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Jul 03, 2007

Leslie rated it:

To appreciate this cookbook, which is famous for being hand-lettered and illustrated by the author and covers both the fundamentals and specifics for cooking hearty, earth-crunchy, mostly vegetarian dishes, you have to acknowledge that it is very much a product of its times. Meaning that when it was published (the 1970's), you were pretty groundbreaking if you even knew what samosas and guacamole were, and vegetarianism was still fringe and undefined enough that this book, and the Moosewood rest More...

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Jan 27, 2008

Abigail rated it:

A fabulous vegetarian cookbook, with a diverse collection of recipes, the Moosewood Cookbook was originally published in 1977, and is an outgrowth of the Moosewood Restaurant in Ithaca, NY. Like many cookbooks, it is divided into sections, which include: Soups; Salads; Sauces and Dips; Baked Things and Sandwiches; Entrees; and Desserts. There are also some helpful introductory comments about modifications, pantry notes, tools, and conversions.

Despite the fact that I am no longer a v More...

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Dec 16, 2009

Chris rated it:

The first cookbook I ever owned. Actually, I stole it from my mom when I went to college, and the recipies are annotated with her notes from when I was a little kid. I love the dated aspects of the writing, like when Katzen explains what tofu is and how its hard to find, or when she introduces you to this exotic, wonderful dip called hummus. Classic, hearty veggie cooking, this is before TVP or Morning Star, back when being a vegetarian meant eating vegetables. I've used this less as I've aq More...

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Dec 22, 2007

Allison rated it:

My mom's copy has been taped back together, set on fire, and covered in too many ingredients to list. That adds to the appeal for me because I know it is something that she has cherished. When I became a vegetarian I thought "oh yes now Moosewood is mine." Then I realized that probably 350ish days out of the year I don't have time to be a bloody gourmet chef, you know?

This doesn't diminish my love for the cookbook. It does mean that I can't really move past loving anything More...

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Mar 01, 2009

Marguerite rated it:

I was introduced to the Moosebook Cookbook in the days when I had vegetarian roommates who'd buy the chow if I did the cooking. I was vegetarian by economic circumstance. Since I was on a tight budget, I ended up the house cook, and in those crunchy granola days I baked my own bread and had gleaning rights in some farm fields outside of Richmond. (When faced with a bushel of cucumbers, you learn to make raita, cucumber sandwiches and pickles.) When I saw The Moosewood Cookbook had been retooled More...

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Jan 07, 2009

Rhonda rated it:

I have an original edition of this book and have used it prodigiously for learning how to cook. When I first looked at the book, not knowing it was a vegetarian cookbook, I said to my friend that I would buy it if it included a better recipe for split pea soup than the one I already learned to make in college.

I can still recall my humiliation when, on page 18, Molly proceeded to start on the soup where my own immature recipe left off. I recall that over the years I have added a ha More...

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Jul 18, 2010

Lisa rated it:

A classic, this version is updated from the original, and so contains less eggs and oil for lighter, modern, healthier versions of vegetarian classics.
Even for non-veggies, there and many wonderfully 'comforting' dishes included within the pages.
For those new to cooking/cooking veg, there is helpful information at the beginning of the book on subjects from technique to measurements to substitution of ingredients for various dietary concerns.
My teenaged son has been learning to More...

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May 07, 2009

Jensownzoo rated it:

This is a vegetarian classic and for good reason. The recipes are flavorful, varied, and just plain good. Like the Enchanted Broccoli Forest, this cookbook is hand-written and illustrated, making it an exceptionally charming. Sample recipe below:

Mushroom Curry

4 tbsp butter
2 cloves minced garlic
1 c chopped celery
1 1/2 lb. chopped mushrooms
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp turmeric
1 tsp powdered ginger
1/2 tsp dry mustar More...

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Apr 18, 2009

Sarah rated it:

I suppose I opened this book with expectations that were too high. Everything I had ever heard about Mollie Katzen and her cookbooks gave the highest praise. I have relied on a few non-Katzen Moosewood cookbooks (Moosewood Sundays, Moosewood New Classics) myself over the past few years; in fact, I wouldn't want to live without them. So I opened the book prepared to be blown away. I wasn't. The hand-lettering is charming; I felt like I was reading a friend's recipes. However, I felt like I was re More...

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Apr 23, 2011

Erin1179 rated it:

I think that this is my favorite cookbook of all time. My mom had a copy when I was growing up, and even though my family weren't vegetarians, this book was used to a good extent. At some point I became a vegetarian, snd so I used it a good deal more! When I grew up, my aunt bought me a copy of a previously loved hardcover version, which always makes me wonder: who would give this away? I learned to make eggplant parmesan from this book, and will say that yes, it's not the healthiest way to More...

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Jul 29, 2011

Catherine added it

While there are many flaws in this cookbook by 21st century standards, it was a miracle in the mid-70's. I went to college n 1977 and this book changed my eating life forever--so while it lacks alot in the way of spicing complexity that would seem altogether common today, it had vegetarian recipes that were easy to follow, and they worked. it is whimsical and wonderful. It had things from my childhood that I could never give up (like quiche and sour cream coffeecake) and things I would never More...

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Oct 17, 2008

Kim rated it:

I've used this cookbook so much it is falling apart. My favorite: Carrot Soup. Unfortunately, I can't use it much anymore as most of the recipes have milk products and I have a husband who is lactose intolerant. Still, I've been able to substitute for a few of them. A great cookbook and inspiration for eating well.

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Feb 09, 2010

Rose rated it:

I sat down to meal plan one day and ended up reading this book cover to cover. It was a pretty interesting cookbook. I of course knew it would be, having hung out for a decade with interesting cooks who love it. I remember an unschooling advocate using Mollie Katzen as an example of a "glorious generalist," which seems funny to me now: "ZOMG she can cook AND draw!"

After I had read the whole thing, I knew why I had never made anything from this cookbook, and I kne More...

3 comments like (1 person liked it)

Jan 01, 2009

Richkats rated it:

Excellent vegetarian cookbook! I have owned and used this book since it's initial release. It actually made my husband (a meat and potatoes farm boy) appreciate vegetarian meals and we eat meat-free at least once a week. The only downside is that we now know that vegetarian doesn't necessarily mean healthy and several of these recipes are high-fat cholesterol. Just use what you currently know to lighten them up. Still an excellent cookbook. Some favorite recipes are Cream of Asparagus Soup More...

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Oct 18, 2007

Emily added it

This cookbook is not without its flaws -- the "ethnic" dishes are frequently repulsive -- but there's some really good, hearty earnest-white-person food up in here. The hummus, pasta sauce, Brazilian black bean soup, refritos, and lasagna recipes are absolute staples.

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Apr 28, 2009

Miriam rated it:

I love the Moosewood cookbook. Even though I am not vegetarian anymore, I find cooking meat daunting - cooking in general really, but meat especially - so I like to use this cookbook. Also, the hadwritten, hand-drawn format feels less threatening than most cookbooks and she has these sidenotes that imply that even if you screw this up a bit or don't happen to have gingeroot on hand, it's going to be ok and maybe even delicious. Plus, a lot of these recipes were my mom's staples so it reminds me More...

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Dec 18, 2011

Libby rated it:

I love this cookbook, as well as really all of their cookbooks. But I think that there are a few things to consider when thinking about using it. If you're looking to cook authentic cuisine from different countries, this book is not really the book to use. Moosewood is more of an interpretation of different foods mixed with a hearty / homey / comfort / vegetarian style. Also, the ingredients for the recipes are usually spot on, but can often be adjusted proportion wise to fit personal taste (I o More...

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May 25, 2011

Katie rated it:

This is a nice vegetarian cookbook if you can figure out how to make it work. It has some very appealing recipes in it. It’s heavy on vegetable salads and vegetable entrees, and very heavy on tofu and cheese. Katzen tends to recommend tofu as a substitute for cheese. I’ve tried the marinated sweet potato and broccoli salad, which is delicious, and I’m going to try the gado gado next because I love anything with a peanut sauce. (The potato, cabbage, onion and yogurt casserole was awful, but More...

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Dec 07, 2007

Laurel rated it:

This is a great collection of vegetarian options and most of the recipes are pretty easy and you can adjust them easily if you want to include your favorite veggies. Some of the recipes are kind of bland, though, so I will tell you the best ones, okay?
Spanikopida-hands down, the best recipe in the world. I know this because I went to Greece and nothing there tasted nearly as good as this. I make this recipe (as did my mom in the 70's and 80's) all the time and it is always perfect. Filo More...

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Jan 05, 2010

Meg rated it:

I really enjoy Molly Katzen's books. The recipes are really simple and use easy to find ingredients. Her writing is charming and devoid of the "simplicity snobbery" attitude sometimes found in other California cuisine books. Sometimes I wish she used more seasoning in her recipes, but that's easy enough to figure out on your own. The text is hand-written and she illustrated the book herself. Adorable. A great first vegetarian cook book.

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May 05, 2009

Sabrina rated it:

I first heard about this book about two years ago - it had been explained to me as the "bible of vegetarian cooking." Well, I don't know about that, but there are a lot of fun recipes in here. It's a beautiful book, too, hand-lettered and illustrated. One of those cookbooks I just love to read - way too easy to get so lost in it there's no time to cook dinner! Plan on picking up a copy of my own.

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Feb 14, 2008

Claire rated it:

I am posting this review for Connie, who bought me this book a few years ago and who just joined Goodreads!

Anyway, I love this cookbook! The first couple times I tried anything out of this book, I thought to myself, "Wow - that was a lot of chopping." But as I've become more aware of the benefits of eating much less meat and processed packaged food, and as I've become more adept at handling all those veggies (I finally got a full size cuisinart for Christmas!) this has be More...

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Sep 22, 2009

AJ rated it:

Not technically vegan but vegetarian. I know I've read this cookbook before and enjoyed it.

The recipes are pretty simple and I like the cutesy, handwritten style of the book. You can tell that a lot of love went into it. There are definitely a bunch of recipes that I plan to try out. Most of the recipes in the book are pretty standard, so it's probably a good cookbook for somebody looking to go vegetarian but who doesn't know how to cook.

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Jan 29, 2012

Frank rated it:

My very first vegetarian cookbook (along with tons of other people). The recipes are whimsically presented and some are quite delicious. I have made them over and over again in some cases (the lentil soup recipe is excellent). Definitely worth owning. It was re-released in later years with some recipes adjusted to cut down on fat - without losing the flavor.

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Jul 13, 2010

Willow rated it:

great cookbook. obviously a reason my mom has called it a fave my whole life. i have been into cookbooks lately and getting stacks at a time from the library and compiling a little book of recipes. lots of these recipes made it into my book, most cookbooks don't make the cut. great for someone who is thinking about trying on vegetarianism too.

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Jul 27, 2011

Rebecca rated it:

While it does seem to rely heavily on mushrooms and eggplant, there are a lot of tasty looking veggie recipes to try. I'm really excited about them! Plus, she writes the same way I think I would if I wrote a cookbook. I also enjoy the flexibility of each recipe and how many of them can include chicken or fish if one desires.

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Nov 21, 2011

Becky rated it:

Two words: Tomato Soup. I remember my cool uncle, the one who was in the Peace Corps and who was a vegetarian and lived in New York City, making it when we visited him in the 80's. And I still make that soup all of the time. Even if my kid thinks it has way too many onions. Yeah, and sense memory.

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Mar 13, 2011

Deb rated it:

I have not cooked from this old favorite for quite a while but pulled it out to make the Hungarian Mushroom Soup this week and remembered just how much I love Molly Katzen. A classic.

Link to a pretty wonderful bowl of soup: http://kahakaikitchen.blogspot.com/2011/...

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Sep 27, 2011

Tracyfood rated it:

Ok, I actually have the 15th anniversary edition but I couldn't find that as an option here. I hope that one isn't quite so apologetic for all its dairy use and encourages cooks to use whatever fat level they like instead of insinuating that maybe the low-fat option is always the best one.

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Jul 29, 2011

Catherine rated it:

I have had this book for over 25 years and it was my first well loved cookbook--I love the quiche recipe, my coffeecake recipe is out of here, the spanikopita is quite nice, there are many great soups, and the uses of shredded potatoes for a quiche crust (think Passover) comes right out of here.

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