Miss Eco Glam Reviews The 30-Minute Vegan

Everyone knows how much I love my food and yes some days I will spend the whole day in the kitchen planning and making food.  However, some days, I just don’t have the time to make something too fancy.  I loved the name of this book as it sums up what I am about sometimes. I only have 30 minutes to make something yummy and vegan.  And I am sure you feel the same way too, there is just not enough time these days for any of us to spend in the kitchen on just one thing.

This 348 page thick cookbook is full of approx 175 easy, quick and above all healthy recipes.  Things you can whip up in a flash if someone comes around unannounced!

With lovely colourful pages slipped in different sections of the book it will leave you feeling very inspired.

Vegan and Raw food is just so PRETTY. Full of bright colours and always looks so yummy. No more grey/brown  meals with only yucky colours anymore! Colour usually means healthy so go for the bright dishes I say!

What I LOVE about this book is the Raw Recipes are marked with a little love heart ♥  letting you know that its raw! So naturally, these are the recipes that I have wanted to try out.

However, I realise that not all of you who read Miss Eco Glam are Raw so I will give you a hint of what other recipes are in this fab book! :

There are 14 Chapters of recipes – here is a few I liked the sound of:

Indian Chai Latte, Mushroom Spinach crepes, Maple-Almond French Toast (yummy!!) coconut lime banana bread (sooo going to try this!) Breakfast burrito, English Muffin Melts, Fruit and Cream cheese Quesadilla, Wraps, Amazing Salads and many dressings, Soups such as Mexcian Tortilla Soup, Thai Coconut soup (my fav !) Batter-baked oyster mushrooms, herbed flatbread, Live Macadamia Nut-Ricotta veggie towers, Cheesy Broccoli, Nachos,  Chocolate-peanut butter shake, Baked Apple Crisp, Lucious Lime Pie, Food for kids, and SO much more, I haven’t even scratched the surface here.

These kind of recipe books should really be in every kitchen as even if you are not vegan/raw/vegetarian you can still use these recipes with other food you make. Food should be healthy and enjoyed!

The Sections are called: The Lighter Side of Life: Smoothies & Satiating Beverages; Snacks, Pick Me Ups & Kids’ Favorites; Lunches: Wraps, Rolls, Bowls, and More; Extraordinary Salads; Sumptuous Soups; Small Plates: Appetizers, Side Dishes, Light Dinners; Wholesome Suppers; Guilt-Free Comfort Food: Healthy Translations of Old Stand-bys; and Divine Desserts.

Don’t just take my word for it that this book is fab read what others have said about this:

Rory Freedman, coauthor of the New York Times bestseller Skinny Bitch

“A must-have for every kitchen, The 30 Minute Vegan is everything a cookbook should be—these recipes are fast, easy, and ridiculously good.”

Ellie Krieger, author of “The Food You Crave” and host of Food Network’s Healthy Appetite
“This book is filled with delicious, exciting, healthful recipes that are accessible for everyone. You’ll love it whether you’re a vegan, or you just want to eat like one once in a while.”

John Robbins, author of The Food Revolution and Diet for a New America
“One of the very best vegan cookbooks of all time. Fabulous recipes, healthy food, clear directions, and delicious results!”

Jennifer McCann, author of Vegan Lunch Box and Vegan Lunch Box Around the World
“Don’t let a lack of time keep you from making a healthy choice! These quick, delicious recipes will see you through even the busiest mealtimes with good taste and style.”

Michael Bernard Beckwith, author of Spiritual Liberation: Fulfilling Your Soul’s Potential
“The 30-Minute Vegan is not only a culinary delight for vegetarians and vegans, it appeals to people who relish a meal that luxuriates the palate and satisfies the spirit.”

Arthur H. Brownstein, M.D., M.P.H., author of Healing Back Pain Naturally and Extraordinary Healing
“Mark Reinfeld and Jennifer Murray have written a classic, practical guide to preparing exquisitely tasteful, healthy vegan food that is ideal for busy folks of today. Every home will be enriched by having this book in the kitchen. It is suitable for daily meals prepared for family members, as well as special holiday celebrations.”

HungryVegan.com, 7/9/09
“The 30 Minute Vegan has found a permanent home in my kitchen, where its pages will quickly become worn, torn, and stained.”

VegNews, August 2009
“The 30-Minute Vegan, is a fail-safe cookbook designed to save you time and eliminate stress in the kitchen. With a well-planned collection of fast, simple, and healthy recipes, the duo is determined to keep home dining diverse and your diet in tip-top shape.”

This book is available through Amazon and through many other bookstores!

It is priced at £10.99 in the UK

It would make a good Christmas gift!

Quick, Delicious, Healthy: A Review of The 30 Minute Vegan

From The Vegan Cookbook Critic

Quick, Delicious, Healthy: A Review of the 30 Minute Vegan

I have been a fan of Mark Reinfeld and Jennifer Murray’s work since I first opened Vegan World Fusion and dreamed of being a diner at the Kauai location of Blossoming Lotus. In fact, until it closed (I know, I was devastated!) I had planned to spend my 50th birthday party there (yes, that is still 20 years away. I’m a planner). Last year, I reviewed the Complete Idiot’s Guide to Eating Raw, which has since become an essential addition to my resource library. So when I saw that these authors (the previous two titles were coauthored by Bo Rinaldi) had released a new title, the 30 Minute Vegan, I knew I had to get my hands on it.

I have participated in many outreach events and I often hear people say “I’d love to eat like you do but its just too hard”. Many people are intimidated by the idea of adopting a vegan diet because it seems like chopping all those vegetables would be a daunting task. Mark Reinfeld and Jennifer Murray are helping to destroy that myth by presenting a collection of 175 wholesome recipes that can be prepared and enjoyed in less than 30 minutes.

If you’re familiar with the authors’ previous collections or the menu of their popular restaurant than you would not be surprised that this book contains both raw/live recipes and cooked dishes. The chapters include: preparation basics; smoothies and beverages; breakfast and brunch; snacks, pick-me-ups & kids’ favourites; uplifting lunches – wraps, rolls, bowls; extraordinary salads; sumptuous soups; small plates – appetizers, side dishes & light dinners; wholesome suppers; guilt-free comfort foods; divine desserts; condiments, infused oils & spreads; and feasts soirees and slumber parties. Pretty comprehensive, huh?

I was excited to discover that although the chapter titles might seem somewhat standard for a vegan cookbook, the recipes themselves are unique and provide surprising twists on preparing readily available ingredients. Over the past few weeks I have prepared a number of the recipes from the 30 Minute Vegan with each dish I was increasingly impressed by the fresh, bold flavours.

Quinoa Kitchari

Some of you know that I recently suffered a back injury. When I read the description of the quinoa kitchari as the most healing dish in the ayurvedic system I knew it was exactly what I wanted to balance my emotional frustration and my physical ills. It is a simple dish but the authors provide a number of suggested additions. I prepared my version with red quinoa, red lentils, garlic, ginger, onion stock, kale, carrots, miso and ginger. The flavour was deep, rich and comforting. I’ll let you know if it manages to heal my back.

Power packed energy bar

These bars and fantastically easy to prepare. Throw a bunch of oats, agave, nuts, dried fruit and spices in a big bowl and stir. Press them into a baking pan and after just a few minutes you have a portable, satisfying source of sustainable energy. These are perfect for a road trip, but I actually love them directly from my freezer (I know people who freeze chocolate bars…it’s not so weird).

Watermelon cooler (the pink jars)

This quick blender concoction celebrates summer’s fresh watermelon, spiked with a little strawberry and lime juice. It is as refreshing as it sounds.

Now for the famous live cinnamon buns. I prepared these twice over the past few weeks. They are great for sharing at summer gatherings. Unlike many raw desserts these treats are pretty resistant to summer’s heat and humidity.

Live Cinnamon Rolls – buckwheat dough

Spread with a layer of cinnamon date walnut filling

All rolled up

Seriously? Amazing. Surprising texture and craving inducing flavour. These buckwheat treats are high in fibre and don’t require any dehydrating – so in about 15 minutes you’ll be enjoying a little slice of sweet cinnamon bliss.

Look at those rolls, all ready to be shared with friends. The coconut orange icing is a decadent addition (not shown). I brought these to an event at the Toronto Vegetarian Association. I did not bring any home with me.

Pesto Sauce on cucumber noodles

This is a simple sauce prepared with the authors’ suggested cashews in place of the pine nuts. They imparted the perfect creamy texture and lovely contrasts to the sharp, ripe basil. Pesto is one of my favourite summer recipes. I couldn’t resist the bunches of basil at the farmer’s market last week. This is the perfect way to preserve all of those green leaves – I now have a big freezer container of pesto ready for those cold grey, winter nights.

After trying these recipes from The 30 Minute Vegan I’m still drooling and dreaming about trying dozens of the dishes that Mark and Jennifer have created. Although I have an extensive cookbook collection, I sought out this book and have not been disappointed by the potential delights that this tome contains. I love the pages of additional resources that the authors have compiled, I have had fun exploring and being introduced to amazing people, products and services.

I recently found an online video of Mark preparing the green popcorn that is an excellent medium for consuming a good dose of spirulina for those days when you just need help to get your greens. Check it out. The authors have also shared their recipes Fajitas Bonitas online.

If you have ever felt intrigued about the vegan lifestyle, but felt that it just took too much time and effort, let Mark and Jennifer share their recipes for success. Your taste buds will not be disappointed (either will the animals!).