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How To Cook Everything Vegetarian - Simple Meatless Recipes for Great Food
by Mark Bittman
John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
ISBN 0-7645-2483-7
Published October 2007 - Hardcover - 996 pages - $35.00

Wow, this is a huge book.  We've all heard how too much meat is not good for us, and that we should all be watching what we eat, and we also know that we should be eating more vegetables and eating healthier.  The best news?  It's not difficult.  To quote the dust jacket, "And because [Mark] Bittman is a self-taught home cook, not a restaurant chef, his recipes are refreshingly straightforward, resolutely unfussy, and unfailingly delicious - dishes that you can prepare with ease and serve with confidence."  That said, I was keen to check out his recipes, for I too, am a self-taught (with a little help from Mom growing up) "cook", also writing a recipe book or two.  Contents include Ingredients; Equipment; Techniques; Salads; Soups; Eggs, Dairy, and Cheese; Produce: Vegetables and Fruits; Pasta, Noodles, and Dumplings; Grains; Legumes; Tofu, Vegetable Burgers, and Other High-Protein Foods; Breads, Pizzas, Sandwiches, and Wraps; Sauces, Condiments, Herbs, and Spices, and finally, Desserts.  I see what author Bittman means by everything!  Some "different" recipes that appealed to me include: Raw Beet Salads (x 4); Balsamic-Glazed Carrots with Garlic; Curried Stir-Fried Potatoes; Spinach-Ricotta Ravioli; White Beans, Tuscan Style; Quinoa and Parsnip Rösti; Cilantro-Mint Chutney, and Chewy Almond-Cherry Cookies.  And, there are 11 ways to make Béchamel Sauce!  I also loved the cross references.  You don't have to be a vegetarian to enjoy this book - we need vegetables, and don't need that much meat.  Bittman's book is full of good advice (a man after my own heart) from which you'll learn much.  Whether you're an accomplished cook or a novice, this book caters to all levels.  I liked the alternatives - great ideas.  The helpful sidebars I also found very informative.
Not illustrated.  No nutritional guides.
Conclusion - Not a "beans and greens" book!  There are so many great ideas to be had - now there's no excuse for not eating healthily, most of the time.