There use to be the most amazing vegetarian restaurant on island, the Blossoming Lotus. Oh, my mouth begins to water just thinking of the divine plates that were served there. Unfortunately, the restaurant no longer exists here on Kauai. BUT, Mark Reinfeld (founding chef of Blossoming Lotus) and Jennifer Murray (coauthor of The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Eating Raw) have recently released their delightful cookbook The 30 Minute Vegan, making it easy to cook a divine meal at home. I am not a vegan, or even a strict vegetarian, but this book ROCKS and I believe it to be a great addition to anyone’s cookbook collection!
Lets just start with the peanut butter balls. Oh goodness! Of all the baking I did for the holidays these were BY FAR the most amazing cookies that I made. They were a favorite to everyone who came to our home. With a total of only 8 simple ingredients, that I already had on hand, I whooped up the most delicious treats in less than 30 minutes (clean up included).
There are over 175 spirit satisfying recipes included in The 30 Minute Vegan. Being a mother, a business owner, a yoga instructor, (and the list continues) I 100% appreciate having a book to teach me how to create a huge array of healthy, delicious meals (and treats) that fit perfectly into my family’s schedule.
The 2 authors, Reinfeld and Murray, both live on Kauai! The book opens with a couple of chapters on making the most out of your cooking experience. Tips and tricks for kitchen efficiency and tastiness, basic techniques involved in natural food preparation, shopping tips, and more ideas/definitions are touched on in an inspiring and uplifting way.
Nothing goes untouched in this book. There are recipes for everything from smoothies to scrambles, comfort foods to sea veggie salads. Soups, wraps, chai (yummmm), deserts, elixirs and even kids’ finger sandwiches. Additionally, throughout the cookbook most of the recipes will also include sidebars that allow you to elaborate on a dish if you have that time. I like the encouragement to be creative with these recipes too. “Variations” are offered at the end of many of the recipes, making it easier to use exactly what you may already have in your kitchen to complete a deliciously healthy meal.
I look forward to using this book again and again. If you are looking to encourage yourself to eat healthier, if you are an on-the-go machine who still likes to eat consciously, or if you are simply looking to spice up your life in the kitchen, check out The 30-Minute Vegan! Buy on Amazon here.
