Here's an interesting study done by the Prevention Institute. They studied 37 products that pictured or referenced fruit on the packaging and found that the majority of products actually contained little or no fruit at all.
Think Strawberry Splash Yoplait Go-Gurt Yogurt sound like a healthy snack for your kids? Not only does it contain NO fruit, it is full of sugar and high fructose corn syrup, artificial flavors and colors, and for you vegetarians - be warned - it contains gelatin. Other products found to have no fruit at all included: Trix Strawberry Kiwi Yogurt, Tang products, Berry Berry Kix, Froot Loops, Post Fruity Pebbles, Fruity Cheerios, Starbursts, and more. Juice drinks like Sunny Delight contain only 5% juice, Hi-C and Capri Sun Strawberry juice drinks contain only 10% juice.
Read the full study here: http://alerts.organicconsumers.org/trk/click?ref=zqtbkk3um_1-8ex3110x3327218&
Saturday, February 17, 2007
Don't judge your meat by its color!
If you - like most consumers - think you can judge the freshness of your meat by its pink color, think again. Chances are your non-organic U.S. beef has been injected with carbon monoxide to make it appear fresh and pink. Carbon monoxide injection makes even rancid meats appear fresh. The FDA approved this process without any public comment period, ignoring overwhelming evidence that artificial meat coloring is blatantly misleading to consumers.
For more information, check out this short video: http://hightowerdownload.com/node/26
For more information, check out this short video: http://hightowerdownload.com/node/26
Monday, February 12, 2007
Book Review: Vegan Lunchbox
I expected this book to be good as I was already a big fan of the vegan lunchbox blog (www.veganlunchbox.com) but WOW! This cookbook is so much more than I expected, so much more than the title even suggests.
This book is now the first thing I turn to when I am looking for something for dinner - and if I'm lucky, there may be some leftovers for the lunchbox the next day. As I read through the book, I began marking pages of recipes I wanted to try but I soon stopped . . . because I found that I wanted to try just about every single one. I figured I'd just cook my way through the whole book. So far we've tried:
Back to School Chocolate Chip Cookies: Wonderful - chewy and tasty. I reduced the sugar to 1/2 cup brown and 1/3 light sucanet and they were plenty sweet enough.
My family's rating: *****
Pumpkin Carob Chip Muffins: I reduced the sugar to 1/2 cup and omitted the carob chips (since my kids don't like them). They were great. I stuck them in a freezer so they're easy to add to lunches whenever I want. Also, if you want to use a whole can of pumpkin so you're not stuck with 3/4 cup leftover, double all the ingredients and add 1/4 cup apple sauce. I also needed an additional 1/3 cup water as the batter was too dry.
My family's rating: *****
Chickpea Salad: An amazing mixture of flavors and textures. I added chopped green apples tossed in lemon juice and used sliced almonds instead of pecans. My family was not as enthralled as I was but I think it's because I overcooked the garbanzo beans when roasting them. I think next time, I won't bother with the roasting step. I liked the roasted garbanzo's fresh from the oven but they seemed to get rubbery when cooled.
My family's rating: ***
Sneaky Momma's Black Bean Soup: Yummy, yummy, quick and so easy. I recommend doubling this because there was only enough for three of us for a Saturday lunch.
My family's rating: *****
Blueberry Lemon Mini-Scones: Another big hit. I used all whole wheat pastry instead of part white flour and they were still light and yummy. Like all the baked recipes I tried, I needed more liquid than the recipe called for - closer to 3/4 cup soymilk. I also found that Trader Joe's frozen organic wild blueberries work great in this recipe (as well as blueberry pancakes) because they're small.
My family's rating: *****
Chili Con "Carne": This is great because you make it in the crock pot and it's ready for dinner. We ate it over corkscrew pasta- and leftovers went to school the next day. I omitted the TVP because I don't like to use soy isolates, so I reduced the water to 4 cups. I also did not have tomato paste so I used 1 cup tomato sauce. I also added a cup of frozen corn at the end. It was yummy. I think next time I would double this as it barely filled half my crock pot.
My family's rating: ****
Mini Pizzas: My daughter wanted pizza for her birthday dinner so we made these. The crust recipe was excellent - the cornmeal makes it crispy and the girls had a great time rolling out and topping their own pizzas. We did not, however, try the topping suggestions in the book - the girls wanted pineapple and black olives. Leftover slices made it to the lunchbox the next day and were devoured.
My family's rating: *****
Phyllo Triangles: Fun to make and delicious. We made these with tofu and spinach. My girls agreed with the footnote about the tester's daughter that said there was a bit too much crust. Next time, I will try the 'Phyllo Bundles" version or else just try using 2 sheets of phyllo dough rather than 3. We had these for dinner with soup and have plenty left for lunches.
My family's rating: ****
Aloo Samosas: These were just so good. They were first of all so much fun to make with the girls and we all just devoured them for a Sunday evening dinner. The girls both saved one for lunch the next day but could have easily eaten them. This would be another good recipe to double. Also, I used a large carrots instead of one of the potatoes and that made them really pretty and delicious.
My family's rating: *****+
Massur Dal and Carrot Soup: Yummy lentil and carrot soup with coconut milk. Everybody just loved it for dinner and there was just enough left for lunchboxes.
My family's rating: *****
I just love the way this book is written. McCann puts together entire lunch menus and for the items you don't make yourself, she gives suggestions of brands. Tidbits and stories are scattered throughout the book, such as: "How much to Pack," "Fitting In [for vegan kids]," "Let's Hear It for Legumes," and my favorite "And then, a miracle occurred . . . " about the momentous event of McCann's son eating his first salad. McCann has such an engaging way of writing that it's enjoyable just to read through this book.
This is really a great cookbook - and definitely not just for lunches. It's great whether or not you have children, whether or not you're vegan. The recipes are creative and delicious and very well tested. My only critism of the book (and this is really nitpicking) is that I would have liked a better index. If you don't know the exact name of the recipe, it's really hard to find it in the index. But that is just a minor detail and would not in the least deter me from whole heartedly recommending this truly excellent book. I have shelves and shelves full of cookbooks and this is the one I am turning to most.
This book is now the first thing I turn to when I am looking for something for dinner - and if I'm lucky, there may be some leftovers for the lunchbox the next day. As I read through the book, I began marking pages of recipes I wanted to try but I soon stopped . . . because I found that I wanted to try just about every single one. I figured I'd just cook my way through the whole book. So far we've tried:
Back to School Chocolate Chip Cookies: Wonderful - chewy and tasty. I reduced the sugar to 1/2 cup brown and 1/3 light sucanet and they were plenty sweet enough.
My family's rating: *****
Pumpkin Carob Chip Muffins: I reduced the sugar to 1/2 cup and omitted the carob chips (since my kids don't like them). They were great. I stuck them in a freezer so they're easy to add to lunches whenever I want. Also, if you want to use a whole can of pumpkin so you're not stuck with 3/4 cup leftover, double all the ingredients and add 1/4 cup apple sauce. I also needed an additional 1/3 cup water as the batter was too dry.
My family's rating: *****
Chickpea Salad: An amazing mixture of flavors and textures. I added chopped green apples tossed in lemon juice and used sliced almonds instead of pecans. My family was not as enthralled as I was but I think it's because I overcooked the garbanzo beans when roasting them. I think next time, I won't bother with the roasting step. I liked the roasted garbanzo's fresh from the oven but they seemed to get rubbery when cooled.
My family's rating: ***
Sneaky Momma's Black Bean Soup: Yummy, yummy, quick and so easy. I recommend doubling this because there was only enough for three of us for a Saturday lunch.
My family's rating: *****
Blueberry Lemon Mini-Scones: Another big hit. I used all whole wheat pastry instead of part white flour and they were still light and yummy. Like all the baked recipes I tried, I needed more liquid than the recipe called for - closer to 3/4 cup soymilk. I also found that Trader Joe's frozen organic wild blueberries work great in this recipe (as well as blueberry pancakes) because they're small.
My family's rating: *****
Chili Con "Carne": This is great because you make it in the crock pot and it's ready for dinner. We ate it over corkscrew pasta- and leftovers went to school the next day. I omitted the TVP because I don't like to use soy isolates, so I reduced the water to 4 cups. I also did not have tomato paste so I used 1 cup tomato sauce. I also added a cup of frozen corn at the end. It was yummy. I think next time I would double this as it barely filled half my crock pot.
My family's rating: ****
Mini Pizzas: My daughter wanted pizza for her birthday dinner so we made these. The crust recipe was excellent - the cornmeal makes it crispy and the girls had a great time rolling out and topping their own pizzas. We did not, however, try the topping suggestions in the book - the girls wanted pineapple and black olives. Leftover slices made it to the lunchbox the next day and were devoured.
My family's rating: *****
Phyllo Triangles: Fun to make and delicious. We made these with tofu and spinach. My girls agreed with the footnote about the tester's daughter that said there was a bit too much crust. Next time, I will try the 'Phyllo Bundles" version or else just try using 2 sheets of phyllo dough rather than 3. We had these for dinner with soup and have plenty left for lunches.
My family's rating: ****
Aloo Samosas: These were just so good. They were first of all so much fun to make with the girls and we all just devoured them for a Sunday evening dinner. The girls both saved one for lunch the next day but could have easily eaten them. This would be another good recipe to double. Also, I used a large carrots instead of one of the potatoes and that made them really pretty and delicious.
My family's rating: *****+
Massur Dal and Carrot Soup: Yummy lentil and carrot soup with coconut milk. Everybody just loved it for dinner and there was just enough left for lunchboxes.
My family's rating: *****
I just love the way this book is written. McCann puts together entire lunch menus and for the items you don't make yourself, she gives suggestions of brands. Tidbits and stories are scattered throughout the book, such as: "How much to Pack," "Fitting In [for vegan kids]," "Let's Hear It for Legumes," and my favorite "And then, a miracle occurred . . . " about the momentous event of McCann's son eating his first salad. McCann has such an engaging way of writing that it's enjoyable just to read through this book.
This is really a great cookbook - and definitely not just for lunches. It's great whether or not you have children, whether or not you're vegan. The recipes are creative and delicious and very well tested. My only critism of the book (and this is really nitpicking) is that I would have liked a better index. If you don't know the exact name of the recipe, it's really hard to find it in the index. But that is just a minor detail and would not in the least deter me from whole heartedly recommending this truly excellent book. I have shelves and shelves full of cookbooks and this is the one I am turning to most.
Thursday, January 25, 2007
Book Review: "Dairy Free Made Easy"
If you are trying to avoid dairy products in your diet, you may have found the excellent Web site: www.godairyfree.org. The site is constantly updated with product reviews, articles, announcements, discounts, etc. To make the information even more accessible, the sites founder, Alisa marie Fleming has put together a book entitled "Dairy Free Made Easy: Thousands of Foods, Hundreds of Tips, and Dozens of Recipes for Non-Dairy Living."
This well-researched book gives detailed information about dairy products - what they are, how they are processed, what is so special about dairy milk anyway, and answers questions about organic vs. conventional dairy products.
For those avoiding dairy products for health reasons, there is extensive information about allergies, lactose intolerance, whether dairy can help you to lose weight or to gain it, whether there is a link between consuming dairy products and certain cancers, acne, migraines, and other ailments. There is also great information about infant milk allergies and steps to prevent food allergies in babies. Fleming includes information about why breastfeeding is so important but she gives a comprehensive breakdown of infant formulas on the market with the pros and cons of the various choices.
Probably the most common concern of those giving up dairy products is where will they get their calcium. Fleming does an excellent job of dispelling the myth that dairy products are the best source of calcium (they're NOT!) and gives excellent advise for getting calcium from food and choosing a supplement if you feel you need one.
Fleming goes on to list non-dairy alternatives for milk, cream, cheese, etc., recommending products you can buy but also including easy ways to make the substitutions yourself. There is a small section of recipes with some yummy sounding dishes like "Easy Dairy-free Lasagna, Cream of Mushroom Soup (I can't wait to make that one!), 5-Star Ranch Dressing, Chocolate Tofu Ice Cream and Dairy-free Cheesecake.
Another really excellently done section is the chapter on dining out. Fleming goes through the various kinds of restaurants and lists dairy-free options for each, for example, she says that most dishes at Asian restaurants (Chinese, Japanese, Thai, and Vietnamese) are dairy-free though they may contain eggs. At Mexican restaurants, she suggests tacos, fahitas, tamales, and burritos - but tell them to hold the cheese and sour cream. More importantly (I think), she clues you into dishes that you might think are dairy-free but aren't, e.g. she tells you to "Skip the Tandoor and kabob entrees. Though they may appear dairy free, these specialities are typically meats and/or vegetables marinated in yogurt." For curries, Fleming recommends going to a Thai restaurant as Indian curries are usually made with cream.
Other helpful sections in the book tell how to decode food lables, lists of ingredients that really mean dairy (e.g. lactose, caseinate, whey), and foods that may contain dairy - some that even surprised me like tuna fish, chewing gum, chicken broth, and breath mints!
A large portion of the book is dedicated to profiling non-dairy products (over 2,000). A nice feature is that the products are ALL free of hydrogenated oils and high fructose corn syrup. (YAY!) The foods are listed in a chart format that lets you know if the product is in stores on can be purchased online, if it's gluten-free, soy-free, vegan, processed on dairy-free equipment, and is kosher certified.
The book also lists resources for finding dairy-free products and cookbooks. Although this book is not vegan, it is an excellent resource for vegans and anyone avoiding dairy. If you suffer from severe dairy allergies, I would say this is a definite must-have.
One more thing - if you order the book through www.godairyfree.org, they'll send you a whole bunch of coupons for dairy-free products. Also, as an added bonus for my loyal blog readers, you can get a 10% discount by using the coupon code "DairyFree10" at checkout - or give them the coupon code if ordering by phone (and tell they you heard about the book from this blog). The book is also available at www.amazon.com.
This well-researched book gives detailed information about dairy products - what they are, how they are processed, what is so special about dairy milk anyway, and answers questions about organic vs. conventional dairy products.
For those avoiding dairy products for health reasons, there is extensive information about allergies, lactose intolerance, whether dairy can help you to lose weight or to gain it, whether there is a link between consuming dairy products and certain cancers, acne, migraines, and other ailments. There is also great information about infant milk allergies and steps to prevent food allergies in babies. Fleming includes information about why breastfeeding is so important but she gives a comprehensive breakdown of infant formulas on the market with the pros and cons of the various choices.
Probably the most common concern of those giving up dairy products is where will they get their calcium. Fleming does an excellent job of dispelling the myth that dairy products are the best source of calcium (they're NOT!) and gives excellent advise for getting calcium from food and choosing a supplement if you feel you need one.
Fleming goes on to list non-dairy alternatives for milk, cream, cheese, etc., recommending products you can buy but also including easy ways to make the substitutions yourself. There is a small section of recipes with some yummy sounding dishes like "Easy Dairy-free Lasagna, Cream of Mushroom Soup (I can't wait to make that one!), 5-Star Ranch Dressing, Chocolate Tofu Ice Cream and Dairy-free Cheesecake.
Another really excellently done section is the chapter on dining out. Fleming goes through the various kinds of restaurants and lists dairy-free options for each, for example, she says that most dishes at Asian restaurants (Chinese, Japanese, Thai, and Vietnamese) are dairy-free though they may contain eggs. At Mexican restaurants, she suggests tacos, fahitas, tamales, and burritos - but tell them to hold the cheese and sour cream. More importantly (I think), she clues you into dishes that you might think are dairy-free but aren't, e.g. she tells you to "Skip the Tandoor and kabob entrees. Though they may appear dairy free, these specialities are typically meats and/or vegetables marinated in yogurt." For curries, Fleming recommends going to a Thai restaurant as Indian curries are usually made with cream.
Other helpful sections in the book tell how to decode food lables, lists of ingredients that really mean dairy (e.g. lactose, caseinate, whey), and foods that may contain dairy - some that even surprised me like tuna fish, chewing gum, chicken broth, and breath mints!
A large portion of the book is dedicated to profiling non-dairy products (over 2,000). A nice feature is that the products are ALL free of hydrogenated oils and high fructose corn syrup. (YAY!) The foods are listed in a chart format that lets you know if the product is in stores on can be purchased online, if it's gluten-free, soy-free, vegan, processed on dairy-free equipment, and is kosher certified.
The book also lists resources for finding dairy-free products and cookbooks. Although this book is not vegan, it is an excellent resource for vegans and anyone avoiding dairy. If you suffer from severe dairy allergies, I would say this is a definite must-have.
One more thing - if you order the book through www.godairyfree.org, they'll send you a whole bunch of coupons for dairy-free products. Also, as an added bonus for my loyal blog readers, you can get a 10% discount by using the coupon code "DairyFree10" at checkout - or give them the coupon code if ordering by phone (and tell they you heard about the book from this blog). The book is also available at www.amazon.com.
Sunday, January 14, 2007
GE Wine
Another new genetically modified food is scheduled to come to market this year: wine made with genetically modified yeast. As with other genetically engineered food, there will be no labeling required on wines that contain gene-altered yeast. The FDA has carried out no studies of its own on the experimental yeast, and yet has approved it as "safe," based completely on data provided by the company selling the product. According to Dr. Joseph Cummins, emeritus genetics Professor at the University of Western Ontario, wine yeasts are unstable, and genetically altering them can lead to unexpected toxicity in the final product. He states that there is no evidence that the developer did any animal feeding studies to test for such toxicity and that there is no proof that the yeast and yeast DNA will not be present in the wine.
To further complicate the problem, since wines containing GM ingredients are not labeled, people wishing to avoid them may have to boycott all US wines - or buy only organic of which there is not a very wide selection (though I like Frey Wines and Well Red which are organic). The other - and more pressing I think - problem is that even if just a few wineries’ choose to use the GM yeast, it could contaminate native and traditional wine yeasts through the air, surface waste and water runoff.
I urge you to contact your local and favorite wineries and urge them not to use GM yeast.
For a good article about this in the Napa Valley Register, go to http://www.napavalleyregister.com/articles/2006/12/12/opinion/commentary/doc457eba649e8e0569076997.t
To further complicate the problem, since wines containing GM ingredients are not labeled, people wishing to avoid them may have to boycott all US wines - or buy only organic of which there is not a very wide selection (though I like Frey Wines and Well Red which are organic). The other - and more pressing I think - problem is that even if just a few wineries’ choose to use the GM yeast, it could contaminate native and traditional wine yeasts through the air, surface waste and water runoff.
I urge you to contact your local and favorite wineries and urge them not to use GM yeast.
For a good article about this in the Napa Valley Register, go to http://www.napavalleyregister.com/articles/2006/12/12/opinion/commentary/doc457eba649e8e0569076997.t
Wednesday, January 03, 2007
Meat and dairy from CLONED animals coming soon
Every person who eats processed foods and non-organic meat and dairy is ingesting gentically modified foods whether they know it or not. Soon, another untested and shaky technolgy will be infiltrated into our food stream - meat and milk from cloned animals. The FDA's decision to allow the sale of meat and milk from cloned animals is another example of the agency’s yielding to industry pressure and disregarding consumer safety.
With only a handful of studies and long-term evidence, the safety of eating milk and meat from cloned animals is far from proven. Concerns about the lack of data on eating food from cloned animals led the National Academy of Sciences in 2004 to state that “the paucity of evidence in the literature on this topic makes it impossible to provide scientific evidence to support this position [that the food from cloned animals should be approved].” Aside from human health concerns, many people have ethical objections about cloning animals. The low survival rate and high number of deformities, as well as health problems like organ manfunction, digestive problems, and weakened immune systems in cloned animals raise animal cruetly concerns - not to mention the health of the meat and milk coming from this sick animals. Yet, as with GMOs, the FDA is not planning to require labeling of products from cloned animals.
If you are concerned about this like I am, you can take action by writing to the FDA. Here is a link where you can send an email:
http://www.democracyinaction.org/dia/organizationsORG/oca/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=6433
With only a handful of studies and long-term evidence, the safety of eating milk and meat from cloned animals is far from proven. Concerns about the lack of data on eating food from cloned animals led the National Academy of Sciences in 2004 to state that “the paucity of evidence in the literature on this topic makes it impossible to provide scientific evidence to support this position [that the food from cloned animals should be approved].” Aside from human health concerns, many people have ethical objections about cloning animals. The low survival rate and high number of deformities, as well as health problems like organ manfunction, digestive problems, and weakened immune systems in cloned animals raise animal cruetly concerns - not to mention the health of the meat and milk coming from this sick animals. Yet, as with GMOs, the FDA is not planning to require labeling of products from cloned animals.
If you are concerned about this like I am, you can take action by writing to the FDA. Here is a link where you can send an email:
http://www.democracyinaction.org/dia/organizationsORG/oca/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=6433
Thursday, December 07, 2006
Book Wishlist
What's on your wish list for books to get for the holidays?
Here are a few that I recommend to give (or ask for):
Everyday Traditions by Nava Atlas
This is a really cool book full of ideas for traditions and rituals for your family. There are suggestions for daily or weekly rituals like family dinner, reading together, family meetings; seasonal rituals like spring planting, summer relaxation, fall festivities and cozy winter traditions; as well as annual ideas for birthdays, anniversaries, and honoring the departed. Atlas also includes a section on friendship rituals including dates with friends, starting a women's book group, and my favorite - the lost art of letter writing. There are so many little tidbits that you'll be inspired to create your own special traditions that your children will remember and want to carry on.
Christmas From the Heart of the Home by Susan Branch
I love all of Branch's books. They are full of recipes, ideas, and wonderful watercolor illustrations. Like Atlas's book, this too inspired me to create traditions and rituals with my family. Everytime I read one of Branch's books, I can't wait to invite friends over so I can try out all her ideas. If you know someone who likes to entertain, this would be the perfect gift - as would any of the Heart of the Home books.
Betty Crocker Christmas Cookbook
I heard about this one on a local radio show. The new version is just out and they were interviewing one of the editors. I haven't seen the book but it sounds great. The pictures are supposed to be wonderful. Besides recipes, it sounds like there are lots of craft, decorating, and entertaining ideas. This one is on my holiday wish list. I think there will be lots of fun stuff to make with my kids.
Beautiful Breads and Fabulous Fillings by Margaux Sky
This is a beautiful book with wonderful sounding recipes. The author (chef) is famous for creating the "O" Special Sandwich. The book is full of very original breads like Horseradish-Parmesan Bread and Lavender-Mint Love Bread. She has recipes for sauces, spreads, and sandwich fillings and these amazing breads with the fillings baked right in like Mixed Garden Sandwich Loaf and Eggplant Parmesan Sandwich Loaf. There are also soups, salads, and desserts from her restaurant in San Luis Obipso. This is not vegetarian but there are vegetarian and vegan recipes in here as well as whole grain breads. It's just a fun book to look through because the breads and sandwiches are so beautiful. I recommend this for any bread baker in your life.
Vegan Lunchbox
I really, really want this book. I've been a big fan of the vegan lunchbox blog (http://veganlunchbox.blogspot.com) for a long time and I'm so excited that all the recipes are now in a book. I've heard great things about this.
A Beautiful Bowl of Soup by Paulette Mitchell
I was at the bookstore today picking out a few gifts and this book caught my eye. I browsed through it as I was paying for my purchases and every soups looked amazing (the book is full of gorgeous pictures). Best of all, they are all vegetarian and some vegan. To name a few that sound especially good to me: Yukon Gold Potato Soup, Farina Dumpling Soup, Asparagus-Leek Soup, Jalapeno-Corn Chowder, Pumpkin Stew (in a real pumpkin), Indian Cumin-Scented Coconut Milk Stew, Roasted Vegetable Stew (the picture looks incredible!), and Cashew Chili. There are also chilled soups and recipes for garnishes and accompaniments - I have to try the Rosemary Shortbread. So, if you haven't guessed, this book ended up being an early christmas present to myself.
And of course, I hope if you have any moms (or any who are expecting) on your list, I hope you'll think of giving Simply Natural Baby Food or The Vegetarian Mother's Cookbook by yours truly (www.simplynaturalbooks.com).
Here are a few that I recommend to give (or ask for):
Everyday Traditions by Nava Atlas
This is a really cool book full of ideas for traditions and rituals for your family. There are suggestions for daily or weekly rituals like family dinner, reading together, family meetings; seasonal rituals like spring planting, summer relaxation, fall festivities and cozy winter traditions; as well as annual ideas for birthdays, anniversaries, and honoring the departed. Atlas also includes a section on friendship rituals including dates with friends, starting a women's book group, and my favorite - the lost art of letter writing. There are so many little tidbits that you'll be inspired to create your own special traditions that your children will remember and want to carry on.
Christmas From the Heart of the Home by Susan Branch
I love all of Branch's books. They are full of recipes, ideas, and wonderful watercolor illustrations. Like Atlas's book, this too inspired me to create traditions and rituals with my family. Everytime I read one of Branch's books, I can't wait to invite friends over so I can try out all her ideas. If you know someone who likes to entertain, this would be the perfect gift - as would any of the Heart of the Home books.
Betty Crocker Christmas Cookbook
I heard about this one on a local radio show. The new version is just out and they were interviewing one of the editors. I haven't seen the book but it sounds great. The pictures are supposed to be wonderful. Besides recipes, it sounds like there are lots of craft, decorating, and entertaining ideas. This one is on my holiday wish list. I think there will be lots of fun stuff to make with my kids.
Beautiful Breads and Fabulous Fillings by Margaux Sky
This is a beautiful book with wonderful sounding recipes. The author (chef) is famous for creating the "O" Special Sandwich. The book is full of very original breads like Horseradish-Parmesan Bread and Lavender-Mint Love Bread. She has recipes for sauces, spreads, and sandwich fillings and these amazing breads with the fillings baked right in like Mixed Garden Sandwich Loaf and Eggplant Parmesan Sandwich Loaf. There are also soups, salads, and desserts from her restaurant in San Luis Obipso. This is not vegetarian but there are vegetarian and vegan recipes in here as well as whole grain breads. It's just a fun book to look through because the breads and sandwiches are so beautiful. I recommend this for any bread baker in your life.
Vegan Lunchbox
I really, really want this book. I've been a big fan of the vegan lunchbox blog (http://veganlunchbox.blogspot.com) for a long time and I'm so excited that all the recipes are now in a book. I've heard great things about this.
A Beautiful Bowl of Soup by Paulette Mitchell
I was at the bookstore today picking out a few gifts and this book caught my eye. I browsed through it as I was paying for my purchases and every soups looked amazing (the book is full of gorgeous pictures). Best of all, they are all vegetarian and some vegan. To name a few that sound especially good to me: Yukon Gold Potato Soup, Farina Dumpling Soup, Asparagus-Leek Soup, Jalapeno-Corn Chowder, Pumpkin Stew (in a real pumpkin), Indian Cumin-Scented Coconut Milk Stew, Roasted Vegetable Stew (the picture looks incredible!), and Cashew Chili. There are also chilled soups and recipes for garnishes and accompaniments - I have to try the Rosemary Shortbread. So, if you haven't guessed, this book ended up being an early christmas present to myself.
And of course, I hope if you have any moms (or any who are expecting) on your list, I hope you'll think of giving Simply Natural Baby Food or The Vegetarian Mother's Cookbook by yours truly (www.simplynaturalbooks.com).
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