Time for Book Reviews!!!

[yeahbethany]

Hello!

I recently got some newer raw books, so I thought I'd share my thoughts and impressions, in case these would be good resources for any of our friends here on these message boards!

The first book is "Raw Food Made Easy for 1 or 2 People," by Jennifer Cornbleet. My review: FABULOUS!!!! If you are raw and single, or just prepare food for one person, this is an awesome book! Jenny is an awesome raw food teacher in Chicago, and the recipes I've tasted of hers are AMAZING, and easy (by the way, she also recognizes other talent when she sees it... she gives credit to Alissa Cohen for a couple of recipes in the book!). So, here's the lowdown: this book is VERY basic (explains how to get lemon juice, minced garlic, ground almonds, you get the idea). No dehydrating required. Next to each recipe is a list of equipment you will need, she even lists things like mixing bowls and cutting boards, so you can assemble the equipment quickly. One page I particularly like is how she has a "fresh produce shopping list" for no recipes in particular - just a list of produce to buy each week, and if you have those items on hand, along with pantry staples, you will be able to prepare many of the recipes in the book. This book is very gentle and geared towards the raw-curious as well as the "converted" - she assumes that many of the readers eat some cooked foods, and aims to introduce us to the pleasures and health benefits of raw dishes. She uses some compromise ingredients, such as cocoa powder and tamari, that can easily be substituted with a raw version if you choose.

What are some of the recipes? Juices, fruit salads, breakfast cereal-type dishes, EXCELLENT soups, dips, sauces, desserts, entrees, sandwiches, etc. Many of the names of her recipes are listed on her website www.learnrawfood.com. I happen to love her Kiwi Key Lime Pie, blackberry crisp, cream of tomato soup, and walnut pate.

So, I'd definitely recommend this book to all raw fooders, new or not, especially to busy people (I can make a lot of these in the blender in my office!). We are even considering buying copies for Christmas for the SAD eaters in our lives!


So, that's the first review! The second book I bought was "The Raw Food Detox Diet" by Natalia Rose. Now, Natalia is NOT 100% raw, nor does she aspire to be, or encourage any person to become. What is useful about this book is that health (and achieving an ideal weight) is the goal, not being "all raw," it provides different adaptations of the diet for transitioning (with different amounts of raw foods, etc), has a LOT of practical advice for the real world (offices, parties, travel, raising kids, etc), has a KILLER yummy green lemonade recipe :D , and a non-dogmatic approach that reminds us that sometimes we need to STOP OBSESSING over food and just enjoy things, for a change =). Has some good looking recipes, which involve no soaking, sprouting, or dehydrating, including some for people who include cooked foods in their diet. I found it inspiring and gave me a lot to think about.

The third book is "The Raw Food Gourmet-Going Raw for Total Wellbeing" by Gabrielle Chavez (forward by Victoria Boutenko). This book has yummy looking recipes (with quantities measured in american and metric!), and some great resource chapters, like FAQ for the raw curious, traveling raw, gardening, etc. The recipes look delicious and creative. This book, like many raw books, does require dehydration for some recipes. Some recipes Morel Mushroom "Brie", Swedish Neatballs, tomato bisque, honey mustard basil dressing. I'm looking forward to making the Stuffed Portobellos with Mushroom Gravy for Thanksgiving!

So, that's that! Three more good raw books on the market! Let me know if you find these reviews helpful!

-Bethany =)

[truthseeker]

Great! Thank you for that review! Your very thorough which helps a LOT !!!!

Thank you!

[SwishTN]

Thanks so much, Bethany!

I especially loved the first review. And, from the sounds of it, is that the book from which you have made the most recipes?

I like it because a) I am single. b) my brother just moved in w/me, and this gives me some practical things to use, it appears, anyway. c) I don't yet have a dehydrator, but still want to eat some things that make me go yummmm : )....

So, the kiwi lime pie is really good???? I will have to try that recipe for a die hard key lime pie lover. Or, would that only frustrate them?

Anyway, nice to see your smiling face!
Lauri

[tvillemom]

That first book seems great, and a must have for me, since I am the only one in my family raw! Thanks for the review. It always helps to know someone's opinion.
Wendi

[hackerm]

I have "Raw Food Made Easy for 1 or 2 People" and I'm a raw newbie. This book really helped get me set-up grocery-wise. I planned my first grocery trip on what she had listed as staples. Her recipes are very easy to follow as well. It's really inexpensive from Amazon. I would highly recommend this book.

[Punky]

Thanks for the great reviews Bethany! Very helpful and thorough.
You've sold me on, "Raw Food Made Easy for 1 or 2 People," by Jennifer Cornbleet...I am going to buy this for my raw curious best friend for xmas.
I already gave her Alissa's book so she'll be set ;)
She doesn't have children, so it's her and her hubby and she is a *very* inexperienced cook so it sounds like this would be PERFECT for her.

I just got some new raw books that I'll be adding a review for next week after I make some of the recipes. One of them, "RAW FOOD REAL WORLD" by Matthew Kenney and Sarma Melngailis; it is a really gorgous book that looks very promising. They own the raw restaurant: Pure Food and Wine in New York. I love the book so far, but need to make some recipes before I review it ;) I would say it is more on the gourmet side like Renee Underkoffler's book,
"Living Cuisine" and "Raw" by Charlie Trotter and Roxanne Klein's...but the recipes are not as long and complex as the "RAW" uncookbook.
There are a lot of simpler recipes for everyday living plus some gourmet longer ones for special occasions. So I think the book is a lot more useful for everyday than the "Raw" cookbook by Trotter/Klein. But they do use exotic gourmet touches in a few recipes like truffles and such things. They are not purists and do use maple syrup and cocoa powder in some recipes, but do give you raw alternatives to these if you choose to use these (agave, raw carob). They are professional chefs that have gone raw. I have Kenney's 1st cookbook, Meditarrean Cooking from ages ago when HE was cooked (and so was I) so it was kinda neat
to see the *change*.

[ReneeSC]

So, that's the first review! The second book I bought was "The Raw Food Detox Diet" by Natalia Rose. Now, Natalia is NOT 100% raw, nor does she aspire to be, or encourage any person to become. What is useful about this book is that health (and achieving an ideal weight) is the goal, not being "all raw," ________________________

She sounds a lot like Carol Alt - who doesn't put it passed herself to become All Raw/All Day - but how she begins her book on how she arrived at raw is just a good read. That's why I bought it for my youngest daughter. She has some really great recipes in there, too, including another recipe for a green melon juice that looks like keylime pie.

We also have "All About Raw", "Raw Food, Real Life", and I like looking through Juliano's "Raw". There's another called "Raw", but it's high-brow and more picturesque rather than "helpful".

[ebonysea7]

Yeah Bethany!!!

Thanks for your reviews! Raw Food Made Easy for 1 or 2 People definitely sounds like its for me being the only one in my house (so far) eating raw. I'm ordering mine today!!!

Also, you mentioned having a blender in the office. Wow, (knocking head) that would be the solution to having green smoothies at work!

/gfj

[Sweet lips]

So, that's the first review! The second book I bought was "The Raw Food Detox Diet" by Natalia Rose. Now, Natalia is NOT 100% raw, nor does she aspire to be, or encourage any person to become. What is useful about this book is that health (and achieving an ideal weight) is the goal, not being "all raw," ________________________

I am recipe hound and the book provides wonderful recipes and other useful for information - and for me, I take what I need and leave the rest.

I too have "Raw Food Made Easy for 1 or 2 People," by Jennifer Cornbleet. and I agree it is great! the other "The Raw Food Gourmet-Going Raw for Total Wellbeing" by Gabrielle Chavez , I am in the process of ordering that one.

Thanks for the thread.

[NoGMO!]

yeahbethany,

hey thanks for the very helpful reviews! great idea you have here since there is a sea of raw and related books out there to choose from.

so, has anyone read "Errors in Hygiene" or "Kitchen Garden"?
I'm thinking of ordering these two books soon... anybody read them? I've been looking for a comprehensive sprouting book. Can anyone recommend a good one?

[yeahbethany]

Hey, I'm glad to see such a good response to the reviews and the thread! Glad they are helpful!

Ebonysea, I LOVE having my blender at the office. I use the tribest personal blender (which Alissa sells). It works really well for the office, since it is small and compact, and light, and cleanup is a snap! I love being able to make smoothies, soups, and dressings at the office.

Hmmmmm....I think the Key Lime Pie is really good, Lauri...especially with Kiwi on top...but that is just me. =)

Renee, Natalia Rose is a little more "RAW" than Carol Alt, in that she probably consumes fewer animal products on the whole. I think at this point, the only animal product she herself eats is raw milk goat cheese, but it took a while for her to get there. I think the book is DEFINITELY useful, and way more inspiring than Carol Alt's. Just my opinion though...

Punky, Matt and I ate at Pure Food and Wine when we were in NYC...we had a blast! The food was delish...and one of our friends from college turned out to be our waiter! =). I've got the book too, and I agree, it looks AWESOME, and less complicated than the Charlie Trotter book....

[Punky]

Punky, Matt and I ate at Pure Food and Wine when we were in NYC...we had a blast! The food was delish...and one of our friends from college turned out to be our waiter! =). I've got the book too, and I agree, it looks AWESOME, and less complicated than the Charlie Trotter book....

Bethany,
How neat about your friend turning up as your waiter! small world!
What did you guys eat? just curious....always like recommendations
of what to make from their recipe book...looks like a lot of their menu is in the cookbook. The restaurant looks like it is a cool place to eat and hang out.

:)

[ReneeSC]

Carol Alt's book was _very_ helpful to my 13 year old who is still on the _fence_. She identifies with her, so I used her. :) I still found what she had to say about her transition period useful to me. I like the book.

I've ran into Natalia ( my own daughter's name ) Rose's story, but have not read her book. I'd like to, though. I'm finding it hard to find Boutenko's, Rose's, some Cousen's, etc. books in the larger stores nearest me, and the largest heathfood store with a bookmart doesn't carry Alissa, but does Cousens, Rhio - etc.

How could they not think Alissa, Boutenko or Rose wouldn't be usefull?

I think I'll talk to the manager. :) Besides, my eldest would like to work there.

[mbf]

Thanks for the great book reviews ! Keep them coming, I have so many and would love the feedback before making anymore purchases.

I got started on the Raw path by reading Natalia's book, The Raw Food Detox diet and highly suggest this for people who are new to raw food or if you want a little more guidance in food combining.

MBF

[ReneeSC]

Ahhh.. food combining - the next Mt. ComeClimbMe

[rawpriestess]

RenneSC, the book buyers, may be buying books from a distributor who does not carry Alissa, Boutenko or Rose's books.

Many distributors will not carry self-published books.

[ReneeSC]

Thank you! I'll just bring a list of where to purchase them at wholesale or vender prices. :)

Nothing like coming prepared!

[mbf]

Hi RP and Reneesc, I am new to this board and having been enjoying your informative posts. You are both so inspiring.

I bought Victorias books and videos right off her web site store www.rawfamily.com just as I purchased Alissa's book and DVD yesterday ! I also ordered a 5 tray excalibur :D ( i'm so excited)
Back to the Natalia's book, it is very easy to read and follow, especially for those currently eating SAD. You can go as slow or fast as you want and it is not intimdating. That is why it is going to be my #1 holiday gift to all my family and friends....she starts by saying " humor me for a moment " and I did at first and that's what kept me reading on. I am a personal trainer and areobics instructor. I do up to 15 hours of nutritional counseling a week, and it went against everything I have been teaching for years ! Buuuut, I went with it and it changed my life.

Bright blessings !

MBF

[Sweet lips]

Thank you! I'll just bring a list of where to purchase them at wholesale or vender prices. :)

Nothing like coming prepared!


Hi Renee - Alissa's is the only distributor for her book- that is why it is not in the stores.

[ReneeSC]

Hi Renee - Alissa's is the only distributor for her book- that is why it is not in the stores.

Hi Sweet-ie!

But it IS in the stores - that's where I got mine! ( and the DVD ) At 14 Carrot to be exact. I was just complaining that the _other_ hfs, the larger one, didn't carry it, though they carry some of the other self-published works.

I dunno... I'm gonna say sumpin' about it, because ...well.. I just want to. :)

[prettyeyes38]

I absolutely love "the Raw Food Detox Diet" by Natalia Rose. It's the first raw book that I read (haven't read Alissa's yet!) that really clicked for me. I bought it as an e-book and read it on my computer because I wanted it so much! I would encourage anyone who is thinking about raw to read her book. It's an absolutely wonderful starting place.

Rachel

[ReneeSC]

Hey, thanks! I like e-books.. no fuss - no muss

[Cinnamon]

Thank you for the great review of "Raw Food Made Easy for 1 or 2 People," by Jennifer Cornbleet. I just got it in the mail today and LOVE it!

I also have "The Raw Food Detox Diet" by Natalia Rose and really enjoy it too. The more books the better, I am such a book fanatic anyway so I have a lot of raw books but Alissa's is still at the very top of my list. Easy to use, understanding the ideas behind eating raw, and the recipes just can't be beat!

But these other two will be numbers 2 and 3 along with "Rejuvenate Your Life, Recipes for Energy," by Serene Allison. With about 200 recipes and she writes with such a delightful manner that anyone would find this a very easy beginners book and beyond.

[Carolyn]

Thanks so much for posting this, Bethany!! After reading it, I'd checked out this book and ordered it! I just got it yesterday -- actually discovered it had arrived right before I had to go to bed. Needless to say, I stayed up and looked thru the entire book. It looks GREAT!! I just prepare recipes for myself, and most are written for about four servings or so ... which I never like to do. Plus, the easier the recipe, for me, the better! :) So I positively love this book, and can't wait to start trying the recipes!

Thanks again for pointing me in the direction for a wonderful new book for my (growing!) collection!! :)



Hello!

I recently got some newer raw books, so I thought I'd share my thoughts and impressions, in case these would be good resources for any of our friends here on these message boards!

The first book is "Raw Food Made Easy for 1 or 2 People," by Jennifer Cornbleet. My review: FABULOUS!!!!

[sionkali]

I definitely have to agree with everyone's comments on the book by Jennifer Cornbleet. I got this book last week so I haven't had a whole lot of time to go through it, but all the recipes I've made from it so far have been incredible!! I made the Mock Sour Cream and Chive dip last night for a bunch of friends that came over. At first I was unsure because I didn't know what they liked; I expected it to flop because it's "different" (and I had worried about people being allergic to nuts). They completley devoured the entire bowl of it along with a whole head of cauliflower!!! I was so shocked, and so happy all at the same time!!! It was a complete raw success!! :D

[Raw_Medic]

I'll add my 2 cents in about Jennifer Cornbleet's book too....I just bought it the other day at our local Barne's and Noble, I LOVE it! I like that all the equipment is right there and that you don't need a dehydrator for any of the recipes. Sometimes I want to make something NOW, it's especially useful when I haven't planned ahead, or I don't want something tommorrow...but today!

[yeahbethany]

Hey, I'm glad the reviews were helpful!

By the way:

I've now tried a few recipes from The Raw Food Detox Diet and have loved them so far: the pesto, the harvest butternut/coconut soup, the carrot renew soup, the caesar dressing (it's even low in oil!).

Punky,
As for Pure Food and Wine, we ate the thai lettuce wraps, some type of mushroom tart, the lasagna, the pumpkin pie, and a couple other seasonal menu items that are not in the book. EVERYTHING was fabulous!

[twinee1]

I started my Journey with Natalia Rose's book...I am still referring to it when I get lost.

[GratefullyGreen]

Wow I have so many ?'s!
Bethany, I plan on running a marathon on the west coast, and i'm also trying to get back to being 100% raw- any suggestions on good foods for fuel?

Also, I love your book review * Very informative :)
P.S. I'm ordering Raw Food Made Easy for 1 or 2 people tonight~ and hopefully Alissa's book and DVD will be arriving any day now!

Another thing, I'm planning a trip to Pure food and Wine for January with my co-workers (I work at an organic foods store) if anyone has the funds i'd love for you to join us for dinner!!

Tvillemom~ I must say I love your quote "Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and theat you are not your won? For you have been bought with a price, therefore glorify God in your body." 1 Corinthians 6:19-20. I am going to adopt it as my own :)

This is great stuff- THANKS ALISSA FOR THIS SITE ~ YOU ARE MY HERO

[Punky]

So, that's the first review! The second book I bought was "The Raw Food Detox Diet" by Natalia Rose. Now, Natalia is NOT 100% raw, nor does she aspire to be, or encourage any person to become. What is useful about this book is that health (and achieving an ideal weight) is the goal, not being "all raw," it provides different adaptations of the diet for transitioning (with different amounts of raw foods, etc), has a LOT of practical advice for the real world (offices, parties, travel, raising kids, etc), has a KILLER yummy green lemonade recipe :D , and a non-dogmatic approach that reminds us that sometimes we need to STOP OBSESSING over food and just enjoy things, for a change =). Has some good looking recipes, which involve no soaking, sprouting, or dehydrating, including some for people who include cooked foods in their diet. I found it inspiring and gave me a lot to think about.


I recieved Natalia Rose's book, "The Raw Food Detox Diet" for Christmas.
I just made the Green Lemonade and I feel absolutely incredable after drinking it. Very alert and good.
My kids both drank it up too. Great drink.
I wanted the book mainly for transitioning my family to more of a raw diet
and I really like the premice behind the book since my husband
doesn't have any desire to go completely all raw. So this way they will be eating better and transitioning and getting lots more raw into them, without
them realizing. ;)

Also bought myself and a friend a copy of, "Raw Food Made Easy for 1 or 2 People". Haven't made anything yet but it does look promising.
My friend was really excited about it since she is only cooking for 1-2 and
is not very experienced in the kitchen.