I don't consider myself a master of the culinary arts but I'm certainly no slouch either. I enjoy cooking cuisines from all across the globe. Not a single vegetable, protein, or spice can be overlooked. In my quest to make tasty and delicious meals, I came across this treasure of a book. Now, I'm not a regular vegetarian eater but I surprisingly eat it more than I realize (mushroom soup is one of my favorite foods). I know there's a big negative stigma when you hear the word "vegetarian" but if you just open up to the concept for even a brief moment you will enter a world of flavor and health you would never think possible. I was introduced to vegetarian cooking by a friend of mine and they lent me a copy of this book so I could try out a few recipes. She is a vegan baker and literally makes the best cupcakes I have ever eaten. I don't think I can switch back to non-vegan baked goods anymore thanks to her.
This book starts out with some testimonials from real people (and not just doctors) about how they got started in vegetarian/vegan cuisine. It's a very good way to introduce someone to this concept because you can see how other people went through similar experiences. I really enjoyed that aspect of the book and it helped structure and build a strong connection. I thought I was only going to find a handful of recipes collected through this book but at 90+ pages, this is almost the definitive guide to vegetarian and vegan eating. The best part about all of these recipes is their simplicity. Most of them have a maybe 3-5 steps and then you can start eating. There's nothing overly complex. Anyone who wanted to learn how to cook could easily pick up this book and dive right in.
Time to answer the big question. Do all of these recipes taste good? I can safely say from the dozen or so I tried, it is a resounding yes. Now, some things may not be for everyone. If you're not a fan of broccoli before you may or may not be converted. However, these recipes will take food that you normally didn't think were anything special and turns them into something extraordinary. My favorite recipes is the aptly named "Mushrooms a la Happy". It's six simple ingredients that lifts vegan meals to a whole new level.
You will have a new appreciation for vegetarian and vegan cuisine after trying some of these recipes. And the best part, they're all healthy and taste delicious. It's almost unfair how good everything tastes. I've pretty much cut meat products out of 80% of my meals now and I don't even miss them. This is one cookbook you and your family will never get tired of. I'm definitely getting a copy of a book myself. It's simply fantastic and you can't go wrong with a recipe book this good.