125 best vegan recipes

Introduction When we set out to write this book, we wanted to make sure we were creating recipes that would meet the needs of today's busy families As mothers, we understand that life is exceedingly hectic. Because we are constantly juggling the needs of kids, husbands, pets and jobs, we don't have time to spend hours over the stove as past generations of mothers were able to do. Our main objective is to prepare meals that are relatively simple yet nutritionally sound that our kids will enjoy and with luck -- request again. With this in mind, we set out to create recipes that use ingredients people are likely to have in their pantries and that aren't too time-consuming or complicated to prepare. In pursuit of this goal we interviewed a wide circle of vegans about their food choices, meal-planning requirements and the ingredients they use most often, We also polled culinary professionals who focus on the vegan market, such as chefs and restaurateurs. Our recipes are informed by these exchanges as well as by the needs and desires of our own families. We can attest to the fact that all of the recipes in this book have met with the approval of our husbands and children (five between us) .That was no easy feat, and many went through numerous revisions, but it was the litmus test before we sent any recipe out for testing. In our experience, vegan cookbooks are often filled with recipes that contain hard-to-find ingredients or that require involved, time-consuming preparation. In contrast, our family-friendly recipes use readily available ingredients and are relatively quick and easy to prepare. They provide a well-balanced selection of classic recipes that we have adapted to veganism, as well as many international dishes that reflect today's increasingly multicultural world. We are fortunate to live in New England, a region with a lush and diverse agricultural backdrop. As a result, from mid-June through the end of October we are able to find delicious fresh produce at our local farmers' market. Whenever possible, we use fresh ingredients rather than dried or packaged, but we recognize that this isn't always possible, a practical reality that our recipes take into account. Whether you are single, partnered or married, or have children, you should be able to find recipes that appeal to you in this book. We hope you enjoy the book and that it becomes an indispensable part of planning your meals. Most importantly, enjoy the food and the experience of creating it! Excerpted from 125 Best Vegan Recipes by Maxine Effenson, Chuck Gurney, Beth Gurney, Maxine Chuck All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.