New Vegetarian Basics

Steve Pitt is a Toronto-based freelance writer and an award-winning journalist. He has written many young adult and children's books, including Day of the Flying Fox: The True Story of World War II Pilot Charley Fox.

There are many paths to vegetarianism. For some, it is a spiritual
journey. For others, it is a choice of conscience. In her introduction
to this book, Nettie Cronish says she became a vegetarian because she
did not want to make cheesecake. She was working on a kibbutz when she
was asked to choose between the cheesecake department and working as the
assistant to the vegetarian cook. Nettie chose the latter and within a
year she was 25 pounds lighter and feeling better than she ever had
before. Since then, she has become a leading Canadian authority on
vegetarian cooking. This book features a full range of vegetarian
appetizers, main courses, and desserts—all designed to fill that
“hole” many novice vegetarians feel as they attempt to switch over
to meat-free diets.

The book begins with a short introduction to vegetarian ingredients and
cooking methods. For those who think that all beans come out of a can or
that seaweed is something only sea cows might graze on, this chapter is
a real eye-opener. Next, Cronish lists the essentials of a well-stocked
vegetarian pantry. There are also suggestions on where a novice can find
some of these ingredients that might not be readily available in the
local supermarket. The next seven chapters are recipes arranged by
category: Appetizers and Snacks, Soups, Salads and Dressings, Side
Dishes, Main Courses, Breakfasts, Muffins and Buns, and Sweet Endings.
Every recipe is prefaced with a cooking hint or personal comment about
how the recipe came to be included in the book.

Even if you consider yourself a carnivore, chances are you will find
more than a little temptation in this book, with offerings like Basil
and Sun-Dried Tomato Dip, Cuban Black Bean Soup, Linguine Salad with
Ginger and Garlic, Portobello Baked Potato, Tempeh Kabobs and Kiwi, and
Banana Mini Pancakes. An extensive glossary, a bibliography, and an
index are included at the back of the book. If you are about to try
vegetarianism or you just want to add a few new recipes to your daily
menus, this book is an outstanding resource.