Cuisine Canada Scene

A vegan cookbook even onmivores will love.

Eat, Drink and Be Vegan: Everyday Vegan Recipes Worth Celebrating
Written by Dreena Burton
Reviewed by Barbara Barnes

Over the years in my capacity as a gas utility home economist, fielding consumer telephone inquiries regarding food and household science, I was occasionally asked to recommend a good vegetarian or vegan cookbook. This was always a difficult question. Cookbooks in this area often include ingredients that may not be readily available in mainstream grocery stores or in some communities, not available at all! Many vegan and vegetarian cookbooks are not well suited to entertaining.

In her latest book, Eat, Drink and Be Vegan (Arsenal Pulp Press, 2007), Dreena Burton dishes up some everyday vegan recipes, many of which are suitable for entertaining, something which sends many a host or hostess into a tizzy when a vegan or vegetarian is coming to dinner. This collection of recipes is sure to please vegans, vegetarians and those individuals, like myself, who enjoy having a few vegetarian or vegan meals every week. The recipes are not complicated and most of the ingredients are fairly easy to come by.

Burton offers helpful advice and information in her book and also indicates which recipes are wheat-free. Eat, Drink and Be Vegan is a good read and the recipes are easy to prepare. I have been through my copy of the cookbook so many times that spine is starting to crack on the pages containing my favourite recipes!

This cookbook contains delectable recipes from appetizer to dessert and a generous helping of breakfast ideas. Burton’s recipe for Tamari-Roasted Chickpeas is additive and has become a frequent last minute appetizer or snack for my husband and me. Recipes like Chipotle Two-Bean Hummus, Sweet Potato Lentil Chili, Bean and Corn Tortilla Lasagna with Avocado and Thai Coconut Corn Stew are all must try recipes.

If you have been looking for a reliable and approachable vegan cookbook, this book is for you.  It’s one of the first vegetarian cookbooks I’ve felt comfortable recommending in over 30 years.  Eat, Drink and Be Vegan, retails for $25.95 in Canada.

Barbara Barnes is a home economist who has authored more than 20 ATCO Blue Flame Kitchen Cookbooks. She presents regular cooking segments on the CTV Edmonton Noon News.