Sunday, December 13, 2009

Vegan Cookies Invade Your Cookie Jar (and Steal Your Heart)

Book Review 2009




The legendary Post-Punk Kitchen duo returns to take over your cookie jar – one vegan bite at a time. Vegan Cookies Invade Your Cookie Jar holds over 100 dairy- and egg-free recipes for cookies, bars, brownies, frostings, and fillings to satisfy any sweet tooth, vegan and omnivore alike.


Cowboy Cookies
Cowboy Cookies


Recipes for classic, copycat (veganized versions of name brand favorites), gourmet, and healthy cookies show that these vegan treats can be whipped up in a matter of minutes and will leave everyone wanting more. They might even steal your heart, really, they’re that good.


Roll-and-Cut Sugar Cookies
Roll-and-Cut Sugar Cookies



Roasted Almond Cookies with Fleur de Sel
Roasted Almond Cookies with Fleur de Sel


DECONSTRUCTING THE BOOK

Title & Publisher: Vegan Cookies Invade Your Cookie Jar, by Isa Chandra Moskowitz and Terry Hope Romero. Published by Da Capo Press, 2009.

Authors: Moskowitz and Romero began their vegan adventures in the kitchen with The Post Punk Kitchen, a public access cooking show and Web site. They are the co-authors of several books: Vegan Cupcakes Take Over the World, Veganomicon, and now Vegan Cookies.

First Read: Sized just under seven inches, this book is small enough to fit in a tote bag. Carry it with you to your next cookie swap to share a recipe or two. Moskowitz and Romero write lively descriptions and simple small batch recipes. After one read, you’ll preheat the oven and mix up a batch of "Call Me Blondies," "NYC Black & Whites," or "Key Lime Shortbread Rounds."

The book is divided in two, Part I discusses essential cookie science for vegan baking along with a list of ingredients, tools for success, substitutions, and even troubleshooting help. In Part II, the recipes are divided into cookie types: drop cookies, wholesome cookies, bar cookies, fancy cookies, and sliced and rolled cookies.

Recipes: These simple and well-written recipes will have you baking and laughing at the witty descriptions all at once; they all yield up to three-dozen treats – enough to try several different recipes with similar ingredients while the oven is hot.

Layout and Design: This is a paperback book with a straightforward design. The type is easy to read and each recipe and the photos are mouth-watering close-ups set on colorful back- drops.

Theme: After Moskowitz and Romero’s recent book promising culinary domination, Vegan Cupcakes Take over the World, it’s hard to believe these baking superheroes have come through once again with witty cookie descriptions, colorful photos, and festive recipes suited for any occasion, and just in time for the holidays. They make vegan baking simple, flavorful, and hip in Vegan Cookies. With style and wit, they refashion classic favorites, like "Oatmeal Raisin and Peanut Butter Crisscrosses," as well as copycat cookies like "City Girl Snickerdoodles," "Lazy Samoas," and "Nutter Betters Sandwich Cookies." The authors emphasize baking with quality ingredients and they wont’ sleep until “they’ve veganized the world” or at the very least proved vegan food is irresistible.

Pluses: The recipes are simple and delicious and the book is a pleasure to read.

Must-try recipes: Roasted Almond Cookies with Fleur de Sel, Roll-and-Cut Sugar Cookies, Magical Coconut Cookie Bars, and Macadamia Ginger Crunch Drops.

Recommended: Yes, what are you waiting for – get a copy of this book.
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