Canadian Living

More and more people around the world are turning to a vegetarian diet. Whether it’s because of their health, ethical or religious requirements, it doesn’t really matter. More and more of us are finding that the vegetarian diet or at least an increase in vegetarian dishes in our diet is important. The Complete Vegetarian Cookbook from The Canadian Living Test Kitchen offers hundreds of recipes, either vegetarian or vegan, which they have “Tested Till Perfect”.
Canadian Living: Complete Vegetarian By Canadian Living Test kitchen (Paperback - Oct 10, 2017)$19.45$24.95
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Are you concerned that you won’t get enough protein in a vegetarian diet? The short introduction describes the various protein benefits of many of the ingredients in the recipes to follow. Each of the main protein contributors is mentioned, complete with the amount of protein it will contribute to your diet. The introduction also includes Special Occasion menu suggestions for things like a Summer Barbecue, a Vegan Birthday Party, Fine Dining, and Sunday Brunch.

If you’re new to the vegetarian lifestyle and aren’t really sure what kind of vegetarian you are, there is also a brief introduction of the various levels of vegetarianism. If you’re trying to maintain a vegan diet you will also want to ensure you are getting other key nutrients included as well. The benefits and sources of the most important nutrients are also mentioned in this section.

Concerned about hosting Vegetarian or Vegan guests for holiday dinner? There are a few tips in the introduction that will help. Everything is covered from choosing ingredients to browsing food aisles. Not sure how to pair a good wine with a meatless meal? Picking a good wine is here too.

The first set of recipes is “Complete Breakfast”. Each of the recipes is complete with Cooking Time, Number Of Servings, concise instructions and Nutritional Information. Many of the recipes also include a Quick Tip from the Test Kitchen. One of the tips, for the Poached Eggs And Asparagus With Herb Mustard recipe, is that fresher eggs are better for poaching and that it is best to check the best before date on the carton to make sure you have newer eggs. That kind of tip really can make or break a recipe and always is so helpful when you’re unfamiliar with the dish.

Although not all of the recipes have a picture, many of them do have a lovely full-page display. After the Breakfast’s Chapter comes “Complete Breads”. Many of these bread recipes are vegan. Throughout the book you will notice many recipes have the vegan symbol at the top.

“Complete Basics” is the next chapter. It includes many go to recipes for things like Stock, Stews, Soups, Spreads, Condiments etc. Even if you aren’t planning on a complete vegetarian diet, it is always a good idea to avoid processed food when possible. These basic recipes will be invaluable help when moving away from processed and canned foods. Chili Sauce, Fresh Tomato Sauce, Marinara Sauce, Vegetable Stock and so many more recipes. I loved that there were four different kinds of Ketchup, Tomato Pear, Zesty Tomato, Honey, and Sweet-And-Sour. Step aside Heinz.

With the next chapter, “Complete Appetizers & Snacks”, there are many quick snackables. Several dip recipes are included, along with Guacamole, and Homemade Ricotta. The “Complete Soups” category covers everything soup, from Creamy Tomato Soup, through to a vegan “Beet Borscht”. “Complete Salads” offers a lovely variety of salads and dressings, some leafy, others noodle, and even grains.

Something For Everyone To Love

“Complete Mains” covers the vegetarian main dishes. Get hardy, everyday comfort food like Lasagna or Chili, and elegant dinner party dishes like Risotto and Homemade Pasta. The “Grilled Asparagus Pizza” is like nothing I’ve ever seen but it certainly does look delicious. There are so many recipes in the mains section, you are sure to find something that everybody will love.

The “Complete Sides” chapter offers side dishes, with everything from Rice to Dal. Enjoy standards like “Roasted Potatoes and Carrots”, “Brussels Sprouts and Eggplant”. “Complete Desserts” offers you the satisfaction your sweet tooth desires. There’s even a “Rose Snow Cone” recipe and the “Dark & Delicious Vegan Chocolate Cake” looked so moist that I can almost taste it just looking at the picture.

In all this is it an exceptionally good recipe book. The clarity of the recipes, the simple ingredients, the lovely pictures, everything, especially the tips, all came together. This book shows exactly how easy and good a Vegan or Vegetarian diet can be.

Because of its gorgeous look, my love of asparagus, and passion for pizza, I’ve included the Grilled Asparagus Pizza recipe in the with the full review on RecipesNow! The Reviews And Recipes Magazine.

This review is in response to a hard copy of the book sent to me by the publishers in hopes of an honest review.… (mehr)

Well-presented with clear instructions and many colourful photographs, up to Elizabeth Baird's usual high standards. From the 1970s when she worked for the food section of the Toronto Star till her present position at Canadian Living, I have never tried a recipe under Elizabeth Baird's byline that I didn't like. Recipes from this book that I intend to try include the cover White Chocolate Cheesecake with fruit, dried cranberries (complete instructions for how to sweeten the cranberries before and during dehydration), Lemon Semifreddo with Raspberry Coulis, Peach Ice Cream, Lemon Hazelnut Tarts (which includes a lemon curd recipe). And more.… (mehr)

The Good Stuff

Simple, easy to follow instructions
Ingredients are easily available at most chain grocery stores
Great variety of recipes
Useful information about making cheaper cuts of meat taste divine
Will never eat another hamburger again - the pork burgers are fantabulous and NO breadcrumbs needed (which is perfect for my cutting out wheat in my diet)
The photographs (cough cough should be way more of them) are simple yet show off the recipe perfectly and are extremely appetizing looking
It's Canadian - never been very good at math so American cookbooks are frustrating as I always have to convert the measurements (thank god for online conversion sites -- shhh don't tell my son I cheated)
Love the nutritional value information
All the recipes we tried, and by the way, my boys both helped me make them all & they turned out perfectly

The Not So Good Stuff

Not enough pictures
No desserts
Not a lot of low fat type meals

Favorite Recipes

Tomato Chili Flank Steak w/ Grilled Cauliflower - Pg 54
Chicken Paprikash - Pg 72
Pork Burgers - Pg 80
Maple Buttermilk Grilled Chicken - Pg 93
Jalepeno Bean Cakes w/ Lime Mayo - Pg 118
Slow Cooker Pumpkin Coconut Soup - Pg 224 (I substituted with butternut squash like was suggested if we couldn't find pumpkin)

Who Should/Shouldn't Use

Perfect for the beginner cook
An ideal cookbook for families, especially those on a budget
Advanced cook may be a little bored by the meals

4.25 Dewey's

We received this from Random House in exchange for an honest review… (mehr)