Posts Tagged Isa Chandra Moskowitz

cookbook review: Vegan with a Vengeance [10th anniversary edition]

10th_anniversary_vegan_vengeance

Vegan with a Vengeance By Isa Chandra Moskowitz.
Lifelong Books| June 2015|276 pages |$22.99| ISBN: 978-0-7382-1833-5

I adore Isa Chandra Moskowitz and have many go-to recipes in Vegan with a Vengeance including: Punk Rock Chickpea Gravy [my mom loves this as well]; Corn Chowder; Classic Pesto; Basil Tofu Ricotta [perfect for lasagna] and Seitan. I actually just made Seitan this week and I’ve been vegan for eight years and vegetarian for decades prior. This recipe for seitan is delicious and super easy. I made several delicious stir-frys and will get 4-6 meals out of one batch.

In 2014, Moskowitz opened Modern Love, a restaurant in Omaha, Nebraska, where she serves up seasonal menus of “swanky vegan comfort food.” Her Post Punk Kitchen blog is an outstanding source for recipes and tips. When cooking I often refer to her Appetite for Reduction and Veganimicon [co-written with Terri Hope Romero] which many consider the vegan bible. It’s a must-own for any vegan.

This is the 10th anniversary addition. There are additional recipes including: Black Bean & Quinoa Soup; Chickpea & Rice Soup with a Little Kale; Lentil-Walnut Burgers; Olive Oil Double Crust; Ginger Peach Pea; Asian Tofu and Call Me Blondies. I will definitely try those soups. A vegan must.

The index is much improved. Items organized by both recipe name and ingredient. Moskowitz includes her “The Post Punk Pantry” which gives you suggestions for the spices seasons and other vegan essentials like dried beans, grains, canned foods you should always have on hand for simple cooking. She also suggests knifes, pans, appliances to make your cooking and baking simpler in “Tools and Kitchen Stuff.” Vegan cooking and baking shouldn’t be difficult. It needs to be nutritious and delicious. Right? I’m not much of a vegan baker but she has some delicious baked goods items. There are better pictures, easier directions and streamlined ingredients. I’m as much a one-pot cook as I can be and when you have limited space for cooking as many of us do, that’s key.

Sections: brunch; muffins and scones; soups; little meals, finger foods, and sammiches; sides; pizzas and pastas; entrees; cookies and bars; desserts.

purchase at Amazon: Vegan with a Vengeance, 10th Anniversary Edition: Over 150 Delicious, Cheap, Animal-Free Recipes That Rock

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cookbook review: Appetite for Reduction

Appetite for Reduction , by Isa Chandra Moskowitz. Publisher: Da Capo Press/ Lifelong Books (January 2012). Cooking/Diet. Paperback, 290 pg.

I love Isa. I use Vegan with a Vengeance and Veganimicon all the time. I follow her on twitter and read the recipes she posts on her website Post-Punk Kitchen. When I heard she’d written Appetite for Reduction, I knew I’d want to make some of the recipes part of my vegan diet. The cookbook contains 125 low-fat vegan recipes—salads, soups, chili & stews, veggies, side dishes, pasta, beans, tofu & tempeh.

Isa writes:
“Low-fat cookbooks can be a war zone for women. I wanted to create something fun and positive, something that would empower you in the produce aisle and give you a reason to sport that cute vintage apron. I want you to love your kitchen, love yourself, and, yeah, maybe to love tofu just a little bit, too.”

In using any of Isa’s cookbooks, I feel like she’s right by my side as I chop veggies or make soup. Appetite for Reduction features conversational language, side bar tips [cooking/shopping/basic food information], nutritional guides, nutritional tips and simple yet tasty recipes. I’m looking forward to trying many recipes in Appetite for Reduction.

Here are the recipes I tried:

Everyday Chickpea-Quinoa salad– delicious and easy. Makes a huge amount. Excellent mix of textures and flavors. Will absolutely make this again

Caulipots—a super yummy, quick and nutritious half-half cauliflower-potato mash. glorious comfort food without feeling to full or guilty.

Chili-Lime-Rubbed Tofu—relatively easy. Very tasty. I’ve actually never baked tofu. I just buy it at Whole Foods. So this is good. Perhaps a bit too much lime juice tangy when I expected more chili burn.

purchase at Amazon: Appetite for Reduction: 125 Fast and Filling Low-Fat Vegan Recipes

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