Virgin Vegan: The Meatless Guide to Pleasing Your Palate - Hardcover

There are many books on the market about the hows and whys of eating a vegan diet, and Linda Long, known in the meatless world for her food writing and photography, adds her own contribution. Virgin Vegan: The Meatless Guide to Pleasing Your Palate starts off with the usual staples of any book on veganism: reasons to go meat-free, what vegans eat, basic cooking methods, the low-down on nutrients like protein and vitamin B-12. She also includes useful tips for new vegans such as how to go about getting a vegan meal in a non-vegan restaurant, as well as a great list of additional resources. Where this book really shines, however, is in the recipes. Mashed Kabocha Squash with Toasted Coconut, Chef Adams' Linguine Bolognese, and more will have readers eager to head off to the farmers' market to pick up ingredients, while desserts like Pecan Pie (vegan, really!) and Jane's Mango Ice Cream Pops will satisfy the sweet tooth. The binding style of this cookbook detracts somewhat (you'll have to find a way to prop it open while you cook), as does the fact that many recipes will require you to turn the pages to complete, always an annoyance. Still, this book is bound to leave you with some exciting new ideas.

There are better books on the market for the new vegan, but definitely consider this one for the recipes included.

Ve-gan [vee-guhn]—a person who does not eat or use animal products.

Despite its long history, veganism is still considered unusual by many in this carnivore world of ours. But, in the United States alone, there are more than 3 million vegans and the ranks are growing, especially in the under thirty crowd. Becoming vegan requires learning a whole new way of eating and thinking about food, and Linda Long’s handy guide educates you on planning meals, understanding new ingredients, products, and brand names, and knowing protein and vitamin needs among so many other topics, including tips on simple adoptions like six ways to use a veggie burger. She also offers a host of tasty recipes for breakfast, lunch, snacks, dinner, and parties, several from some of the top vegan chefs in the world.