Almost Meatless: Recipes That Are Better for Your Health and the Planet [A Cookbook]

The eggplant-chicken stacks on the cover immediately drew me in! Having limited kitchen skills (as I do) is not a problem. Recipes are detailed and easy to follow. Want total vegetarian? Leave out the chicken! Still delicious! Next, I'm on to the Shepherd's Pie.

The recipes in this book are both easy and mouthwatering. To be clear, it's NOT a vegetarian cookbook (the title implies that, no?), but a cookbook for those of us who love meat but don't want it to be the centerpiece of our eating. Less meat stretches a buck, and Desmond and Manning introduce us to some great grains that delight and satisfy. A winner!

As someone who is leaning towards the vegetarian side, I love this book! It is truly a pleasure to see the use of meat minimized and the spotlight focused on "healthy" and organic food!

I have become very fond of this cookbook. It is incredibly versatile (ie. vegetarian options, meats in some recipes are interchangeable, and the recipes are flexible), recipes are budget conscious, and the recipes lend themselves to substitutions very well. For example you could make the salsa from scratch, but if your in a hurry go for the jar. Another thing I greatly appreciate is the directions, everything is measured out and spelled out making success easy. I also appreciate the excerpts on organic, sustainable and humane eating. Most importantly the food is delicious. I would recommend this for anyone looking to use less meat, wants to incorporate more whole grains, and is looking for a way to make vegetables taste better. My only qualms (not worth removing a star because this is the majority of cookbooks) are that there is not a calorie count, nor is there a estimate of time it takes to complete the recipes.

Desmond and Manning have hit the bull's eye with this "test-the-waters' of healthy living suggestion. For those timid about diving into an eccentric, 'hippy'-type vegetarian life style, this book offers conservative steps in gently reducing mammals from one's daily diet. By substituting more healthful staples like "CornCrabCakes", "TheB4(beef,bulgar,blackbean burger),or "Tofu-Turkey Sloppy Joe"s the diner can experience satisfying meals without slaughtering innocents or destroying the earth.