Forks Over Knives The Cookbook – A Product Review – Vegan Cooking Rocks

A few months ago, I ordered a cookbook. I usually do not use cookbooks, but I thought that it would be a good idea to check out Forks over Knives.

Why? First of all, the Forks over Knives documentary was very informative, and I recommend it to anyone who would like to know more about a healthy and compassionate way of living.

Second, with the amount of cookbooks online, it is hard to decide which one to get, so the Forks over Knives cookbook is a great resource for for newbie vegans, for anyone who would like to include more vegan meals in their diet, and everyone else who loves the vegan cuisine.

And third, I received regular emails with recipes and many of them looked so good that I decided to acquire the book. Even though I already knew how to make certain meals and sauces such as vegan lasagna, mayonnaise, and enchiladas, it would be a good idea to get my hands on more recipes, and Forks over Knives seemed like a good way to start.

• Product Description
• • 304 pages of recipes and photos, including metric conversion charts on 2 pages
  • Over 300 recipes
  • Testimonies
  • A clear table of contents that is organized into the following:
    • Basics
    • Breakfasts
    • Salads
    • Soups
    • Stews and Chilies
    • Wraps and Spreads
    • Pasta and Noodles
    • Stir-Fried, Grilled, and Hashed Vegetables
    • Stuffed and Baked Vegetables
    • The Amazing Bean
    • Great Grains
    • Casseroles
    • Desserts

• Pros & Cons

One of the biggest pros of this collection of recipes is the variety and the long lists of recipes to choose from. Having a sweet tooth, I just love the dessert section which offers no less than 31 sweet dishes. Basically, every section displays a long list of recipes, so there is plenty to choose from. The recipes are clear and easy to follow.

I also recommend reading the introduction, which was written by Chef Del. Although lengthy, it talks about health and health care, and it gives you lots of ideas for saving time and money, composting, and the advantages of buying in bulk. It gives a clear overview of cooking basics, pantry basics, baking basics, specialty pantry items, and kitchen tools.

One con I observed was that the page numbers are on the side, and that made it a little difficult for me to find the right pages at first, because I kept on looking at the top of the pages, lol, but that was just me being a creature of habit.

• Price: $12.08 for the paperback, which I think is a great price. With all the information and recipes that are provided, you are truly getting value for your money.
• The Cheapest Place to Buy: Amazon

So, Basics First

What are basics in a cookbook? Things like vegetable stock, basil pesto, not-so-fat guacamole, tofu sour cream, mayonnaise, no-cheese sauce, cauliflower bechamel, easy miso sauce, barbecue sauce, etc

I must admit that I have yet to try the not-so-fat guacamole, because I eat lots of avocados and I always make the fatty one. I am a little intrigued by this recipe.

Mayonnaise (or Veganaise) is another recipe I know by heart, since I’ve prepared it so often. It is easy to make.

You Can’t Start a Day Without Breakfast

Although I love cooking, when it comes to breakfast I do not vary my meals that often, even on my days off. After looking at the recipes in the Forks over Knives cookbook, however, I may have to change that habit.

The breakfast section offers delicious recipes and smoothies. The Very Berry Smoothie and the Pumpkin Pie smoothie are two I really want to try out. Then there are plenty of suggestions for granola and muesli and, of course, there is hot cereal. How about breakfast quinoa with apple compote or congee with dates and spices? Last but not least, hearty breakfasts such as breakfast scramble and rancheros also find their way on the list.

Now to Salads

As I mentioned in one of my first posts, I am not a fan of salads, but the Forks over Knives cookbook has some great ideas for bean salads, salads with a kick, and others, which even I would love to make.

Soups

Love them! I absolutely love soups. Have you ever had a warm broth after a few hours in the cold snow? It feels like heaven when the soup’s warmth spreads through your body.

And cold soups and gazpachos are just the best on a hot summer day. Seriously, you can’t go wrong with soup, and this cookbook has a long list of recipes. White bean gazpacho, tomato and red pepper soup, curried potato soup, zucchini bisque, cream of broccoli soup, “cheesy” potato soup, vegetable chowder, to name just a few.

Stew and Chilies

There is an endless list of possibilities. I had no idea 😉

From spicy Thai vegetables stew to hearty Spanish chickpea stews, Tuscan bean stew and Ethiopian lentil stew, lentil chilie, bean and mushroom chilie, this section takes you on an international culinary experience.

Wraps and Spreads

Wraps are also my favorite. They are easy to make. They are also quite easy to eat on the go, unless you’re like me and always make a mess with the dripping sauce 😉

Tortillas, hummus, roasted peppers, portobello mushrooms, samosas, hmm, need I say more?

Pasta and Noodles

I am also a big pasta fan. In fact, I make that quite often. Especially lasagna, I just love it. The Forks over Knives cookbook has a bunch of recipes for pasta salads and warm pasta dishes, which will make you fluent in Italian just like Kevin Cline in the movie “A Fish Called Wanda”. Rigatoni, spaghetti, penne, lasagna, …

And there’s even stroganoff. My first attempt at making vegan stroganoff was a huge success. It was mouthwatering good. I thought that it would be difficult to make, but it wasn’t. I’ll definitely make that one again.

One of my Favorites: Stir Fries

This is a dish I often improvise, and with stir fries one can be so creative. I love to be creative in the kitchen, but if you prefer to follow guidelines to make a great dish, then this cookbook has some great recipes in this section. Recipes for grilled and hashed vegetables are included.

Stuffed and Baked Vegetables – Bean Recipes

Baked potatoes and stuffed vegetables are a wonderful accompaniment for barbecues or for any other meal. How about millet-stuffed portobello mushrooms, Southwestern twice-baked potatoes, wild rice-stuffed cabbage rolls, Asian stuffed mushrooms, bulgur-stuffed tomatoes, and stuffed eggplant?

The section on beans is – once more – impressive. I love beans, but I usually end up making the same dishes. The Forks over Knives cookbook has a whole list, rightfully titled “The Amazing Bean”. Fava bean ratatouille, Jamaican black beans, hearty nachos, Texas caviar, spicy chickpeas and fennel, and so on. Need I say more?

Rice, Corn, Polenta, Quinoa, Millet, and Other Grains Dishes

I have never tried pineapple fried rice or eggplant and chickpea rice pilaf. I would love to make the sweet and sour “Meat Ball” stir fry and the vegetable biryani. Grains can certainly make interesting and delicious meals.

Casseroles

Ah, here we are, grandma’s casseroles. Will the vegan ones be as good?

I tell you something, yes they are, they could even taste better, but don’t take my word for it. My grandmother was a great cook, and so was my father, but I do not miss their cooking at all. No, I’m not a bad daughter or granddaughter, I just really love vegan food. (and I love cooking, I guess it runs in the family)

So, there’s shepherd´s pie, enchiladas (so easy to make and so good), moussaka, scalloped potatoes, mac and “cheese”, lasagna, etc.

There’s Always Room for Dessert

Biscotti, scones, truffle brownies, cupcakes, muffins, banana bread, cobbler, and so much more. There are plenty of desserts listed in this cookbook. Or how about fudgy chocolate frosting? And carrot cake, I love that one.

Cooking is Joy

It’s a joy and an art. Creating these beautiful meals, adding ingredients, spices and herbs here and there, chopping, mixing, stirring, boiling, frying, roasting, grilling, or baking. The result is mouthwatering good. A cookbook needs to have all the necessary information, and this one has it. Not only recipes are listed, but also metric conversion charts, testimonies, photos, and basics. I am an absolute fan of this cookbook, and I highly recommend it to anyone, and this is coming from someone who doesn’t buy many cookbooks 😉

If you have any questions, comments, or you’d like to share your own review of the Forks over Knives cookbook, feel free to leave a comment below.