Home Page

Autobiography / Biography   Travel / Places   Cooking / Food   Fashion / Health / Beauty   Other / General / Self-Help   Crafts / Home Improvement   Humor   Blog   Wildlife Greeting Cards

The Conscious Cook - Delicious Meatless Recipes That Will Change the Way You Eat
by Tal Ronnen
William Morrow
ISBN 978-0-06-187433-8
Published October 2009 - Hardcover - 240 pages - $29.99

Many people these days are thinking about becoming vegetarians or vegans, but it's difficult to stop eating meat and it's even more difficult to find decent recipes.  You can feel confident that chef Tal Ronnen's book will be of great service to you.  He used to eat meat.  Not being a big meat eater myself, although I do like meat and chicken and fish, every now and then I get really angry when I contemplate the cruelty some animals endure in the name of food.  I get mad at myself as well at the people who inflict and condone the cruelty.  So much so that a portion of the sales of my book goes to wildlife and animal charities.  Who knows, I might even become a vegetarian or possibly a vegan after reading this book!  I'm all for moderation though, so for now, I'll stick to the little meat I do consume but I promise to think about eating more vegetarian meals.  I hate the thought of giving up dairy.  Cows need to be milked, not eaten.  Do read Ronnen's "Five Myths".  Just to prove that there are enough recipes for all kinds of meatless dishes, Ronnen offers these categories: Starters and Small Plates; Salads; Soups; Sandwiches; Entrées, and Desserts.  I found these recipes extremely tempting: Sweet Onion Beggar's Purses; Quinoa, Avocado, and Sweet Potato Timbale with Roasted Tomatillo Dressing; Corn Chowder; Cajun Portobello Sandwich with Avocado and Rémoulade; Tomato "Mozzarella" and Pesto Panini (looks to die for!); Free-form Ravioli with Tofu Ricotta and Arugula Pesto; Tempeh Creole and Brown Rice (my kind of food); Gardien "Chicken" Scaloppini with Shiitake Sake Sauce, Braised Pea Shoots, and Crispy Udon Noodle Cakes; Artichoke Ricotta Tortellini with Saffron Cream Sauce, and Coffee Date Cake with Coconut Irish Cream Sauce.  Also listed are some vegan restaurants around the country.
Beautifully illustrated.  No nutritional guides.
Conclusion - Most inspirational and a positive and healthy alternative to our bad eating habits in this country.