even if you completely ignore the margins, footnotes, and insets this book will be one covered in foodie fingerprints within a week!

This cookbook is beautiful and the food is terrific. I have had it but a week and have already made several dishes. The Lentil-Walnut Pate was a huge hit at a retirement party, the carrot cake crowned an after-theatre event and the poached pears were great at breakfast. I particularly appreciate the simplicity of the recipes. It's also good to have a friendly voice guiding me through tempeh and miso in such an assured way. I always knew they were healthy, but wasn't quite sure how to make the best of them. The orzo sounded so good I went out instantly and bought tempeh, and made that and the Roasted Butternut Squash dish for two old friends, who greatly enjoyed it. The recommendations in back were very useful--especially the Miso.For the first time in my life understand what a delicious and versatile food it can be. Highest Accolades!

After a year of meditating daily, I knew it was time to rethink my eating habits. I bought this book on Thursday. On Friday, I made the Quinoa Vegetable Stew (had to ask at the health food store what "quin-wah" was!) and the Schezuan Green Beans and Soba noodles. The next day we tried the Red Potato Salad with Asparagus and Artichoke Hearts (with my own substitutions) and Butternut Squash and Sweet Potato Soup. Everything was superb, and so simple! I felt as though I had experienced eating as it should be...This is food that nourishes the body and the spirit. Wonderful to prepare, uplifing to eat!

This is a great book! The recipes are delicious and easy to follow. After buying the book I immediately made the Broccoli Rabe with Ginger, Honey and Lemon. Delicious! You don't necessarily have to be a vegetarian to enjoy these wonderfully tasty and easy to prepare meals. Included with the recipes are beautifully descriptive and evocative commentaries about life at the Zen monastery where the authors practice. These descriptions add a unique dimension to this "gem" of a cookbook. A perfect addition to my kitchen library and a great gift book!

This book is a true work of art and of heart. The recipes are creative and exciting. The book is calming. The recipes are imaginative and include clear preparation techniques. Many recipes harmoneously combine unlikely ingredients. Many provide alternate ways to prepare the same recipe. Included with the recipes is a well-written personal tour of the Zen Buddhist Monastery including meditations. The book's title, 3Bowls, almost becomes alive when they explain how foods are traditionally served at the Monastery. The authors' love and respect for food, as well as the spiritual life, is clear and contageous. I am overwhelmed by this book. I find myself repeatedly reading each page. Even the paper upon which the book is printed is joyous. The recipes work whether you are cooking for one or many. This is definately a great tool for those of us seeking ways to calm ourselves, remember our spirt, and nourish our bodies.