I knew Joan Dunayer had many fans, as I often heard her works recommended on websites, Facebook and Twitter. My “Books to Read” list is very long and, while her books were on the list, they did not make it to the top until I finally received a review copy of the subject book. As soon as I began reading her excellent work, I understood why her fans wanted everyone to read her books. Speciesism is so easy to absorb, filled with fascinating information about other animals, and so accessible to most all readers that it should be one every activist as well as every non-vegan would read at some point.

Old Speciesists, New Speciesists, and Anti-Speciesist Philosophies

Ms. Dunayer first defines the term speciesism and looks at its various manifestations. At the root is the attitude of human supremacy and the denial of the individual rights or respect for the individual beings that are not human. Old Speciesism, those who advocate for human supremacy, is separated from New Speciesism, wherein some advocates are proposing rights for only select animals, usually those more similar to humans. What Dunayer advocates, however, is much more. She is asking for moral consideration for all sentient individuals. She advocates for the invertebrates, the crustaceans, the birds, the mammals, without prejudice, and suggests that if we err, it should be on the side of inclusion rather than exclusion.

Joan Dunayer Asks for a New Paradigm for Animals

Dunayer asks for abolitionist bans, boycotts, vegan advocacy, rights advocacy and campaigns against speciesism. Speciesists often consider other animals only as categories (gorillas, birds, fish) while seeing only humans as individuals. ”To varying degrees, all animal species overlap physically and mentally. At the same time, each animal is unique.” * Anyone familiar with her other book, Animal Equality: Language and Liberation, is aware of the signifcant contribution Ms. Dunayer has made towards heightening awareness of speciesism in language.  Her background in literature, education, and psychology has made her well-suited for writing this sensitive and respectful book. Strongly recommended.

*page 12

Vegan Pie in the Sky is one cute cookbook. I know, that word, but…it is so darned cute! It is a smallish little square of colorful delights and truly mouth-watering dessert ideas. I turned the difficult task of deciding which recipe to test-drive to my grandson and he promptly chose Little Lemon Mousse Pies. Oh my. They actually turned out just like the photo, and tasted even better than either of us expected. There were quite a few steps involved, although the recipe is easy to follow and worth every step.  I tend to dive into recipes, so maybe a more organized cook might be able to end up with less dishes, but when one is approaching magnificence, who cares about the cleanup? The lemon glaze was gorgeous, and the creamy filling was wonderful. This recipe uses coconut milk, raw cashews, and of course, fresh lemon in an interesting series of combinations. I realized the women who created this little book might know a thing or two about baking; I had already loved Veganomicon and trusted them to provide really wonderful culinary delights.

Variety and Spice in Moskowitz and Romero’s Book

Love cheesecake? Try Chocolate Galaxy Banana or Blueberry Bliss, or maybe even Raspberry Lime Rickey. There is Banana Toffee Pudding Pie or Cappuccino Mousse. There is a Maple Pecan that looks too good to eat. There are Chocolate Peanut Butter Tartlets which look like a gourmet version of peanut butter cup candy. Need a creamy topping that is dairy-free? Look at the section on toppings to find Rad Whip, Sweet Coconut Cream, Macadamia Créme and Chocolate Drizzle. There are metric conversion  charts, too, to assist you whatever system of measure you might use. Need a special crust? Think of Vodka Dough, Shortbread Shells, Gingersnap Crust, and Press-In Almond. There are traditional pies with a flair, and a series of appealing and easily transportable Hand Pies: Blackberry Ginger, Strawberry Field, Ginger Peach, and Blueberry Ginger. Want something unusual? How about Basil Peach, Chai-Spiced Rice Pudding, or an interesting Curry Macaroon?

Vegan Pie in the Sky is the Perfect Gift

This would make a great holiday gift for anyone who wants cruelty-free and relatively healthy treats for those special occasions. And it should be appreciated by anyone who knows a thing or two about great desserts. Or by someone who wants to wow guests at the next vegan potluck. Or maybe, someone who loves those cute little gems that keep your creativity at its peak.

Blissful Bites: Vegan Meals That Nourish Mind,Body, and Planet is jam-packed: it is dense with recipes, photos, and information. It is a lovely book, with glossy pages and beautiful photos throughout. There are useful tidbits of information tucked in, such as needed kitchen tools, important ingredients, and why you may want to avoid use of the allium family in your diet. There is even a section about sea vegetables for those who like to push the edges of culinary experience, yet there are many recipes that would find favor with traditional eaters. With over 175 recipes, there is something for nearly every palate.

Recipes From Easy and Delicious to Exquisite and Challenging

I happily tagged a multitude of pages to try, some based on the ingredients and some based on the lovely photographs.  First to try was the Sizzling Tempeh Bacon. The flavorings are a perfect blend, the texture delightful, and placed on a bun with Vegenaise, lettuce and freshly sliced tomatoes, it was reminiscent of the best BLT ever. Ever. This one will be used again and again.

Next up was the Lemony Lime Hummus. I have tried many hummus recipes and loved nearly all of them: those with roasted peppers, with hot and spicy elements, and those with mellow, creamy texture. But Lemony Lime and Hummus together? This was surprisingly good and one that I will also use repeatedly.  I like a bit of lime in my regular hummus, but this took the tang to a whole new level – and I loved it!

Finally, I tried the Pan Fried Tofu with Carrot Ginger Sauce. The photo of this creation was quite exquisite, and as I had a fresh loaf of Tofu on hand, it sounded like another winner. This one was bit trickier. The temperature to make a good pan fried tofu must be just right and the carrots must be cooked thoroughly before blending to result in the proper texture of sauce. The flavors do blend nicely and the finished product is lovely to behold. Just be aware this one is a bit more difficult to create.

Blissful Bites is a Bountiful Bargain!

The price for this overflowing book of vegan goodness is no more than books with much more limited information, so it seems like a bargain to boot. I had only heard a little bit about the release of this cookbook and was pleasantly delighted by its arrival in the mail. There are so many truly excellent vegan cookbooks available, the only difficulty for the vegan or vegan-curious is how to decide upon just one. If you have the means to add this one to your cookbook shelf, it will most likely become a well used source of delicious vegan meals.

Forks Over Knives is a book for human beings, aimed at helping them live healthier lives. It is about the heart disease, diabetes, and cancer that appear epidemic in our culture. It is about the curative power of a plant-based diet and the steps necessary to achieve one. Included are  brief bios of some of the major contributors to the film of the same name (Neal Barnard, MD of PCRM; Gene Bauer of Farm Sanctuary; Rip Esselstyn of The Engine 2 Diet, and many more).  There is nutritional information, a guide to reading food labels, a list of some of the problems with animal agriculture, and tips for transitioning to a new, healthier lifestyle.  It is also a book with over 125 vegan recipes to help you on your journey.

A Primer for Plant-Based Eating

This would be a good book for someone who is interested in a plant-based diet but lacks the needed information to achieve one. It only grazes over the plight of animals and does not go into any depth with environmental impacts, since this is, after all, about promoting a healthy lifestyle. However it is popularized, the book created by these two physicians has the ability to reach multitudes more people in impacting their purchasing and consuming behavior than do a myriad of grassroots activists; recent research appears to support the idea that more people may accept a plant-based diet for health reasons than any other. There is enough information about the torment of farmed animals, presented in a succinct manner, that some people are bound to learn enough to become concerned about the origins of their food. If that is not enough, there is a chapter, too, on the environmental impacts of our food choices. Again, these are a brief few pages, but it is enough to make the case that our current way of eating is not sustainable, is environmentally destructive, and needs to change. (It will be left for other authors to make the case for the cessation of human exceptionalism.)

Recipe For Change

There are recipes in many categories: breakfast, smoothies, appetizers, soups, salads and dressings, sauces and snacks, main dishes, side dishes and desserts. Most appealing to this reviewer were the many simple-to-make salad dressings, perfect for adding a bit more taste and zing to my raw food salads. There is the Quick Barbecued Tempeh which is incredibly easy and ready for the grill with only minutes of preparation (and an hour marinating). The Cherry Pineapple Cake is quick to assemble and has an interesting combination of tastes and textures. There are many contributors to the recipe section of the book, giving it a diverse view of the plant-based world of eating. Best of all, the recipes are designed to make transitioning to a plant based diet easy and healthful. However, this is not the glossy-paged colorful vegan cookbook like many that line my shelves; this book has a much wider purpose than that. Whether new to this type of diet, or a long-time vegan in search of something new, Forks Over Knives offers a healthy sampling of recipes for a better world and information for the journey to plant-based eating.

I have long been a subscriber to Will Potter’s blog, Green is the New Red. It keeps me updated on recent attacks on freedom of speech and provides a watch on the injustice that is attacking our right to nonviolent direct action. I had just finished reading Dara Lovitz’sbook, Muzzling a Movement, and had researched the Animal Enterprise Protection Act (1992), followed by the chilling Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act (2006), so I knew to what depths large animal agribusinesses would stoop to protect their financial interests. Activists were being arrested for hosting websites and for chalking slogans on the sidewalk. Not only that, they were being placed in Communication Management Units (CMUs) to further isolate and penalize them for their nonviolent beliefs. And they were being labeled terrorists, a word that has long-term consequences for anyone convicted of it.

Potter weaves a fascinating tale that goes between actual terrorist attacks, such as the ten nail bombs exploded in Madrid, and the desperate acts of activists frustrated with a world in decline, including arson and targeting of individual exploiters and their families. As someone who is invested in peaceful, nonviolent activism, some of the reported efforts discussed in the book seemed sadly misguided; even some of the activists who once participated in arson now regret doing so. But supporting certain tactics, or criticizing the same, are not the main thrust of Potter’s book. His book, like his blog, reports on a shift in attitudes towards activism and freedom of speech that predates the attacks on the U.S. that took place September 11th, 2001.

In the new world Potter explores, being vegan is seen as radicalism, there is guilt by association only, free speech is labeled as terrorism; and CMUs have been developed to keep prisoners, and aspects of the prison system, under wraps. Eco-activists are seen as a threat in two areas: profits and tradition. The use of intimidation towards activists also reflects a perceived threat to the existing social paradigm that is expressed by eco-activists and animal rights advocates. Mr. Potter has done an admirable job of detailing an environment in which those who are trying to save the natural world are at odds with those who want to pillage and destroy her. A very good read.

In my mailbox one day I discovered an introduction to the raw food world of Ani Phyo, including a partial view of a soon-to-be-published book on the topic. That book was Ani Phyo’s Raw Food Essentials, and it was a good introduction to a new way of eating: all plant-based, all raw.  Included in that book were basic techniques to get one started adventuring into the world of raw cuisine.

Ms. Phyo’s new book, Raw Food Asia, expands on her prior work. It is more colorful, with nearly every page filled with bright photos from the Asian landscape as well as from the beautiful plant food Ms. Phyo creates. There are also cultural, spiritual, and relational advice interwoven between recipes and food information as well as tidbits of facts about Asian cuisine and spices. Did you know that turmeric is supposed to fight cancer and Alzheimer’s, or that chile is good for the cardiovascular system? That seaweed is believed to promote longevity? Ms. Phyo even has information about non-toxic personal care items and beauty supplies. It is therefore more of a travel guide than just a recipe book, and the journey is one towards health and serenity.

Easy East-West Fusion Recipes by Ani Phyo

This new book, with the tag line “Easy East-West Fusion Recipes,” introduced me to Namul. I first learned that mushrooms contain protein, fiber, B and C vitamins, calcium, potassium and other minerals, so I tried Shitake Mushroom Namul.  Thinly sliced mushrooms with a delicately balanced and flavorful sauce make a nice addition to noodles or tofu dishes. Several Kimchee recipes in Ms. Phyo’s book introduced me to this intriguing food. For a first try, I made the Easy Kimchee, and it was very simple and easy to make, as promised. It is also simple to manipulate the strength of the Kimchee flavors, too, depending on pickling time and amount of spices and garlic. Kimchee, like the Namul, will be a great new side dish or accompaniment for other foods included in Ms. Phyo’s book.

There is a beautiful salad, Rainbow Salad, with Tahini dressing, that is both colorful and healthy, as well as delicious. The dressing was a big too heavily citrus for my taste, but the salad has a variety of textures and flavors to compensate. Be sure to use only a small amount of dressing; the tahini gives it a wonderful flavor and creamy texture but can overpower the fresh salad components if used with too heavy a hand.

Part Recipe Book, Part Travel Guide

There are also some lovely indulgences, too. Sweet Sesame Halvah, Lychee Asian Lime Crepes, Lavendar Ice Cream, Ginger Pear Sorbet, and numerous other enticements are included for special occasions.

Recipes come from India, Indonesia, Thailand, Korea, Hawaii, China,Vietnam, Japan, Singapore, and the Philippines. Following the recipes and other information are menus, raw food theories on longevity, metric conversions, and raw food resources.  While many of the recipes required items I do not have on hand, most were easily acquired by a trip to a multicultural or Asian market. A dehydrator is not essential, either, although some recipes would be much easier if you own one. But there is plenty of raw food adventure within these pages for most anyone from novice to expert. I am still a bit daunted by this book but am sure to enjoy it in small bites over time, much as I enjoy the food it has taught me to create. If you need an armchair adventure, this might be just the ticket!

Arran Stephens book, The Compassionate Diet, is a small, artfully created book. Mr. Stephens is the founder of Nature’s Path, North America’s largest organic breakfast food company. Many of Nature’s Path foods are vegan, but not all. Mr. Stephens states on page 28, “A lacto-vegetarian includes animal by-products such as dairy and honey, because these do not directly lead to loss of life, as the eating of animal products themselves does.” That single sentence seemed so misleading that it stopped me in my tracks. Really? Honey does not directly lead to death? What about the compromised immunes system of the bees when their honey, created for their own survival, is stolen and they are left with the inferior sugar water instead? What about the legs of the bees that are often torn off during “harvesting” of their honey, or those that die due to the smoking process, during transport, or are replaced for maximum efficiency? What about the bobby calf, stolen from its mother to steal her milk? These calves are usually slaughtered as veal calves. Or the mother whose miserable life of milk production ends when she is sent to the slaughterhouse at a young age? Both production methods steal the natural food created for these animals own survival. Both practices involve exploitation of sentient beings. To indicate that there is no direct loss of life by consumption of honey and dairy products does not seem accurate to this vegan but rather gives the reader the impression that these are cruelty-free practices. They are not.

A Beautiful Book with Pertinent Information

Stephens is not advocating for lacto-vegetarianism, only defining it. He uses the term, “strict vegetarian” to indicate veganism, and does explain that vegans abstain from all animal by-products.  His book promotes a vegetarian diet by providing information about the horrific lives of farmed animals, and his company admittedly uses honey and dairy in their products as well. There are also, oddly, pictures of live fish, chicks and eggs interspersed with photos of raspberries and radishes, just in case the term vegetarian was not confusing enough for those unfamiliar with ethical eating and veganism.

On the plus side, it is a small book that is highly readable and is beautiful to peruse. It holds some valid information about sustainability and a host of information about organic foods. Before reading this book, I thought that the whole point of organic agriculture was to get pesticide-free food, but after reading what Stephens has to say, organic foods now seem much, much more than that. They provide better nutrition, help with soil sustainability, and reduce energy consumption. In fact, Nature’s Path, Stephens company, is based on that importance. I recently tried one of their vegan products, Pumpkin Flax Plus granola, and it was excellent. I have been looking for it at my local grocers and will request it if it is not already carried.

The Compassionate Diet Would Be Vegan

Stephens also looks at famous vegetarians and spiritual aspects of vegetarianism, including a review of its import in many world religions. There is even a chapter on some troubling aspects of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) that is worth the read. I am grateful that I was given this book to read for the pertinent information I gleaned from it, but also grateful that I know the truth about the exploitation inherent in dairy and honey production. The title is, therefore, a bit of a misnomer. Perhaps a future printing of the book will correct this misinformation. In reading about Mr. Stephens, it is impossible not to appreciate his thoughtful, honest, humble approach to finding a more humane lifestyle. He  states:

When I discontinued eating meat, fish, fowl and eggs at the age of twenty in 1964, my primary motivation was a deepening love and respect for all living creatures. This commitment, which has been joyfully kept, was one of the easiest I ever made, and involved very little sense of self-denial. The invigorating effects were soon felt and the heart’s inherent capacity for compassion expanded; I began to experience animals as younger relatives in a universal family of conscious beings. This understanding was deeply instinctive and intuitive.

One would hope that the bees and cows might be included in that respect at some point.

Anti-terrorism legislation now includes those who fight for protection of  the natural world, whether they are called “eco-terrorists” or “animal rights extremists,” and Dara Lovitz has pulled the covers off the governmental game. “Labeling individuals as terrorists helps the government to legitimize the violation of individuals’ freedom of speech,” relates Ms. Lovitz in her book, Muzzling a Movement. Far from being a defense of violent activism, Ms. Lovitz’ book is instead a look into the insidious assault on the freedom of speech of activists in order to enable horrendous crimes by those who are making lots of money with their destructive practices. Once Ms. Lovitz began to understand how laws are failing nonhuman animals, it was not long until she realized laws were also being designed to silence those few brave souls who wanted to speak out on their behalf.

Dara Lovitz’s Book Reveals Corporate Manipulation, Conflicts of Interest, and Violations of Civil Rights

Why did Senator Dianne Feinstein, a Democrat from California, co-sponsor the AETA (Animal Enterprise Terrorist Act) along with the conservative James Inhofe (R-Ok)? Feinstein did not have any notable contributors from animal agriculture or the animal testing communities, but her spouse had ties indirectly to vivisectors.  Inhofe, however, had direct ties to Koch Industries, his largest contributors, who are involved with chemical processing and forestry products, and Inhofe has a history of support for animal agriculture. Even more troubling than the conflict of interest indicated by this legislation is the trampling of constitutional rights to free speech and criminalization of non-violent activism. Where terrorists tend to target innocent people randomly, animal activists only target those who are guilty of specific acts against nonhuman animals. Where terrorists tend to be violent and kill people en masse, animal activists have never killed anyone and use mainly peaceful tactics.  The majority of animal rights activists consider themselves part of a basic peace movement and want to actually end violence. So why the label terrorist?

Muzzling a Movement is About Silencing Free Speech

By labeling activists as terrorists, individuals face unfair and extreme penalties, have their ability to travel severely restricted, and may be confined and suffer deprivation and harrassment due to the label “terrorist.”  Ms. Lovitz takes a look at how corporate interests and protection of capital assets are protected by law rather than the rights of citizens or other sentient beings.  Some people convicted under the AETA have been confined in CMUs – Communication Management Units – where there is little contact with the outside world. Perhaps most unjust of all, those convicted under this statute including those who were working to Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty (SHAC), may be forced to financially support the very horrific acts they have been arrested trying to prevent by assigning restitution to these corporations as part of their conviction.  Dara Lovitz has written a slender volume that is an easy read and filled with pertinent information for any animal rights activist. Included are a state-by-state list of laws that protect animal enterprise, the AEPA (Animal Enterprise Protection Act) and the AETA. Recommended reading for those involved in animal rights activism or anyone concerned about free speech.

Dara Lovitz is an Adjunct Professor of Animal Law at Temple University Beasley School of Law and the Earle Mack School of Law at Drexel University. She is a board member of Four Feet Forward and Peace Advocacy Network.

Nick Cooney’s book, Change of Heart, was a recommendation from Bruce Friedrich of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, made during a recent Animal Rights Zone chat. While I find Bruce likable, I often disagree with many of his tactics, as well as those of his parent organization.  I was therefore quite surprised to find the time I spent reading Cooney’s book to be time very well spent.

Looking at Activism From A Psychological Perspective

Tagline for the book is this: What Psychology Can Teach Us About Spreading Social Change. It seems an important topic and one that most activists want to better understand. How do people change? What is the most effective way to do outreach for veganism? How do we get resistant people to look at the truth about the destructiveness of animal commodification? How do we help translate awareness into behavioral change? Cooney’s book begins by helping us to look at ourselves first and how our own identity is often tied up with how we perform activism. He highlights how self interest is part of most choices and warns that systemic change most always does more good than caring for individuals in need.

The next section of Change of Heart looks at some of the aspects of human nature that make advocacy difficult, things like empathy avoidance (why those painful videos may not be effective), victim denigration (why people often disparage animals), status quo bias (why it is difficult for people to make changes in light of the norm) and numbers overwhelm (why statistics may make people’s eyes roll back in their heads). After getting this far into the book, it would be easy to become discouraged. Armed with all the destructive aspects of animal commodification, an activist might be ready to throw up their hands in defeat, feeling like human nature just will not allow new information in. In fact, this is covered, too — often people will cling tighter to beliefs that have been proven false. Rationality, it seems, does not always work–which explains a lot about current politics. What’s an activist to do?

Nick Cooney’s Change of Heart Aims to Create Effective Activists

Cooney wrote this book to explain it to you. Tools of Influence, in four parts, lists ways to use psychology to the activist’s benefit. For example, according to research, it appears people are more likely to accept what you say when you present yourself as an expert on a topic, rather than as an advocate for a certain position. It helps if you are tall (I am totally out of luck on this one!). It helps if you are good looking and it helps if you are dressed in similar fashion to those you will be meeting. It helps to be friendly and non-threatening. It helps to understand where your audience is in regard to animal commodification so you can set realistic goals. It also helps if the person accepts something from you, thereby triggering the Rule of Reciprocity — so keep those vegan cookies coming! Cooney also advocates embracing those in our circle who hold different viewpoints, thereby increasing our sphere of influence rather than discounting those in outlying groups.

Finally, Cooney looks at Social Marketing, Transition Matrix, and Game Theory. In the foreward, he reminds us that the research has been done and it is up to us to draw our own conclusions. An example Cooney uses for the Transition Matrix suggests that promoting vegetarianism is more effective than promoting veganism directly; then, once the person is vegetarian, you can go back and promote veganism to those who have already demonstrated a willingness to change This suggestion seems problematic, since Cooney offers no research to support this premise, since many people have gone vegan without becoming vegetarian, and many who have been vegetarian first did so only because they lacked the clear message of why veganism is important. It also seems dishonest and potentially confusing.  However, despite any individual bias that Cooney might display, his book offers an important look into ideas that could benefit most activists. Reading the book carefully and with cautious scrutiny, most any activist would benefit from its focus on understanding the psychology of change and how that impacts our activism.

Upon receipt of the beautiful Second Edition of Dining with Friends, I was immediately impressed with the heft, look and feel of the book. While the quality of the recipes is paramount, the quality of the paper, the beauty of the pages and the ease of finding a particular recipe are all important to me. I always insert markers for recipes I want to try and must admit, I used more markers in this volume than in any recent cookbook I have reviewed.* The ingredients are easy to read and the directions are simple to follow. In the back of the book are holiday menus, a temperature conversion chart, a glossary of terms, a shopping guide, information about kitchen equipment, and the all-important index of contents. The foreword to the book was written by John Robbins, and includes a lovely prayer by teacher Thich Nhat Hanh which reads in part:

Everything From Gluten-Free to Raw Foods

Not having much experience with vegan cakes, I tried the German Chocolate cake recipe immediately. This was so much easier than I expected, and the result was a very moist and delicious cake that would surprise the most ardent omnivore. There is a must-try raspberry cheesecake for my next special event, too, and numerous recipes for everything from cookies to crisps, from pies to flummery. There is even a Gluten Free chapter, sure to please those who must avoid those food products.  In keeping with one of my new favorites in food patterns, Dining With Friends has a chapter devoted to raw foods, too. There are also helpful make-it-yourself recipes for things like vegan sour cream,  salsa and salad dressings; I tried the Spiced Tahini Dressing which was both creamy and delicious.

Since I had few ingredients on hand, I was delighted to find a recipe for Carrot and Potato Soup – one that is not only delicious, but a great recipe to pull out when supplies are limited. After I restocked the cupboards, I was ready to try Pasta with Artichoke Hearts. This was again a very easy recipe, but one that is so delicious, I will take this to the very next vegan potluck I attend. Using shallots cooked in oil with garlic, fresh tomatoes, dried tomatoes, red pepper flakes…..well, you just have to try it. It is great left over as well. I would recommend making only half the pasta (8 to 10 ounces) rather than the full pound in order to get plenty of the vegetables in every bite, but this one is going to join my perennial favorites.

Dining With Friends is an Important Contribution to Vegan Cuisine

While I am exposed to many world dishes, I have a dearth of Italian recipes in my repertoire (or I did, until I was enlightened by this book and its companion book, The Best of Vegan Cooking, another truly wonderful cookbook). After making the first Italian recipe, I realized what I had been missing. While Feral and Hall occasionally disagree with me about theoretical perspectives, I know we share a belief in the importance of veganism, and believe that creating and making available delicious and simple vegan recipes is part of helping save animal lives. In that vein, they have added a beautiful and important edition to the current collections of vegan cookbooks. If you have missed this one, be sure to add it to your personal library; it is one of my all-time favorites!

*Bookmarked selections include:

• Believable “Bacon”
• West African Peanut Soup
• Vegetable Bisque
• Greek Bean Soup
• Classic Mediterranean Salad with Fresh Mint
• Orange with Spinach and Romaine
• Italian Vegetable and Potato Stew
• Tempeh London Broil
• Spiced Orange Broccoli
• Sweet Dessert Cream
• Chocolate Marble Cheesecake
• Ginger Lemonade
  

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