Review: "The Part-Time Vegan: 201 Yummy Recipes That Put the Fun in Flexitarian"

Let me say it right off the bat: I don’t like the title of Cherise Grifoni’s The Part-Time Vegan: 201 Yummy Recipes That Put the Fun in Flexitarian. That being said, this is a great cookbook

I understand the title: it’s a marketing thing. Being a “Flexatarian” is hip right now (though the word “fun” is not contained in it so far as I can see). It is easier to sell a “part-time” commitment or something that is “flexi”-ible than it would be to sell a vegan cookbook – which is what this is. (Though there are hints about changing the recipes if you really want to...) Enough about the title.

I have made four recipes from the book thus far:

(You’re) Hot Artichoke Spinach Dip (20) I had made a cold spinach artichoke dip from another cookbook, so I was interested in what this would be like. It turned out to be quite different – almost like a creamed spinach, but very good. This dip would be best to dip a bread thing in rather than vegetables, as it is more on the liquid side.

Lean, Mean, Kidney Bean and Chick Pea Salad (52) I love bean salads and I love chick peas, so this was a no-brainer for me. The other two major ingredients are corn and black olives. I enjoyed this very much, both at room temperature and cold out of the fridge. I am thinking to make it again and try green olives.

Barley and Mushroom Pilaf (126) This turned out to be a wonderful comfort-food. The meatiness of the mushrooms with the barely was very satisfying and filling.

Raspberry Lemon Cupcakes (232) I made this for one of the women in our church who was skeptical about using soy milk in baking. Using real lemons and real raspberries, this was a most and “yummy” snack – or dessert. I did wonder, though, why is this a cupcake and not a muffin? It is not iced...

If the rest of the recipes in this book are as good as the four I made, this will become one of my favorite cookbooks. Overlook the name, forget making changes to the recipes, eat vegan, and enjoy these good and healthful recipes.

[This review appears on Amazon.com and my blog. I received this book for free from Thomas Nelson Publishing Group for this review.]