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Super Natural Cooking: Five Delicious Ways: To Incorporate Whole & Natural Ingredients into Your Cooking
by
Heidi Swanson (Goodreads Author)
Everyone knows that whole foods are much healthier than refined ingredients, but few know how to cook with them in uncomplicated, delicious ways. Using a palette of natural ingredients now widely available in supermarkets, Super Natural Cooking offers globally inspired, nutritionally packed cuisine that is both gratifying and flavorful. With her weeknight-friendly dishes, ...more
Paperback, 224 pages
Published
March 1st 2007
by Celestial Arts
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While I live with Heidi and this is completely biased, I did test many of these recipes and have definitely eaten every one at least once. For a novice cook like myself, the food is not difficult to make, is interesting, diverse and satisfying. The cumulative effect of eating from this book and the food found Heidi's site over the course of several years is I feel great and enjoy food more than ever.
I love this cookbook. I REALLY love this cookbook. I am not a vegetarian but do appreciate whole foods and I love that this cookbook utilizes whole grains and vegetables with a more upscale and current feel than most vegetarian cookbooks. Heidi also gets creative with ingredients - not all ingredients can be found at your local mega-supermarket. Some may criticize the book for this, but Heidi does provide names and ordering information for suppliers of any hard to find ingredients. Most ingredie...more
This cookbook is really inspiring and informative; it really makes you reexamine what you're eating and seeing how much of it you could make into food that actually benefits your body. Something about the way it's organized irks me though - it's not really a leaf-through kind of book and there aren't that many recipes. Also, Heidi gives good advice for slowly substituting natural sweeteners and leaveners etc. into your cooking instead of the gross, gross white flour and sugar that we're used to,...more
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Again, I am unable to add stars.
Here: *****
I love Heidi Swanson and have been a huge fan of her blog, 101 Cookbooks, for many years. This cookbook is for those of us who would, if presented with the opportunity to make either chocolate chip cookies, or mesquite chocolate chip cookies, would claim territory over the mesquite chocolate chip cookies without batting an eye (I made 'em, I loved 'em). I don't use this cookbook everyday--I use it on weekends after cleaning the kitch...more
Here: *****
I love Heidi Swanson and have been a huge fan of her blog, 101 Cookbooks, for many years. This cookbook is for those of us who would, if presented with the opportunity to make either chocolate chip cookies, or mesquite chocolate chip cookies, would claim territory over the mesquite chocolate chip cookies without batting an eye (I made 'em, I loved 'em). I don't use this cookbook everyday--I use it on weekends after cleaning the kitch...more
If you have only one cookbook in your house, this should be the one. The recipes are fulfilling in every sense of the word; beautiful to look at, wonderful to eat, splendidly friendly to prepare, and the food leaves you nourished and satisfied.There are acouple of ingredients that are tricky to find if you don't have access to cosmopolitian culinary shops, but with a little creativity there is always a fix. Great graphics, after all what is a cookbook without visual flair? This book stays front ...more
Abigail
rated it
Recommends it for:
newbie naturals, a.k.a. wannabe hippies; cooks who are getting bored with their current repertoire
Recommended to Abigail by:
Meghan
The book assumes, as the title indicates, that you already desire to cook natural, minimally processed, whole, healthy foods (and that you are probably vegetarian). If you're not yet sold on natural cooking, please put this book down, go read Michael Pollan (In Defense of Food and/or Food Rules) and come back when you can appreciate what this book wants to tell you [although nothing has yet convinced me to be vegetarian, but I now buy better meat]. Helpfully, this book also assumes that you do t...more
This cookbook is by the blogger behind 101 Cookbooks which is one of my absolute favorites. I have received so many really good recipes from 101 that I just had to have this cookbook.
The recipes have won over even the most hard-core nonveggie, non-organic, non-anything-healthy people in my life. Every meal cooked from these recipes is greeted with: Oh my goodness. This is really good. I need this recipe. Is there more?
Need I say more?
Only that you will l...more
The recipes have won over even the most hard-core nonveggie, non-organic, non-anything-healthy people in my life. Every meal cooked from these recipes is greeted with: Oh my goodness. This is really good. I need this recipe. Is there more?
Need I say more?
Only that you will l...more
Even if you never cook a single recipe from this book, it' worth owning. If not for the info on natural grains and flours and sweeteners, then for the sheer beauty of the book. It's the kind of cookbook you keep on your nightstand next to your novel du jour. The kind that inspires you to spend half a day at the farmer's market, and the other half in your kitchen, celebrating beautiful, natural, colorful foods.
I have been reading a lot about healthier foods and whole foods, and have been looking for a good cookbook to give me ideas on meals I can make. The book that I REALLY want I cannot get from our library, so I have book looking into others and this is the first one I tried. I really like that the author of this gave lots of information on healthy foods and what they're good for. I think this book may be better suited for a more experiences cook, someone that already has a good amount of knowledge...more
I've tried several more recipes from this book, all to great success. However, in none of the cases did I follow the recipe exactly, substituting chicken broth for vegetable and chicken for tofu, green curry paste for red, linguine for udon. But all of the dishes were delicious, and her ideas are inspiring. This is going on my "to buy" list.
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So far I'm loving this cookbook. The design is beautiful, the recipes are approachable, and her philosophy isn't dogmatic, l...more
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So far I'm loving this cookbook. The design is beautiful, the recipes are approachable, and her philosophy isn't dogmatic, l...more
This is probably one of my favorite cookbook finds ever, for a variety of reasons. First--it's beautiful. The graphic design and photography are gorgeous. Second--it's split up in a different, but more logical way--for example, recipes by food color, nutrition, etc., rather than by meat, bread, etc. Third--the recipes are all easy, relatively cheap, healthy, and awesome. One of the best soba noodle recipes I've ever made. This is the way I try to cook all the time at home, but perfected. Swanson...more
For the adventurous cook (and artsy paper lover- lots of gorgeous colorful prints on thick paper) who wants to try baking with whole-grain flours (mesquite, amaranth, quinoa), branch out to natural sugars, and add more whole foods to homemade meals. I liked the Crunchy Apple and Cabbage Salad (enjoyed it for a few days without getting tired of it!), and hope soon to try the Wheat Berry Salad with Citrus, toasted Pine Nuts, Feta and Spinach. (I have a feeling the Sweet Potato Spoon Bread and t...more
Fantastic book about some of the more common healthy food staples and how to use them in tasty recipes. What I found special about the book was its fusion palette. I really enjoy using tastes from all over the world and Swanson consistently employs the more easily available nonstandard american spices and flavor techniques in her recipes; a kitchen expanding treat. She has a great teff wedge recipe, very polenta like but without the mega-agra-corp corn and an easy homemade power bar recipe! The ...more
I'm a huge fan of 101 Cookbooks, so I went to buy it and was a little sad when I ended up not doing so. (Although I sat in the bookstore and read much of it. Did not intend to do that.) Somehow, it seemed like the recipes she chose to include were the ones that did not appeal to me.
First, too many involved gluten (can't have) or simply ingredients I don't like. Second, the tone of the book seemed much preachier than her blog. Finally, the beautifully simple or elegant recipes we...more
First, too many involved gluten (can't have) or simply ingredients I don't like. Second, the tone of the book seemed much preachier than her blog. Finally, the beautifully simple or elegant recipes we...more
Not the most practical cookbook, but inspirational
As opposed to a traditional cookbook with a slew of recipes, this cookbook is primarily focused on how to integrate and substitute in whole and comparatively less common ingredients for their heavily processed and ubiquitous counterparts. It suggests mixing in nontraditional grains and fats, as well as exploring the inclusion of a handful of ayurvedic spices, traditional herbal remedies, etc. This cookbook brings a core number of solid recipes to bear for the curious cook, or for the person stuc...more
My Hanukkah present to myself. A beautiful book with delicious looking vegetarian recipes. Of course, as someone who'd like to lose weight, I'm always conflicted about the low-cal vs. whole-foods debate (is it better for you to use natural sweeteners or splenda? Depends on what you mean by "better.") Not sure how many of the recipes I'll make because of the carnivorous predilections of my spouse, but I hope I'll get to try some.
I first came across this book last Summer, when we were cooking at my friend's lake house. I loved the simple recipes (we made the amaranth biscuits and broccoli with sesame seeds), how healthy yet delicious they are, and can't get over the coconut panna cotta - yum! I also love how the author explains why she uses those ingredients and tells you a good way to stock your pantry and move away from the more unhealthful choices.
I really like this cookbook and look forward to trying more recipes from it. Three I've made so far and loved were the granola bars (YUM), wheat berry salad, and fettucine with fresh sauce made from asparagus.
If you want to lear how to incorporate more natural ingredients unto filling, tasty dishes, this book is a great start. Also includes informative sections on grains and natural sweeteners (honey, rice syrup, etc).
If you want to lear how to incorporate more natural ingredients unto filling, tasty dishes, this book is a great start. Also includes informative sections on grains and natural sweeteners (honey, rice syrup, etc).
This is one of the best cook books. I love all the recipes. And her web site has more of the best. If I were to have any constructive criticism it woudl be that with such fine taste, and an obvious flair for entertaining, I wish she would share some menus, which recipes go well with what and when. And maybe a few sort of flexible options because I get the sense she's not a recipe follower. But really, great.
Call me a snob-- I was not impressed with the recipes in this albeit lovely book. They seemed too simple, no-brainers. I cook with natural ingredients already, so I am not the target audience, and it would be a great introduction for someone trying to learn to cook this way. I will still take a look at her second book, in case it has some more advanced ideas.
This author has a blog called 101 Cookbooks that I stumbled upon one day. She posts simple vegetarian recipes, mostly using in season produce from the farmers' market. Now, she lives in San Francisco, which makes me insanely jealous because the local food scene there is amazing...apricots, pomegranates, almonds, oranges...Makes a WI girl just drool thinking about all the goodies at the market there. I would call her style of cooking 'California Cuisine', light, healthy, fresh meals.
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I love Heidi Swanson's blog 101cookbooks.com so when I saw this book at the library, I had to pick it up and I read it in one afternoon. It is an excellent book that gives you great new ideas to cook with whole foods and a whole lot of yummy recipes as well. I think this is a book worth purchasing, as I know I would use it over and over again!
In Super Natural Cooking, readers of Heidi's blog, 101 Cookbooks, get more of what they've come to expect: her photography, the way she puts each recipe in context (what inspired it or how it came about or who it was made for), and of course her recipes, which are frequented by salads, soups, bowls of grains and veggies—and baked goods, esp. cookies!
I think the target audience for Super Natural Cooking would be people who are already cooking, but who want to incorporate a wider vari...more
I think the target audience for Super Natural Cooking would be people who are already cooking, but who want to incorporate a wider vari...more
The pictures in this book alone will make you want to keep it as a coffee table book rather than just a cookbook. The author of this book also is the force behind 101cookbooks.com, which is the only online recipe source I consistently go to for ideas. Gorgeous book. Try the indian carrot soup...yum!
I love Heidi's writing style and her approach to cooking: I have her first cookbook, Cook 1.0, and you'll have to pry it from my dead, cold hands. I'm a little bummed that the three dishes I've made from this have been on the very bland side. I'm not giving up, though, just adding more salt!
I cannot endorse the grain-ola, but every other recipe I've had so far (by either making it myself or by hovering around Susan's kitchen) has been tops.
Also I must say that this "review" is less of a review and more of a comment to my friends. I must apologize in advance to the general public.
Also I must say that this "review" is less of a review and more of a comment to my friends. I must apologize in advance to the general public.
this is a pretty amazing book, including a great section on eating by color. heidi swason's websites are also excellent, and this is a great summary of the loads of information she knows and has access to. i particularly like the building a natural foods pantry information.
So inspired by this book. I went out and bought agave nectar and some spelt and teff (crazy grains). Can't wait to try out more recipes from this ingenious and thoughtful book. I sort of wish Heidi was my BFF, but I'd even settle for her being a neighbor or shirt-tale relative.
I loved so many things about this book. Although I am not ready to delve completely into "super natural" cooking, I loved the fresh spin on known ingredients and inspired options for trying new ones. Her photos are outstanding & make the food jump off the page! I look forward to trying several of these recipes & concepts.
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