The Garden of Vegan: How It All Vegan Again!

My absolute favorite cookbooks are by Tanya Barnard & Sarah Kramer, authors of "How it All Vegan!" and "The Garden of Vegan." Even if you aren't vegan, nearly every one of the recipes I've tried have been very yummy, pleasing many of my non-vegan friends and family! New to these books? Try my favorites- I've made each of the following recipes more than 3 times, and they're a hit each time :) from "How it all Vegan": 'anything goes' fruit muffins, p 49 (great when I have fruit that is about to go bad... just add it to a batch of muffins!) Perfect Pesto, p. 80 Fragrant Garlic Parsley Pasta p. 106 (gggggggreat!) Classic Chocolate Chip Cookies, p. 137 (I've made this recipe 10+ times. My friends and family LOVE this recipe- they can't even tell the cookies are vegan; they are so rich and delicious. I use a little more than the recommended chocolate chps- I use a little over 1 1/2 cups choc chips. Throw in some cocoa powder for extra flavor (1 tbsp)- and I often add pecans or walnuts!) Flax Eggs, p.157 (Ok, so this is just an egg-substitute recipe, real simple... but it has been the best egg-replacer I've used in baking- and it's very cheap!) Out of this whole book, the only recipe that turned out awful for me was Big Ben's Lentil Burgers, p. 110. I don't know what I did, they just falled apart... probably could have used some Flax Eggs.... From "The Garden of Vegan": I haven't tried quite as many recipes in this book, but from what I have... really good! Sesame Ginger Dressing, p. 99 (awesome!!!) All-Purpose Spice Nuts, p. 111 (good for parties) Zoe's Grandma's Roasted New Potatoes, p. 113 Chickpeas & Swiss Chard, p. 117 (one summer I was growing lots of swiss chard at my parents' house and didn't know what to do with it... this recipe is sooooooo good! Yes, garnish it with flax oil and Bragg's, as recommended.) Green Goddess Bowl, p. 153 Anne's molasses Cookies, p. 187 (so simple and so good.) I can't recommend these books enuf- when I was *new* to cooking, i found them very user-friendly and with helpful references in the front and back of each book, I learned about all the different kinds of flour and beans, and a million things to do with baking soda, and ideas for bath and body treats, and party theme ideas... If I could live off of just two cookbooks, these are all I'd need. The authors are just too cute, to boot! What a pleasure to use these cookbooks!

I am a new vegan and I was having a hard time with the cookbooks that called for all sorts of ingredients I had never heard of with all sorts of difficult recipes. I wasn't good at cooking food before I became vegan, and it seemed like all the vegan cookbooks were for advanced cooks. Not this book. These are all great recipes with easy ingredients and simple directions. I especially love the recipes where they note that they can be frozen and reheated later. I have such a hard time cooking good healthy food while working and going to school, but this book is full of recipes that let you do that especially if you can freeze them and eat them later! Plus, the authors seem to have great laid back personalities. Not too "ooh-la-la" -- very down to earth. These recipes are great for anyone who is looking to eat more healthily. Downside of the book is that there aren't pictures of the food and sometimes I can't quite tell what it is that the recipe is for (like Jessie's Cuban Sensation-- very nice title, but what is it?). This is their second cookbook so I would recommend their first one for more basic stuff and then this one to expand your range of foods to make. They also have great ideas for parties, and a special section for college students trying to be vegan in a dorm.

"How It All Vegan" was my favorite cookbook from when I first became a vegetarian. All the recipes were tasty, easy, healthy, and they ALWAYS worked. So, I ordered "The Garden of Vegan" sight unseen. I was not disappointed. Where the first book consisted of the authors' own tried and true recipes, the second book consists of recipes sent to the authors by their legions of fans. I've fixed these recipes for non-vegetarian friends and relatives who didn't even notice that there was no meat, dairy or eggs in the dishes. They didn't miss a thing because the food was soooo good. The Garden of Vegan even has a section on throwing vegan parties, and the ideas go way beyond food. Both books are highly recommended. These two ladies are a hoot!

I will keep this short and sweet:If you are vegan and really enjoy cooking (or don't, for that matter), this book is perfect for you. With the exception of a few recipes, all of the ingredients can be easily found in regular grocery stores. The vast array of desserts is enough to make anyone buy the book! :)I recommend this book to everyone, whether vegan or just looking for yummy, guilt-free food! Preparation is so easy, and experiencing new food - or old food with a new twist - is always fun!

I pre-ordered this book a while back, and was very happy to finally receive it. In essence, "The Garden of Vegan" picks up where "How it all Vegan" left off. There are lots more fun recipes for appetizers, stir fries, "main entrees" and desserts. Every dish I've tried so far has turned out great; in fact my meat loving husband has enjoyed them all too.So far I've made: "Carmelized onion and fennel mashed potatoes" - this was excellent."Portobello mushroom bake" - fantastic."Coconut spiced vegetables" -a really good stir fry."Brownie cookies" - yum."Amazing chocolate pudding" - amazing, as the title says.There's also lots of good tips in the back about how to make different spice combinations, such as Garam Masala, etc. There's also different ideas about how to host fun parties.All in all, if you enjoy cooking vegan/vegetarian and want recipes that are interesting and not too time consuming, this is a great book.