Vegetarian Slow Cooker

I love using my slow cooker and am always on the watch for new ideas. It makes sense to take advantage of the energy I possess first thing in the morning to get dinner started so it is ready when, at day's end, I'm simply too tired to come up with a creative meal. Although not strict vegetarians, we try to avoid meat at least a few times a week. This book is perfect for my needs. The 57 recipes are organized by country - India, Mexico and The Southwest, Asia, Italy, France, Greece and the Middle East. This is a clever plan as it permits the user to decide on a group or flavors they are in the mood for and make a selection from an area of the world. Black ink, with the list of ingredients in bold print, makes reading the recipes easier than in many recent cookbooks where pale ink colors, like aqua, seem to be the trend. The font could be a little bigger. The publishers should make the font size selection after first laying the book on a counter and attempting to read it from a standing position. This is a paperback book, so it doesn't stay open as it lays on the counter top, so a cookbook holder is helpful. There aren't many photos, but most slow cooker recipes probably aren't picture perfect as they are scooped out and served. More helpful than a photo are the author's suggestions for appropriate beverages to accompany each dish. From the Italy section, I prepared the Polenta Lasagna with Tomato-Mushroom Sauce and it was delicious. The dish had a satisfying "comfort food" texture and I will definitely prepare it again. The tomato sauce was very fresh tasting. Note that the recipe contains three separate cheeses, mozzarella, ricotta and parmesan cheese, so it is definitely not vegan. From Mexico and The Southwest, I prepared Rustic Potato and Poblano Gratin as a rich side dish which worked beautifully with grilled vegetables. Again this is not a vegan dish, but it was complex enough to be a perfect accompaniment to simple grilled fare. From the France section I prepared the Egg, Cheese and Onion Quiche. The recipe contains one cup of toasted breadcrumbs, sprinkled on the bottom of the slow cooker, which serves as a pseudo quiche crust. The dish was delicious and a nice change of pace. In addition to the mushrooms and onion, this is a recipe where the reader can take some liberties and add a few more vegetables to customize it to taste. Obviously, this too is not a vegan recipe. Some of the recipes in the book are vegan and many can be adapted by substituting non-dairy ingredients. The recipes I prepared had no errors to impede preparation and I am anxious to try more. This is a cookbook with imaginative combinations and is a great addition to a vegetarian cookbook library and would make a good gift.

What a great selection of recipes and so easy to make. I've made several dishes from this book and I've enjoyed every one of them. I especially love the Potatoes and Peas in Red Curry Sauce and the Curried Chickpeas with Fresh Ginger and Cilantro. I love the fact that I can throw it in the crock pot and forget about it for a few hours, it works so well with my busy schedule and gives me something to look forward to when I come home. I can't wait to make more of these wonderful recipes. Kudos to Lynn Alley.

Lynn Alley's cookbook is a perfect recipe book for new slow cooker users (like us) and for vegetable lovers! The photos are gorgeous and very inviting. Alley's detailed explanations and helpful hints regarding equipment, ingredient sourcing and wine recommendations are much appreciated, especially for the meal planning. The recipes are delicious,fun, and EASY to prepare---we truly enjoyed our grocery store visit with our unique ingredient list. Even though we are cooking for only 2, we make the whole recipe and freeze the balance of it, which works out perfectly for us. The book is well organized and we appreciate the collection of recipes from various geographic locations presented together in each section. I highly recommend the Spiced Basmati Rice Breakfast cereal, Dal with Ground Cinnamon, Clove, Cardamom and Cumin, Margaret Hughes's Green Vegetable Curry, and the Braised Soy---they are very tasty and simple to make! Cheers to simplicity and your health.

I have tried a lot of different Vegetarian cookbooks and this one has been really great for me. Working full time...with little time to cook a nourishing meal, I look for an easy way to satisfy my family . I am interested in health first and foremost. Taste is also a huge issue and these recipes are so yummy! Most healthy cookbooks sadly, are not very tasty. This cookbook is wonderful because is combines taste with ease. One thing I really love is that I can find the ingredients easily so I can cook these meals without a lot of hassle. My slow cooker is now nicely simmering with joy! Thanks !

I have been a fan of Lynn Alley's books for a few years and have purchased them all. I was waiting for this one to come out and, once again, she hasn't disappointed me. Her recipes are creative, simple, well explained and delicious! Even people who are not vegetarians have thoroughly enjoyed the recipes I have tried out from this book. Once you try a few of them I am sure you will want more.