Laurel's Kitchen: A Handbook for Cookery & Nutrition - a vegetarian cookbook, was recommended to Mary (not her real name) at a bookstore over 20 years ago. It is still her favorite tattered and taped veggie recipe source after all these years. What makes Laurel's Kitchen and The New Laurel's Kitchen (published later, notes following) so special? Great food, inspiring stories, excellent instructions and meal plan ideas.
An Introduction to Laurel's Kitchen Vegetarian Cookbook
As a young wife with a vegetarian husband, Mary was at a loss for what to cook. She too wanted to experiment with meatless cooking, but did not know many recipes. Once she had Laurel's Kitchen in hand, all that changed.
This lovely and simple (but thick) vegetarian cookbook (either version) offers those new to vegetarian eating not only instructions for how to make food, but inspiration on how to live life. The central message is that by lovingly and artfully preparing wholesome family meals and eating them in a friendly and leisurely way, having wholesome daily meals together can unite the home.
Reasons for a Vegetarian or Vegan Diet:
- It yields wonderful meals
- When well rounded, it is a diet high in nutrition
- Good health
- It is a diet low in cost, so saves money
- Vegetarianism respects the sanctity of life
- A vegetarian diets can help the cause to feed the hungry
What Is Learned in Laurel's Kitchen?
- How to cook absolutely delicious vegetarian meals
- Good vegetarian health information
- How to live a lifestyle of peace and kindness
- Cooperative purchasing of food to save time and money
- Lowfat cooking (more so in The New Laurel's Kitchen) and weight control
- Advice for those with various nutritional needs (such as pregnant mothers, the elderly, kids)
- How good food can bring a family together
- How to relax despite today's hectic lifestyle
- How to enjoy meals with good friends
- May ways to cook beans, grains, rice and other whole foods
Laurel's Kitchen and The New Laurel's Kitchen will delight anyone interested in a more balanced life, a healthier way of eating, and having a closer relationship with oneself, friends, and family. Recipes are described and explained; background stories are shared; philosophies are given. Laurel's Kitchen is a cookbook, but a large part of this charming book can be read and enjoyed, perhaps with a warm cup of herbal tea. The illustrations are unique and charming.
Good Vegetarian Recipes
Just a few favorite recipes tested and recommended from this lovely cookbook are:
- Chile con Elote (veggie chili with corn)
- Lentil Nut Loaf
- Green Rice Casserole
- Spinach Crepes
- Vegetables, Macaroni, & Cheese (super yum)
- Lasagne al Forno (absolutely delicious)
- Tomato Sauce (best pasta sauce ever)
Whether new to vegetarianism or a long time vegetarian, anyone will enjoy this cookbook. Mary says she has made nearly every recipe in the book and has adored every single dish. That is quite a complement!
Other articles of interest may include: Easy Vegetarian Panini Recipes, A+ Yummy Breakfast Panini Recipes, and 3 Ingredient Side Dishes & Salads.
By the way, Mary owns the old tattered version and a newer new version of Laurel's Kitchen. Which does she prefer? The tattered one, of course. Memories... Happy cooking.
Resources:
- Interview, cooking and eating in person with Mary, March 2008
- Laurel's Kitchen: A Handbook for Cookery & Nutrition, by Laurel Robertson, Carol Flinders, and Brownwen Godfrey, 1981, Nilgiri Press, Petaluma, California
- The New Laurel's Kitchen, by Laurel Robertson, Carol Flinders, and Brian Ruppenthal, 1986, Ten Speed Press, Berkeley, California
Janienne Jennrich - Janienne Jennrich, Topic Editor for Kids & Teen Parties and for Hair, is an award-winning freelance writer & webmaster.
