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good 'cook'-book

I'm trying to get into eating all raw, but the problem I'm running into is not knowing what to make. This resource is very helpful, but I feel like a need a recipe book in the kitchen to reference whenever I need some ideas. Does anyone know of a good, basic, raw cookbook?

Comments

  • daniefondaniefon Raw Newbie

    I have a few books. I will tell you what I have and what I think the strengths and weaknessess are of each:

    everyday raw-Matthew Kenney-lots of ingredients, but very showy and original dishes

    Ani's Raw Food Kitchen-Ani Phyo-some of the recipes are extremely high in fat, but there are some really good ones that will become staples, good general raw info

    Sweet Gratitude-desserts only, but a good read and some great ideas

    Raw Foods for Busy People-Jordan Maerin-simple,no pictures, but great for a beginner and for simple everyday dishes

    Rawvolution-Matt Amsden-good recipes, some are a little too rich for my recent taste, but can be easily adapted.

  • awesome, that helps a lot, thanks so much! I will check them out.

  • I have Matthew Kenney's "Everyday Raw" (some say the recipes are complicated and expensive, but everything I've made from this book is DELICIOUS) and "Raw Foods for Busy People" by Jordan Maerin which has some super simple, quick recipes which might get you started.

  • pixxpixx Raw Master

    ok, that's two (so far) folks giving kudos to "Raw Foods for Busy People" by Jordan Maerin.

    I have a question for you both. Are there many non-dehydrated recipes? Or is it mostly dehydrated? I've almost given up on getting any more books, because many of them do have mostly dehydrated recipes. I do have a dehydrator, and it's good for kale chips and cookies, but I really prefer my meals to be fresh.

  • sv3sv3 Raw Newbie

    I would def recommend Jennifer Cornbleet's 'Raw Food Made Easy'.

    Would be good for you too pixx as I can't think of one recipie which calls for a dehydrater.

  • daniefondaniefon Raw Newbie

    I just flipped through Raw Foods for Busy People and only saw one recipe that requires a dehydrator!

  • pixxpixx Raw Master

    Awesome, daniefon! Thanks. :~)

    I don't know, sv3, I am back and forth on Jennifer Cornbleet's 'Raw Food Made Easy'. I see so many folks mentioning it as good, but the one time I flipped through it, I was really put off by the amount of "recipes" that were something on the order of: Chopped Onion; take an onion and chop it.

    Huh??

  • LilEarthMuffinLilEarthMuffin Raw Newbie

    I second Ani Phyo's books - i just love her.

    Also Natalia Rose has good recipes in her books the raw food detox diet and raw food life force energy.

     

  • sv3sv3 Raw Newbie

    Haha! I hadn't noticed that pixx, you must be more observant than I am! It is quite a basic book, but I think that's what makes it good for beginners.

  • joannabananajoannabanana Raw Newbie

    do any of you have ani's dessert book? i'm waiting for it to get to barnes and noble but i haven't seen it there yet. i love her first book, and i just need the second one.

  • superfood2superfood2 Raw Newbie

    I think the raw books are great for special occasions or once-a-week meals, but normal, everyday eating, for optimum nutrition and digestion should be simple - ripe, fresh, raw, whole fruits and green leafy vegetables. If this bores you, get some different fruits stat!! :)

    I don't see the dehydrated recipes as necessarily a downside to the books, because while I'm a low-fat vegan most days, if I make something special, I want even omnivores and people who are used to heavy, fat-laden diets to enjoy it - and of course I'd explain that this is a special treat; that I don't normally eat this unhealthy.

  • pixxpixx Raw Master

    Seriously sv3, there are "recipes" in that book that contain only *one* ingredient, not exaggerating. I wouldn't consider myself a beginner in the kitchen, nor to raw; but I can see where those who do, might appreciate knowing about that book. I've seen it recommended several times, so I guess I really ought to give it another, more thorough, look through next chance I get.

    Nope, not yet, joannabanana, but it's on my wishlist! :~)

    superfood2, I'm thinking telling folks you "don't normally eat this unhealthy" after offering them something, likely healthier than what they normally eat, could be taken as an insult to their own food choices; might scare more folks off (or, rather: piss them off!), than encourage them to try raw.

    I like to use recipe books for inspiration. I've always read them more like one would read a novel; they don't go into my kitchen. I often see combination of flavors I had not thought of, or had "forgotten" about for a while. I am wanting ideas; concepts. A great little book for that is "Mrs Richter's Cook-Less Book: The original raw food recipes from the original raw food restaurant!" (I bought it on Amazon.) It's not set up with lists of ingredients, as most "recipes" are. It does give measurements, but it's set up conversational style. The one I bought is a reprint, as the original was printed in 1925.

    For those unfamiliar, The Eutropheon was a raw food restaurant, owned by the Richters, from 1917 through the 1940

  • superfood2superfood2 Raw Newbie

    I don't really say things based on the reaction I get from people; I say things in all honesty and bluntness. I might not say specifically, quote, "I don't usually eat this unhealthy," of course. I'd probably say, "I normally eat fresher food with more nutritional value and less ingredients and processing, certainly less fat. This is a special treat and I hope you enjoy it."

    Most of my friends or people who gravitate toward me are people who like bluntness and like no-nonsense approach to life. It saves so much time to be honest and forthright. :) I like it, at least.

    I certainly don't want anyone to think that they could get to my level of fitness and health eating high-fat raw - that would be disingenuous on my part to NOT explain that these foods I'm serving are not my normal diet.

  • LilEarthMuffinLilEarthMuffin Raw Newbie

    joannabanana i have ani's dessery book and its really cute - if you have an opportunity to get it i would! i know they have it at borders (which i go to more because i always have coupons even though i like barnes & noble way more!)

     

  • sv3sv3 Raw Newbie

    I know what you mean about moving away from stodgy dehydrated recipes, I used to love making cracker, breads and other treats, but have recently been going off these. Either that or I'm just getting lazier! I made a raw lasagna at the weekend and was really looking forward to it but by the second piece, I found it a bit much.

    I'm not even 100% raw, but have found the appeal for heavy nut based or dehydrated dishes has worn off.

    I really like the fact that I'm starting to enjoy simple dishes much more.

    Having said all that, I do like Ani and would love to have a flick through her new book. :-)

  • sv3sv3 Raw Newbie

    I agree lulushka8, I like looking through my recipe books as motivation and occasionally something pops out which I've never noticed before. I also like Kate Woods as she lives in the UK.

  • swayzeswayze Raw Newbie

    Instant Raw Sensations by Frederic Patenaude is excellent. Super healthy and simply...

    Dr. Douglas Graham also has a healthy recipe book, but I haven't checked that one out.

    Swayze

     

  • springleafspringleaf Raw Newbie

    I like Kate Wood's book "eat smart eat raw" and also shazzies ones (detox delights is a cheep way to start). Kirstens Raw blog has loads of her recipies spead through it - take a look. Like others above I tend to use a recipie book as inspiration and then change it to how I want it, I don't have a dehydrator either:-( so none of these recipies for me. Most recipies in Rawvolution are way to complicated for everyday, it is worth a look just for its lovely pictures. (borders has it just have a look then put it back on the shelf...) Other than that I get most of my recipies from here!

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