The New Moosewood Cookbook (Mollie Katzen's Classic Cooking)

Comment: A friend loaned me this book as I love cooking. Having tried two recipes, I bought my own copy and can honestly say that every recipe I tried - and that is most of them - Have turned out perfectly each time. I received many compliments on my cooking and have been asked for repeat performances many times over by old and young alike. I tell everyone about it, and have bought quite a few as presents. The book is fun to read, recipes easy to follow and it is so nice to be offered alternative ingredients which helps if you don't have quite the right things in the cupboard. Read, Cook, Enjoy!

Comment: I am amazed that this book has survived so long in print. It must be the food philosophy that Katzen promotes that is the attraction. Recipes aren't at all good. Check out the food-related websites if you think mine is a minority opinion. There are far far better ways to prepare this sort of food.

Comment: This is the first cookbook Katzen wrote, and this is the revised version. I understand why it was changed- in the mid nineties, people started complaining about fat quite a bit, and no one was safe. Unfortunately, I agree with other reviewers that this one, while better organized, just isn't as fun.

Some favorites from the old cookbook are gone, particularly Soy Gevult. I loved that recipe and made it for one of my mother's holiday parties. Mushrooms, soybeans, onions, sherry- delicious! But the Lentil Casserole stayed?

I do approve of the change she made to the yogurt pie- making yogurt cheese is fun- but, oh, look at that, it's using not lowfat yogurt, but nonfat yogurt. By page 210, we get it- vegetarians can be lowfat too.

It's not all bad. Her soups section includes the classic Miso, Swiss Cheese and Onion, Lentil and Cream of Spinach. (And yes- fear not- with low fat options.) She also includes an informative page on the similarities of and techniques for various flatbreads and then another for cornbread and its variations. She keeps her section on Eggplant Parmesan and Lasagne (Zucchini Parmesan, sadly, did not make the cut)- these are yummy stand by comfort foods a lot of vegetarians, myself included, enjoy. There are also some very good Indian recipes and the Indonesian Gado Gado.

What earns this release 4 stars and not 3 are the desserts. (Odd that a book that is clearly falling all over itself to be healthy and low fat keeps its comfort food desserts, but we'll take it.) Pound Cake and its variations was my favorite- my husband and I lived on the carrot bread and banana bread one winter. Blueberry pie, pumpkin pie, custard, bread pudding, two kinds of cheesecake and brownies are also included. But then, just to make sure you know everyone'e serious about your health, some fruit-based desserts are squeezed into the end as well.

Nothing against fruits and vegetables, and my vegan self agrees that we don't need to throw sticks of butter into or cups of cream into our dishes in order to feel satisfied. I just wish this didn't feel so lacking in flavor.

Comment: As good today as it was when my roommate and I cooked out of it nightly in Seattle in 1986! For healthy eating and great taste combined.

Comment: Great recipes but where are the pictures? In today's day and age a cookbook like this should have been republished properly with gorgeous photos for each recipe and properly type set on a computer. I don't find the old 70s vibe of handwritten and illustrated recipes charming - just annoying.... But the food makes it worth the non-professional publication.