Book Review

Vegan Unplugged: A Pantry Cuisine Cookbook and Survival Guide

by Jon Robertson with recipes by Robin Robertson
Review by Cathe Olson

Vegan Unplugged is all about cooking with nonperishable items. The idea is helping vegans (or anybody really) to eat well during emergency situations when there is no power for keeping perishable foods cold or cooking meals. But actually this book has many uses beside emergencies. It's perfect for preparing meals while on the road, camping or boat trips, visits with nonvegan relatives, when sick at home, or - and this happened to me just this past week - when you are just too darn busy to get to the market.

Robin Roberson is known for her delicious vegan recipes so it was not a huge surprise to find that even without fresh ingredients, she came up with some delicious sounding dishes. Wild Mushroom Rice Pilaf made with dried mushrooms, quick-cooking rice, canned asparagus tips and Curry in a Hurry made with canned vegetables and beans are just two of the many entrees offered in the book. Most of the meals do require cooking. The book suggests several ways of cooking meals without electricity like camp stoves, gas or charcoal grills, or even with sterno chafing dishes. Some of the noncooked dishes include Corn and Black Bean Salsa, Three's-a-Crowd Bean Salad, and Gorp Redux.

One of my favorite features of the book is "The Five-Day Meal Box." A shopping list of nonperishable items that will fit into a 50-quart lidded container is included, along with "The Five-Day Menu" to serve those items. The box and menu can be stored indefinitely in a closet or garage, so you'll be prepared for that power outage. Many other emergency preparedness tips are also included. While this cookbook is pretty much the opposite of the way I normally cook, it will find a place on my shelf and I'll feel more secure for having it.

Buy a copy of Vegan Unplugged: A Pantry Cuisine Cookbook and Survival Guide now!

Cathe Olson is the author of the new nondairy ice cream cookbook: Lick It! Cream Dreamy Vegan Ice Cream Your Mouth Will Love, as well as Simply Natural Baby Food and The Vegetarian Mother's Cookbook. Visit Cathe's website at www.simplynaturalbooks.com and her blog at http://catheolson.blogspot.com.

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