Cookbook Review:
PDQ Vegetarian Cookbook
Reviewed by Chris Sadler
Although not a vegetarian by any
means, I do really enjoy a good vegetarian dish, especially when
it is healthy and easy to prepare. When I saw that the PDQ
(Pretty Darn Quick) Vegetarian Cookbook offered "240
healthy and easy no-prep recipes for busy cooks" right on
the front cover, I knew this was a cookbook for me.
While the claim that this cookbook
offered recipes which were "quicker, healthier and cheaper
than picking up a pizza" seemed a little to good to be true,
I realized I had misjudged this cookbook when I actually looked
at a couple of the recipes. Many of the recipes were designed
to take full advantage of the many convenient foods available
in the grocery store now. Paying a little extra for a pre-sliced
can of vegetables seems silly to those with time on their hands,
but to the rest of us, it is like just paying for a little more
time.
Short and sweet
With most cookbooks, a recipe takes up the entire page, maybe
two facing pages, because of the lengthy ingredients list and
exhaustive directions. Not so with the PDQ
Vegetarian Cookbook. Most of the recipe pages have at
two recipes, and that still leaves room for comments, tips and
nutritional details about each. Many of the recipes also include
a lacto-ovo, vegan egg-free and/or dairy-free option.
The introduction covers many bases,
offering tips for substituting as well as information on the various
benefits of the vegetarian diet. The rest of the book is dedicated
to the recipes in categories: Tempting Starters, Snacks and Tidbits;
Savory Soups, Stews and Chilis; Simply Salads; Sandwiches, Wraps,
Pizza, Breads and Other Light Fare; Oodles of Noodles; Hearty
Vegetable, Grain and Legume Combos; Super Sides; Brunch and Egg
Dishes; Sweet Endings.
There are so many mouth-watering
offerings from which to choose. The Breakfast Pizza, for instance,
will shortly become a family favorite, and there were so many
delicious-sounding salads that I don't know why I ever made a
simple chef salad.
© Chris Sadler
Chris Sadler is owner and web admin
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